Monumental Moderation

[lbray53]

Loved the 11-letter solution, even if I needed all of the nudges to get there. I actually had most of the pieces written down but never considered the method of putting them together.

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update:

A few more Meta #2 updates to share this morning:

TeamDoubleTow
Berto
Dow Jones
Heidi
lbray53
ajk

Keep on truckin'!

[Deb F]

Thanks for the nudges. Hasn't helped me. Thought I was on the right track but I can't seem to pull it together.

[HunterX]

I definitely needed the nudges for the 11. But I finally got it!

[michaelm]

Confirmed on the 11 and almost out of the food coma.
So many combinations, permutations and delights.
Metas and Christmas Cookies!

[AaronT]

Got the 11 with the nudges. Pleased to say I found the 11 entries on my own but didn’t think of the last step to bring it together. Again, nice work gang!

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update:

A few more Muggles have figured out the metas:

Meta #1

dplass
Cow
Badgey
Flying_Burrito
Charles Montpetit

Meta #2

HunterX
michaelm
AaronT

Please let me know if I've missed anyone.

[Flying_Burrito]

Pulled it last night. Ashore for Meta 1. Will have to find some time for #2

[MileHighSolver]

I am really enjoying this puzzle! When will the answers be posted?

[Cap'n Rick]

I am really enjoying this puzzle! When will the answers be posted?

Glad you're enjoying the puzzle, MileHigh. The big reveal will be tomorrow.

[chriscross]

Had to use all of the nudges for the second meta, but I finally got it. I was looking at the right things (with one stupid exception, I overlooked an obvious reference and picked out a farfetched one), just not using them correctly.

[MileHighSolver]

Oh yeah, Count me onshore for both metas!

[Merry Potter]

Solved both metas!

No nudges needed for meta 1...

All the nudges needed for meta 2!

Great puzzle- thanks for the mental workout..

[Cap'n Rick]

Final Leaderboard

Meta #1

MileHighSolver
chriscross
Hidden in 3D
Merry Potter


Meta #2

MileHighSolver
chriscross
Merry Potter
ReB

Thanks for solving, everyone!

[Cap'n Rick]

Ahoy Muggles!

The 9-letter answer to Meta #1 is "OXYMORONS". To solve this meta, puzzlers first needed to notice the 9 pairs of symmetrically-placed grid entries clued by 9 different Muggle constructors. These pairings formed familiar words/phrases containing opposites, and several solvers stopped there and submitted "OPPOSITES" as their answer. But no, no, no, that would have been way too easy for this international enigma, n'est-ce pas? The 9 new words/phrases fit clues to 9 other grid entries, and the first letters of these entries, in grid order, spelled the meta answer (see below).



So now the title - "Monumental Moderation" - makes more sense since it's also an oxymoron consisting of two equal-length words. The title is also a hint to the second metanism as solvers next needed to focus on the names of the six Moderators "hidden in plain sight" (another oxymoron) - Peter Abide, Bob Harris, Brian (Mac) MacDonald, Joe Ross, Bob Stevens, and Kay Whitman. The first letters of the clues containing a Moderator's first or last name, in clue order, spelled the second meta answer "AWFULLY GOOD" (yes, another oxymoron).



But wait, there's more! In addition to the 9 constructors who provided oxymoron clues, we included Easter Eggs for the three other constructors who make up the "QWERTY Dozen" - @Wendy Walker, @Schmeel, and yours truly @Cap'n Rick :



Finally, there were three additional Easter Egg clues containing the word "CHEERS", so we end this reveal with a resounding "Three Cheers!" to our Moderators for their spectacular stewardship of our "XWord Muggles Forum"!




So, in summary, we had a colossal 23x23 grid, created by 12 Muggle constructors from around the world, containing theme material for two metanisms including 9 oxymoron pairings as well as the full names of 6 forum Moderators ("Phew!"):




I'd like to thank all of the constructors who joined me in this "Monumental" effort including @Al Sisti, @AnswerPfinder, @benchen71, @Bird Lives, @cbarbee002, @DrTom, @MarkWoychick, @MikeyG, @Schmeel, @Wendy Walker, and @whimsy. Let's do it again sometime, gang!

And a very special thank you to @BrennerTJ who created all of the wonderful illustrations used above. "Awfully Good" indeed!

Until next time!
Cap'n Rick

[ReB]

Quite a Monumental achievement indeed!

[Al Sisti]

A tour de force for sure... three cheers too for the Captain and crew!

[cbarbee002]

Incredibly well-done Cap'n!

[Hidden in 3D]

I finished the grid and got the first meta answer yesterday but didn't get around to the second one until today. Needed the nudges to get all those letters in order. What a fantastic collaboration! Thanks to all and Happy New Year!

[Flying_Burrito]

Very cool and peppered with surprises. Fantastic job. I had to use the clues for #2 so I did not bother sending a PM. My rabbit hole for Meta1 was Pan rather than Mate for Old Boy but eventually the last letters (ORONS) led to the answer.