"Spot The Vikings" 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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"Spot The Vikings" by benchen71

#1

Post by benchen71 »

Welcome to...

benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? As you will soon find out when you dive into this puzzle, I was working on this meta late on a Friday afternoon/evening and I think it shows: some of the clues are on the chatty side and I really let my punctuation slide. Let me say right at the outset that the metanism is not in the clues! Hopefully you will enjoy this puzzle as much as I enjoyed the G & T I had as I was constructing it. The answer to the meta is a name.

Plus, for the first time ever for a MOAT, there's a prize! The randomly-drawn name will win a MOAT Music Meta Pack valued at $US10. (If that randomly-drawn name is someone who already purchased the Pack, then they can nominate someone else to receive their prize.)

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 (but if you want a shot at the prize, you will have to use Crosshare). Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.

Spot The Vikings - Online Form
Spot The Vikings - PUZ
Spot The Vikings - PDF
Spot The Vikings - spreadsheet

Nudges are here.
The solution is here.

havefun.gif
Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Aug 20, 2023 8:44 pm, edited 2 times 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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Schmeel
Posts: 1719
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:38 pm

#2

Post by Schmeel »

MOAT's crossed.
If I would have only read the instructions beforehand it would have saved me some time. Much 39A...!
Thanks for the puzzle!
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Qmark
Posts: 311
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2022 4:33 pm
Location: Ottawa, Canada

#3

Post by Qmark »

MOAT crossed. Loved your cluing, Ben...thanks!
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lbray53
Posts: 1240
Joined: Fri May 08, 2020 8:34 am
Location: Elkhorn, WI

#4

Post by lbray53 »

MOAT crossed on a Viking ship.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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ChrisKochmanski
Posts: 2226
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 9:51 pm
Location: Saline, Michigan

#5

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Crossed! Stormed!

And I like 1d (adding a few letters) on my pizza too.
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boharr
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Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 8:57 am
Location: Westchester, NY

#6

Post by boharr »

Done
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DrTom
Posts: 3850
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#7

Post by DrTom »

Val Halla everyone, I've crossed the MOAT, As Gard is my witness! (I took a picture of the vent with my Olympus, but it seemed wrong)

Viking Camera.jpg
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
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Darth
Posts: 761
Joined: Sat May 15, 2021 6:51 pm
Location: Champaign, IL

#8

Post by Darth »

images (35).jpg
Yeah, you got it!.... I'm "Spot, the Viking"!
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whimsy
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Joined: Sun Jun 21, 2020 9:51 am
Location: Hopkinton MA

#9

Post by whimsy »

Loved this the minute I went online, read the title, and started laughing. (Nearly as much as I did at ^^"Spot"^^!)
Loved it even more when I solved!
Thanks, Ben, for the puzzle and the playful approach to construction!
Untitledzzviking.png
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DrTom
Posts: 3850
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#10

Post by DrTom »

Darth wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 11:57 am images (35).jpg
Yeah, you got it!.... I'm "Spot, the Viking"!
Laughing.gif
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
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HeadinHome
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2020 9:06 am
Location: Charlotte, NC

#11

Post by HeadinHome »

Moat crossed and certain inhabitants captured. Thoroughly enjoyable and unusual puzzle this week!
The other Wendy. :roll:
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ImOnToo
Posts: 447
Joined: Thu May 02, 2019 5:28 pm
Location: Texas

#12

Post by ImOnToo »

Moat crossed!
A nice mental workout. Thanks, Ben!
Konnie
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woozy
Posts: 2245
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:40 am

#13

Post by woozy »

What the ####!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm not sure which is more perplexing; that there's absolutely nothing there, or that so many people are actually seeing the thing that isn't there.

EDIT: I have a very sickening feeling that all my attempted metas this week are going to go this way with me....
Last edited by woozy on Tue Aug 15, 2023 10:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I guess I should change my signature, and start promoting this meta: Hungry Little Creature. I was going to sent it to people for testing but I dropped the ball on it.
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Meg
Posts: 2183
Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 1:41 pm
Location: St. Petersburg, FL

#14

Post by Meg »

I crossed the moat, and noticed the gators frolicking down below.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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rjy
Posts: 1051
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 12:52 pm
Location: Gaithersburg, MD

#15

Post by rjy »

Meg wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 5:27 pm I crossed the moat, and noticed the gators frolicking down below.
Not frolicking… they’re chomping my leg off
Ray
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KayW
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Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:10 am
Location: Chicago

#16

Post by KayW »

:crossed_swords: :rabbit: :european_castle: Spotted. And enjoyed. Thanks, Ben!
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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benchen71
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#17

Post by benchen71 »

At the end of the first day's play, the scoreboard stands as follows:

LindaPRmaven
Madhatter5
Schmeel
Qmark
merlinnimue
lbray53
boharr
I K Snamhcok
HeadinHome
Meg
Darth
Tyrpmom
DIS
Hector
DrTom
markhr
whimsy
Alex Sisti
Cindy Weatherman
Gutman
imontoo
Tim
Laura M
BarbaraK
SJMcK
woozy
JM
Berto
KayW

That's 29 to get us going! This is looking like a solid "week 3". :D
Last edited by benchen71 on Wed Aug 16, 2023 2:26 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:
Top
Dow Jones
Posts: 480
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 11:02 pm
Location: Yakima, WA

#18

Post by Dow Jones »

Crossed the moat !! That was fun. Very good meta, Ben !!
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MatthewL
Posts: 784
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 11:57 am
Location: Atlanta, GA

#19

Post by MatthewL »

Moat crossed, castle stormed, but only with a little assist from a friendly Viking (um, I mean Muggle). Very clever, Ben! Thanks for the puzzle.
Matthew
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SJMcK
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#20

Post by SJMcK »

Did not enjoy the cluing in this one
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