Mental Judo: A Cryptic Blog (11)

Today’s puzzle is a collaboration with the one and only juff, a fantastic cryptic setter and streamer (with many other talents, one of which is on display after you solve this puzzle). Check out their post for this collab  here , and a great essay on symmetry in cryptics (along with a fun puzzle) here ! We’ve been wanting to collaborate for a bit, so when juff had the idea of doing a modern homage to a vintage Halloween-themed Hex puzzle , I was excited to jump on board! Many thanks to Saroota and Skaldskaparmal for their helpful test solves. Hope you enjoy, and, as ever, let us know what you think! [ fullscreen ]  

This is the fifth of a series of small puzzles meant to introduce the conventions of cryptic crosswords to the uninitiated. It introduces and uses only a single clue type: the container clue.  (You can see the instructions again by clicking the "Info" button at the top right.) [ fullscreen ]

Thought I'd try my hand at a theme-less puzzle today! Big thanks to Steve Mossberg for the invaluable test solve, feedback, and general encouragement and good vibes! UPDATE: Oops I forgot enumerations; fixed. Instructions: Most of my puzzles have some kind of theme. For this one, I decided to make do with less-yet it seems I’ve subtracted something. Hopefully this puzzle (minus theme) doesn’t lead to a negative experience!

This puzzle relates to a specific location—can you use the themed answers to figure out where you are before the grid spells out the answer? Special shout out to Liari , who redeemed this puzzle as a channel-point redemption on my stream ! She doesn't know the location—but I expect she'll solve this puzzle in about 3 minutes! Many thanks to the Rackenfracker 's dadgumituh and jmsr525 and herzwesten for the test solves! If you solve or stream or love or hate, lemme know! (joeadultman on Twitch   and Twitter ) [ fullscreen ]

This puzzle relates to a specific location—can you use the themed answers to figure out where you are before the grid spells out the answer? Special shout out to Norah , who chose the location for this puzzle via a channel-point redemption on my stream ! Many thanks to herzwesten and the Rackenfracker 's jmsr525 and dadgumituh for the test solves! If you solve or stream or love or hate, lemme know! (joeadultman on Twitch   and Twitter ) [ fullscreen ]

This puzzle—a twist on a classic trope—is a joint venture with herzwesten , my oldest and greatest partner in cryptic construction crime! If you solve or stream or love or hate, lemme know! (joeadultman on Twitch   and Twitter ) [ fullscreen ]

This puzzle relates to a specific location—can you use the themed answers to figure out where you are before the grid spells out the answer? Thanks to Steve Mossberg of Square Pursuit and the Rackenfracker 's dadgumituh and jmsr525 for their help, not just for their invaluable help with this puzzle, but for their dedication to uplifting the cryptic community and improving things for solvers and constructors alike! If you solve or stream or love or hate, lemme know! (joeadultman on Twitch   and Twitter ) [ fullscreen ]