How to Create a Text-Based Challenge

Text-based challenges are a simple yet powerful way to test participants' knowledge, problem-solving, and reasoning skills without requiring any files or virtual machines. Here’s how to create one using the Simulations Labs platform.

Steps to Create a Text-Based Challenge

1. Go to the Challenges Tab

From your dashboard, navigate to the Challenges tab in the sidebar.
 Click the “Create New Challenge” button.

2. Select “Text” as the Challenge Type

Once the creation form opens, choose “Text” from the Challenge Type options.

3. Fill in the Challenge Details

Complete the following fields:

• Name
  
  

• Category
  
  

• Tags
  Select from the dropdown the relevant keywords.
  
  

• Level
    Select difficulty: Basic, Easy, Medium, Hard or Advanced.
  
  

• Duration
   Set the suggested time to solve (in minutes).
  
  

• Points
   Set how many points the challenge is worth.
   Example: 100
  
  

• Solution
   Enter the correct flag or answer.
   Example: flag{simple_caesar}
  
  

• Description
   Write the full challenge prompt that participants will see. Use this section to describe the scenario, any context, and the problem they must solve.
   Example:
  
  
   The following message was intercepted from an old communication line. Can you decrypt it using Caesar cipher with a shift of 3?
   khoor_zruog
  
  
  

4. Save and Preview

Once all details are entered:

• Click “Save” to store your challenge.
  
  

• You can go to the Preview tab to see how the challenge will appear to participants before assigning it to a CTF.