A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
OK, let's see if I can publish one that doesn't need to be corrected soon after it goes live! This should be a fairly easy puzzle, though I have some doozies coming up!!
*Kitten
*Calico
Persian
Puma
Lion
DANG IT!!!
15A was changed to:
15A Oscar follower?
as opposed to the erroneous clue that some silly crossword constructor had put there originally. This darn, error prone, alter ego of mine. I think he is called a cruciherbalist because he must be on edibles when he writes these things....
Now I say that with some trepidation because some testers did not see it immediately based on the fact that they were looking for more of a Tom-like mechanism. This isn't a cryptic or will require a lot of Google, but you will have to pay attention to titles and clues to get to the answer.
Last edited by DrTom on Wed Sep 27, 2023 9:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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!
Edit: I forgot to say that I loved the shout-out in 29A.
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!
Shannon PS: If you want help with a meta, PM what you have so I can help without spoiling too much. I've received lots of help in the beginning and I love to pay it forward!
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
"OK, let's see if I can publish one that doesn't need to be corrected soon after it goes live!"
Well, that bird has flown. Seems I stepped in some Dictator dodo and 15A is NOT 53D's other name. It has been corrected on Crosshare, but I do not want to have Joe Ross go through the hassle of changing everything for something I dictated (or rather remembered) incorrectly. So now that clue reads:
15A Oscar follower?
Corrected in all files.
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!
Our indefatigable Mr. Ross has ridden to my side and risen to the task. Thank you Joe for your assistance!
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!
MatthewL wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 5:54 pm
Cat has been set free, but only with some help. Thanks for the puzzle, Tom!
Well these things sometimes require a helper; after confinement in the bag for a while these critters get feisty!
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!
ChrisKochmanski wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 9:25 pm
No cat, just bag.
Thanks, Dr. Tom!
Is that like "nothing but net..."
Thanks for solving
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!
Just the slightest of hiccups at the start and now everything's going smoothly. Almost 20 solvers on day one so I am encouraged because I felt this might have been harder than some of mine due to a difference in mechanism. However, to paraphrase Ms. Dubois "I have always relied on the cleverness of Muggles"
Last edited by DrTom on Thu Sep 28, 2023 11:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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!
Berto wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 10:46 pm
Solved! Cat a little reluctant, possibly intimidated by 41ac. Finally jumped out (at me)! Thanks, Dr Tom!
Can't blame your poor kitty, that was a hairy clue, even if it was fuzzy.
Thank you for solving.
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!
