Listener 4098: Language Balancing by Schadenfreude

[Zabadak]

A fine piece of craftsmanship from Schadenfreude: I especially like the fact that "altered words consist only of real words" after a few recently that have included gibberish in the finished article. My only query is a practical one: when I created the polygon, it obscured some of my entries: maybe I'll have to write it out again and use a thinner marker.
A very pretty and elegant puzzle: appreciation and thanks to Schadenfreude.

[Zabadak]

That should have been "altered clues". Is there a delete function on this board?

[Ruthrobin]

Yes, what a wonderful piece of craftsmanship. After solving only four clues in two hours, we suddenly had a pdm when the polygon leapt out at us. Making altered clues consist of real words is very satisfying for the solver, isn't it?

[starwalker]

Very neat, very satisfying and everything we have come to expect from Schadenfreude. I somehow guessed at the polygon shape early on, but not having much of the phrase definition I failed to check it out. That will teach me !

[Speravi]

Agreed, this was a skilful, satisfying composition. As soon as you see Schadenfreude's name, you know you have a fine piece of craftsmanship to enjoy. The title confirms the theme, but I suspect few will need it.

[midazolam]

I only got the theme from the definition. Although I could guess where the points of the polygon were going, the shape did not appear to me. Some excellent cluing and using an abbreviation from 2008 Chambers that I don't think we have seen in the Listener before. However, one corrected entry is not in Chambers and a bit obscure, unless I am missing something. Enjoyable as always Schadenfreude.

[serpentinew]

Midazolam - all are in my 2008 Chambers - one is in the appendices, though.
To reiterate the other comments a Schadenfreude puzzle is always a most satisfying solve and this is no exception. Educational too!

[midazolam]

I don't like leaving entries that give me doubt. I had a thought that it might be in the appendix this morning and yes you are right serpentinew.

[AHearer]

A typical Schadenfreude offering: it all held together beautifully. I found myself with one quarter of the grid filled (rather slowly - rather disturbed train journey as a result of theft of signal cables!), which allowed me a guess at the polygon, whence I found the phrase and then the correct versions of the clues, and then the other three-quarters of the grid filled in fairly quickly. Maybe not the way Scadenfreude intended, but it worked.

I agree with Zabadak and Ruthrobin: having proper words both in the final grid and in the corrected clues is very nice -- and further evidence of Schadenfreude's skill.

[trux]

Greetings from Geneva (appropriately) ! Following on from last week, for the first time I did print out the puzzle on Friday night, and, seemingly unlike others, managed to work out all of the "defined phrase" before bedtime - and had solved about half of the clues. Quick Google this morning confirmed my suspicion. Now to complete grid at my leisure .... Overall, though, concur that this was elegant and satisfying.

[AndrewG-S]

Just had PDM on the polygon - so should be plain sailing from here - famous last words. Other than the aspects highlighted above, I also like the fact that it appears there is a logical order for the additional letters. So far a very enjoyable puzzle

[pushmi-pullyu]

All done except actually drawing the polygon - I'm holding back as I've many times thought I was home and dry and then been caught out at the last hurdle. A very enjoyable puzzle.

[AndrewG-S]

All done for me now too - a couple of other observations, some of the answers are in chambers but not in word wizard, so this will sort people out! I also thought the definition of the phrase was well concealed

[Zabadak]

I also used the polygon - discovered after getting most of the top part of the grid and extrapolating - to help with solving. This is where it really helps to know all words are real, as apart form anything else, if you're really stuck, you can look up both versions of affected words. Personally, I don't think there's a right and wrong way of solving. It is, after all, a whole puzzle, and I don't see much point in, say, not trying to spot the theme until all clues are in. All's fair in love, war and Listener solving!

[Clamzy]

A geographical journey through the clues in this one. American X3, Oregon, Sweden, German, South Africa, Thailand not forgetting Scotland Glasgow and Skye.
An early finish for me indicating an easier puzzle but as always with this setter a most enjoyable one. Thanks Schadenfreude.

[cluelessJoe]

Yes, Schadenfreude never seems to disappoint - remarkable considering his volume of output!

[AndrewG-S]

Yes I think this is my first Schadenfreude and very good. As I said last week I also enjoyed Shackleton, who has only done 3. When I looked at the Listener site the same person won 2 out of the three - what are the odds of that happening?

[teuchter2]

Yes, an excellent puzzle. I'm pleased to achieve a Saturday finish, especially as I didn't start until afternoon and I've been to an art exhibition during the afternoon. Footie will return to slow me up next week.

[contendo]

Finally got there Sunday morning. Beautifully constructed and very satisfying, though 40 across was a poor clue and why the corners of cell X rather than the middle?

[trux]

Like Philoctetes last week, I also prefer to do these joys in bursts rather than all at one go (even if I could) - so gently finished off the non-crucial bits this morning, and have now put in envelope. What next ? I printed off the EV - rarely has there been such a trivial puzzle in MHO - shame upon Salamanca ! Or perhaps when you are in Listener mode, the EVs just seem trivial ... so now what ? (The Test match is unlikely to keep us preoccupied for long ...) To the Speccie ...

[Jogler]

I am afraid, Trux, the Speccie won't keep you too occupied either this week. :(. We have been late to start but just put this one to bed. Agree with everything said above. If anyone is at a loose end we have an 18,000 piece jigsaw puzzle which needs finishing!