Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? A weekly meta crossword constructed by forum member Ben (aka benchen71). These metas range from relatively easy to more challenging, depending on how many Australianisms he puts in them! Puzzles are posted in a new thread every Tuesday, with nudges appearing on Saturdays, and the solution coming out on Mondays. (At least, that's the plan. Given he lives in Australia, and they are so far ahead of the US time-zone-wise, things may get posted early!)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? Time to put your lateral thinking caps on and see if you can solve two puzzles at once: the one in 6 down, and the meta, the answer of which should be obvious given the puzzle's title.
PM me with your submissions or submit on Crosshare. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Dec 19, 2021 5:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
Interesting fact about 47A.... He wasn't in the movies either. In the movies his name was Fritz. So far as I can tell (and I *must* be wrong) the first reference to a 47A was in Mel Brooks "Young Frankenstein" and if I'm right (which I can't be) it was simply because (so I surmise, but I must be wrong) Mel Brooks was confusing Frankenstein with "House of Wax" in which the creepy assistant (played by Charles Bronson, a mute, not a hunchback) was named 47A.
One of my pet bits of arcana.
So I just plain couldn't get my meta based on "Up the Down Staircase" to work.
My challenge it to constructors is to make a meta where the meta, theme or metanism is "Up the Down Staircase".
META a 1, GRID a 5. I never did get 6D until I "Crosshare solved" and saw my mistake. I got the answer but I can't get it using the suggested method so I must be doing something wrong. I'll settle for getting there another way. So score one for the Oldi and I'll wait to see the reveal.
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
Stormed the castle, confirmed on Crosshare - thanks for the puzzle, Ben!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 contest-style (meta) crosswords that we've created to help raise money for cancer-related organizations - get the bundle at http://crosswordsforcancer.com
Wow, huge first day successful solve list. Well done, everyone!
Darth
comp
Dow Jones
Bird Lives
Mike D
whimsy
Cinny
Cindy Weatherman
Meg
Capn Rick
Ira Hanson
boharr
kymike
lbray53
Tom Wilson
rjy
cwillmore
hoover
calica
Carolyn
RPardoe
DrTom
andeux
Laura M
(If you would prefer your Muggle username (if different to Crosshare) please PM me and I can edit the list.)
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
Dplass wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 12:25 pm
Huh. I see step 1 but not step 2. Maybe post-enlightenment?
There's really only 1 step. Remember, there are two puzzles referred to, not one. The meta is separate from 6 down; the solution to 6 down is just the hint to the meta - and you may not need it!
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta!
Dplass wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 12:25 pm
Huh. I see step 1 but not step 2. Maybe post-enlightenment?
There's really only 1 step. Remember, there are two puzzles referred to, not one. The meta is separate from 6 down; the solution to 6 down is just the hint to the meta - and you may not need it!
I thought it'd be clever if you incorporated. Could "easily" be done.
So I just plain couldn't get my meta based on "Up the Down Staircase" to work.
My challenge it to constructors is to make a meta where the meta, theme or metanism is "Up the Down Staircase".
Maybe post-enlightenment?
