Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? A weekly meta crossword constructed by forum member Ben (aka benchen71). These metas range from relatively easy to more challenging, depending on how many Australianisms he puts in them! Puzzles are posted in a new thread every Tuesday, with nudges appearing on Saturdays, and the solution coming out on Mondays. (At least, that's the plan. Given he lives in Australia, and they are so far ahead of the US time-zone-wise, things may get posted early!)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? If you haven't noticed, I've been trying to follow the Gaffney model of meta puzzles such that the month starts with an easier puzzle and then they get harder as the month progresses. Of course, it's hard to judge the difficulty of a puzzle when you're the creator! All that to say, I have tried very hard to make this an easier puzzle. The answer to the meta is an Olympic event. Go for gold!
PM me with your submissions or submit on Crosshare. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Sep 11, 2022 7:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
Fun puzzle, thanks Ben!
I usually print the pdf but since printer was out of ink this morning I solved on Crosshare. Surprised myself when the answer jumped out of my scribblings on the side.
woozy wrote: Tue Sep 06, 2022 11:14 am
Nope. Not a dang thing visible anywhere.
Right there with you! I thought this was going to be ... uh ... er ... not hard. It's all how you stumble into it, but this has been stumble-proof for a bit for me...
Well silly me. I tried the right method several times, just not the right way. I finally did and crossed the MOAT - PLUS I learned something I had been doing wrong for some time.
Thanks Ben - fun puzzle once you finally clear you head of the cobwebs!
So, crossed but no Olympic record was set.
Tom
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
We're still a few hours from the 24 hour mark, but here's the list of successful solvers:
Laura M
dplass
Qmark
Hector
hoover
SporcleMirror
Cindy Weatherman
Meg
BarbaraK
ChrisKochmanski
Schmeel
boharr
markhr
zonkswonk
Ergcat
whimsy
Gutman
Bbaack
BrennerTJ
MaineMarge
DrTom
21 so far. Keep at it, those of you still struggling to find the drawbridge!
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
DavyGravy wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:15 pm
Hi benchen:
I'm fairly new to the forum. How do you know who solved it correctly? i.e. where/how do we send it?
Thanks - davygravy
Two options:
In the 1st post, there’s a link to the “Online Form” which is on crosshare. If you solve the grid there (or just hit reveal if you’ve already solved it on paper or .puz) you can enter your meta answer and get the instant gratification of knowing whether you’re right.
Or you can PM benchen. (He’s in Australia so may be asleep right now.)
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
Slammed at work and will be for a while. (But, it’s for good stuff!) Have had very little opportunity to look at weekday metas.
Had time during lunch today and I am across the moat!
DavyGravy wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2022 1:15 pm
Hi benchen:
I'm fairly new to the forum. How do you know who solved it correctly? i.e. where/how do we send it?
Thanks - davygravy
It was mentioned in my introductory spiel: "PM me [here on XWord-Muggles] with your submissions or submit on Crosshare [by following the "online form" link]. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta." Hope to find your submission soon!
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
