diff --git a/lib/objects/local_ruby_challenge_generator.rb b/lib/objects/local_ruby_challenge_generator.rb
index 1560ac7da..8a0320460 100644
--- a/lib/objects/local_ruby_challenge_generator.rb
+++ b/lib/objects/local_ruby_challenge_generator.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 require_relative 'local_script_challenge_generator.rb'
 class RubyChallengeGenerator < ScriptChallengeGenerator
 
+  attr_accessor :difficulty
+
   def initialize
     super
     self.module_name = 'Ruby Example Script Generator'
diff --git a/lib/objects/local_script_challenge_generator.rb b/lib/objects/local_script_challenge_generator.rb
index 5aa0ff8a8..56a02b47f 100644
--- a/lib/objects/local_script_challenge_generator.rb
+++ b/lib/objects/local_script_challenge_generator.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class ScriptChallengeGenerator
   attr_accessor :module_name
   attr_accessor :has_base64_inputs
   attr_accessor :outputs
+  attr_accessor :difficulty
 
   # override this
   def initialize
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ class ScriptChallengeGenerator
     self.module_name = 'Null generator'
     self.has_base64_inputs = false
     self.outputs = []
+    self.difficulty = ''
   end
 
   # override this
@@ -51,7 +53,8 @@ class ScriptChallengeGenerator
 
   def get_options_array
     [['--help', '-h', GetoptLong::NO_ARGUMENT],
-     ['--b64', GetoptLong::OPTIONAL_ARGUMENT]]
+     ['--b64', GetoptLong::OPTIONAL_ARGUMENT],
+     ['--difficulty', GetoptLong::OPTIONAL_ARGUMENT]]
   end
 
   # Override this when using read_fact's in your module. Always call super first
@@ -67,6 +70,9 @@ class ScriptChallengeGenerator
         usage
       when '--b64'
         # do nothing
+      when '--difficulty'
+        self.difficulty << arg
+
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/local.rb b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/local.rb
index 9cd79919a..542b4c484 100644
--- a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/local.rb
+++ b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/local.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class EchoStringChallenge < RubyChallengeGenerator
   end
 
   def challenge_content
-    File.read(File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), 'challenge.rb'))
+    File.read(File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__), "#{difficulty}.rb"))
   end
 
 end
diff --git a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/challenge.rb b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/low.rb
similarity index 100%
rename from modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/challenge.rb
rename to modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_local/low.rb
diff --git a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_metadata.xml b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_metadata.xml
index ea7969acc..e05422655 100644
--- a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_metadata.xml
+++ b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/echo_string/secgen_metadata.xml
@@ -15,6 +15,15 @@
   <platform>linux</platform>
   <platform>windows</platform>
 
+  <read_fact>difficulty</read_fact>
+
+  <default_input into="difficulty">
+    <value>low</value>
+    <!--TODO: implement higher difficulty options -->
+    <!--<value>medium</value>-->
+    <!--<value>high</value>-->
+  </default_input>
+
   <output_type>script</output_type>
 
 </generator>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/ruby_example/secgen_metadata.xml b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/ruby_example/secgen_metadata.xml
index bc914d64e..f5c773c1a 100644
--- a/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/ruby_example/secgen_metadata.xml
+++ b/modules/generators/challenges/misc/programming/ruby_example/secgen_metadata.xml
@@ -13,6 +13,19 @@
   <platform>linux</platform>
   <platform>windows</platform>
 
+
+  <!-- Some script challenges can take a difficulty parameter. -->
+  <!-- Valid inputs are: low, medium, high -->
+
+  <!--<read_fact>difficulty</read_fact>-->
+
+  <!--<default_input into="difficulty">-->
+    <!--<value>low</value>-->
+    <!--<value>medium</value>-->
+    <!--<value>high</value>-->
+  <!--</default_input>-->
+
+
   <output_type>script</output_type>
 
 </generator>
\ No newline at end of file