[tommytwotone]

Have to say generally, the experience of doing these was fun - but bloody hell it's difficult. You think you've got a "quarter" of the grid sorted and then realise you've painted yourself into a corner where you have a load of letters where there is no word that will fit.

I sometimes get pissed off with crashing into some random scientific term / flora or fauna / latin phrase in a crossword, but can totally see why they end up in there - it's that the setter has no other option!

[Duma]

Is there an error in the cryptic 18D or am I being a bit dense?

[Will Hunt]

It doesn't work perfectly (imo).

NSFW  :

I don't think I've seen "maybe?" used to indicate a homophone.

[Duma]

Ignore me I was being an idiot...
Had put 24D into 24A

NSFW  :

Will I was okay with the homophone, though I still think using breaking in a clue where break appears is well dodge, unless I'm still being an idiot??

[Will Hunt]

You've got the answer. Maybe TTT was being gentle on us?

NSFW  :

Your comment makes me wonder whether you've got 25A yet?

[Duma]

Will,

NSFW  :

do you mean 26A? (Though you're right, I haven't got 25A yet, I'm not sure how it would affect 18D)

[Duma]

21D help/confirmation please

NSFW  :

I can only come up with impart, but seems a bit of a stretch as a synonym for expose?

[Will Hunt]

21D help/confirmation please

NSFW  :

I can only come up with impart, but seems a bit of a stretch as a synonym for expose?

NSFW  :

I thought the same until I put define: impart into Google.

[Duma]

Phew, in that case I'm all done and feeling quite pleased with myself! My biggest struggles were from a poor knowledge of

NSFW  :

Stanage VS's.

Thanks again TTT, really enjoyed those, and well done getting them into a standard grid, can imagine how hard it must get for the last few!

Think 25A was my favourite, though 24D, 20A worked really well too.

[andy_e]

I'm stuck on the Quick.

NSFW  :

Of 1A, 8A, 10A, 2D, 3D, 4D, 6D and 7D, which conform to the theme and which are unrelated please?!

[Duma]

NSFW  :

only 8A of that list I think, and that needs to be read with another of the themed answers to make it work nicely

[andy_e]

Hmm, thanks. I feel I might need more clues...

[tommytwotone]

Is there an error in the cryptic 18D or am I being a bit dense?

Fair point re: "maybe?", but I've seen it used to mean "this is a bit of pun" as well...

[tommytwotone]

UPDATE: Solutions available now (if you want them) via:


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/sjfcilpdatr9t0t/AAAfVaFIE26wtF8q9fkKImyFa?dl=0

I've put them in a separate folder which should hopefully share OK but let me know if not.

[andy_e]

I gave up. Devious. Thanks TTT!

[tommytwotone]

Assuming we can break the embargo on spoilers...thanks all, glad you enjoyed them.

Was definitely fun making them, though boy is it time-consuming. For the grids I just ripped off Guardian ones from the day I began - I had to hunt around about for the Quick, because I knew I'd got a few specific lengths of words I needed to fit in.

And on the quick - you'd be surprised how few of the (regular) posters on here have a name that is a proper word that can be used as a clue!

Have to say I was toying with trying to fit Houdini and Fingers Of A Martyr in there for the OGs but it was complicated enough with what I had...

Having a busy time at work so making no promises but if I get a quiet period I may do another one for Xmas, let's see.

I'll try and address some of the setting / parsing things above now.

[tommytwotone]

Will I was okay with the homophone, though I still think using breaking in a clue where break appears is well dodge, unless I'm still being an idiot??

That is a good point - and something I hadn't noticed until you pointed it out!

Could easily have just put "Method of resolving stalemate:...or similar.

[Duma]

... making no promises but if I get a quiet period I may do another one for Xmas, let's see.

Pleasepleasepleaseplease