CRUCIVERB.COM

Constructing => General Discussion => Topic started by: brasarehot on May 18, 2014, 10:55:48 PM

Title: Crossword theme that forces solvers to search online
Post by: brasarehot on May 18, 2014, 10:55:48 PM

Is it a bad idea to make a crossword theme that a solver can't understand without the internet?

Title: Re: Crossword theme that forces solvers to search online
Post by: jorkel on June 04, 2014, 10:21:14 AM

Probably not advised because...

Most puzzle venues contain a wide spectrum of solvers;  Some young, some old, some who solve in pen, some who pride themselves on solving without ever Googling an answer.

I try to envision the full range of demographics when constructing a puzzle.  I especially take note of the last category above -- the no-Google solvers.

Now having said all that, I imagine there may be a specialized venue which contains only tech-savvy solvers, and they might welcome such a puzzle.  Or, if a Notepad established that the puzzle would only be solvable via help from the internet, then solvers would be forewarned.  But, if more than, say, 20% of the audience would be significantly handicapped by this -- or any other -- requirement, then it would be a hard sell with the editor.

-Joe K.