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? The first-ever high five appears to have happened in 1977 during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros. It was the last game of the season, and Dodgers outfielder Dusty Baker had just hit a home run - his 30th of the season. The accomplishment made the Dodgers the first team in Major League history to have four players hit 30 homers. Baker's rookie teammate Glenn Burke was waiting for him on deck, and as Baker crossed home plate, Burke triumphantly lifted his hands in the air. "The way the legend goes… Glenn put his arm high in the air, and Dusty didn't know what to do, so he slapped it," Dodgers historian Mark Langill said in the ESPN documentary "The High Five." It caught the public's attention, so the Dodgers adopted it as a symbol of team pride and performed it regularly over the next few seasons, to the delight of the media and fans of the team. (cf. https://www.businessinsider.com/where-d ... gin-2017-4.) All that to say, the answer to the meta is where the action is.
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 Oct 29, 2023 5:49 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!
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!
That may be the first recorded HIGH five but the Gimme Five (at waist level) must have been around fore decades before that.
Funny story. I was all set to enter Par for the course for the CrossHare midi contest for April but I mistakenly thought midi meant 7x 7 and not 11 x 11. Oops. Well.... Here's a complex but **small** meta on the subject of golf.
Crossed the MOAT. I was stuck on two rabbit holes until I figured out how to use the hint in the clues. One was mentioned by others on Crosshare. The other was my very own invention.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
Not quite 24 hours since posting, but here's the first batch of solvers:
DJB
SamKat9
Laura M
Berto
JM
Hector
merlinnimue
Carolyn
boharr
emmie
DebbieC
DrTom
Meg
Cindy Weatherman
rjy
Philip Chow
markhr
woozy
Gutman
I K Snamhcok
Streroto
Tim
lbray53
Ergcat
That's 24 to get us started.
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!
Abide wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 12:09 am
This was brilliant, Ben!
High praise indeed! Thanks, Peter.
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!
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!
1. There is one hint in the grid. 43 across says "Five, in Roman numerals (hint, hint)".
2. 36 across and 44 across are a non-meta easter egg! But the title might provide some additional guidance.
3. Look for somewhere high where you can place some "V"s.
4. New words are often alternate answers for other clues leading to alternate grid entries.
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!
