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!)
Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? Here's another meta idea that came from attempting to solve someone else's meta. But if they didn't use this mechanism, then it's fair game! The answer to the meta is a three word phrase that describes what it might take to find the answer to the meta.
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.
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Feb 26, 2023 8:36 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!
Crossed the MOAT! I really liked this one. Very unique to me at least. I wonder if changing one clue might have increased the challenge without making it impossible.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
We are still an hour away from the end of the first 24 hours, but here's the first batch of successful solvers:
kieranjboyd
Laura M
markhr
Jim Dean
Hector
ChrisKochmanski
Meg
boharr
Darth
heidi
Carolyn
Darrell
lbray53
Lucky number 13! Based on these stats I will probably release the nudges earlier than usual. But not just yet!
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!
Feel like I know what to do but can't quite get it all to work.
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
Solver update (we're up to 17 now) before early nudges:
Golem
Alex Sisti
DIS
KayW
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!
1. The clue is in 43 down: COLUMN, clued as "One of 14 in this puzzle, which is odd because there are 15 rows".
2. You need to add a column, thereby creating a square (hinted at by 1 across).
3. It makes sense to add this column right down the middle (splitting the existing puzzle in half), so as to retain rotational symmetry.
4. You will also need two black squares so that you end up with a three word phrase.
5. Try and find letters that fit into this new column, always creating (crossword-suitable) words.
6. The middle word is AND. (This will also help you place the two black squares!)
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!
Moat has been crossed. Turns out I didn't need the nudges -- was on the right track, but the nudges did confirm that for me and to just keep poking at it.
