Patterned Response
◆ · By DrTom · Published 9 days ago
Meta Prompt
The answer is a response I hope to hear when you've completed the meta
I am going to apologize in advance for this puzzle. The last two have been in the lower end of the MEOW scale, but this is definitely a PUMA or worse. It is not that the mechanism is so intricate, just that it is very subtle and really unlike most of the ones I have done.
It was tested so long ago (over a year) that I am sure that even Al and Tamara, who were the original testers and even helped make it a little harder, have probably forgotten all about it.
I mean it is totally gettable, but it will take some sleuthing to see the path.
Kitten
Calico
Persian
PumaLionI'll be posting nudges, probably earlier than Friday, and will be glad to offer nudges or course corrections as needed via PM
NUDGES:
Nudge 1] I knew this would be difficult but not this difficult, of course I (much like the answer) may be biased.
Nudge 2] There are two clues that should help you. The first is 27A.
Nudge 3] The second is 55A. Use those together to stimulate your brain to make your eyes look for, well what else - PATTERNS.
Nudge 4] If you are still having a difficult time, look at the graphic and see if there are any patterns you see there.
Nudge 5] The answer is twelve letters. If you were trying to "hide" 12 letters in a puzzle with no obvious theme answers (12 themers is tough to do) and no asterisks, parentheses or numbers, how might you do it in plain sight? People have used this technique for whole words in the past, I'm just lazier than that.
REVEAL
The solution to this was tricky because it had nothing to do with clues or answers, only patterns.
Within the puzzle were twelve letters that shared a "pattern":
--X
X--
The letters in that configuration spell out THANKS A BUNCH, the meta answer.
For a graphical representation of the solve please go to:
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This is a contest/meta puzzle. To submit your answer, first finish solving the grid (or reveal it if you get stuck or solved offline).