The Case of Case

In case of fire, run away from blaze (5)

I’m undecided, mostly as it would go over my head in a clue. Should it be suit-casing, which doesn’t make sense, rather than suitcase? Also, what about more ambiguous words like hull or shuck – both of which can mean outer casings, but as verbs mean to ditch the outer casings, so ‘shuck peas’ would be ‘ea’ rather than ‘ps’?

my two cents says case is fine. I think it should be "case of" though, not "case in"

and Sam, if I saw "shuck peas" in a DA crossword, I'm penning in EA in black ink. Same with hull

Along the line of accepting case, one could argue that suit would have similar use. But then what to do with suitcase? I think it would be far too unfair to have to pick which one is acted upon by the other.

Bring it on, I say. I love the multiple possibilities thrown up by something like briefcase. Is it BF, CAS or even SUI?

Also, when creating clues I have often been frustrated by the lack of options for indicating the outside letters of a word. I like to think of cryptics as a constantly evolving form of puzzle, where one setter's inspiration can be incorporated into another setter's bag of tricks, so keeping solvers constantly on their toes and challenged.

CASE gives a clearer nod than SUIT, that's for sure. While it seems CASE OF is a fairer serving, or perhaps CASING as well. Though the fingers itch at the likes of:

display case = DY
headcase = HD
arson case = AN
and dare I add lower-case = LR

Or case of vino = VO, case of Stella = SA...

Certainly the best-case scenario for a setter. You've been warned.

Window structure has nothing in it (8)
[think 'Roger']

From a solver's point of view, whether or not you approve of a device seems immaterial. The trick is to recognise it when it occurs. How often is an anagind simply a verb? Of your examples in the intro, Equity reads more smoothly and seems acceptable.
Must be on the lookout for that one now.

RK and JD have pretty much hit the nail on the head. Exterior letters, central letters, Spoonerisms... just three examples of wordplay techniques which are ungenerous when it comes to indicators (Spoonerisms are by far the worst - hey DA, how about a Storm in which peeps can suggest new ways of indicating Spoonerisms?).

'Case' is quite a nice one for external letters and I think 'case in' is fine. Remember, what the solver is being asked to look at for those letters only looks like a word; it is in fact just a sequence of letters forming wordplay fodder, so you're being asked to pick out certain letters 'in' a sequence. 'Shell' is another that gets used and, occasionally, 'shelled' is used to indicate the removal of external letters.

As JD says, when setters find new ways of suggesting things (and the editor deems them valid) it's up to the solver to become familiar with them.

I think it's kosher, particularly if it's stated as "in the case of xxxx" or "casing". I'm not so sure that "a case of xxxx" cuts it, which is a pity coz I really like the notion of "a case of poor communications" :)

ps. How on earth did DA miss the Australia Day honours list? "For services to the cryptically obsessed"

Its ok he is in Geoffrey Rush's head

Poise of Dubliners XI before mob violence (6)

IF suitcase = ST, then forehead = F (or could it be H). I think both are fine, provided the rest of the def reveals foot or hoot. Of course, case of is easier, but a DA isn't meant to be..

Quoting David:

display case = DY
headcase = HD
arson case = AN
and dare I add lower-case = LR

What would a Ximenean say? Maybe, where's the apostrophe s? Surely it must be 'display's case' etc? On the other hand, what would Putin do? I think he might just squeeze the loose parsing in.

From a recent Times monthly clue-setting challenge: Boy was fond of girl, almost making a case for love (7).