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Elethiomel · Daedalian Member

Smashing victory, by four scores. (1)
Being, or something. (1)
Band of oasis survivors. (3)
Boring routine. (3)
Freezing cold waters. (1)
Redundant years. (2)
Vacant line, where nobody is standing. (2)

3iff · very unbifflike

First thoughts...letters representing words...and I wonder if the number clues are clues?

Smashing victory, by four scores AT (Eighty) (also only 1 letter?)
Band of oasis survivors BDI (Beady Eye)
Boring routine TDM (tedium)
Freezing cold waters (should be IC, icy but is apparently only one letter)
Vacant line, where nobody is standing MT (empty)

Can't yet think of the others...

Suspence · Daedalian Member

Boring routine. (3) - Tedious / TDS
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3iff · very unbifflike

I like your answer slightly more than mine...but it could be either...

Do you agree with my other answers?

3iff · very unbifflike

Being, or something B / be

Reading down using the real answers, it looks a lot like EBBTI(D)E but I'm not at all confident...

Suspence · Daedalian Member

It's hard to see how IC is not correct, other than fact it doesn't match the given word length.

Not so sure on the first one, it doesn't seem like the solution uses the whole clue, unless I'm missing something.
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Oscar · Daedalian Member

It looks to me as if the first answers could be all 3 letters and the numbers are not directly related to the total:

Smashing victory, by four scores ATO?(Eighty 'O' (nil))
Being or something NTT (entity)
Band of oasis survivors BDI
Boring routine TDM/TDS
Redundant years XSH? (excess age)
Freezing cold waters ICC (icy sea)
Vacant line, where nobody is standing MTQ (empty queue)

Also the puzzle title is ICQ spirits

3iff · very unbifflike

There's also using the first letter of each answer (ABBTI_M) which could give BABTISM ?? although it seems mean to put the first 2 letters out of sequence, so that's probably wrong too...

If we could get the redundant years answer it would help but the answer is eluding me.

3iff · very unbifflike

Nice one Oscar...

3iff · very unbifflike

Ok, assuming the numbers indicate the required letters from each answer, that gives ANISXCT (or M for S perhaps) which might be CAST NIX ???

I think NIX has a meaning for Americans?

Oscar · Daedalian Member

Taking the numbers to be an index to the letters from each possible triplet gives ANIMIT which is apparently a punk-rock band which may not get us very far, but it's close to ANIMA which is Latin for soul/spirit...
(Again, I'm not really convinced by this)
[edit:no it's ANIMIXT which is nowhere!]

raekuul · Lives under a bridge & tells stories.

Nix would be semi-slang for "quickly remove," I think. Either that or it's short for Nixon (which, given Watergate, wouldn't surprise me if there was a correlation there)

Suspence · Daedalian Member

Actually, it gives ANIMIST (one who seeks spirits).
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Oscar · Daedalian Member

Now, if it were ANIMIST (a seeker after spirits) we really would be getting somewhere!
[edit: Damn that overlap! (And damn me putting the first answers down in the wrong order!)

Suspence · Daedalian Member

Why isn't it?

A - Smashing victory, by four scores. (1) ATO
N - Being, or something. (1) NTT
I - Band of oasis survivors. (3) BDI
M - Boring routine. (3) TDM
I - Freezing cold waters. (1) ICC
S - Redundant years. (2) XSH
T - Vacant line, where nobody is standing. (2) MTQ
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Oscar · Daedalian Member

It is, Suspence! It's just that in my first post I put 2 answers in the wrong order, then messed up in trying to rearrange them in my head!

Elethiomel · Daedalian Member

ANIMIST is correct, as you all seem to agree after some cross-posting confusion. Revenge most foul!

Nice work!

3iff · very unbifflike

Ah, the 'out of body' problem mixing up the answer order...

Nice work everyone...I must learn to stop jumping to (wrong) conclusions.

Zag · Tired of his old title

Wow. Solved before my first look at it. Well done, all.

Scurra · Daedalian Member

referee · June 21st, 2004 Member

This puzzle has reminded me that there is no 3 in Three.

(And that a Fool and His Money are again delayed).
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Vagrant · Daedalian Member

I'm not sure if anybody noticed the title but I like it - both a hint for what to do and a confirmation of the correct answer.