SOLVED - The GL Collaborative Meta-Puzzle

[Suspence]

Next puzzle is Slithering Words by jbvntx

Enjoy! As an FYI, I'm keeping a summary of the puzzles, solvers, and solutions back in the initial post of this thread.
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I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gpagano]

Wow, nicely done everyone. Kudos to Elethiomel as well, for coming up with such a nice puzzle with a given word!

As to the puzzle, I'll have a look and try to start fitting letters in. Not sure of the reason for the spaces in the rows though--they don't appear to anagram to anything, and it would be impossible to put those blocks into the grid in the order given and get them to agree with the columns.

[3iff]

I had the same thoughts. The rows are sometimes 8/9 and sometines 9/8. Not sure if that's significant.

BTW, there's only 1 "F" so that's easy to place. Unfortunately, that's as far as I've got!

I presume the shaded square letters will spell something out...

[Suspence]

Another thing that makes El's work even more impressive was the fact that all his 2nd level clues have 5 words.

We were trying to think of something more to do with that fact, ultimately we decided to stick with El's trademark "cryptic pyramid" format. Still, El designed this puzzle working with that additional constraint of 5 words per clue, so extra kudos.
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I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[novice]

Impressive puzzle by Elethiomel, although I'm not surprised.

Methodology for puzzle four seems to be to fit the 8/9 letter rows into the grid in such a way that each column contains the letters listed above it (although not necessarily in that order.) Should be fun.

Hm. Seems the horizontal blocks are scrambled too, so we need to cross-reference for individual letters. Why aren't the horizontal blocks alphabetized, though...

[novice]

I copied the puzzle to a google spreadsheet. If anybody does their solving in front of the computer, like me:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq1IiQ8fbOs2dEpsbU9ONVc0Y2V2VVNPOWJJZ3JwcHc

[Suspence]

There were instructions when I test-solved, but jbvntx decided to be evil and remove them.
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[Oscar]

I thought I must have made some errors (and I still might have):
the shaded letters spelled out 'First words final verse' with snatches of what looked like poetry. I'm not sure what the rules for reading slitherwise are but they are apparently lyrics from the Beatles song 'Across The Universe' and the first word of the final verse is 'Sounds' so I'll try that:

Call in SOUNDS

[Suspence]

Impressive solving again, Oscar, though SOUNDS is not intended.

In looking at the lyrics in different places, your solution actually may be the right one. To get to the intended, take the first word of the next part of that verse.
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[Elethiomel]

Oscar is on a roll here.

Regarding my puzzle, my &lits are usually more "discovered" than constructed, but this one was obviously constructed. It happened to work out in this case, but I certainly don't think I can do that for ANY word. I was also happy to see the title working as intended: providing a hint to make the final leap easier, and confirming that the answer is indeed correct.

[Elethiomel]

I'm eager to see the next one, so

Call in LIMITLESS


Edit: Nice puzzle title... here are the opening lines:

Words are flowing out like
Endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away across the universe

[Suspence]

LIMITLESS is correct.

You won't be so excited when you see the next is my last minute fill-in puzzle. Here it is - Sil″ly-cros′tic by Suspence
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I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Thok]

The top group of clues seem to be in alpha order

AB-Stomach Muscle (2)
AD-Notice (2)
AN-Article (2)
??-Phone Tools (4)
ASS- Donkey (3)
AYES-Affirmative answers (4)
BAITS-Lures (5)
BOAR-Wild Hog (4)
?? - Relax (5)
?? - Lower jaw (4)
CAD? - Mongrel (3)
???- Cash money (5)
EEL - Snakeline fish (3)
ENT - LOTR race (3)
?? - Former (2)
?? - Wanes (5)
?? - Juniper liquor (3)
HAL- Shallow or 9000 (3)
HIM - That guy (3)
IF - Whether (2)
?? - Leg joint (4)
LA - Follows sol (2)
NEIGH - Horse noise (5)
?? - Invalid (4)
ON - Atop (2)
?? - Either (2)
PORT - Left side (4)
?? - Winter's Bone protagonist (3)
?? - Chain of hills (5)
SEA - Ocean (3)
SLICE - Portion (5)
SIR - Gentleman (3)
?? - Well up (4)
?? - Blow the whistle (4)
THIN - Skinny (4)
TICK? - Nervous movement (4)
TORN - Ripped (4)
UP - Skyward (2)
- Part of a chapter (5)
YOUTH - Juvenility (5)

[novice]

Intellectual _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Song book _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Pass by _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Worsens _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Officer _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Funnel _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Native _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Travel in the future _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Put to death Y O U T H-A N-A Y E S
Navigate _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Golfer's aim _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cute rodent _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tranquil _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Unfavorable _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Elethiomel]

I had started down the same path. Here is my list:

AB - Stomach muscle (2)
AD - Notice (2)
AN - Article (2)
APPS - Phone tools (4)
ASS - Donkey (3)
AYES - Affirmative answers (4)
BAITS - Lures (5)
BOAR - Wild hog (4)
CHILL - Relax (5)
CHIN - Lower jaw (4)
DOG - Mongrel (3)
DOUGH - Cash money (5)
EEL - Snakeline fish (3)
ELF - LOTR race (3)
EX - Former (2)
FADES - Wanes (5)
GIN - Juniper liquor (3)
HAL - Shallow or 9000 (3)
HIM - That guy (3)
IF - Whether (2)
KNEE - Leg joint (4)
LA - Follows sol (2)
NEIGH - Horse noise (5)
NULL - Invalid (4)
ON - Atop (2)
OR - Either (2)
PORT - Left side (4)
REE - Winter's Bone protagonist (3)
RIDGE - Chain of hills (5)
SEA - Ocean (3)
SHARE - Portion (5)
SIR - Gentleman (3)
TEAR - Well up (4)
TELL - Blow the whistle (4)
THIN - Skinny (4)
TICS - Nervous movement (4)
TORN - Ripped (4)
UP - Skyward (2)
VERSE - Part of a chapter (5)
YOUTH - Juvenility (5)

Edit: SHARE and SEA are out of order so one of them is likely wrong.
Edit: No they're not. Guess I messed up in my notes.

[Elethiomel]

Pass by E E L-A P P S
Worsens E X-A S S-S I R-B A I T S
Native A B-O R-R E E-G I N-N U L L
Unfavorable A D-V E R S E

[novice]

AB-BOAR-RIDGE-CHIN-HAL

[novice]

Travel in the future: TELL-LA-PORT?

[Elethiomel]

[novice]

The best fit may actually be AB BOAR RIDGE GIN NULL

[Thok]

[novice]

Intellectual: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Song book: H I M-N U L L
Pass by: E E L-A P P S
Worsens: E X-A S S-S I R-B A I T S
Officer: _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Funnel: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Native: A B-B O A R-R I D G E-G I N-K N E E
Travel in future: T E L L-O R-P O R T
Put to death: Y O U T H-A N-A Y E S
Navigate _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Golfer's aim _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Cute rodent C H I N-C H I L L-L A
Tranquil _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Unfavorable: A D-V E R S E

DOG - Mongrel (3)
DOUGH - Cash money (5)
ELF - LOTR race (3)
FADES - Wanes (5)
IF - Whether (2)
NEIGH - Horse noise (5)
ON - Atop (2)
REE - Winter's Bone protagonist (3)
SEA - Ocean (3)
SHARE - Portion (5)
TEAR - Well up (4)
THIN - Skinny (4)
TICS - Nervous movement (4)
TORN - Ripped (4)
UP - Skyward (2)

[Thok]

Officer: SHARE-IF

Also, I like TELL-UP-PORT better than TELL-OR-PORT, and I think you've dropped HAL from the word list. (And I hold out hope that LOTR race is Ent rather than Elf.)

Edit: Mogrel is Cur, so that Intellectual can be THIN-CUR

Intellectual: THIN-CUR
Song book: H I M-N U L L
Pass by: E E L-A P P S
Worsens: E X-A S S-S I R-B A I T S
Officer: SHARE-IF
Funnel: TORN-NEIGH-DO
Native: A B-B O A R-R I D G E-G I N-K N E E
Travel in future: T E L L-U P-P O R T
Put to death: Y O U T H-A N-A Y E S
Navigate OR-REE-ENT-TEAR
Golfer's aim FLAGS-TICK
Cute rodent C H I N-C H I L L-L A
Tranquil HAL-SEA-ON
Unfavorable: A D-V E R S E

Edit Edit: (I think navigate is OR-REE-ENT-TEAR)

Edit Edit Edit: Tranquil is HAL-SEA-ON (halcyon)
Also, WANES (5) was FLAGS, not FADES.

[Suspence]

Quick clue change due to a misspelling on my part.

Replace Nervous movement (4) with Parasite (4)
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Thok]

Putting all of the words in place

ThinkeR
HymnaL
ElapsE
ExacerbateS
SherifF
TornadO
AborigineS
TeleporT
EuthanizE
OrienteeR
FlagsticK
ChinchillA
HalcyoN
AdversE

The estate of charles foster kane. (I can't type/read, or knee should have been knees and native should have been natives.)

Call in XANADU.

[Suspence]

XANADU is correct. It should have been Natives/ABORIGINES...sorry I was rushing.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Thok]

I assume XANADU is correct?

[Suspence]

Yes, sorry for the mix-ups. I need my own test solver.

Next up is This Puzzle is Tougher Than You! by Gomez
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Thok]

[Elethiomel]

Nice work, Thok. I also liked that puzzle very much, particularly because it was one I could realistically solve.

[novice]

Nice puzzle, Suspence. I certainly can't rush out one of those.

[3iff]

Gomez puzzle:

Part 1. I thought it might be cities/states...but 3 lines have odd groups so that's unlikely. Perhaps it's sentences chopped into 2 letter bits and scrambled...

Basically, I haven't got a clue.

I've an inkling for part 3 though. I'll see what I can find.

[Elethiomel]

[Oscar]

The assumption I made for the slitherwords puzzle was that the two 8 or 9 letter strings to the left of the puzzle were:
1 ordered as they would occur in the corresponding row of the puzzle, and
2 had no commonality with each other (i.e. if combined appropriately they would produce that corresponding row)
(The strings above each column were obviously sorted in alpha order)

Then starting at the first column I worked my way down, cross-checking with the two 8/9 string sets. The first letter of one or other must provide the entry in the grid. Both the first sets started with 'N' so I crossed out one 'N' in the first columnar sorted set and wrote 'N' in the grid. Since I didn't know which sub-set should now have the first 'N' crossed out I half-crossed out both. For the 2nd row of column one I wrote a small 'I' & 'L' in the grid and again half-crossed out both in the sub-sets. Moving on down the grid column I eventually came to row four which could only be 'R' since there was no 'S' in the sorted column set, so I could cross out the first letter of the first 8 letter sub-set. This also worked for rows 7 & 8 and since both 'N's were now gone row 11 had to be 'I'. Having now removed some possibilities from the sorted row I could rework the column to resolve the others. e.g. only three could provide the 'A'.
The first column was therefore 'NIARELUNDYI'.
I then moved on to the second column with the added complication that the possibilities for row one had to include the second letter for each sub-set since I didn't know which 'N' to cross out. However these complications didn't persist for any row for too long and once resolved I could fully cross-out one and re-instate the other. As I progressed I realised that I could usually short circuit some decision making by initially scanning the first available (uncrossed out) letters of the subsets to see if there were only one candidate for any of the columnar set, which speeded things up from a crawl to a limp!
When I eventually finished I was in severe need of a drink which is why I didn't respond to Suspence's post telling me that 'Sounds' wasn't the answer he was looking for.

Hope that clarifies things!

[novice]

Did the grid contain any actual words? Or was it just random letters?

[Oscar]

It was a whole string of lyrics but you had to read them in a slitherlink kind of way. e.g. the top 4 letters of the first column given in my last post when read up gave 'RAIN' followed by 'into a paper cup', while the last 5 were part of a slithery 'UNDYing love which shines around me like a million suns'.

[Suspence]

Here's what it looked like:


As Oscar explained, the letters beside each row were used to fill in that row. The letters appeared in the correct L-to-R order, but were split between the two groups. Filling out the grid was quite fun.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Oscar]

That looks familiar! (I feel another drink coming on!)

And it was very remiss of me not to thank jbvntx for the amazing creation of this puzzle and my headache!

[Suspence]

As far as credit for solving goes, I intended to give that to only the person who "called in" the correct answer. This is why Oscar got the "solve" for A King's Tale, even though 3iff first suggested Misery.

For puzzle 4, I split the solve credit since Oscar did almost all of the work and offered a solution that was probably more correct than the actual solution. Since El called in the answer, he gets part of the solve credit as well.

As for assists, I give one whenever anyone submits a post that contributed toward the solution.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Oscar]

Finally some progress!
In the first part you can assemble at least some pairs to make something meaningful:
1a. A European picture of mental health
1b. Lunch for losers

while 1d could be
Niceness above the moon,
or even
Nice above the neon moss
but I wouldn't stake anything on those two!

Maybe these are synopses of films, as hinted in the text?