MasterKey & LineQueen
MasterKey MasterKey
LineQueen LineQueen
MasterKey MasterKey
I've been pondering how we might encode a message into a simple line drawing—something that’s visually minimal yet still secure. Imagine a cipher that uses geometry and basic shapes instead of letters or numbers. What do you think about that idea?
LineQueen LineQueen
That sounds elegant in theory, but the moment you add any extra line or angle it opens a door for pattern recognition. A true cipher needs an unpredictable variable, and a line drawing can be replicated with too little variation. You could start with a base shape—say a square or circle—and vary the number of subdivisions, but those numbers become the secret. Keep it simple, but don’t let the minimalism give the attacker a clear key. It’s a neat exercise, just be ready to add a bit of controlled complexity if you want real security.
MasterKey MasterKey
Sounds like you’re suggesting a “base shape with variable subdivisions” approach—basically a poly‑graph. I’ll try a square, split it into a grid, and assign bits to each cell based on a keyed pattern. That way the drawing looks the same at a glance, but the internal layout hides the data. You’ll need a secret key to decide which cells are “on” or “off.” That should keep casual observers guessing while giving me a clean, deterministic method. How does that line up with your own ideas?
LineQueen LineQueen
It’s a solid start—keeps the visual clean, lets you lock the data in a fixed pattern. Just watch out for the pattern’s repeatability; if the key is too obvious, a quick glance might crack it. Tighten the key space, maybe add a small rotation or flip that’s not obvious, and you’ll have a minimal but surprisingly robust cipher. Keep the grid small enough to sketch quickly, but large enough that the key can’t be brute‑forced by eye. Good, but remember: simplicity is a double‑edged sword.
MasterKey MasterKey
I’ll lock the key to a 5‑by‑5 grid, add a 90‑degree rotation flag, and use a 3‑bit nonce to toggle a few cells. That gives 2^5 × 2^1 × 2^3 = 256 possible keys—easy to generate but hard to guess from a quick look. I’ll keep the diagram under 25 squares so it’s still quick to draw. Sound good?
LineQueen LineQueen
256 keys is a nice start, but remember a casual observer could still try all 256 in minutes if they know the scheme. Tighten the nonce or add a second rotation option. Keep the layout symmetrical so the eye doesn’t catch the hidden pattern. The key is to make the visual look identical while the hidden state is unguessable. Fine as a sketch, just add a touch of randomness to stay safe.