"Switch Positions" by benchen71

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!)
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ELSavage
Posts: 189
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2024 12:44 pm
Location: New Hampshire

#21

Post by ELSavage »

MOAT crossed!
Bespoke nudges available upon request (if I'm on shore, off the couch, in the castle, petting an un-bagged cat, ...).
Let me know how small or large a hint you want, or hit me with a specific question(s).
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Berto
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Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2022 4:10 pm
Location: Michigan

#22

Post by Berto »

Moat crossed, castle stormed.
► Show Spoiler
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benchen71
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#23

Post by benchen71 »

Nearly at the end of the first 24 hours, and we have 56 successful solvers:

Hector
Sendhil Revuluri
Tom Wilson
hoover
Danny K Bernstein
Mr Tex
Cindy Weatherman
Lance
Cindy Heisler
Pair O Ducks
LarsCaine
boharr
FedexPope
JM
Darth
InAJelly
Ergcat
Scrivimancer
whimsy
Meg
Alex Sisti
AxelPlays
imontoo
Petunia
Capn Rick
DIS
cohdane
kurtalert
MatthewL
markhr
DrTom
DCBilly
woozy
Carolyn
iceman
heidi
lbray53
Dave C
I K Snamhcok
Qmark
Dugar
Serafin
Tim
ajk
KayW
CPJohnson
Kristi
LindaPRmaven
Velocipedist
Mg305
Adam G
Susan
shalmanezer
ELSavage
Berto
Tyrpmom
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! :D
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HeadinHome
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Location: Charlotte, NC

#24

Post by HeadinHome »

I have the answer (I assume) but didn’t want to go through the complications of Crosshare. This was a fun one to figure out, and once having figured it out, to continue to fill!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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benchen71
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#25

Post by benchen71 »

Solver update:

Katie Young
Polyagonist
DebbieC
Johnny Luau
Augwood
Jaclyn

We're up to 62. Nudges coming...
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! :D
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benchen71
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#26

Post by benchen71 »

Nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. There are no hints other than the puzzle title. But you must have noticed something very screwy going on as you were filling in the grid!

2. It is signficant that the switches flip half-way through the grid.

3. Focus on the across entries.

4. If you write the across entries out, you should be able to see something that the two sets of 5 have in common.
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! :D
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benchen71
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#27

Post by benchen71 »

HeadinHome wrote: Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:27 am I have the answer (I assume) but didn’t want to go through the complications of Crosshare. This was a fun one to figure out, and once having figured it out, to continue to fill!
The 4th nudge might help you. :D
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! :D
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HeadinHome
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#28

Post by HeadinHome »

Yeah - I had the answer. It was actually the third nudge that helped with Crosshare. Just now went through the Crosshare step to submit it.. .and that was worth it for what I saw after completing the grid! 😁

Excellent, excellent puzzle!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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benchen71
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#29

Post by benchen71 »

More solvers!

HeadinHome
Mikey G
Avlan
Spid4567

We're up to 66. That might be it for solver updates until just before the answer reveal.
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! :D
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benchen71
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#30

Post by benchen71 »

Final batch of solvers:

antdisp
puzzasaur
Alvibu67

That's a total of 69.
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! :D
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benchen71
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#31

Post by benchen71 »

Here's the solution to "Switch Positions":

Switch Positions (solution).png
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! :D
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