"Building Onto" 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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benchen71
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#21

Post by benchen71 »

Another 24 hours, and only 2 more solvers, bringing us up to 20! I might have to bring forward the nudges...

Al Sisti
Cindy Heisler
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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benchen71
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#22

Post by benchen71 »

As promised, here are the nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. There are two instructional hints in the grid: 54 and 63 across.

2. Two other entries suggest the start and end point of the meta-finding process.

3. 65 across is the start and 20 across is the end.

4. You need to find a series of words in which one additional letter has been added and then the result rearranged.
Last edited by benchen71 on Thu Oct 20, 2022 12:28 am, 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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ReB
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#23

Post by ReB »

Crossed the MOAT once your nudges encouraged me to pursue the mechanism I had already figured out but didn't have the patience to test.
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MMe
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#24

Post by MMe »

benchen71 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:54 pm 3. 63 across is the start and 20 across is the end.

You mean 65A.



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benchen71
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#25

Post by benchen71 »

MMe wrote: ↑Thu Oct 20, 2022 12:21 am
benchen71 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:54 pm 3. 63 across is the start and 20 across is the end.

You mean 65A.



True. I'll fix it.
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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Dow Jones
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#26

Post by Dow Jones »

Outstanding puzzle, Ben. How many metas have you created ??
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#27

Post by benchen71 »

Dow Jones wrote: ↑Thu Oct 20, 2022 1:49 am Outstanding puzzle, Ben. How many metas have you created ??
"Building Onto" was meta #65. But I have constructed a grand total of 129 metas so far. The unreleased ones are already scheduled to come out here in MOAT, one per week, until Dec. 2023!

(Interestingly, "Isn't It Ironic(ally Named)" was only constructed a week or so ago - it's one of my brand new ones!)
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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markhr
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Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2019 7:56 pm

#28

Post by markhr »

Crossed the moat, but needed the spoilers.
As often happens, I overcomplicated this.

Thanks, Ben.
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Dplass
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#29

Post by Dplass »

Nudges confirmed I'll never get this one. Thanks for the puzzle though.
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jhseeman
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#30

Post by jhseeman »

2nd nudge launched me over the MOAT.....great puzzle, fun Meta....
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MikeyG
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#31

Post by MikeyG »

First nudge makes me think (?) I have a possible in? We'll see what happens!
Less cross words, more crosswords.

Solve my latest "Pun of a Kind" Meta!: 92. It's a Breeze
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Ergcat
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#32

Post by Ergcat »

The nudges confirmed that I had spotted the correct hints from the start. But when I try to apply them, I don’t get an acceptable answer ( to Crosshare) ! Sooooo I guess I’m not doing it right!
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Dave C
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#33

Post by Dave C »

I crossed the moat, but only after all the nudges...
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benchen71
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#34

Post by benchen71 »

Here's a solver update for you:

ReB
SeamusOL
Dow Jones
markhr
JHSeeman
CPJohnson
Carolyn
ferdibarda
BarbaraK
MH
Dave C

We're up to 31 now. Still lots of time before the answer reveal!
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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ajk
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#35

Post by ajk »

Looked at the first nudge, which reminded me that I'd never followed through on my initial idea, which turned out to be the right path once I thought it through. Straightforward moat crossing after that. Fun one, thanks.
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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whimsy
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#36

Post by whimsy »

Across the moat but only with all the nudges --

In other words, it took a while to remember the code --
castlepoker.png
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chriscross
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#37

Post by chriscross »

lbray53 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 18, 2022 3:46 pm Crossed the MOAT. I was sure that I spotted a brilliant mechanism. It seemed to fit perfectly. It actually would make a nice puzzle if I ever work up the courage to try making one. I woudl need to get Ben's permission I think.
I wonder how many metas are created this way. I bet a lot. Rabbit holes make for good ideas for other puzzles. I need to start compiling a list of rabbit holes I like that don't pan out.

Oh and got it! Lots of fun.
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benchen71
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#38

Post by benchen71 »

It seems the nudges have helped:

Darrell
LindaPRmaven
Adam Weaver
Bird Lives
ajk
whimsy
Spid4567
ChrisCross
jbird
SJMcK

That's 41 now. The final update will occur just before the answer reveal...
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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Katiedid
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#39

Post by Katiedid »

Solved my first MOAT. I only needed half of the second nudge. Thanks!
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benchen71
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#40

Post by benchen71 »

Katiedid wrote: ↑Fri Oct 21, 2022 10:53 pm Solved my first MOAT. I only needed half of the second nudge. Thanks!
Welcome to MOAT, @Katiedid! Lots of fun puzzles in the archive, and lots more to come!

(I mention the archive because the more MOATs you do, the better you will know the sort of metanisms I employ! :D )
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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