"Obscure For A Reason" by benchen71
- benchen71
- Posts: 3400
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
"Obscure For A Reason" by benchen71
Welcome to...
benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? This meta was the result of the disturbed sleep I experienced the night after my kidney stones procedure. I make no apologies, though, since I think the end result will be fun for all the family! The answer to the meta: "Nice audible 'oui'" And yes, that's obscure for a reason!
The easiest way to submit is on Crosshare (and you get instant feedback and unlimited attempts!) But you can also PM me with your submission. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
Obscure For A Reason - Online Form
Obscure For A Reason - PUZ
Obscure For A Reason - PDF
Obscure For A Reason - spreadsheet
Nudges are here.
The solution is here.
benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? This meta was the result of the disturbed sleep I experienced the night after my kidney stones procedure. I make no apologies, though, since I think the end result will be fun for all the family! The answer to the meta: "Nice audible 'oui'" And yes, that's obscure for a reason!
The easiest way to submit is on Crosshare (and you get instant feedback and unlimited attempts!) But you can also PM me with your submission. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.
Obscure For A Reason - Online Form
Obscure For A Reason - PUZ
Obscure For A Reason - PDF
Obscure For A Reason - spreadsheet
Nudges are here.
The solution is here.
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Feb 19, 2023 4:06 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! 

- woozy
- Posts: 3173
- Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:40 am
Ha! Let's hear it for late night delusions!
This was TERRIFIC and just struck the right chord for my frame of mind.
....
Moat crossed! and the rest of the world didn't know what hit it
This was TERRIFIC and just struck the right chord for my frame of mind.
....
Moat crossed! and the rest of the world didn't know what hit it
GUAVA is not an anagram of VAGUE
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- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:38 pm
- MikeyG
- Posts: 1925
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2020 2:52 pm
- Location: Chicago
- Contact:
That was a trip, hahaha.
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- Posts: 500
- Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:56 pm
You must have had a bit of a fever when you did this one.
Challenging puzzle. Very enjoyable, though. Well done.
Challenging puzzle. Very enjoyable, though. Well done.
- Cinny
- Posts: 1042
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 2:53 pm
- Location: Minoa, NY
- Contact:
Crossed the moat and stormed the castle! Very clever meta!
Cindy Heisler
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- Posts: 919
- Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2020 8:12 pm
- Location: Seneca SC
Obscure, indeed! Not seeing a way across the moat yet….
UPDATE: MOAT CROSSED,
stormed! I gave it another go and there it was! Thanks, Ben! Clever and not obscure!
UPDATE: MOAT CROSSED,
Last edited by Ergcat on Tue Feb 14, 2023 11:32 am, edited 2 times in total.
- Meg
- Posts: 2500
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
- Location: St. Petersburg, FL
- ChrisKochmanski
- Posts: 2675
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
- Location: Saline, Michigan
- lbray53
- Posts: 1508
- Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
- Location: Elkhorn, WI
I have crossed the MOAT but I am not sure how I managed to get here. I will need to do some research and reconnoitering before I attempt to storm the castle!
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
- rjy
- Posts: 1442
- Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:52 pm
- Location: Gaithersburg, MD
- boharr
- Moderator
- Posts: 3601
- Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
- Location: Westchester, NY
- Darth
- Posts: 1080
- Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:51 pm
- Location: Champaign, IL
De-MOATed. Thanks for the fun puz, Ben!
[Deserted Catskill castle/Obscure Vermont ]-
- Posts: 1739
- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am
Wow, this is just so weird. Maybe I need to also be trippin' to solve it...
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- Posts: 1126
- Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:57 am
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- benchen71
- Posts: 3400
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
We're still a little way off the end of the first 24 hours, but I have a busy afternoon here in Oz. So here's the first batch of successful solvers who have managed to penetrate the intentional obscurity of this meta puzzle:
woozy
Schmeel
Mikey G
markhr
Cindy Heisler
Hector
Darth
Meg
lbray53
ChrisKochmanski
rjy
Ergcat
Bird Lives
boharr
DIS
BarbaraK
Tyrpmom
ChrisCross
MatthewL
Cindy Weatherman
Laura M
Darrell
Carolyn
Pair O Ducks
That's 24 to get us started!
woozy
Schmeel
Mikey G
markhr
Cindy Heisler
Hector
Darth
Meg
lbray53
ChrisKochmanski
rjy
Ergcat
Bird Lives
boharr
DIS
BarbaraK
Tyrpmom
ChrisCross
MatthewL
Cindy Weatherman
Laura M
Darrell
Carolyn
Pair O Ducks
That's 24 to get us started!
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! 

- DrTom
- Posts: 4906
- Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Across the MOAT thank goodness. I'd have never forgiven myself!!! Very convoluted and a Ha Ha AHA! 

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.
- HeadinHome
- Posts: 1459
- Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
- Location: Charlotte, NC
I have figured out parts but not all. These kinds of clues are always my nemesis. Ask me about an “obscure” literature reference or a history factoid no one cares about, I’m your girl. THIS kind of obscure clue-phrasing, not so much. Will cheer the rest of you from the sidelines!
The other Wendy. 

- oldjudge
- Posts: 1766
- Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:16 am
- Location: Pasadena, CA
- benchen71
- Posts: 3400
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:50 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
A solver update before some early nudges!
DebbieC
Golem
DrTom
oldjudge
Mr Tex
Bbaack
That brings us up to 30!
DebbieC
Golem
DrTom
oldjudge
Mr Tex
Bbaack
That brings us up to 30!
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! 
