Future-proofing: If you think you know what you were supposed to do to solve this meta but it didn't work, that is, you constructed a tinyurl but it gave an error, just go straight to https://crosshare.org/crosswords/jPfNPHjXvwbJiy9AV7wd/than-meets-the-eyes which is where the tinyurl link would have taken you.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here: https://www.ephesusscroll.com/about/interest4.html. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
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Leaderboard (updated hourly)
Laura M solved over 1 year ago
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Hector solved over 1 year ago
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Comments
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Laura M 🤓6:57 · over 1 year ago
That was very cool! And also, all of my first ideas worked out, which never happens :-)
There was the vaguest of hints in the first puzzle. I was hoping you might notice "Useful" in 9D!
Hector 🤓7:23 · over 1 year ago
Cool! I had even a more complex path to the second puzzle, as I got an error from tinyurl locking me out of their system:
Sorry, you have been blocked
You are unable to access tinyurl.com
(so I used my phone's browser to fetch the redirected crosshare URL).
VERY clever! I got the MORES and thought, "Wow, that is going to be too easy!" HA! The TINYURL thing was BRILLIANT, and when I got there and solved I kept looking for more mores, or EYES or I's...nothing. I tried VISION because that seemed like it would be a good ability and a few more things but was faltering. I asked myself, "but why would Ben send us to a second site...SECOND SITE, hey that sounds like SECOND SIGHT which I know applies to the ability to see the future. Would he, could he, did he...darn right he did. Very amusing and satisfying puzzle Ben.
MatthewL 🤓7:52 · over 1 year ago
I didn't even twig to the SECOND SITE thing until I read this. An added level of cleverness!
Well Dang it, this was more clever that I was aware of. I thought the Second Sight was completely related to the word play of being sent to a Second Site, and that is how I got the answer. It was only when someone commented about "Second Site" being a revelation to them that I realized there must be a meta way to do it and went back to the puzzle. Why all those Is didn't register in the first place I don't know, but "meets the eyes (plural)" should have been a tip as well. I guess I just falsely confirmed it in my own head as "Meets the Eye", so as much as I liked this, I like it more now. Super puzzle Ben!
Wow! Two for one! Fun one, and an amazing meta idea!
MrTheHan 🤓6:20 · over 1 year ago
Raise your hand if you also briefly thought that the meta was related to the non-answers in the clues (now there's an idea...). The tinyurl trick reminded me of many a puzzlehunt twist -- thanks for scratching that itch!
Ergcat 15:01 · over 1 year ago
Very clever! Needed the nudges though I had an idea of what needed to be done… thank you, Ben, that was fun!
rjy 8s · over 1 year ago
Had everything in front of me but just didn't "see" it, until the gentlest of nudges. I use tinyurl all that time and whipped past that clue, never fully reading it... oof! I fixated instead on 9D which seemed like it wanted to be a hint. Before, before, before, before... nuttin. But still a great aha! with the second puzzle. Also got tripped on the double-I, but took a step back and saw where you were going with this. What a fun trek!!
Wow. So good. I struggled to figure out what to do with the tinyurl clue, even though I did figure tinyurl + the more clues was a path SOMEWHERE. Was very happy to see some nudges waiting for me this morning so I could solve it. Awesome!
Very spiffy indeed. I quickly figured out that I was supposed to construct a tinyurl, but my standard entries-only blinders prevented me from seeing all the mores in the clues until the third nudge. Really need to put a post-it on my computer that says 'check the damn clues' or something. :) Once I had the second one done I was on the right track in that I focused on the I's, but I didn't quite figure out how to focus properly until nudge 6. And didn't even realize the pun until I came here. Very impressive work, thanks!
Bird Lives 4s · over 1 year ago
I didn't even have first sight. My blindness about all the more clues had to be pointed out. (And no, the person doing so did not point to a clue and say,, "That's a more.") Then there was my ignorance about tinyurl. I had no idea you could customize it. But when I did finally get there, I guessed the answer before filling in a single letter in the grid, so that mechanism was a quick find. Brilliant idea.
hoover 3s · over 1 year ago
Brilliant!
ReB 3s · over 1 year ago
This felt like a classic treasure hunt where each discovery is the clue to the next step. Fortunately the second meta was straightforward as I was sure the last nudge was the key, which is was. Curious coincidence this week as I'm sure you've noticed, but can't say more at this time...Quite a TOUR DE FRANCE...(Oh, did I misspeak here?)