"King Me!" - April 30, 2020

[Inca]

I am afraid I am going to have a hard time with this one because I think I'm going to have to learn rules that some may have used, even if decades ago, but I never did. I am doing the bunny hop all around this one. If my assumption is correct. there was once a meta (that I really enjoyed) that was a close cousin to this one. If that's not so, then I am on totally incorrect playing field.

[joequavis]

On shore, one small grid mistake made this take a lot longer than it should have.

[spotter]

Took me long enough to see it! On shore now. I knew the path and my brain just wasn't following

[Geoduck]

This week's contest is titled "King Me!" by Mike Shenk

The answer to this week's contest crossword is a historic monarch

Good luck with the grid and the meta

OK, so if I didn't participate in this forum, I would never have seen "The answer to this week's contest crossword is a historic monarch." I usually see the prompt in the pop-over window that arises when I forst open the grid, and can view it again if I click on "Crossword Info" under the grid. All I See is the contest title: King Me.

Where are you all seeing this prompt?

[Janet P]

So many rabbits.
Joining Marge in the garden
To help with clean up.

[Joe Ross]

OK, so if I didn't participate in this forum, I would never have seen "The answer to this week's contest crossword is a historic monarch." I usually see the prompt in the pop-over window that arises when I forst open the grid, and can view it again if I click on "Crossword Info" under the grid. All I See is the contest title: King Me.

Where are you all seeing this prompt?

On the PDFs. (See below.)

For whatever reason & for the past couple of months, the meta clue has not been added to the pop-over window, when solving online.

The blank pop-over window:

[Geoduck]

OK, so if I didn't participate in this forum, I would never have seen "The answer to this week's contest crossword is a historic monarch." I usually see the prompt in the pop-over window that arises when I forst open the grid, and can view it again if I click on "Crossword Info" under the grid. All I See is the contest title: King Me.

Where are you all seeing this prompt?

On the PDFs.

For whatever reason & for the past couple of months, the meta clue has not been added to the pop-over window, when solving online.

Thanks. I'll have to remember to look at the PDF.

I think it's usually been there, even recently.

OTOH, I may have been trying to solve some of these without the prompt, using only the title, which might 'splain why my success rate has been down a bot lately.

[Geoduck]

While I'm asking questions, where can one find the PUZ file for these?

[ckurihara]

Wish I could see what all of you 'on-shore' types do! I'm trying to keep my (well, only 2-week) streak going, but although the puzzle itself was doable, the meta is proving difficult. Sigh. I see others still on the boat, so don't feel too bad. Maybe a night's sleep will help, as has been suggested. Zzzzz.

[BrianMac]

I find myself in an unfamiliar position, because usually I tinker around with the meta for at least a day or two before solving it (if I ever do). This week, I'm one of those early solvers chilling on the beach with beverage in hand.
My personality makes me want to throw out a lifeline to those who haven't made it yet. But I assume that's verboten?? I wouldn't dream of blatantly ruining the fun for anyone, but it's hard not to try to think of a creatively helpful hint that still allows for figuring out the answer.

It is not verboten, but please do so only through email or the Private Message system (i.e., not publicly). I would only reach out to people who have requested a hint, or a "nudge." Part of the game here is posting whether you are on shore (solved) or on the ship (still solving), so someone who is saying that they haven't solved is not necessarily asking for help. Finally, start by asking what the solver has so far and then try to build on that as opposed to offering a hint right out of the gate, which might deprive them of some of the aha experience.

If you're looking for more metas to keep you busy, check out the Other Metas section of the forum. There is an excellent meta offered by Matt Gaffney every Friday for a small fee ($3.00 monthly, I think). There are also free meta puzzles by PGW, the Fill Me In Now podcast, and member-created puzzles in that section.

[Joe]

Good heavens, that took longer than it should have! I am safely on the beach. Keep away.

[EdStrong]

Ashore - grid was a bear!

[TPS]

Don't count me ashore - I failed at this one. COMPLETELY - Both Grid and Meta. This was worse than a PGW for me which is saying something.

I had everything I needed to solve it highlighted and just stared at it for 4 hours this morning - someone finally had to tell me the answer. I NEVER would have gotten this one even with it laid out in front of me.

I am super impressed with anyone who was able to solve both the grid and meta w/o help - that is some genius level work. Even more impressed if someone solved it without having seen this type of methodology before - I think this one will have a very low submission rate (I could be wrong) as I think newer solvers like me might be able to figure out sorta what the constructor has in mind but where to actually begin is gonna be rough. Then again it could just be me - I'm pretty stupid and only really get the super obvious ones like we saw the past couple weeks.

[Doug C]

This puzzle marks my one year anniversarty of joining the group. Thanks to all for participating and making it fun!
As for this week's puzzle: Grid is done and I think I know what to do to solve meta but not ready to tackle it yet. Maybe over the weekend. Going to relax with Isaac for now.

[Meg]

While I'm asking questions, where can one find the PUZ file for these?

There is a website where you can get every wsj crossword in AcrossLite, including the meta crossword.
https://www.fleetingimage.com/wij/xyzzy/20-wsj.html
The upside is you save on toner. You can make the black squares grey. The downside is sometimes you have to wait 10-15 minutes for it to update itself.

[norrin2]

On shore with an iced tea in my hand -- still haven't mastered the art of day drinking. But I'm working on it.

[Bob cruise director]

This week's contest is titled "King Me!" by Mike Shenk

The answer to this week's contest crossword is a historic monarch

Good luck with the grid and the meta

OK, so if I didn't participate in this forum, I would never have seen "The answer to this week's contest crossword is a historic monarch." I usually see the prompt in the pop-over window that arises when I forst open the grid, and can view it again if I click on "Crossword Info" under the grid. All I See is the contest title: King Me.

Where are you all seeing this prompt?

I work from my computer and download the pdf which is where I see it to post.

[Bob cruise director]

Don't count me ashore - I failed at this one. COMPLETELY - Both Grid and Meta. This was worse than a PGW for me which is saying something.

I had everything I needed to solve it highlighted and just stared at it for 4 hours this morning - someone finally had to tell me the answer. I NEVER would have gotten this one even with it laid out in front of me.

I am super impressed with anyone who was able to solve both the grid and meta w/o help - that is some genius level work. Even more impressed if someone solved it without having seen this type of methodology before - I think this one will have a very low submission rate (I could be wrong) as I think newer solvers like me might be able to figure out sorta what the constructor has in mind but where to actually begin is gonna be rough. Then again it could just be me - I'm pretty stupid and only really get the super obvious ones like we saw the past couple weeks.

TPS - there are more on the ship with you than the numbers will show. Do not be down on yourself. If after you do 3-4 of these a week for five years, then we can think of a different beer to drink. Hang tough

[Bob cruise director]

Ashore. To quote Chris Farley..... that was awesome.

I'll take a Yuengling and go off to practice with my new sand wedge

Tee time next Friday. Cannot wait.

I am coming to wherever you are. Golf courses closed in NE and NY except for CN and RI

[Dplass]

Still no idea. Sigh.