Listener No 4229 Cleopatra's Needled By Ruslan

[Ruthrobin]

Surely not! Me starting a thread on a NUMERICAL.

What fun to have a numerical with an endgame. Of course, we can't thank Ruslan but this was nowhere near as tedious and horrible as numericals usually are (at least for some of us!)

[123-and-ABC]

There are a few 'cracks' (independantly solvable clues) in this one, 19ac included. I've narrowed down the logical possibilities for 17ac, but I still cannot make my formule work. I suppose that I've mis-read the clue, but I can't see how. Tsk, tsk.

[Ruthrobin]

My comment about an 'endgame' was that there really is a second game to 'play' after the grid is full this time, whereas these numerical beasts usually stop when one has a full grid (after hours of backtracking from false tracks etc. and frustration attempting to assure that a solution is unique).

[borealis]

Dylan123, magichour: I too got +9 on the total until I checked - there aren't many you need to check with this discrepancy. With 19a, I found that there was too much information, given the crossing numbers I had at the time.

As some have said, easier than average, but very satisfying, and an endgame, as RR points out.

[dylan123]

Now sorted- I'd made an unwarranted assumption for 1dn.

A nice puzzle, with my wife supplying the final insight, as so often happens!

[tenflags]

well straight forward although I found the preamble comment "where a clue requires two digits to be added the sum is less than 10" very disconcerting. Obviously being very thick about that but everything seems to work following normal rules so ...

[jim360]

Once I got the hang of the somewhat unconventional manner of cluing, this puzzle was not at all difficult. The final steps are very neat. Very well composed. It's sad that Ruslan won't know how much this puzzle was appreciated. For that matter, looking at his past listener, I think it's not far wrong to say that after solving his "Number or Nummer" was when I decided to go into solving Listeners full-time. So thank you for that, Ruslan.

[contendo]

Not had too much time for this as my lurcher disappeared this morning and I've spent most of the day looking for him. No luck yet. As for the puzzle, it went smoothly enough until I got to 15dn where I've hit an impasse. Strange as everything else fits. Anyone else have the same problem?

[sunny-dave]

Like jim360 I actually came to the Listener via a numerical (some years ago now) - they are by no means my favourites these days, but this was good fun ...

... and remarkably forgiving of a daft error fairly early on for me - usually that means 'chuck it in the bin and start again' with a numerical, but I actually managed to unravel the error and get to the end this time.

[aldanna]

Full-time, Jim? Isn't there some odd bit of studying occasionally? Starting a dry Lent last night, I was doubly disappointed to see a numerical (which I should have known). However, Himself happily filled in the grid but is still stalled on the end game. I may have to help.

[jim360]

What is this thing called "study"?

[olichant]

In my excitement at filling in my first numerical and highlighting the appropriate cells, I failed to realise that - whilst I'm sure my solution is right - I really don't understand the significance of Cleopatra, or the highlighting. Am I being very thick?

[tilbee]

Agreed a nice gentle first numerical of the Listener year. Way in was fairly straightforward and then everything filled nicely.

[123-and-ABC]

Once I'd realised that I wasn't summing the right numbers in 17ac. it became a doddle, even so I have a grand total a little too high. The end-game was very easy too as well as the Cleopatra bit. I'll re-do it (without a hang over) tomorrow.

[AndrewG-S]

Jim 360 it's a long time ago for me now but I seem to recall it involves sitting at a desk, having an odd attack of flu like symptoms leading to drowsiness and inability to concentrate. Thankfully though these passed quickly allowing the resumption of more rewarding activities almost as soon as you the desk was vacated. I found the onset of these symptoms particularly severe in the Marshall library so tended to avoid this.

[jockie]

Well, the good night's rest hasn't made any difference, so I re-solved it from scratch and came up with exactly the same numbers and exactly the same inability to clear the last hurdle. It would be a kindness if someone who has finished it would contact me to explain just what I've missed.
[email protected]

[jockie]

Thanks. No further reply needed.

[crosswhit99]

Having reviewed the last couple of year's numericals I don't think it's accurate to claim that most don't have a proper 'endgame', though I agree that this one was far simpler in that respect.

Good luck finding your dog contendo - where did he go missing ?

[Whenland]

I think we might have had the same problem as Jockie: we could only find 3 "other cells" but after several re-readings of the instructions all became clear. A fun puzzle.

[Staurologist]

I have only one question about this excellent puzzle ...

[moffat]

This is worrying. I am level par after seven. Never happened before. The inevitable double bogey can't be far away.