Negroni's Cocktails: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cryptic crossword?
A cryptic crossword is a specific type of crossword whose clues
are half straight definition and straight wordplay. To learn
more, see the many cryptic crossword guides on the web.
How do I sign up to receive access to the puzzles?
You can sign up at
my
Patreon
page.
Why cocktails?
As my name might suggest, I am a fan of cocktails. I am also a
big fan of varierty cryptic crossword puzzles, and it has been a
fun project to combine the two concepts.
When are the puzzles released?
In 2024, there will be 6 puzzles, released every two months in
even-numbered months. The February Cocktail was released the
third Saturday, February 17, at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific.
Subsequent puzzles will be released on the second Saturday of
the month, at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific.
What is a twist
These are variety cryptic crossword puzzles, which means that
there is a twist. Perhaps certain answers have to be amended
before they are entered into the grid, or some clues have a word
that needs to be removed before solving, or any number of other
things. In the first puzzle that is released each month, there
will be no instructions, just a recipe for that month's
cocktail, and solvers will need to determine what the twist is
all on their own. In the second released puzzle, the cocktail
recipe will be replace with instructions regarding the twist.
What is a meta, or final answer, and how do I find it?
When each crossword is completed, there will be another puzzle
hidden within it that solves to a final answer. There are any
number of ways that this might work, and it is up to you to
figure it out. In Negroni's Cocktails, that second puzzle will
be related to the twist in some way. You can read about meta
puzzles and metas in crossword puzzles in various places on the
web, and there are several puzzle authors offering these types
of puzzles. The more of these that you do, the more you will
understand the possible mechanisms for finding that final
answer.
How many entries may I submit for a puzzle?
You can try multiple times to solve the puzzle and still get on
the All Solvers list when you enter the correct final answer,
though note that if you enter any wrong answers, you will not
qualify for the No Help Leaderboard even if you solve the
original puzzle before the hinted version is posted. There will
often be some answers that I call partial answers, in that you
solve for them in the process of solving for the final answers.
If you enter these answers, they will not count against you, and
will just let you know that you're on the right track and should
keep solving. Please do not misuse the ability to enter
multiple answers. I, and I think everyone else, would like to
avoid someone just guessing the final answer 10 times. Also,
note that for the year's final answer, each person can only
submit one guess.
How do I get on the No Help Leaderboard?
To get on the No Help Leaderboard, you must solve the original
version of the puzzle with no help (solo) before the hinted
version is posted. If you enter an incorrect answer, you can
still solve the final answer and enter it later, but you no
longer qualify for the No Help Leaderboard. As long as you solve
it before the solution is posted, regardless of whether you
qualify for the No Help Leaderboard, you will appear on the
alphabetical All Solvers list.
What does it mean to solve the puzzle solo?
A solo solve is a solve without any help from any other person,
no matter how small. If two people are solving any part of the
puzzle together, it is not a solo solve.
When does the second version, with instructions about the twist, come out?
A puzzle that has the cocktail recipe replaced by instructions
will come out exactly a week after the original version of the
puzzle is released. This will help you with the twist and may
give a hint on how to find the final answer. At that time, your
chance to get on the No Help Leaderboard will have passed, but
you can still get on the All Solvers list.
When are the solutions posted?
Everyone will have ample time to get on the All Solvers list.
The first puzzle's solution was posted the last Saturday of the
month before the next puzzle, and I may keep that pattern or
something close to it unless there is a reason to change that.
In any case, members will be notified before the solution gets
posted.
How do I find the year's final answer?
There is a final answer for the year hidden in the six puzzles.
It probably won't be solvable until several puzzles have been
posted, and it can use any infomration at all. Good luck, and
remember that you have only one guess at the year's final
answer, so make sure you have it right.
What if I have other questions or comments?
Feel free to email me at
cocktails@negroni.fun.