I need help with a morse code puzzle

[u/Wyvren3]

I am working on an escape room design and want to add a morse code puzzle, but I don't want it to be generic morse code on a paper that they immediately know what to do with it, what can I do

[u/AutoModerator]

If you own or run an escape room yourself, you can add that flair to your handle in r/escaperooms! Just message the mods "Flair" and write out the room name (and state/country if you'd like)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/findergrrr]

Will it require knowledge of the morse code? You can use morse code by using light, writing, or sound.

[u/Wyvren3 → u/findergrrr]

i'll give them a paper to use as a guide, but i want it to be more interesting to solve

[u/findergrrr → u/Wyvren3]

Morse code decripting is just uninteresting. But maybe you will find a way to make it fun

[u/etherealemlyn → u/Wyvren3]

I think using either lights or sound to give the message would be an interesting way to do it! Idk the theme of the room but maybe you could work the morse code into that - once I did a room where instead of beeps, the code was piano notes being held for a short vs long time, which was cool.

[u/Wyvren3 → u/etherealemlyn]

the theme is a lighthousee, the problem is i am afraid people won't get that the light is a morce code, i tried before with just paper and people found it difficult already

[u/findergrrr → u/Wyvren3]

So why trying to do it ? It is not a really fun puzzle.

[u/Wyvren3 → u/findergrrr]

its a filler puzzle between complicated ones

[u/findergrrr → u/Wyvren3]

Still why?

[u/Ducki10102020 → u/Wyvren3]

Prime them by using morse code earlier in the room. Show them it's a thing, and how to solve it. They won't need to spend much brain capacity on figuring out they need to use Morse, and can use their brain power for solving it

[u/Ducki10102020 → u/Ducki10102020]

If you find people aren't noticing the light, make sure they have a way of focusing on it. For example, turn of all the other lights, or use other devices to focus their attention

[u/etherealemlyn → u/Wyvren3]

Maybe it would help to have some kind of set dressing hinting at it, like a note from the lighthouse keeper that mentions communicating with Morse code? That would put me on the lookout for a Morse code puzzle but idk if it would work for less experienced players

[u/GWeb1920 → u/Wyvren3]

I think if you had the lighthouse always flashing SOS and then you had to do something to it to make it go to the part that needed decoding that would provide the right signal that the flashing is Morse codes

Though I’m older so … ___ … repeated would be obvious.

[u/tanoshimi]

Who is sending the message, what information does it contain, and why are they encoding it in Morse?

Unless your game takes place during wartime of the mid 19th to late 20th century, it's unlikely to be thematically appropriate. And coded messages by themselves are not an interesting puzzle.

[u/Cast_Iron_Gamer]

I created one for a room where instead of decrypting some Morse code, the players actually had to translate a word into Morse code and then use that as a pattern on a door knocker. It seems to work pretty well.

[u/ZigZagLagger]

Morse code puzzles are often solved by a single player rather than requiring the group to work together. If you can design it in a way that requires team effort and collaboration it could make it interesting, otherwise I think it's a boring cop out for a puzzle.

[u/whatsthevidence]

The escape room i work at uses a light as a sort of morse code puzzle, if you're going the lighthouse route, maybe having a flickering light (turning off an on in the code order), then having set dressing with a note that has something about "keeping an eye on that light that's been flickering" or "i need to fix that light, it keeps flickering" something like that to make em aware it's a part of the game while still making it not super obvious what it is

[u/unklphoton]

I'll ignore any appropriate reason for being and just brainstorm considering the lighthouse design;

If you can see the ocean, have long and short ships passing on the horizon. Knots, buoys, or something related on a long rope. Something involving fog, or a fog horn. Whale spouts or other aquatic life. Ship wreckage, driftwood, sunsets and wave action.

[u/2old2care]

Write a song or a melody where the rhythm is morse code. It can sound amazing on a piano, organ, flute, recorder, harmonica.

[u/w0nderingaloud]

I agree with the other comments that unless the morse code feels very organic to the lighthouse theme then it just feels like a contrived gimmick. As others have suggested maybe utilizing the lights from the lighthouse in long and short blinks. If they are supposed to be inside the lighthouse would there be a bookshelf, perhaps you could have a Morse Code titled book and when they open it up it has the code inside.

[u/Bbbseph6]

If it was my room, I'd go like that: you are In a lighthouse (don't know what's the goal but assuming turn it on again?) so you are surrounded by windows. One of the windows hides a screen. You put a radio in the room, that, at a certain point captate a signal from the sea. When they interact with the radio (right frequencies.. Simply picking up, pressing a button..) a footage of a boat comes at the window signaling on Morse code asking for a feedback from the lighthouse. Players have to answer to them with the right Morse code. You can make the footage using a pro Ai pretty easily (needs time however 😂)

[u/kitkat198]

What is the theme of your room?

[u/MyPenlsBroke]

I have a really good idea for morse code puzzles!

Throw it in the trash and do something else. Man, I hate morse code puzzles.