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#630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 11:38 am
by BrianMac
The answer to the meta is a creature you've never seen.

The deadline will be extended until noon Wednesday.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:00 pm
by Joe Ross
A sober Joe Ross

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:04 pm
by Geoduck
Grid is done but I sure can't find all the 75A!

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:10 pm
by TMart
Woohoo! On the board at #6, and before noon. That’s a first.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:36 pm
by damefox
Dammit, submitted right after an update. I'm only 80% on my answer... we'll have to see.

Update: on the board! #18, pretty good for me on a Week 4.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:37 pm
by Al Sisti
Yeah! My second straight top ten finish, and in week 3 and 4 at that. Softens the blow of being 125th in this week's WSJ. No. No, it doesn't.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:05 pm
by oldjudge
I think I have it. I have submitted. Got it—doesn’t exactly seem like a week four.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:17 pm
by LesY
[deleted post]

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:18 pm
by Dplass
I can't even get a toehold on the grid. Yay week 1 next week!

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:29 pm
by Meg
oldjudge wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:05 pm I think I have it. I have submitted. Got it—doesn’t exactly seem like a week four.
I’m pretty sure I have it. The reason it doesn’t seem like a week 4 to you is because you are getting really good at metas! The whole difficulty rating is very tenuous, imo. Which tunnel will I trip and fall into this week?? Most of the time it just feels like dumb luck.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:32 pm
by Streroto
Grid straightforward. Meta not seeing it. Am confused by wording of 75A and wondering if 7D and 69A are meant as warnings or “words meant to deceive”.

Lots of time until Tuesday.

Stay well all

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:15 pm
by oldjudge
Meg wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:29 pm
oldjudge wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:05 pm I think I have it. I have submitted. Got it—doesn’t exactly seem like a week four.
I’m pretty sure I have it. The reason it doesn’t seem like a week 4 to you is because you are getting really good at metas! The whole difficulty rating is very tenuous, imo. Which tunnel will I trip and fall into this week?? Most of the time it just feels like dumb luck.
You are very kind to say that but I still have a long way to go to catch up with expert solvers like you. What progress I have made I owe in large part to the advice that you have so generously provided.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:29 pm
by Meg
oldjudge wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:15 pm
Meg wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:29 pm
oldjudge wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:05 pm I think I have it. I have submitted. Got it—doesn’t exactly seem like a week four.
I’m pretty sure I have it. The reason it doesn’t seem like a week 4 to you is because you are getting really good at metas! The whole difficulty rating is very tenuous, imo. Which tunnel will I trip and fall into this week?? Most of the time it just feels like dumb luck.
You are very kind to say that but I still have a long way to go to catch up with expert solvers like you. What progress I have made I owe in large part to the advice that you have so generously provided.
You out-humbled me. Perhaps we can both just say that we have some skill in this area.🙂

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:30 pm
by Amanda Hugginkiss
Al Sisti wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:37 pm Yeah! My second straight top ten finish, and in week 3 and 4 at that. Softens the blow of being 125th in this week's WSJ. No. No, it doesn't.
Hi Al, I’m wondering how to find out what number you are in the WSJ results. I’ve never seen a leaderboard. I always email my answer and it just goes into the void. Thank you!

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:36 pm
by Al Sisti
Amanda Hugginkiss wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 2:30 pm
Al Sisti wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 12:37 pm Yeah! My second straight top ten finish, and in week 3 and 4 at that. Softens the blow of being 125th in this week's WSJ. No. No, it doesn't.
Hi Al, I’m wondering how to find out what number you are in the WSJ results. I’ve never seen a leaderboard. I always email my answer and it just goes into the void. Thank you!
I just went to our illustrious Cruise Director's Saturday status post and counted down... and down... and down... until I saw my name/nom. So yeah, thanks for the reminder: Although I was 125th in the list of correct *Muggle* solvers, I was probably well into four digits in the list of all WSJ solvers.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:06 pm
by Tina
Ugh. Right now seems like too many possibilities. I'm overwhelmed. Taking a break.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:11 pm
by tonyrobots
Streroto wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:32 pm Grid straightforward. Meta not seeing it. Am confused by wording of 75A and wondering if 7D and 69A are meant as warnings or “words meant to deceive”.

Lots of time until Tuesday.

Stay well all
69A?

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:18 pm
by ChrisKochmanski
Beam me up!

OK, I'm going to attempt a meta within the meta. This is for people who have correctly solved the puzzle. Everyone else should ignore. This is NOT A HINT; it won't help you -- and if you're already struggling, it could worsen your plight. Actually, I'm betting that most people who HAVE solved are also likely to be mystified by what I'm getting at here. So if you don't quickly come to an answer to my question, I recommend that you simply erase this post from your mind. It relates to a personal interest that possibly a few here share, but not likely many. Here goes ...

There's a reason that Matt's delay of this puzzle to today is particularly fitting. If you can think of the reason why, please feel free to PM me with your answer. Thanks to all for indulging me this!

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:33 pm
by oldjudge
Chris-I messaged you. If it is what I am thinking of, I heard it this morning. I wonder if it was a coincidence.

Re: #630 - "A Number of Creatures"

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 4:42 pm
by KayW
tonyrobots wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:11 pm
Streroto wrote: Sat Jun 27, 2020 1:32 pm Grid straightforward. Meta not seeing it. Am confused by wording of 75A and wondering if 7D and 69A are meant as warnings or “words meant to deceive”.

Lots of time until Tuesday.

Stay well all
69A?
An entry you've never seen. ;)