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Run your first CTF

This quickstart takes you from a new organisation to a playable Biterra event. It assumes you are an organiser and want a simple team-based CTF with a few challenges, a registration window, and a scoreboard.

1. Create or choose the organisation​

  1. Sign in to the Customer Portal at ctf.biterra.co.
  2. Use the organisation switcher at the top of the sidebar.
  3. Choose the organisation that should own the event, or create a new one.
  4. Check the organisation plan and limits before you start building.

The selected organisation controls which worlds, members, billing details, and plan limits you see.

2. Create the world​

  1. Open Worlds.
  2. Click Create world.
  3. Enter the world name and required details.
  4. Click View details on the new world.

A world is the organiser record for one CTF event. Players usually discover it as an event.

3. Set the event basics​

Open the world Settings tab and check:

  • Event title and Event objective.
  • Registration Period: when players can register.
  • Event Period: when players can play.
  • Access Type: use Open for a public event, Invite Only for a controlled event, Organisation Only for internal events, or Workshop for link-based play.
  • Team size limit.
  • Homepage content: rules, support channel, prizes, schedule, and any joining instructions.
  • Scoreboard settings: visibility, anonymous names, static/dynamic points, and first-strike bonus.

Use Save changes at the bottom of the form.

4. Decide how teams will join​

For a straightforward first CTF, let players create teams during registration. If you want pre-set teams:

  1. Open the Teams tab.
  2. Click Create Team.
  3. Set the team name, colour, and invite code.
  4. Share the team invite code with the right players.

Remember: a team invite code chooses the team. It is different from an event access code, which unlocks invite-only registration.

5. Build the challenge map​

Click Enter control panel from the world details page.

In the world control panel:

  1. Open Categories and create a few clear categories, such as Web, Crypto, Forensics, or Warm-up.
  2. Open Challenge Bank and import a few reusable challenges, or open Challenges and create your own.
  3. Review every challenge before launch: title, description, answer, points, hints, files, category, country, visibility, and optional timebomb or launchable settings.
  4. Open Progression Editor only if you need prerequisites or choice groups.
  5. Open Announcements and schedule any reminders you already know you will need.

Keep the first event simple. A visible warm-up challenge, a few category choices, and a clear scoreboard are better than an over-designed progression tree.

6. Test before sharing​

Before sending the event link widely, test the player flow:

  1. Register as a normal player or test account.
  2. Create or join a team.
  3. Wait until event access should be available, or temporarily use a test event period.
  4. Open the map.
  5. Open a challenge.
  6. Submit a correct answer and confirm the score changes.
  7. Try a wrong answer if penalties are enabled.
  8. Buy a hint if hints have costs.
  9. Check the scoreboard and score logs.

If you use launchable challenges, test launch and teardown with a non-admin account.

7. Run the event​

During the CTF:

  • Keep the world control panel Dashboard open to monitor active users, active teams, challenge counts, and event status.
  • Use Announcements for clarifications and time-sensitive updates.
  • Use Logs to review score changes, pending entries, and manual adjustments.
  • Be careful changing challenges or progression during live play, because it can affect what teams can see or solve.