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Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 4:05 pm
by steveb
On shore, delayed because I was traveling without access to a printer until this morning.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 4:13 pm
by debbierudy
Last week's puzzle was such fun, and not too difficult, but I'm really stumped by this one - Isaac, please make it a double!

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 4:33 pm
by pookie
"And we have three on the ship and 135 on the shore. Closing in our record of 145"
Mr. Cruise Director, I just reached shore! Count me in if we're trying for a record! 8-)

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 5:06 pm
by rexthree
count me on shore as well

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 5:30 pm
by Kas
Perhaps this is one of those weeks where everything just fell into place, but I suspect there will be a lot of right answers.
On shore!!

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 5:40 pm
by eagle1279
Longtime lurker, first-time muggler (?): On shore and enjoying a Manhattan (up, Maker's Mark), which I know is not exactly a tiki-bar drink, but in a while I won't care.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:00 pm
by lusophile
Due to travels didn't get to puzzle until this morning, no problem with grid, but couldn't see a route to an answer until setting it aside for a few hours.
Then an easy route ashore after paying my tab and leaving a generous tip for Isaac.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:19 pm
by DrTom
OK, a question to those of you who are regular MGWCCers. I have been ruminating over whether I should join, figuring that the Matt I usually see is in the WSJ world and his Metas may be easier there. So I tired the January 31st 2020 (How did you know..) and though initially a little stumped as to where to start I used the title and his clue to get me out of it rather easily. So. my question is; did I simply pick the simplest MGWCC in recent history or is that about usual (some harder, some easier). If that is the case then I'm going all in because I have not been able to abase myself nearly enough with one a week. :?:

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:23 pm
by bobbydeee
On shore after a brief detour down a rabbit hole. Clever meta!

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:30 pm
by oldjudge
DrTom wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:19 pm OK, a question to those of you who are regular MGWCCers. I have been ruminating over whether I should join, figuring that the Matt I usually see is in the WSJ world and his Metas may be easier there. So I tired the January 31st 2020 (How did you know..) and though initially a little stumped as to where to start I used the title and his clue to get me out of it rather easily. So. my question is; did I simply pick the simplest MGWCC in recent history or is that about usual (some harder, some easier). If that is the case then I'm going all in because I have not been able to abase myself nearly enough with one a week. :?:
I only joined last November so my history is limited, but I would say that the puzzle you did was an extremely easy end of the month puzzle. The puzzles typically start the month easy and get progressively more difficult. The end of month puzzles are hard, but not impossible. My guess is that you will be glad you signed up if you decide to.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:45 pm
by Meg
Joe wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 3:33 pm And the second I posted, I figured out the MGWCC. I've read comments saying that works and I guess it does. Now back to WSJ. Maybe lightning will strike twice!
It (post-enlightenment) only works if you don't need it to. Sounds like a Dumbledore spell, but it’s true.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:48 pm
by hcbirker
DrTom wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:19 pm OK, a question to those of you who are regular MGWCCers. I have been ruminating over whether I should join, figuring that the Matt I usually see is in the WSJ world and his Metas may be easier there. So I tired the January 31st 2020 (How did you know..) and though initially a little stumped as to where to start I used the title and his clue to get me out of it rather easily. So. my question is; did I simply pick the simplest MGWCC in recent history or is that about usual (some harder, some easier). If that is the case then I'm going all in because I have not been able to abase myself nearly enough with one a week. :?:
Go for it Dr. Tom! I usually get the first few weeks of the month and I've gotten a few week fours. Those are typically the hardest. You won't regret it!

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:25 pm
by BarbaraK
DrTom wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:19 pm OK, a question to those of you who are regular MGWCCers. I have been ruminating over whether I should join, figuring that the Matt I usually see is in the WSJ world and his Metas may be easier there. So I tired the January 31st 2020 (How did you know..) and though initially a little stumped as to where to start I used the title and his clue to get me out of it rather easily. So. my question is; did I simply pick the simplest MGWCC in recent history or is that about usual (some harder, some easier). If that is the case then I'm going all in because I have not been able to abase myself nearly enough with one a week. :?:
In a typical month, MGWCC has one puzzle easier than that one, one about like that one, and two harder.

Matt put all his January puzzles up on his website, so if you want to see the hardest one, look at
https://xwordcontest.com/downloads/mgwcc608_puzzle.pdf
And another one comparable to the one you did is
https://xwordcontest.com/downloads/mgwcc607_puzzle.pdf

And you should definitely sign up! It's now a month-to-month subscription, so there's not much risk in trying it. If you don't like it, you can always quit.

(Yeah, right, I could quit anytime, it's not like I'm hooked on these:)

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:44 pm
by Joe
Finally on shore. That was a close one. Thanks for your encouragement!

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 8:20 pm
by Bird Lives
DrTom wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 6:19 pm OK, a question to those of you who are regular MGWCCers. I have been ruminating over whether I should join, figuring that the Matt I usually see is in the WSJ world and his Metas may be easier there. So I tired the January 31st 2020 (How did you know..) and though initially a little stumped as to where to start I used the title and his clue to get me out of it rather easily. So. my question is; did I simply pick the simplest MGWCC in recent history or is that about usual (some harder, some easier). If that is the case then I'm going all in because I have not been able to abase myself nearly enough with one a week. :?:
I just started subscribing this year. Try the Jan. 24 for a 4th week level. It stumped me. You can check out the answer at the website. I figured I can deal with that kind of frustration twice a month.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:09 pm
by Bob cruise director
Our final count is 4 on the ship and 145 on the shore.

We had a new muggle since noon. We welcome eagle1279 soaring to the shore

Since noon, Debbie joined the ship's contingent

And making it to shore are
boharr
Katherine
Steve Beck
pookie
bobbydeee
rexthree
Kas
lusophile
eagle1279
and joe

Good luck to all winning the mug.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:58 pm
by Tom Shea
Made it to shore in the nick of time.

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:08 pm
by BarbaraK
Bob cruise director wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 9:09 pm Our final count is 4 on the ship and 145 on the shore.
Is that a record?

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:16 pm
by DrTom
Thanks to all my muggle friends! I'll try one of the harder ones and see if I need to get ready for real humiliation or perhaps be able to hone my meta skills. My "pie in the sky" goal is to one day actually construct a meta. I have been trying but it seems almost impossible and I have a MUCH greater respect for those people who do these week after week. I'm sure it gets easier with practice, but I am also sure it is never easy....

Re: "Game Pieces" - February 21, 2020

Posted: Sun Feb 23, 2020 10:22 pm
by SewYoung
jhcogan wrote: Sun Feb 23, 2020 12:11 pm Solved the grid last night. Now I've been working on the meta, while eating a brunch/lunch of cheese & crackers, homemade soup, and Diet Moxie. I was going to include a photo, but I can't get the file size reduced enough, either 😕
No real luck with the meta.
Going to eat a piece of pie, go for a walk on a relatively warm & sunny February day, and maybe look at the meta again--with something stronger from Issac. I'm not getting the "almost-at-the-solution" vibe this week 😕
Please don't mention cheese and crackers to me. My continuing weight gain is unacceptable, as I have outgrown most of my clothes, so I have cut out my favorite bedtime snack of cheddar cheese and Club Crackers (because the rectangular slices of cheese do not fit as nicely on round Ritz crackers) and a glass of cabernet. Trying to not eat anything after 7:00. Have lost a couple of pounds in a week. Hope it keeps up. I did, however eat cheese and crackers for breakfast yesterday.