Variety Cryptic 17: Restricted

Restricted

By Elgel

This is a MyCrossword grid; it turns out they have restrictions that stop me writing long, silly preambles...
You can also solve it at https://mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/560

Special Instructions: I must be brief 'ere, I see. I will use the clues.

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Squares filled: 0/148

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Crossword ID: xet-long-intro

Exolve v1.47 December 19, 2022 Report Bug Exolve on GitHub

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Page size: Letter: 8.5in x 11in A4: 210mm x 297mm A3: 297mm x 420mm A5: 148mm x 210mm B4: 250mm x 353mm B5: 176mm x 250mm Legal: 8.5in x 14in Ledger: 11in x 17in

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Across

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Down

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Notepad:

The first six clues are indeed also instructions on how to solve the puzzle.

The first two clues refer to definitions changing; the full loop is VIEW->SPECIAL->INSTRUCTION->LENGTHS->AS->INDICES->ALTERNATING->LARGE->SMALL->END->...; the second clue refers to putting 'end' at the end of the loop to find the right way to read it.

The next two clues (9a and 10a) refer to changing parts of wordplay. These 'upgrades' are all changes to 'one level up', in some more-or-less well-defined manner. The changes are: second->minute; quavers->crotchets; priest->bishop; cygnets->swans; saplings->trees; bronze->silver.

11a and 12a refer to using the above two sets of changes together. The looping instruction refers to the preamble; the lengths of words there, in order, are 1,4,2,5,3,1,3,1,4,3,3,5.

Taking these as indices into the 'upgraded' words, along with the originals (alternating 'large' and 'small'), gives

Minute;secOnd;cRotchets;quavErs;biShop;Priest;swAns;Cygnets;treEs;saPlings;siLver;bronZe

or: MORE SPACE PLZ.

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Down & Up

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Across

1	First off; 10 clues have changed definition given, with this... (6) MUSCLE. Maybe (10a) + (CLUES)*.
5	...a loop cycling around (taking alternative with 'end' in last to see where to go). (8) PORTALOO. ALOOP->PALOO around OR + lasT
9	Modify 6 more, with essential 'elements' of wordplay getting 'upgraded';... (8) IMPROVED. (VI MORE worDPlay)*
10	...for example, changing small to medium, and British/European, perhaps (5) MAYBE. SAY w/ S->M + B + E
11	Take first two pieces of instructions, and use looping conclusion of instruction 1 on combined... (2,6) INUNISON. INstructions USe around (instructioN + I) + ON
12	...'element' pieces (in clue ordering) (6) NUCLEI. (INCLUE)*
14	Revolutionary characters in illegal, ugly prison (5) GULAG. illeGAL UGly<
15	Turn around program's indices (8) SWAPPING. indices->alternating; SWING around APP
18	Cast dad with second Dune extra part (8) ADDENDUM. Minute<-secOnd; (DAD + M + DUNE)*
21	Maybe 23 babies overwhelms wife in the end... (5) CUBES. CUBS round wifE
23	...as captive queen joins society (6) POWERS. as->indices; POW + ER + S
26	Shrinks down and quavers around you, forgetting every time (8) CROUCHES. cRotchets<-quavErs; CROtCHEtS around U
27	Large stain almost covers tattoo (5) DINKY. large->small; DYe around INK
29	Close relation to 17, perhaps, though not dead or appearing outwardly prophetic (8) ORACULAR. dRACULA in OR
30	Advanced, leaving company behind, to attain view (8) PRECIOUS. view->special; PREcoCIOUS
31	Underworld with priest entering before us (6) EREBUS. biShop<-Priest; B in ERE + US

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Down

2	Running man due to corral horse allowed to run wild (9) UNMANAGED. (MANDUE)* around NAG
3	Potter's mate buried in black rocks, as related to the Crown (7) CORONAL. RON in COAL
4	Occasionally, vain cygnet goes in close, as expected (9) ENVISAGED. swAn<-Cygnet; VaIn SwAn GoEs inside END
5	Those fussing cleared out saplings after exercise and working (7) PEDANTS. treEs<-saPlings; TreeS after PE + (AND)*
6	Ancient person who lived on fish eggs, by the sound of it? (5) ROMAN. Hom. of ROE MAN (or ROE MEN)
7	Some American city (3) ANY. A + NY
8	Alternating letters in xenophobe's emails (5) OBESE. alternating->large; xenophOBE'S Emails
13	Small hotel ignored by bloke (3) CAP. small->end; ChAP
16	Even letters in faint bronze-work outside port (9) ANCHORAGE. siLver<-bronZe; fAiNt + CHORE outside AG
17	Sucker turned over child to iron deficient judge over University (9) NOSFERATU. SON< + FE + RATe + U
19	End year covered in drugs (3) EYE. end->view; Y in E + E
20	Turn crimson giving instruction (7) MICRONS. instruction->lengths; (CRIMSON)*
22	Lengths of three lines leaving toll passage (7) BECAUSE. lengths->as; BEll ClAUSE
24	Start work again over drinks, right special (5) ORDER. special->instruction; REDO< around R
25	Authority given by sow, cryptically? (3-2) SAYSO. Rev-eng; SO as hom. of SOW
28	Occasionally inspect computer's role in game (3, abbr) NPC. iNsPeCt (non-player character)

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