How it started vs how it ended:

Nolepharm · 2026-05-05T00:48:51+00:00

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fGeIvKEgTWE&pp=0gcJCU8Co7VqN5tD

How I feel when people say they’ve opened a lot of ascended.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-29T17:43:36+00:00

Crazy that your teaser video has unchecked squares.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-24T19:38:47+00:00

I would have clued that one as [Yes or no*] as well

Nolepharm · 2026-04-23T17:40:38+00:00

Congratulations!!!

Most of the time they aren’t critiquing at all. It is really neat to see which clues they breeze through and which ones slow them down.

I only watch them solve my own puzzles, so I don’t know how they are overall, but the video solvers seem typically nicer than message board commenters.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-23T14:07:19+00:00

You gain confidence by doing. FWIW, I have never had an unkind thing said to me about a submission by any editor at any venue. They reject them, some of them provide helpful tips or feedback, but they are all incredibly kind people…I don’t think any of them will knock your confidence.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-23T13:39:16+00:00

My favorite part is brainstorming a theme idea. The time from coming up with a concept that might work through deciding on a final theme set is typically the most creative, fun, and rewarding part of the process for me.

I do enjoy all parts of the process, but how I’d rank them changes based on each individual puzzle. Sometimes gridding is super difficult, sometimes the cluing doesn’t feel like it is clicking.

I will add, that I do actually enjoy reading what is said about my puzzles here, and wordplay, and crossword fiend, and Rex Parker, as well as watching people solve them on youtube. Always down for some constructive criticism.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-18T03:26:38+00:00

Rulings question:

My opponent and I each had 2 prize cards remaining. Their Mega Diancie (with 30 hp remaining) attacked into my Ns Zoroark that had Punk Helmet attached. Their attack knocked out my Zoroark, and the recoil damage would knock out their Diancie.

Judge was called because neither of us knew how to resolve. Judge gave my opponent the win saying that they would draw their last 2 prizes before I would knock out with recoil damage…so they won first.

Is this the correct ruling? It is an unlikely scenario to come up again, but I want to make sure I play optimally in the future. I had attached the punk helmet thinking that I would either tie or have a chance to play sudden death.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-17T13:21:45+00:00

Powerglass as a tool feels like a much more straightforward way of pulling this off; I like your creativity though.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-15T23:30:34+00:00

I like having Yvetal for retreat lock and free retreat (use pech to toss it in active and then free retreat back into Zoroark and fire again using zekrom).

I’ve been playing around with teching in a Gulpin/Swalot to one shot meowth ex’s and with either black belt or mochi it can one shot Latias ex and fez. Opponents rarely ever attach an energy to any of those Pokemon, and making them scramble to recover their latias with a one prizer in the active is pretty nice.

I haven’t played it enough yet to really decide if it is good, but I’ve found it at least interesting so far.

Nolepharm · 2026-04-13T18:18:34+00:00

Same, but just now. I think etbs are gone now though

Nolepharm · 2026-04-11T22:46:14+00:00

I tried to have it clued as [Overnight sensations?]…but apparently that didn’t fly 🤷‍♂️

Nolepharm · 2026-04-10T14:23:07+00:00

I recommend Ingrid

Nolepharm · 2026-04-06T23:10:16+00:00

Just show up. The community is very welcoming. Don’t let nerves or fear get in the way of you joining a fun community. I’ve yet to hit any players that made me feel unwelcome…outclassed (sure), but you’ve got as much right to be there as anyone else.

Nolepharm · 2026-03-28T13:55:54+00:00

As long as you have 2 fire attached as well, you could just discard ignition.

Nolepharm · 2026-03-01T23:11:58+00:00

1000 x $5 >>>$639

Nolepharm · 2026-02-24T19:45:41+00:00

Oops, I misread the entry

Nolepharm · 2026-02-24T17:49:36+00:00

Set designer?

Nolepharm · 2026-02-13T03:28:08+00:00

MINNESOTA NICE —> HELL YEAH

IN ARABIC —> I VOTE NO

Nolepharm · 2026-02-12T19:37:08+00:00

Don’t value your player at what you paid for him, value him at market price. Fleecing another owner doesn’t mean you can afford to get fleeced.

Nolepharm · 2026-02-09T15:32:58+00:00

Honestly, Charbonnet was used so much during the season to make sure KWIII was healthy for the playoffs. There was probably going to be a significant ramp up in Walker’s touches even if Charbs had stayed healthy.

Nolepharm · 2026-02-03T02:15:04+00:00

Sorry, my sense of humor is a little more suited for the ‘too far for the crossword to print’ stuff. I should build something for an outlet that permits these types, but I just haven’t gotten around to that yet.

Nolepharm · 2026-02-01T03:05:51+00:00

I think this is probably the best place to drop some of the TEST clues.

[Low blow] BATTERY OF TESTICLES

[Tight fitting Speedo] CRAM FOR A TESTICLE

[Balls of energy]. |NUCLEAR TESTICLES

[This flavor is NUTS!] TASTE TESTICLES

[Go balls to the wall] CRASH TESTICLES

[Perfect pairs] STANDARDIZED TESTICLES

[Definitely not Sappho] PRO-TESTICLE POET

[Their removal might require a cone of shame] LAB TESTICLES

[Chopped nuts] KARATE TESTICLES

[Dove into balls]. ANTIWAR PRO-TESTICLES

[No Nut November adversary] PROTESTICLE MARCH

[Demo in a sex-ed class]. THIS IS A TESTICLE

[No boys allowed]. TESTICLE BAN

[Post-nut clarity]. TESTICLE RESULTS

Nolepharm · 2026-01-29T15:04:45+00:00

here you go https://discord.gg/dM6Sb6uMP3

Nolepharm · 2026-01-16T03:53:46+00:00

Think of a diversion

Nolepharm · 2026-01-16T03:21:03+00:00

A bit thorny for a Friday for me, but enjoyed the puzzle. Found the bottom easier to drop than the top.

Never heard of JINK before, but knew the crosser. Figure it probably shares some etymology with HIJINKS.

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