tbh if you have a significant streak you should know better
the gimmick was obvious enough, and so was the fact that the app(s) might be touchy about it
― mookieproof, Sunday, 1 May 2022 15:59 (two years ago) link
I’m quite new to this, finally gave in & got the sub to do the spelling bee thing & started doing this despite not really getting on with us style xwords previously - I still on the whole find them less satisfying/interesting than uk cryptics but there are moments of inspiration that wouldn’t be possible with the latter, the worst thing tho is that the lack of black squares means that the same answers have to come up over and over againThe relative easiness also makes it dangerously addictive (I’ve done 15 daily puzzles since I joined but 69 total, you can just blast through the archive) and echoing recent posts the existence of “stats” and timing is toxic
― gop on ya gingrich (wins), Sunday, 1 May 2022 16:01 (two years ago) link
One of these days I'm going to take another whack at cryptics, but the learning curve seems pretty steep for a newcomer.
Anyway, I solved today's on Android and had no trouble getting it to accept it, so my streak never felt threatened (lol feeling called out).
― Human-shaped trash bag (Leee), Sunday, 1 May 2022 18:27 (two years ago) link
I think this is the best possible time to get into US/Canadian cryptics, as they play a bit fairer than UK ones, and you can get 5/6 new ones a week from various publications. There are also a lot of how-to/training guides popping up on both blogs (see https://toughasnails.net/2022/01/01/announcing-the-oneth-of-the-month-mini-cryptic/) and publications (see The Browser, The New Yorker, AVCX, and others). I've been doing one a day for this whole year and it's been very satisfying.
Hard to believe NYT with all of their resources can't figure out how to make an online puzzle with the tiniest of variety elements work. This isn't the first time a gimmick like this has gone wrong. Indie creators have figured out how to make digital versions of acrostics, spirals, marching bands, and other variety types. You would think NYT could at hire them or at least copy their work.
― Michael F Gill, Sunday, 1 May 2022 20:16 (two years ago) link
The received wisdom on UK cryptics at least is that they are very specific to the setters - you'll need a month of one setter to really settle in, but it won't help you much with others - is that less the case in the US?
― Andrew Farrell, Monday, 2 May 2022 09:31 (two years ago) link
There is some small variance among US setters, but mainly the vocabulary and references of their cryptics are familiar to people who do US Crosswords. With UK cryptics, the best advice seems to be British. Or, have a desire to learn about British locales, slang, and abbreviations that seem a bit crusty/outdated at times. UK cryptics rarely (if ever) have living people or current events in their clues, but they do go far into the Chambers dictionary to find words like SPATCHCOCK or OTOLITH. I have to be in the mood for the challenge, but it’s a bit of a steep climb to get there.
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 2 May 2022 13:03 (two years ago) link
OTM
― Wile E. Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 2 May 2022 13:10 (two years ago) link
― gop on ya gingrich (wins), Monday, 2 May 2022 14:34 (two years ago) link
I don’t mind the vocabulary hunt at times, and there are definitely some inventive ways of clueing/punning in UK puzzles. Feels like only recently though that the average US solver now knows that cryptics are a thing, and might want to do them. Although that is a bit of speculation on my part.
― Michael F Gill, Monday, 2 May 2022 17:30 (two years ago) link
Just remembered that I started doing cryptics with a Telegraph (?) How To Solve Cryptics I bought at Heathrow. I then kept going with the variety cryptics in Harper’s and the Atlantic and would still try to do UK cryptics on and off for various spells but ultimately didn’t really feel it was worth it for me.
― Wile E. Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 2 May 2022 18:36 (two years ago) link
Today’s puzzle I liked
― Wile E. Is President (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 5 May 2022 11:59 (two years ago) link
i did too, so i’ll give it a pass for 45D
― mookieproof, Thursday, 5 May 2022 19:16 (two years ago) link
Ha, yes, exactly.
― Johnny Thunderwords (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 5 May 2022 19:36 (two years ago) link
Hah, and the 45A cross.
― Human-shaped trash bag (Leee), Thursday, 5 May 2022 20:07 (two years ago) link
Solved it, don’t know how I feel about it. I was on the verge of annoyance at times but overall an enjoyable experience I guess. 32D had me going for a bit, I had something else there for the longest time.
― Johnny Thunderwords (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 7 May 2022 11:03 (two years ago) link
I had two different things in for 28D MARRIAGES and then MATERIALS - not being sure how to spell 34D didn't help
― Andrew Farrell, Saturday, 7 May 2022 12:09 (two years ago) link
struggled a bit with that middle section (never heard of DEJAGER or HUGUENOT, also had INDIA instead of NEPAL for the longest time) but overall I quite liked it. faster fill than usual for a Saturday even with the hiccups.
― Roz, Saturday, 7 May 2022 15:51 (two years ago) link
easiest sunday ever
― mookieproof, Saturday, 7 May 2022 22:49 (two years ago) link
Yeah, another record!
― Andrew Farrell, Sunday, 8 May 2022 00:50 (two years ago) link
can will shortz fit every possible spelling variation of a certain egyptian god into a single week? perhaps
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 10 May 2022 02:36 (two years ago) link
You’re talking about AMONUPDO?
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 May 2022 11:05 (two years ago) link
Should have said AMENRA to that.
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 May 2022 14:31 (two years ago) link
That's my favorite type of noodles
― may the florist be with you (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 10 May 2022 22:16 (two years ago) link
Lol!
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 May 2022 22:26 (two years ago) link
Rejected crosswordese screenname: AMEN UPDO.
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 May 2022 22:27 (two years ago) link
So some of the time restrictions for doing a puzzle that counts towards your streak have definitely been relaxed -- I *just* finished Wednesday's and it's showing up as gold.
― Santa Barbarous (Leee), Thursday, 12 May 2022 17:28 (two years ago) link
Were there time restrictions? Didn't know. Oh, day of or something maybe.
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 May 2022 17:47 (two years ago) link
I think it matters whether you start the next one.
Like, if it's Thursday morning and I forgot to do Wednesday, I can still do it and get gold... as long as I don't start Thursday until Wednesday is done.
That's how I understand it anyway.
That said, if I ever get too precious about this, please kick me in the groinal region and remind me that it's a voluntary leisure activity that is also basically meaningless. Thxbye
― may the florist be with you (Ye Mad Puffin), Thursday, 12 May 2022 20:23 (two years ago) link
People getting precious about their streak is kind of half the business model for the NYT xword
― Michael F Gill, Thursday, 12 May 2022 21:13 (two years ago) link
Addiction through gamification is real, people!
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 May 2022 22:37 (two years ago) link
Or is it?
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 May 2022 22:41 (two years ago) link
xxp and wordle too! they're playing on peoples' OCD tendencies
I know a lot of people don't do numbers but it's nice that the sudoku isn't like that
― Dan S, Thursday, 12 May 2022 22:45 (two years ago) link
I’d say the “cracking the cryptic” sudoku fans can get pretty obsessive/dedicated. The speed solvers at Logic puzzle tournament are pretty incredible, although these events also seems to be accompanied with nerdy endless arguments about things like bifurcation, uniqueness, and if the cognitive load of the solving path is too heavy. I do love Nikoli-style logic puzzles in general though.
― Michael F Gill, Thursday, 12 May 2022 22:59 (two years ago) link
Okay, Sunday 5D made me smile.
― Don't Renege On (Our Dub) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 14 May 2022 23:03 (two years ago) link
easiest Wednesday ever
― assert (matttkkkk), Wednesday, 18 May 2022 11:48 (two years ago) link
Streak is now at 365, and I kind of hate myself for caring that much.
― Pteredactle (Leee), Friday, 20 May 2022 18:05 (two years ago) link
Ray Stevens to thread! Or not.
― Groovy Situation Vacant (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 20 May 2022 18:22 (two years ago) link
Leee, I also got to 365 recently and had the same ambivalence - simultaneously "yay me" and "who gives a fuck."
― Doris Day and the Time (Ye Mad Puffin), Saturday, 21 May 2022 03:30 (two years ago) link
Anyway, today’s puzzle…took me a while but I enjoyed, I think.
― Apollo and the Aqueducts (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 21 May 2022 12:51 (two years ago) link
same, was a fun one! really liked the clue-ing on this
― Roz, Saturday, 21 May 2022 13:26 (two years ago) link
Sunday was a bit of a headfuck, I only figured out the gimmick after I’d ground through the whole thing using crosses.
― assert (matttkkkk), Sunday, 22 May 2022 10:33 (two years ago) link
I saw the gimmick early on but didn’t have much of a reaction to this puzzle pro or con. I started it last night, didn’t feel like bothering and picked up again this morning.
― Apollo and the Aqueducts (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 22 May 2022 12:53 (two years ago) link
Today's is chewy -- tough but fair, if that's something you enjoy.
― Averaged Sevenfold (Leee), Friday, 27 May 2022 18:20 (two years ago) link
And again today. YMMV but I really enjoyed it despite nearly not finishing. Clues were difficult but not arbitrary, and some nice fill too. (It does have glue but I'm more tolerant of it especially if it's balanced it by good fill.)
― Averaged Sevenfold (Leee), Saturday, 28 May 2022 17:44 (two years ago) link
And if I scared you off, Rex calls both days exceptionally easy, so maybe I'm just obtuse.
― Averaged Sevenfold (Leee), Saturday, 28 May 2022 17:47 (two years ago) link
I did both. They weren’t particularly hard or easy. More of the medium challenge I am willing to accept these days.
― 20 Preflyte Rock (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 28 May 2022 17:54 (two years ago) link
the port authority/fields medal winner cross was rough
― mookieproof, Saturday, 28 May 2022 21:14 (two years ago) link
Was wondering why I never saw you on the math threads.
― 20 Preflyte Rock (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 28 May 2022 21:31 (two years ago) link
Tomorrow’s puzzle seems really boring.
― 20 Preflyte Rock (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 May 2022 00:33 (two years ago) link
Sez I as I peer into my 🔮
― 20 Preflyte Rock (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 May 2022 00:34 (two years ago) link