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The southern French city of Carcassonne was founded on an important trade route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Because of its strategic location, the city was often conquered and has known many rulers. As a result of this varied history, the city is famous for its unique mixture of Roman and Medieval fortifications.
The players develop the area around Carcassonne by placing land tiles. Each turn the area becomes larger as the players expand and add roads, fields, cities, and cloisters. The players may also deploy their followers as thieves, farmers, knights, and monks to control and score points for the roads, farms, cities, and cloisters. As the players have only a few followers, the wise player will plan his moves carefully and deploy followers when and where he can earn the most points.
If there is any game that will attract new players, Carcassonne is certainly it. Even if one ignores the multiple fascinating expansions, the basic game takes tile laying and makes it an art. Players feel as if they are actually building a large puzzle – with scattered cities and monasteries amongst a network of roads and fields. Placing “meeples,” miniature people to claim these cities and farms, players must tactically attempt to control the biggest cities and longest roads. It plays well in multiplayer mode (up to five) but also makes a tremendous two-player game. It’s simple, easy, and fun – and most new players will ask to play it again immediately!
What’s in the Box?
- 72 Land Tiles
- 1 Scoring Track
- 40 Followers in 5 Colors
- 1 Rule Booklet
Designer: Klaus-Jurgen Wrede
Manufacturers: Rio Grande Games, Hans im Gluck
Number of Players: 2 – 5
Time to Play: 30 minutes
Player Ages: 8 and up
Want.
this would be amazing to have!! AAHHHH
Low Number GET!
Has anyone actually played this and is it any good?
[4] I've played the Xbox 360 Arcade version, and really enjoy it. I would imagine that the board game would be no different
[4] It is a really great game in my opinion. And although I've never played them, there are supposed to be some really great expansions for it too (as well as some kind of crappy ones). Of course you can read a lot more at http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822
I've played Settlers of Catan, and have wanting to pick up Carcassonne for a long time! It looks good!
Of course, if I win I will spend over $100 on all of its expansions! ;)
Wunderbar!
[4] You, sir, are no SirBingo, so don't even try.
[6][7] Yes, most of the expansions range from pretty poor/pathetic to just plain bad. In my not-so-humble (and ultimately infallible) opinion, The best expansions are (in order of just how wonderful they are):
Inns and Cathedrals
Traders and Builders (adds a nice little extra level of depth/complexity)
If you feel the insatiable urge to add even more depth/complexity to the game (which I don't necessarily recommend, but these are good/nice expansions) you can add:
King and Scout
Abbey and Mayor
And, if you're like me, and you just HAVE to buy The Tower (because you want the actual Tower for tile drawing), you can use The Tower as intended (it adds an element of aggression/conflict that is normally absent, and that absence is a part of the beauty of Carcassonne) or you can make-up your own rules for the "tower" tiles (like I did, they score 0 in scoring mechanics as "unfinished" or “under construction” tiles – so there is a slight “screw factor” added).
The Siege/Cathars expansion would be good if you want a little more added aggression/conflict aspect, too.
But it is an awesome game just as it is. But please please please do thorough research on the expansions before you buy any! (Or try them out in someone else’s game.) Some of them are terrible! Some add elements that you may/may-not like according to your personal preference. And some, even though they are good, aren't necessarily something you need to buy - they won't necessarily make the game "better" in any way. Personally, I just like extra tiles that add a little more scenery and make the game last a little longer (without disrupting the pleasant simplicity of the game).
And, no matter what you do, DO NOT buy The Princess & the Dragon or The Catapult expansions!
[4] This is a great game. This is one that my wife will play with me anytime.
[8] I got the tower and we played it once and didn't care much for it. But it is sweet for tile drawings!
[9] I know! It is pretty cool for that.
But, yeah, the Tower/capture aspect I didn't like. But I didn’t want to take the tiles out either, so I came up with some alternate uses/rules for them. I mostly like to just count those Tower tiles as unfinished construction zones where they interrupt roads, block fields, and dummy-up city/abbey spaces in scoring. They aren’t actually harmful, but they are good for using “against” other players.
Or, when teaching the game, I just tell people to ignore them, use them as normal.
[8]
Amen on the Princess and the Dragon...do not have the catapult, but really, really, really enjoyed Traders and Builders.
Hope to win for a gift!
Awww [11], I'm sorry you didn't win, since I know you meant to say:
Hope to win for a gift for Leighbra!
Better luck for us next time!