ChatterBank1 min ago
Listener No 4236 Oh No! Not Another Playfair, By Mordred
65 Answers
I usually hate playfairs, so what a joy to have this one with a difference. Thank you so much Mordred (for a nice easy solve, too, that will be perfect to welcome newcomers). Great fun!
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I enjoyed this even if the ending is slightly unsatisfying. Then again, hard to make words with all those nine letters in a row!
Lots of fun clues more than made up for the endgame being a bit flat. Also nice not to have to fuss over a playfair - I've never done one of those and wouldn't mind too much if I keep that streak up. Thanks, Mordred!
Lots of fun clues more than made up for the endgame being a bit flat. Also nice not to have to fuss over a playfair - I've never done one of those and wouldn't mind too much if I keep that streak up. Thanks, Mordred!
Much the same thoughts as all those above; pretty easy grid fill, slightly disappointing conclusion. Almost looks as though the intention was to do something very clever with the swaps and it was quickly abandoned when it was realised it would be a hugely complicated grid. But pleasant enough overall, thanks to Mordred.
Sorry for another plug, but the other was right at the end of the thread for 4235. I'm featured in the Scrabble column of The Times this Saturday after winning the big Easter tournament. Those who buy the paper will see me mentioned, under real name of course!
Sorry for another plug, but the other was right at the end of the thread for 4235. I'm featured in the Scrabble column of The Times this Saturday after winning the big Easter tournament. Those who buy the paper will see me mentioned, under real name of course!
I got at least one email from a new setter explaining how frustrating it was that they had solved "9 to 5" as their first ever, and how we were all dismissing it as easy and "not the best" listener. So I've resolved never to be so nasty about a puzzle again. This isn't really a shot at anyone else but me, since I think I was guiltier of it that week than most.
Anyway, I'll enjoy cracking those ciphered messages later, and enjoyed this crossword too. May as well give my usual Uni Challenge plug - this Monday. A win sees us grab a semi-final place, while already we've got the furthest any team from King's College has since at least the Paxman era began. Not sure records survive fully from the days of Bamber.
Anyway, I'll enjoy cracking those ciphered messages later, and enjoyed this crossword too. May as well give my usual Uni Challenge plug - this Monday. A win sees us grab a semi-final place, while already we've got the furthest any team from King's College has since at least the Paxman era began. Not sure records survive fully from the days of Bamber.
Yes, as jim360 and trux have just said, it is so easy to find fault (I'm on my high horse again) but before we do, we should perhaps attempt, ourselves, to do the final step that we are grumbling at Mordred for not doing. I think the disappointment stems from the fact that it started off so promisingly then didn't go all the way. Compiling a grid with certain letters omitted or only in strategic places can be a real stinker. The 2 in 5s were surprising but the clues for those were doddles weren't they?
Mmm... not a great fan of this puzzle I'm afraid although a big fan of Playfair puzzles generally. There seemed to be much unnecessary preamble about how a Playfair code works when it was fairly obvious from the opening sentence that we weren't expected to do anything with the assembled code-square. Unless, of course, I've missed something major!