The FOFC Enigma Puzzle

[enigma]

The FOFC Enigma – see signature for further instructions.


Puzzle #1

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich.
The greatest one had a holy destination, I’m told.
Years ago, a group of cats played a big role in its gaining acceptance.
Another nickname sounds like a lager, but that’s misleading.
The devil didn’t bring one to the crossroads – good thing.
No Park Place, but seems like quite a monopoly.
And now, the internet version just sends you anywhere.

What is it?

[WSUCougar]

Cool idea. Anyone making any headway on this?

[QuikSand]

Looks like it's you and me, Coug.

[WSUCougar]

Okay, I've narrowed it down...it's definitely NOT "2/3".

[enigma]

The enigma welcomes collaboration. You're more then welcome to share ideas... but ultimately it is a race to see who get it first.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by enigma

The enigma welcomes collaboration.

That's a relief.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by enigma

but ultimately it is a race to see who get it first.

When someone gets it, are they supposed to identfy themselves before posting the next puzzle, or does that remain an enigma, as well?

[enigma]

Originally Posted by VPI97

When someone gets it, are they supposed to identfy themselves before posting the next puzzle, or does that remain an enigma, as well?

I guess that's up to him.

But I rather like the idea that the actual user of the name remains anonymous...

[WSUCougar]

Not sure what the intent is, but I think it'd be kind of cool to keep it hush-hush. Maybe some kind of cryptic announcement like, "The Enigma has changed hands."

[digamma]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Not sure what the intent is, but I think it'd be kind of cool to keep it hush-hush. Maybe some kind of cryptic announcement like, "The Enigma has changed hands."

I like this idea.

Is Quik trying to throw us off here? I thought for sure it was him based on the devil -crossroads line. Wasn't that the first line of his writing contest?

[VPI97]

Random thoughts...

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich. - specialty sandwich? Like reuben or something?
The greatest one had a holy destination, I’m told. - The only thing that pops into my head is that this is a reference to the crusades.
Years ago, a group of cats played a big role in its gaining acceptance. - Lions? Tigers? football? baseball?
Another nickname sounds like a lager, but that’s misleading. - ???
The devil didn’t bring one to the crossroads – good thing. - The legend of Robert Johnson?
No Park Place, but seems like quite a monopoly. - property names?
And now, the internet version just sends you anywhere. - search engines?

Yeah, it's pretty scattershot and I can't relate any line to another. Go me.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by digamma

I like this idea.

Is Quik trying to throw us off here? I thought for sure it was him based on the devil -crossroads line. Wasn't that the first line of his writing contest?

Yes, I thought the same thing. Although he'd have to do it with dual names, since he's present in the thread as well as enigma. And this puzzle doesn't really strike me as his style.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by VPI97

Random thoughts...

No Park Place, but seems like quite a monopoly. - property names?

Boardwalk?

[WSUCougar]

Special kind of sandwich = hero/hoagie/sub?

[SplitPersonality1]

I like this so far. Also, I like the idea of keeping the enigma screenname anonymous.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Special kind of sandwich = hero/hoagie/sub?

knuckle?

[AnalBumCover]

Originally Posted by enigma

Another nickname sounds like a lager, but that’s misleading.

Bud? Heineken (Heinie)? Corona (Crown)?

[Maple Leafs]

Just thinking out loud here...

Originally Posted by enigma

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich.
The greatest one had a holy destination, I’m told. Stairway (to heaven)?
Years ago, a group of cats played a big role in its gaining acceptance. Cats, the musical?
Another nickname sounds like a lager, but that’s misleading.
The devil didn’t bring one to the crossroads – good thing.
No Park Place, but seems like quite a monopoly. Microsoft? Windows?
And now, the internet version just sends you anywhere.

I tried gate and gateway, with no luck.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by digamma

Is Quik trying to throw us off here?

Understand -- I am always trying to throw you off.

[VPI97]

I thought I had something with 'presidency', but couldn't make it work...

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich. - Sandwiching presidential terms
The greatest one had a holy destination, I’m told. - Reference to Kennedy or whatever flavor of president floats your boat
Years ago, a group of cats played a big role in its gaining acceptance. - Founding fathers

and that's where I hit a wall...

[rkmsuf]

This has the potential to be a gigantic reach.

[Coffee Warlord]

I'm kinda onto something...sorta...kinda.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by VPI97

I thought I had something with 'presidency', but couldn't make it work...

I think it's a reach. Although the most popular lager in the Domincan is "El Presidente", I just don't see it all coming together.

I think we need to keep in mind that there's no guarantee that the puzzle is as simple as coming up with an answer that fits all seven clues. Maybe the seven clues yeild seven answers, and it's those that then point to one final answer?

[Coffee Warlord]

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich. - Panini? Google'd it, had a reference to it. Sandwich, and some ancient Indian who basically invented Sanskrit.

Best I got at the moment.

[Maple Leafs]

Still thinking out loud in hopes I might trigger someone else...

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich.
Like the rest of you, I'm stuck in food mode. Hero could work well. The "some say" is odd... is there an ad campaign about special sandwhiches?

The greatest one had a holy destination, I’m told.
What are some holy destinations? Heaven? Mecca?
Could it be a pun (holy = full of holes)?

Years ago, a group of cats played a big role in its gaining acceptance.
Any number of possibilities here... A sports team? A musical group? The Black Panthers?

Another nickname sounds like a lager, but that’s misleading.
Not even sure how to start on that one.

The devil didn’t bring one to the crossroads – good thing.
When you meet the devil at the crossroads, it's to sell your soul. What would you not want him to have? A contract? A pen?

No Park Place, but seems like quite a monopoly.
Microsoft, Windows, Gates...

And now, the internet version just sends you anywhere.
Page? Node? Link?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

And now, the internet version just sends you anywhere.
Page? Node? Link?

highway, road?

[Whar]

I focused on Boardwalk for the monoply question. Tried different 'hot dog' references. It can be considered a sandwich. The dog can be considered a 'link'. Hotdogs are a favorite when I am out on the boradwalk. But seems to be a dead end.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Understand -- I am always trying to throw you off.

Respekt.

[AnalBumCover]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I think we need to keep in mind that there's no guarantee that the puzzle is as simple as coming up with an answer that fits all seven clues. Maybe the seven clues yeild seven answers, and it's those that then point to one final answer?

I think that as well. I also think the one final answer might lead to a current sporting event: The Olympics maybe?

That said:

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich. Hamm? As in Mia Hamm?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by AnalBumCover

I think that as well. I also think the one final answer might lead to a current sporting event: The Olympics maybe?

That said:

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich. Hamm? As in Mia Hamm?

Don't eat Nomar's sandwich.



That is the answer to Enigma #1.

[Maple Leafs]

One of the rules of good puzzles is that they choose their words carefully. Sometimes when you're stuck, it's useful to look for odd turns of phrase or seemingly out-of-place words.

For example, in the "holy" clue, the addition of "I'm told" at the end must have some meaning, yes?

[Vince]

Link, sausage, hot dog, bratwurst...that sounds like it has to be along the right track...

Maple Leafs - I think the 'I'm told,' 'some say,' 'nickname,' etc. seems to me to indicate that the creator of the puzzle is bending the truth a little with the clues.

[Masked]

Earl of Sandwich - no idea where i am going here just heading away from the food theme. This makes me think of URL for the last clue.

[enigma]

Hmmm... so far, I see a lot of well-reasoned speculation, but almost none of it is heading in the right direction.

Originally Posted by VPI97

The devil didn’t bring one to the crossroads – good thing. - The legend of Robert Johnson?

This (above) is on the right track (or course, there's another level to it). I don't see anything else in the thread so far that is making the right connection. For the most part, the whole "food" line of thinking is sending you in the wrong direction -- even though it happens to appear first on the list of clues, don't let it dominate all your ideas.


You are, in fact, looking for one answer that connects directly to each of the original clues. Of course, in the modern age of search engines, the connections can't be all that obvious... otherwise anyone with Google and a little imagaination could solve this in a flash. Of course, that still might be one of your best tools... beats me.

[Maple Leafs]

Originally Posted by enigma

You're all hopeless.

Shortened that up for you.

[rkmsuf]

This is shaping up like a Geraldo tomb special.

[enigma]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

This is shaping up like a Geraldo tomb special.

Okay, okay. So far, not so good. Let's see if a nudge or two (or several) might help...




The thing you are looking for is an object. An item. A product.

Some say it’s a special kind of sandwich.

"Some say" is a reference to a nickname for this item. See below, where clue #4 references "another" nickname ... this is the first one.

The greatest one had a holy destination, I’m told.

The reference here is to the most decorated one of these ever made ... it was a gift from its single largest manufacturer.

Years ago, a group of cats played a big role in its gaining acceptance.

The product was once more or less dismissed as "not serious" -- this one is tough to elaborate on without giving things away too easily, I think.

Another nickname sounds like a lager, but that’s misleading.

This item has more than one nickname or slang name... one (above) suggests a type of sandwich... another (here) suggests a type of lager.

The devil didn’t bring one to the crossroads – good thing.

Robert Johnson sold his soul for the ability to play guitar like nobody ever could, so the story goes. Johnson could have made the trade for some other ability -- and we would have lost out on perhaps the greatest guitar player ever.

No Park Place, but seems like quite a monopoly.

Just a reference to the fact that there is one dominant manufacturer of this item/object/product.

And now, the internet version just sends you anywhere.

Oddly enough, this word is used in the name a web site that has nothing at all (as nearly as I can tell) with the word itself... but just www, the key word here, and a common internet extension gives you a general-use website.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by enigma

Robert Johnson sold his soul for the ability to play guitar like nobody ever could, so the story goes. Johnson could have made the trade for some other ability -- and we would have lost out on perhaps the greatest guitar player ever.

Anyone else IMMEDIATELY think of the Jimmy Hendrix Pepsi ad with the Accordion in it?

[VPI97]

This puzzle has confirmed the long standing speculation that I'm a dumbass.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by VPI97

This puzzle has confirmed the long standing speculation that I'm a dumbass.

We're all dumbasses then

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by VPI97

This puzzle has confirmed the long standing speculation that I'm a dumbass.

Seems to me the real indictment is on the puzzle creator.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Seems to me the real indictment is on the puzzle creator.

Ouch.

Grasshopper takes it on the chin.

[Maple Leafs]

Some of us are actually having a good bit of fun with it. The silence you hear is people thinking.

(The answer just better not turn out to be something dumb...)

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Seems to me the real indictment is on the puzzle creator.

don't be so hard on yourself.

[VPI97]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

don't be so hard on yourself.

heh

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

don't be so hard on yourself.

Up yours, pony boy.

[Maple Leafs]

So what do we know?

It's a product which practically speaking has only one maker.
It used to be dismissed years ago, but now it's taken more seriously.
It has two nicknames -- one sounds like a sandwich, one sounds like a beer.
It's something you would learn to use.
There was a famous/fancy one that wound up someplace "holy"

(That's all I have... given how many unused domains are generic web directories, I don't think the Internet clue will be useful except as confirmation that we're right.)

[Buzzbee]

Robert Johnson sold his soul for the ability to play guitar like nobody ever could, so the story goes. Johnson could have made the trade for some other ability -- and we would have lost out on perhaps the greatest guitar player ever.

This leads me to believe that it is some other type of instrument. Violin perhaps.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Up yours, pony boy.

heh

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I don't think the Internet clue will be useful except as confirmation that we're right.

I agree with that.