"Show Them The Way" - October 9, 2020

[wildjed]

Made it off the boat with a small nudge from Wendy!
Think I'll keep my feet off the sand for now though and enjoy the party from the boat... Will try to make my first solo trip next week!

[norrin2]

I’m ashore but only because of several nudges. Can’t believe how lost I was and how easy it is once you know how.

[otlaolap]

Well, I just threw a Hail Mary because there was nothing else I could see. It is almost certainly a dud. I've been reading through the comments here after submitting my answer, and it seems very likely that I've missed everything. So total me up this week as welded onto the boat.

[TPS]

I’m ashore but only because of several nudges. Can’t believe how lost I was and how easy it is once you know how.

This is a hard puzzle to nudge - at least it has been for me. Normally, I'll send a nudge and get a message back like 2-3 minutes later saying that was just enough for them to see the mechanism. That hasn't happened with this puzzle - I just get a message back saying, "Yeah, not seeing it" and thats usually my line!

[brulo]

i'll take a nudge

[tmitchell300]

On shore finally. Stared at it off and on for two days, then it hit me when I was driving to dinner. Weird one, since I didn't really go down any rabbit holes, I just stared blankly. I can see how it would be difficult to nudge this one.

[burak]

I will refrain from commenting on the mechanism, but I just want to say that I enjoyed this meta puzzle because of a certain quality. I'll elaborate in 22 hours or so.

[Wendy Walker]

This is a hard puzzle to nudge - at least it has been for me.

I agree. The mechanism is so straightforward this week that it's challenging to even hint at it without giving everything away. I for one was massively overthinking it at first.

[Prozach]

On Shore, finally. Thanks to two independent nudges that were pretty much the same, and thanks to Joe's Excel sheet.

[Wendy Walker]

On shore finally. Stared at it off and on for two days, then it hit me when I was driving to dinner.

You got it while driving, WOW! Tell us more. Did you have the puzzle with you so you could check immediately or did you have to wait until after dinner/dessert/ coffee to confirm? Was anyone in the car with you? Were they familiar with the contest or did you have to explain?

[Joepickett]

On shore finally. Stared at it off and on for two days, then it hit me when I was driving to dinner.

You got it while driving, WOW! Tell us more. Did you have the puzzle with you so you could check immediately or did you have to wait until after dinner/dessert/ coffee to confirm? Was anyone in the car with you? Were they familiar with the contest or did you have to explain?

DWP is illegal in some states you know...just saying.

[ky-mike]

I’m ashore but only because of several nudges. Can’t believe how lost I was and how easy it is once you know how.

This is a hard puzzle to nudge - at least it has been for me. Normally, I'll send a nudge and get a message back like 2-3 minutes later saying that was just enough for them to see the mechanism. That hasn't happened with this puzzle - I just get a message back saying, "Yeah, not seeing it" and thats usually my line!

Might as well throw that nudge my way, because I am seeing nothing.

[JoeS]

On shore. Matt threw us a bone this week. Should have seen it quicker.

[ky-mike]

Might as well throw that nudge my way, because I am seeing nothing.

Thanks to a small nudge, I have left the bar on the ship and am staggering to the tiki bar on the shore. One Hawaiian Punch, please!

[DaveKennison]

So my subconscious was supposed to work on the meta overnight and report back in the morning, but it gave me this:

There is a puzzle in the den,
In the den.
And there my master wields his pen,
Wields his pen.
And fills his grid, so very rapidly,
He has no time to talk to me!

Adieu, adieu, old friend, adieu.
I can no longer stay with you.
Your O! C! D! is overwhelming me,
So I must search for someone new!

To summarize: Puzzle was easy, can't grok the meta; I'll try again later, hoping for bettah.

[Janet]

Still hanging out with Isaac. I've had a couple of nudges which were already what I've been doing, so I guess I'm on the right path but not seeing the answer.

[Bob cruise director]

Might as well throw that nudge my way, because I am seeing nothing.

Thanks to a small nudge, I have left the bar on the ship and am staggering to the tiki bar on the shore. One Hawaiian Punch, please!

One Hawaiian Punch coming up

[Bob cruise director]

Just a note. PJM found something amazing in the grid that has nothing to do with the meta but with the skill of Matt Gaffney. I told him to post it later this afternoon under the assumption that by then everyone will have completed the grid.

[Janet]

I was happy that I solved the Saturday cryptic puzzle! Those are fun.

I may conquer this meta yet! My 3rd nudge I just got may end up getting me towed to shore! (in which case, I'll abstain from the mug lottery.)

[bread-girl]

I was stumped yesterday but a fresh look this morning led me to shore thanks for reassuring me that it wasn’t overly complicated