The Plot Thickens

[Al Sisti]

Good morning Muggles!

This week’s meta is called “The Plot Thickens,” and I’m giving it a week 2.7 difficulty rating. I got the idea from… well, that’s going to have to wait until reveal time. At any rate, please submit your answer on Crosshare, or PM me your solution by 10 PM on Saturday, and as has become the custom, I’ll post a couple snapshots of a leaderboard during the week. Feel free to PM me for nudges, but try to stick with it for a couple days first. If nothing else, there’s always Nudge Wednesday.

One correct solver will be chosen at random and will receive an item of his/her choice from my swag bag (a Blarney Rebel Band CD, a Utica Club keepsake, or a $15 donation to a charity of your choice).

The Plot Thickens crosshare

The Plot Thickens PUZ

The Plot Thickens PDF

The Plot Thickens spreadsheet


If you enjoy solving on Crosshare, help keep the site running by donating a few bucks.

[ChrisKochmanski]

Off the couch.

Nice start to my meta puzzling week. (Along with MikeyG’s yesterday.)

Thanks, Al!

Remember MLK today.

[Schmeel]

Off the couch - it took a bit of backsolving but I got through the thick plot in the end.
Good puzzle - Thanks!

[Meg]

OTC. Not sure I solved this the way I was supposed to…..I’m looking forward to the full explanation!
Edit: I see something now, which makes the metanism more logical.

[oldjudge]

🛋

[Bob cruise director]

Working on the puzzle but a couple of things
1) it is great to see a muggle worked into the grid
2) 43A is Al's version of Alfred Hitchcock
3) An alternate clue for 7A would be "Charles Lampert's real name"

[Al Sisti]

Working on the puzzle but a couple of things
1) it is great to see a muggle worked into the grid
2) 43A is Al's version of Alfred Hitchcock
3) An alternate clue for 7A would be "Charles Lampert's real name"

1. Always fun
2. Usually deliberate; this time it just happened.
3. Never a good thing to leave a Natick... believe me, I tried to avoid it.

[michaelm]

Off the couch.
Heading to the Interior Designer for a new one?
Thanks Al!

[boharr]

Couch vacated. Thanks, Al. It drove me nuts.

[MatthewL]

Off the couch. Really liked this one. Thanks Al

[rjy]

Struggled a bit to plot my escape, but finally freed from the couch (like that's a good thing??)

Really cool concept, Al!

[woozy]

Didn't we do something like this before and we had trouble that everyone had a completely different frame of reference that they each assumed was perfectly natural but each disagreed with everyone else's?

[edestlin]

Didn't we do something like this before and we had trouble that everyone had a completely different frame of reference that they each assumed was perfectly natural but each disagreed with everyone else's?

That might be what's got me tangled up. I've tried multiple frames of reference and gotten multiple garbage answers. Feels like I'm missing something.

[Al Sisti]

Didn't we do something like this before and we had trouble that everyone had a completely different frame of reference that they each assumed was perfectly natural but each disagreed with everyone else's?

Yes. And quite recently, for some (including me).

[MikeyG]

I need to adjust my initial frame of reference because it clearly can't be it.

I also need to start compiling a notebook of metanisms I've tried that haven't worked for future reference!! Already liking this one, @Al Sisti, and I look forward to persevering!

[edestlin]

Off the couch! I just got it. (And then as I reflected on it, I *really* got it. Love it, Al!)

[woozy]

Didn't we do something like this before and we had trouble that everyone had a completely different frame of reference that they each assumed was perfectly natural but each disagreed with everyone else's?

Yes. And quite recently, for some (including me).

Well, if your intention was to misdirect I bought it hook, line, and sinker. Got nothing but considering how many have it, I figure I'm just looking at precisely the wrong thing.

[Al Sisti]

Didn't we do something like this before and we had trouble that everyone had a completely different frame of reference that they each assumed was perfectly natural but each disagreed with everyone else's?

Yes. And quite recently, for some (including me).

Well, if your intention was to misdirect I bought it hook, line, and sinker. Got nothing but considering how many have it, I figure I'm just looking at precisely the wrong thing.

Never was, is, or will be my intention to misdirect.

[woozy]

Argh.... between scrivener errors and mistyping on entry.....

Had the right idea and right frame of reference (the only possible one really) all along but had to have my head pounded a few times to see I had it from the beginning.

Fun puzzle and great word-play. (Irritating scrivener error and irratating dyslexic-problem-I-have-had-all-my-life-irritates-every-body)

[MarkWoychick]

Aha! Off the couch - thanks, Al!