XWord Muggles Forum

Cindy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:03 am When I give nudges, I ask the folks to tell me what they see. And then I tell them whether they are headed in the right or wrong direction. Sometimes this helps someone to a solution and sometimes not. But that is the world of puzzles. You cannot solve all the puzzles all the time.

burak wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:12 am

Cindy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:03 am When I give nudges, I ask the folks to tell me what they see. And then I tell them whether they are headed in the right or wrong direction. Sometimes this helps someone to a solution and sometimes not. But that is the world of puzzles. You cannot solve all the puzzles all the time.

By the way, that is perfectly acceptable to me and I think is helpful to new solvers. But I've listed my nudge-related concerns under this discussion: forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=389&p=20433#p20433 It's just that this week seems to be a perfect encapsulation of my concern number 3. That being said, I don't judge anyone who ask for nudges or anything because that would be absurd

Al Sisti wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:06 pm Step 1: notice that all four theme entries have words of 1, 2, 4, and 5 letters
Step 2: so the titular “Missing Piece” might be a 3-letter word
Step 3: write out the eight three-letter entries in grid order: ETA ASS MAS SIN BMI NOR AGO ILL
Step 4: see that the central four spell out Bach’s MASS IN B MINOR, which is the “Missing Piece” and another example of the 1, 2, 4, 5 pattern

Shoot - I had written in my notes B Minor, and noted that "noted" could refer to music. Well done solvers!

Hector wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:12 pm I Hail Maryed with Venus de Milo on account of missing pieces.

Al Sisti wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 12:06 pm Step 1: notice that all four theme entries have words of 1, 2, 4, and 5 letters
Step 2: so the titular “Missing Piece” might be a 3-letter word
Step 3: write out the eight three-letter entries in grid order: ETA ASS MAS SIN BMI NOR AGO ILL
Step 4: see that the central four spell out Bach’s MASS IN B MINOR, which is the “Missing Piece” and another example of the 1, 2, 4, 5 pattern

Shoot - I had written in my notes B Minor, and noted that "noted" could refer to music. Well done solvers!

And you say that the next one on Friday will be a week 4 puzzle that will be more difficult!

Cindy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:03 am I have had several requests for nudges from this board this week. And I will say without exception that no one was begging for a hint that would get them to the answer. In fact, in most cases, it was folks who haven’t been doing metas for very long and are trying to learn more about how to do metas. A couple have even stated right up front that they have no intention of submitting an answer. When I first started doing metas a few years ago, there was no one to ask anything. I think this board is a great place for folks to learn. And we all know that the more you do, the “easier” they get. And by this I mean you start to notice things that you never would have noticed previously.

When I give nudges, I ask the folks to tell me what they see. And then I tell them whether they are headed in the right or wrong direction. Sometimes this helps someone to a solution and sometimes not. But that is the world of puzzles. You cannot solve all the puzzles all the time.

Case in point, on the MMMM this month, I had to let my personal streak go and my perfect 2020. Such is life.

Cindy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:56 am

burak wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 11:12 am

Cindy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 10:03 am When I give nudges, I ask the folks to tell me what they see. And then I tell them whether they are headed in the right or wrong direction. Sometimes this helps someone to a solution and sometimes not. But that is the world of puzzles. You cannot solve all the puzzles all the time.

By the way, that is perfectly acceptable to me and I think is helpful to new solvers. But I've listed my nudge-related concerns under this discussion: forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=389&p=20433#p20433 It's just that this week seems to be a perfect encapsulation of my concern number 3. That being said, I don't judge anyone who ask for nudges or anything because that would be absurd

And just for clarity it was not your post that led me to comment. It was the preponderance of public nudge requests this week. It was not my intent to be critical of your post. Not that you said that I was. I just want the forum to be as welcoming as possible.