MGWCC #819 — “The Odd Squad”

An excellent puzzle written by one of the innovators of the meta crossword format. It comes out every Friday at noon and increases in difficulty throughout the month. Available for modest subscription (worth every cent) here: www.xwordcontest.com
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rjy
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#21

Post by rjy »

Awaiting beam… clever, challenging puzzle. Could’ve been solo, but gave in to a bit of rabbit-hole confirmation to make it to the finish line. Tough week 2, but it all depends on what you see and when.
Ray
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dannykbernstein
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#22

Post by dannykbernstein »

Thoroughly lost for the first time in 2024. If anyone would like to PM me their favorite nudge, I would be a very happy solver.
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ship4u
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#23

Post by ship4u »

On the board at #82. This one was more difficult than I anticipated for a week 2!
Don & Cynthia

We are always happy to get to know other muggles and help in any way! PM's are always welcome. The next best thing to winning a mug is helping a fellow muggle win a mug!
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MikeyG
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#24

Post by MikeyG »

ship4u wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:58 pm On the board at #82. This one was more difficult than I anticipated for a week 2!
There was a meta a while back where Matt asked us to rate the meta's difficulty. I'd say about a Week 3 for this one, but everyone's mileage may vary!
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 92. It's a Breeze
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woozy
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#25

Post by woozy »

Oog. Got it with a group solve (well a group of others solve and one spinning donuts and pointing out every weird observations that he *knew* were wrong).

I'm going to say this is a very solid week 4.

EDIT: Argh! I forgot to check group-solve!
Funny story. I was all set to enter Par for the course for the CrossHare midi contest for April but I mistakenly thought midi meant 7x 7 and not 11 x 11. Oops. Well.... Here's a complex but **small** meta on the subject of golf.
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hcbirker
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#26

Post by hcbirker »

Got it from a small nudge from @ajk
Heidi
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DCBilly
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#27

Post by DCBilly »

Struggled in at #95. Needed help to get started.
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KayW
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#28

Post by KayW »

Whew!!! In retrospect, probably a week 2 but definitely a SAD week 2. Emphasis on the "D" for me! I must have tried everything BUT, first.
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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Jeremy Smith
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#29

Post by Jeremy Smith »

Didn't have much time to work on this during this weekend, but I'm on the board at #124. Agree with @KayW. This was a SAD meta. Maybe a week 2--maybe not. But definitely SAD.
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Andrew Bradburn
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#30

Post by Andrew Bradburn »

After a very busy weekend, finally got to look at this Monday morning. Luckily after about 40 minutes, was able to see something that worked. To me it played like a week 2, but I can see for some this feeling more like a week 3. Beamed at 152.
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SJMcK
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#31

Post by SJMcK »

Beamed up. Clever.

(I wish the leaderboard would update more frequently. It’s been like nine hours since the last update)

(#160)
Last edited by SJMcK on Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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benchen71
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#32

Post by benchen71 »

Awaiting the beam... [Ugh!]

... and I'm beamed at #184.
Last edited by benchen71 on Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:15 pm, edited 1 time 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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HunterX
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#33

Post by HunterX »

Not seeing it at all. Got a nudge and I still don't see anything.

Even with a choice of only 10 possible answers, I can't see any possibility of a back-solve. (Not that that ever works for me.)
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MountainManZach
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#34

Post by MountainManZach »

Edit: thanks @MMe for the hint that got me there!

Oofda, I’d love it if some kind muggle could drop me a nudge

Normally I’d PM someone and tell them what I’ve tried, but I’ve only noticed a bunch of interesting aberrations that almost certainly aren’t meta related 😂
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Katiedid
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#35

Post by Katiedid »

I'm lost in space. I've printed it out and will try again, but I'm not seeing anything.
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HunterX
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#36

Post by HunterX »

HunterX wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:31 am Not seeing it at all. Got a nudge and I still don't see anything.

Even with a choice of only 10 possible answers, I can't see any possibility of a back-solve. (Not that that ever works for me.)
Okay. Finally figured it out. Would not have gotten it without the nudge. Awaiting transporter beam.
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Dr.Buttbeard
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#37

Post by Dr.Buttbeard »

I'm struggling with this one - looking for a nudge to get me started. Thanks!
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Katiedid
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#38

Post by Katiedid »

Katiedid wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:05 pm I'm lost in space. I've printed it out and will try again, but I'm not seeing anything.
Whew, finally saw it. Beamed up.
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Joe Ross
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#39

Post by Joe Ross »

254. Joe Ross 02/14 - 11:56

20240209-MGWCC819-TheOddSquad-reveal.png
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Bird Lives
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#40

Post by Bird Lives »

On the board, I had tried every other way of thinking about "odd," and initials is one of the standard tools. So I felt kind of stupid for needing a nudge telling me to pay attention to them.
Jay
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