Here’s a structured "How-To" guide you could give to participants in a CTFd-hosted Capture the Flag competition. I’ll keep it clear, beginner-friendly, and CTFd-specific, but still detailed enough for experienced players to use as a reference.

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🏴 How to Participate in Our Capture the Flag Competition (CTFd)

Welcome to the competition! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to join, compete, and have fun in our CTF hosted on the CTFd platform.

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1️⃣ Getting Started

1. Register for an Account

1. Visit http://ctf.cecsresearch.org

2. Click "Register" in the top-right corner.

3. Fill out:

   • Username – Your public handle during the event (pick something fun but appropriate)
   • Email Address – Used for password resets and notifications
   • Password

4. Agree to the rules / terms and click "Register".

5. Confirm your email if prompted.

Tip: Choose a memorable username — it will appear on the scoreboard.

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2. Join or Create a Team

Some competitions require teams:

• Join a team: Click Teams → Join Team, then enter the team name and password (if required).
• Create a team: Click Teams → Create Team, set a name, optional password, and invite members.

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2️⃣ Understanding the CTFd Layout

When you log in, you’ll see the main navigation bar at the top:

Section	Purpose
Challenges	Where you’ll find problems to solve, sorted by category.
Scoreboard	See your ranking compared to others.
Teams	Search for teams and view team standings.
Notifications	Competition updates and announcements.
Profile	Manage your username, password, and team membership.

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3️⃣ Solving Challenges

1. Go to Challenges.

2. Select a category (e.g., Crypto, Web, Pwn, Forensics, Misc).

3. Click on a challenge name to open it.

4. Read the description carefully — it will contain:

   • Story/Context – Fun background for the puzzle.
   • Task – What you need to do.
   • Files/Links – Downloads or web services to investigate.
   • Hints – May cost points, so use wisely.

5. Work on solving the challenge.

6. Once you find the flag (usually in the format CTF{something_here}):

   • Enter it into the flag submission box.
   • Click Submit.

If correct: ✅ You get points and the challenge turns green in the list. If wrong: ❌ You’ll get a message — try again! (Too many wrong attempts may trigger a cooldown.)

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4️⃣ Common Flag Formats

Unless the challenge says otherwise, flags usually look like:

CTF{this_is_an_example_flag}

Tip: Watch for typos — flags are case-sensitive and require exact matches.

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5️⃣ Tracking Your Progress

• Scoreboard – Updates in real time; you can filter by team or individual.
• Profile – Shows the challenges you’ve solved and your point breakdown.

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6️⃣ Event Rules (Typical Examples)

• No attacking the CTF platform itself (Do not exploit CTFd).
• Do not share flags with other teams.
• Do not perform denial-of-service attacks on challenge infrastructure.
• Play fair — write-ups are fine after the competition ends.

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7️⃣ Tips for Success

• Start with easier challenges (lower point values).
• Read all challenge text carefully — hints are often hidden in the wording.
• Keep notes of what you try.
• Use collaboration tools with your team (shared docs, Discord, etc.).
• Manage your time — don’t get stuck too long on one problem.

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8️⃣ After the Competition

• Check your final ranking on the scoreboard.
• Share your solutions or write-ups (if the organizers allow it).
• Reflect on what you learned — many challenges use real-world techniques.

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📌 Quick Reference

Action	Where in CTFd
Register/Login	Top-right corner
View challenges	Challenges tab
Submit flag	Inside challenge page
View ranking	Scoreboard tab
Join/Create team	Teams tab
See announcements	Notifications tab