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benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? I walked past a bookshop, saw a book in the window, and this puzzle was the result! The title "Heart of Gold" is apparently a song by Neil Young. But it's also the name of the starship in Douglas Adam's classic "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". This is the starship with an infinite improbability drive, which, when turned on, leads to all sorts of narrative improbabilities (including a bowl of petunias that says, "Oh no, not again!") Now, on with the meta puzzle, the answer to which is an 8-letter word.

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.

Heart Of Gold - Crosshare
Heart Of Gold - PUZ
Heart Of Gold - PDF

Nudges are here.
The solution is here.

MOAT crossed! I'm always amazed to see that there are still new mechanisms to be discovered!

DeMOATed. Thanks, Ben.

Moat crossed after being taught a few new things.

Moat crossed, castle stormed, gold pilfered. Thanks for the puzzle, Ben!

Hmm. Got step 1 speedily enough, but not seeing step 2.

ajk wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:31 pm Hmm. Got step 1 speedily enough, but not seeing step 2.

Crossed and stormed! Clever metanism, Ben, thx!

Wow, that too me some searching for the right road across the moat but I got there. Thanks Ben

Demoated. Thanks Google! (and Ben).

DeMOATed. Thanks Ben!

ajk wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:31 pm Hmm. Got step 1 speedily enough, but not seeing step 2.

I’m right there with you… I think I have step 1.5 or 2 but don’t know what to do next!

Ergcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:23 pm

ajk wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:31 pm Hmm. Got step 1 speedily enough, but not seeing step 2.

I’m right there with you… I think I have step 1.5 or 2 but don’t know what to do next!

Retweet.

dannykbernstein wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 8:30 pm

Ergcat wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 7:23 pm

ajk wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:31 pm Hmm. Got step 1 speedily enough, but not seeing step 2.

I’m right there with you… I think I have step 1.5 or 2 but don’t know what to do next!

Retweet.

I'll release the nudges early... at the end of the first 24 hour period!

Yeah, definitely intrigued by this - have yet to figure out how all these pieces come together. See some things on my break from work but not everything just yet!

Crossed! Stormed!

With help from another solver. Actually, I had it; I just … well, I won’t say more, so as to not risk giving anything away.

Thanks, Ben!

I'm going to have a busy afternoon (parent-teacher interviews ) so here's the first batch of successful solvers:

rfj
Pair O Ducks
LarsCaine
hoover
Darth
kymike
Hector
boharr
woozy
MatthewL
DCBilly
Jaclyn
Meg
rjy
christian
Cindy Weatherman
Tyrpmom
Devoid
DrTom
Laura M
heidi
KayW
Sharkicicles
Philip Chow
zombie
I K Snamhcok
markhr
LindaPRmaven

We start with 28!

As promised, early nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. There is a hint in the grid. It's in 61A but confusingly it's in a bracket: "The process of gilding with gold, which is related to the meta answer."

2. Actually, there are 16 brackets in the clues, which is suspicious given you are looking for an 8-letter word.

3. The bracketed clues come in adjacent pairs: the first entry in the pair has a number and the second entry has a definition. The puzzle title might also help at this point!

4. The number is how many letters are in the word that you need to form with the given definition.

5. Gold's Periodic Table symbol (AU) is needed.

and if you get through all those and answer, "I knew that!" to all of those, here's an extra special nudge just for you:

6. Google what you have!

I suspect a LOT of dope slaps.

Don’t ya just love it when you eventually solve AND learn something in the process!!!