XWord Muggles Forum

Good morning Muggles, and welcome to Muggle Meta Monday! Special thanks to Dr. Tom for his debut meta last week… hope to see more from him.

This week’s puzzle is called “Backup Plan,” probably around a Week 3 rating. Please PM me your solution by 4 PM on Sunday, and this week, I’m going to try to give at least one or two snapshots of a leaderboard during the week. Feel free to PM me for nudges, but try to stick with it for a couple days first. If nothing else, Nudge Wednesday occurs on… uh, Wednesday this week.

Backup Plan.pdf

Backup Plan.puz

The answer to this meta is what you'll be when you've solved it. Good luck!

Solved!

I have solved every little bit of this meta!

Off the couch! Great meta, Al - thanks!

Off the couch. Thanks, Al.

I knew the answer an hour ago but I couldn’t find something that was really annoying me. Really a great puzzle, Al—thanks for taking the time to do it.

oldjudge wrote: ↑Mon Sep 07, 2020 3:20 pm I knew the answer an hour ago but I couldn’t find something that was really annoying me. Really a great puzzle, Al—thanks for taking the time to do it.

I bet it was the same something that was annoying me.

boharr wrote: ↑Mon Sep 07, 2020 3:36 pm

oldjudge wrote: ↑Mon Sep 07, 2020 3:20 pm I knew the answer an hour ago but I couldn’t find something that was really annoying me. Really a great puzzle, Al—thanks for taking the time to do it.

I bet it was the same something that was annoying me.

...and me.

Off the couch!

Awaiting Al's confirmation because, yes, there was one thing in particular that vexed me for some time. Probably the same as for others.

Fun puzzle!

EDIT: Confirmed!

That last little bit was a doozy!

Same experience here. I THINK I see the missing thing, but it's definitely not a firm click, at least yet.

Edit: oh, it's 100%. There was information I didn't know, and so I was on the wrong track. Google TTR.

Really liked the grid and cluing. Thanks, Al!

Hector wrote: ↑Mon Sep 07, 2020 5:21 pm Same experience here. I THINK I see the missing thing, but it's definitely not a firm click, at least yet.

Edit: oh, it's 100%. There was information I didn't know, and so I was on the wrong track. Google TTR.

Really liked the grid and cluing. Thanks, Al!

Thanks... oh yeah, and Googling is definitely allowed for the...missing thing. At least it was when I wrote it!

Excellent puzzle, Al! I particularly enjoyed that doozy of a...missing thing...think doing lots of cryptics recently may have helped.

If asked to provide a review quote for your future book of metas I would simply say: “Wonderfully diabolical!”

LesY wrote: ↑Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:43 pm Excellent puzzle, Al! I particularly enjoyed that doozy of a...missing thing...think doing lots of cryptics recently may have helped.

If asked to provide a review quote for your future book of metas I would simply say: “Wonderfully diabolical!”

Thanks!

Signed, Diabolic-Al

🛋

Off the couch and on to the (shorter) week ahead. Some devilishly (and unsurprisingly) clever clues from one of our resident Meta Mavens; 21A and 5D were particular faves, along with all those that reflect the constructor's vast musical playlist. You make hard work look so effortless, Al!

Teetering on the edge, awaiting confirmation.

{ Confirmed - with a chuckle to share after the reveal }

Solved. I checked with Al last night and he gave me credit for solving even though I can't see how to get the final part of the answer.

C=64 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 08, 2020 11:51 am Solved. I checked with Al last night and he gave me credit for solving even though I can't see how to get the final part of the answer.

PM me if you’d like a last part nudge. It’s genius!