"Earthquake Zone" by benchen71

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!)
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benchen71
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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"Earthquake Zone" by benchen71

#1

Post by benchen71 »

Welcome to...

benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? Melbourne experienced an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale on the 22nd of September 2021. It was the biggest earthquake I've ever experienced, even though it only lasted for about 30 seconds and just made the house shake a little. What made it interesting, though, was that Melbourne was still in lockdown, but this was something we all experienced together. I made this crossword later that day to commemorate the moment!

PM me with your submissions or submit on Crosshare. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.

Earthquake Zone - Online Form
Earthquake Zone - PUZ
Earthquake Zone - PDF
Earthquake Zone - spreadsheet

Nudges are here.
The solution is here.

havefun.gif
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Sep 25, 2022 7:27 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! :shock:
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Cap'n Rick
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Location: Nahant, MA

#2

Post by Cap'n Rick »

MOAT crossed! Nice one, Ben!
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles here! Check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays" here!
Schmeel
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#3

Post by Schmeel »

Over the moat.
Fun puzzle!
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Darth
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Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:51 pm
Location: Champaign, IL

#4

Post by Darth »

De-MOATed... [Ben, You rock!]
temblor-el.gif
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lbray53
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Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
Location: Elkhorn, WI

#5

Post by lbray53 »

Crossed the MOAT! Do I spy with my little eye, an Easter Egg? It could be my imagination.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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boharr
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Location: Westchester, NY

#6

Post by boharr »

Got it.
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ChrisKochmanski
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Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Saline, Michigan

#7

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Trans-moat. Fun!
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Cinny
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#8

Post by Cinny »

Crossed the moat. Nicely constructed meta. Thanks, Ben!
Cindy Heisler
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woozy
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#9

Post by woozy »

Well, I don't know what it is but I got my idea for my next construction.
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".
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KayW
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Location: Chicago

#10

Post by KayW »

:tornado: :european_castle: :crossed_swords: :rabbit: Well done, Ben - thanks!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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ReB
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Location: East Tennessee

#11

Post by ReB »

Crossed the MOAT without a tremor. Good construction.
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whimsy
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Location: Hopkinton MA

#12

Post by whimsy »

Tumbled to it -- --

Untitledcastle.png
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benchen71
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#13

Post by benchen71 »

Getting close to the first 24-hour mark, and here's the solvers who survived the Earthquake Zone!

Tobonic
Tom Wilson
Capn Rick
Schmeel
jbird
Darth
boharr
lbray53
DIS
ChrisKochmanski
Andrew Bradburn
Cindy Heisler
KayW
LindaPRmaven
Meg
Wendy S HeadinHome
markhr
ReB
Tyrpmom
Hector
SeamusOL
whimsy

22 is not bad for day 1 of a "week 3" puzzle.
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! :shock:
Qmark
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2022 4:33 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

#14

Post by Qmark »

Nice one, Ben! Challenging fill, enjoyable mechanism.
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HeadinHome
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Location: Charlotte, NC

#15

Post by HeadinHome »

An enjoyable storming of the castle (I love the smell of trebuchets in the morning?). Needed google on some things, but the result was learning a couple new actually useful words/terms!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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DrTom
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Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#16

Post by DrTom »

I was shaking when I entered my answer, but I have crossed the MOAT! Great puzzle Ben, thanks
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!
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jhseeman
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Location: Charleston, SC

#17

Post by jhseeman »

I've jumped the moat....excellent puzzle.
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CPJohnson
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Location: Kingsport, TN

#18

Post by CPJohnson »

Finally got it after a push.
Cynthia
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benchen71
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#19

Post by benchen71 »

Solver update before the nudges:

Bbaack
Qmark
DrTom
JHSeeman
Byron
Ergcat
MrTheHan
CPJohnson

We're up to 30 now.
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! :shock:
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benchen71
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#20

Post by benchen71 »

Nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. The central entry includes a hint in its clue: "Study of Earth's shifting crust, one feature of which can be found in this puzzle and provides the answer to the meta".

2. You're looking for something hidden in the grid.

3. Actually, you can find 4 somethings.

4. Look diagonally.
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! :shock:
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