

                                Cryptogrammer

                                 Instructions


Welcome to the wonderful world of cryptograms.  The idea is to decode the
phrase and figure out what it really says.  The encoding method is simple,
merely a reassignment of letters.  Below is a sample cryptogram and its
solution:

           Kord rd gndp!

               - The above phrase is really:

           This is easy!

There are some things that you will learn as you go along that will make
solving cryptograms easier.  For example, E is the most commonly used word
in the English language.  Also, keep in mind that the number of two and
three letter words is strictly limited.  By working on the smaller words,
you may help yourself to solve the larger words.

Now, you have four options from the main menu.  First, you can choose to
exit the program and return to the Bulletin Board.  Second, you can view the
instructions (which you are currently doing).  Third, you can view the
rankings of the players.  Fourth, and finally, you can actually play the
cryptograms.  Simple, huh?

Rankings are displayed using two criteria.  First, you will be able to see
how many crpyotgrams you've attempted, as well as how many of those you
managed to solve.  Second, each player has a cumulative score.  Each solved
cryptogram is worth ten points, minus one point for each hint used.  Each
unsolved cryptogram causes five points to be subtracted from your score.

Once you start playing, you have a few options.  You can map letters by
pressing 'M'.  This sets up an equivalence, such as K actually means T.  If
you find you have mapped the letters incorrectly, you can press 'U'.  This
will remove the mapping and clear the way to try again.  If you are stuck,
you can press 'H' and get a hint.  But beware, you can only get a limited
number of hints per puzzle, and each hint lowers your score for that puzzle.
If you are truly stuck and have no idea to the puzzle, you can press 'Q' to
quit the puzzle, or 'V' to view the solution and quit the puzzle.  And
that's about all there is to it.

Have fun taxing the grey matter.

