XWord Muggles Forum

Fun and impressive the second time around, Cap'n! Thanks for the puzzle!

schmidzy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 7:18 pm

whimsy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 5:04 pm Dearly departed ducks (OTC)

Hey!

I actually thought of you as I was posting, because, you know, Pair O Ducks. But fear not; they're not that far gone. They've just left the couch.

Off the Couch.....with a fantastic puzzle and Mechanism. Wow....just wow.

Off the couch. A very smooth fill, and a fun a-ha. Thanks Cap’n!

Leaderboard

Awesome first day with 43 solvers!

Abide (TS)
Al Sisti (TS)
boharr (TS)
whimsy (TS)
MarkWoychick (TS)
MikeyG
benchen71
Pair O Ducks
Rufus T Firefly
Darth
Meg
Katiedid
Hector
BarbaraK
KayW
dannyvee
SamKat9
ImOnToo
lbray53
rjy
hcbirker
andeux
Berto
CPJohnson
Anita
Laura M
Eric Porter
JM
MatthewL
Cindy Weatherman
ChrisKochmanski
woozy
markhr
DrTom
Streroto
Gutman
HeadinHome
jhseeman
Philip Chow
lisajay
DrButtBeard
LindaPRmaven
Steve M

Please let me know if I've missed anyone. Nudges tomorrow!

Leaderboard Update

Six more solvers are no longer "lost in space":

Jim23809
merlinnimue
Tyrpmom
Carolyn
david
Darrell

Let's see if we can nudge a few more back into the proper orbit...

Wednesday Nudges

"Black holes" are points in "space" where the gravity is so strong that everything would be "lost" in them.

Besides AERO, are there any other grid entries that can go with "space"?

Re: Nudge 2, "go with" can mean precede or follow. (Don't forget to check the Downs!)

Twinkle, twinkle, little symmetrically-placed "stars".

@Darth's Crosshare comment was "Of course, I loved it!"

Please feel free to send me a PM if you still need help.

Needed Nudge 2 to persuade me to properly follow through on my initial thought from Monday. Think I've said this before, but the difference between trying an idea and trying a route that is confirmed to be relevant can be significant.

Fun as always. Thanks.

Off the couch and not lost in space!

Thanks, Cap’n Rick!

OTC , no longer lost in space!

Off the couch, despite trying my hardest to stay on it...

I had the right idea on Monday but I needed the third nudge to carry the idea to fruition. Thanks for a fun one Cap'n!

OTC. My blind guess was correct, but it took a nudge for me to see why. Amazing construction.

Off the couch! Love it!

Back from a week off and OTC. Fun one!

Leaderboard Update

19 more solvers bring our total to 68:

Cindy Heisler
DCBilly
kurtalert
Wendy Walker
ajk
Alvibu67
Johnny Luau
Ergcat
Jeremy Smith
ReB
LB800
ab
Jaclyn
Bird Lives
SeamusOL
DebbieC
adamsimonlevine
cbarbee002
Dow Jones

Please let me know if I've missed anyone!

Leaderboard Update

Well, we're up to 76 now with 8 new solvers:

michaelm
Mike D
James
Richard
alex
Naptown Kid
Carolyne Salt
ellequin

Please let me know if I've missed anyone!

Leaderboard Update

Four more solvers bring us to an even 80:

Sharkicicles
SJMcK
Anonymous Crossharer
Sanne

Has anyone seen @MaineMarge? Is she out leaf-peeping with @Bob cruise director?

Reveal later tonight or tomorrow!

Final Leaderboard

Four more solvers bring our final total to 84!

Cate C
SJ
Bob cruise director
MaineMarge

Thanks for solving, everyone! Reveal on the way!

Ahoy Muggles!

The meta answer is "Star Wars" - a two-word title that was "lost" in two black "holes" (i.e. "spaces") in the grid. How, you ask? Well, based on the clue at 63A "Space leader? (and a hint to solving this meta)", solvers needed to look for entries that could be paired with "space" (either preceding or following) to form new words/phrases. Those 8 entries were 9D SAFE, 24A TRIPLE, 26A AGE, 32D RACE, 33D WORK, 46A AIR, 47A ROCKET, and 51D SHIP. The first letters of these entries, in grid order, spelled "STAR WARS".


So, I've been into grid art lately, and I was trying to depict two "stars" symmetrically twinkling in the night sky. But after reading @HeadinHome's Crosshare comment, I think I like her "two X-wing fighters" interpretation better.


I also had a few space-related Easter eggs in the grid including:

• 10D THEEARTH

• 17A HOMEPLANET

• 56A ACTIONHERO (i.e. Harrison Ford)

• 45D GOSOLO (also Harrison Ford)

• 37D PATRIOTS (who could use some Jedi juju this season )

Thanks for solving, everyone! May the meta force be with you!
Cap'n Rick