XWord Muggles Forum

It's funny, but for some strange reason I have been constructing more of these marching band metas than regular metas recently. By this time, you should know the drill: clue answers fit into the grid in two ways: Rows and Bands. Rows consists of two answers entered back-to-back; their dividing points are for you to determine, except for Row 5, which consists of two four-letter entries separated by the central black square. Band answers are entered consecutively in their respective bands, starting in the lettered square, traveling in a clockwise pattern and ending at the square underneath the lettered square. And then once you've completed the grid, there's the meta to solve! This time, the answer to the meta is a rock band.

Because there is no Crosshare link you'll have to PM me with your submission and I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.

Rock Band - JPZ - Note that JPZ files can be played online here.
Rock Band - PDF

Kitten
Calico
Persian
Puma
Lion

Nudges are here.
The solution is here.

(Image courtesy of https://app.leonardo.ai/)

I think I have it... waiting for confirmation to know if Schrodinger's cat is in or out of the bag.

Edit: cat's out and confirmed!

Quoting from an earlier marching band effort:

benchen71 wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 12:00 am Note that JPZ files can be played online here.

I'm sure I have it with a nudge.

It amazes me that there is ever *room* for a meta in these marching band puzzles. But there it is. A legitimate meta.

Great one. And a great band.

i love rose gardens and enjoyed the grid challenge - that’s done. I am not seeing the meta at all, or any clues to what to look for (other than the title, which I have some ideas about but don’t see them playing out in the letters). Awaiting nudges.

I’m in the same situation as Headinhome. Grid done. Waiting for a clue as to what I need to think about next.

I saw something that I didn't think was right, but submitted anyway. I was right- I was wrong

Yeah, I’m partial to Marching Bands.

The feline is free!

Nice aha. Thanks, Ben.

Cat might need some coaxing... I saw what was just an odd coincidence! >^.^<
After nudges, found what was intended!

HeadinHome wrote: Wed Mar 12, 2025 7:26 pm i love rose gardens and enjoyed the grid challenge - that’s done. I am not seeing the meta at all, or any clues to what to look for (other than the title, which I have some ideas about but don’t see them playing out in the letters). Awaiting nudges.

I am very much up the same tree, awaiting nudges...

Alan kindly shone the laser pointer to entice the cat out of the bag. Nice one, Ben!

My cat is a completely lost, need nudges or a tow.

Got there via the observations of others more clever than me. Cool idea.

Here is the official list of solvers at the end of the first 24 hours:

dannykbernstein
schmidzy
hector
Moreo5
woozy
ChrisKochmanski
Berto
markhr

We start with 8. I guess I might release the nudges early!

Nudges, in order of increasing blatancy:

1. There are no hints in the grid. You only have the puzzle title to guide you.

2. The key word in the puzzle is "band".

3. One band in this puzzle is in focus.

4. The band in focus consists of entries that have a certain number in common.

Good Lord, even with the nudges and a push from a fellow Muggle I am still cowering in the sack! Bands seem to be my Kryptonite.

ok well that’s adorable! Would have been fun to have discovered without nudges, and if I had done one thing I thought of doing but was too lazy to do, I might have seen it. Sending my answer now.

Awaiting confirmation, but feels pretty solid. Nicely done, Ben! I love marching bands.

Meg wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 10:22 am Awaiting confirmation, but feels pretty solid. Nicely done, Ben! I love marching bands.

I'm with Meg - in my confidence (not misplaced for a change!) and in my appreciation of Ben's handiwork.