CrypTable

TTRPG Puzzle & Cipher Maker

Encode Secrets for Your Players

Generate physical prop handouts by encrypting messages with classic ciphers. Choose your method, type your secret, and generate an authentic-looking scroll or note.

For Caesar, use a number. For Vigenère, use a word.

Handout Preview

Wkh dqflhqw grru rqob rshqv zkhr vkdgrzv doljq zlwk wkh fulpvro prro.

Print directly or copy the text to use in digital tabletops.

Mastering Ciphers for Tabletop Games

Why Use Ciphers?

Dropping a coded note on the table changes the energy of the room. It shifts a game from rolling dice to solving a tactile, real-world puzzle. Rather than narrating "you find a coded letter," handing players a physical prop anchors them in the mystery. CrypTable automates the tedious translation process so you can focus on writing good clues instead of counting alphabet letters.

Common Cipher Types

  • Caesar Shift: A substitution cipher that shifts the alphabet by a set number of places. Easy for players to solve once they guess the shift number.
  • Atbash: Reverses the alphabet (A becomes Z, B becomes Y). Extremely quick for players to decode if they notice the pattern.
  • Vigenère: A complex cipher using a keyword. Hard to crack without the key, making it perfect for multi-session mysteries where discovering the key is a quest itself.

Setting Up the Puzzle

A cipher is only fun if it can be solved. Ensure you provide context clues. If using a Caesar shift of 5, mention "five ravens" in a related journal entry. Avoid encrypting critical path information without providing an alternative way forward, as players getting stuck on a puzzle can stall a session.

Printing Tips

When you click "Print Prop", this generator strips away the site interface. For best results, print on specialized ivory or parchment paper rather than standard white printer paper. You can also lightly burn the edges of the printed sheet (safely outdoors) or stain it with a tea bag to age the prop.