Puzzlebrains

So.... this weekend was the annual MIT Puzzlehunt (which finally "formally" ended a couple of hours ago.) It was the usual collection of absurd nonsense - a crossword transmitted entirely in morse code, book title puns, inverse neologisms (like "leakfast" instead of "brunch") and so on and on.

Anyway, this is one of the puzzles and it is literally exactly what it says it is - just a regular set of cryptic clues. There is, unfortunately, one mildly obscure reference (to Pokémon) but the puzzle should be solvable without that one particular answer if you can't get it.
The puzzle produces a single word answer - so if you haven't got a single word, that's not the answer.

1. Sketch, sewn, and lay down a publication (9)
2. One messed with half-ragged circular product throughout Florida (6)
3. Beating runner up, wrongdoer's top character is swapped, left with weapon edge (6)
4. Idol's oil-less at ends with East Milan's shapes disfigured (8)
5. Some (often religious) ceremonies her IT escort concealed (5)
6. Small amount cut oddly from lotus besides alternating nickel (5)
7. Inch top entering hollow "laze interrupting apps" follows head of pet fruits (10)
8. Bug fearing Pokémon finish off the beheaded to equip agogô's evens (9)
9. Slaughter elves with ultimate crows' bowl (6)
10. Bunny's holiday clergyman swaps skirt for posterior area (6)
11. Element initially from Newton's O.G. bro entering legit intern university, maybe (8)
12. Turning point: rats' weed get mixed onto Bush's right (9)
13. Dramatic Virginian author wrote, "Perhaps, to sport initially ethical names; Woodrow's intelligent seven hiding inside?" (10)
14. Insurrection takes leader following Mexican river with grand likeness removed (4)
15. A split door's surrounding first of coat and top-tier or first-rate medic (6)
16. Report transgressed or overturned criticism? Ultimately, give one's rear symptoms (8)

Well, I can only get 8 answers, so no hope!

I've got 2!

Ah, with perseverance and help from D, I now have another stage...albeit with 3 missing answers. However, I can't get enough of the next stage to see what is going on.

1. Sketch, sewn, and lay down a publication (9) NEWSPAPER (although don't understand the paper bit!)
2. One messed with half-ragged circular product throughout Florida (6) ORANGE
3. Beating runner up, wrongdoer's top character is swapped, left with weapon edge (6) WINNER
4. Idol's oil-less at ends with East Milan's shapes disfigured (8) Can't really see this but maybe DEFORMED ??
5. Some (often religious) ceremonies her IT escort concealed (5) RITES
6. Small amount cut oddly from lotus besides alternating nickel (5) OUNCE
7. Inch top entering hollow "laze interrupting apps" follows head of pet fruits (10) PINEAPPLES
8. Bug fearing Pokémon finish off the beheaded to equip agogô's evens (9) no idea
9. Slaughter elves with ultimate crows' bowl (6) VESSEL
10. Bunny's holiday clergyman swaps skirt for posterior area (6) no idea but possibly EASTER?
11. Element initially from Newton's O.G. bro entering legit intern university, maybe (8) NOBELIUM
12. Turning point: rats' weed get mixed onto Bush's right (9) WATERSHED
13. Dramatic Virginian author wrote, "Perhaps, to sport initially ethical names; Woodrow's intelligent seven hiding inside?" (10) OWEN WISTER
14. Insurrection takes leader following Mexican river with grand likeness removed (4) RIOT
15. A split door's surrounding first of coat and top-tier or first-rate medic (6) DOCTOR
16. Report transgressed or overturned criticism? Ultimately, give one's rear symptoms (8) SYNDROME?

First letter read NOW DROP EVEN WORDS

So now I have
1. Sketch and down publication
2 One with circular throughout AROUND?
3. Beating up top is left weapon PISTOL
4. Idol's at with Milan's disfigured TALISMAN
5.Some religious her escort USHER
6. Small cut from besides nickel SNICK
7. Inch entering laze apps heat pet
8. Bug Pokemon off beheaded equip evens
9. Slaughter with crows MURDER
10.Bunny clergyman skirt posterior RABBIT
11. Element from O.G. entering intern, maybe? NITROGEN
12. Turning rats get onto right STARBOARD
13. Dramatic author, perhaps sport ethical Woodrow's seven inside
14 Insurrection leader Mexican with likeness
15. A split door's first coat top-tier first-rate PRIMER
16. Report or criticism give rear.

That doesn't look like initial letters again, so I can only assume it is making a new clue. But absolutely can't get 1, 7, 8, 13, 14, 16.

It's not initial letters again.

For #1 - if you wallpaper a room, you lay down the paper.

For #4 - D at each end, (IDOL - OIL) plus E plus FORME (Italian for shapes)

Well I have tried again this morning and can't get any more clues. Will you fill us in at some point please?

Maybe some other people will chip in and build on what you've done.

Just looking at this and was thinking you need to place the second set of answers over the first set of answers and find the common letter - although not sure

possibly PRIME C??E AND ??R?

and then thinking would work....PRIME C??E AND WORD

Hmmm, yes your idea looks good. I'm not sure what that would mean. I just wish I could get a couple more answers! I have tried looking up stupid Pokemon names with 9 letters beginning with E. These are the options

Eelektrik

Electrike

Electrode

Eternatus

Excadrill

Exeggcute

Exeggutor


So I am guessing that it must be either Exeggcute / Exeggutor I don't really understand why but just because of the aGoGo's evens?

The other one, though, looks like it might be VESPIQUEN because that is a bug Pokemon and it's an anagram of (e)quip evens so maybe it's a U? So possibly PRIME CLUE AND WORD?

I really hate Pokemon!

I'm thinking that the new 17 is FEEDBACK

chazzie wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 19, 2023 8:54 am

I'm thinking that the new 17 is FEEDBACK

Re Q8 - I think you are right with Exeggcute - Execute = beheaded with the gg's you mentioned

chazzie wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 19, 2023 9:03 am

chazzie wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 19, 2023 8:54 am

I'm thinking that the new 17 is FEEDBACK

Re Q8 - I think you are right with Exeggcute - Execute = beheaded with the gg's you mentioned

Also agree with your answer for the 2nd Q8

and also think PRIME CLUE AND WORD

OK for new 14 clue how about ICON - Insurrection leader = I, then CON for "Mexican with" - as in con carne - and ICON meaning likeness

Ah yes, I like 14 (kept thinking it must begin with an I but couldn't get the rest as hadn't thought of that sense for the def!)

I'm thinking that the new 17 is FEEDBACK

Assuming you mean 16 it might be, but I can't for the life of me see why it is!

sorry yes 16 - so GIVE = FEED, REAR = BACK, meaning report or criticism

oh and a correction for new 7 it is HEAD not HEAT - sorry I was using the wrong word

So new clue 7 I think it might be CHINCHILLA - which gives us the L (for clue) and also contains INCH - still trying to work out the rest of the clue