User talk:MajFrost

General info and comments

Originally released by Hans im Glück in 2018.

Carcassonne, the world-famous French city,

Components and setup

Following part will explain initial setup and introduce components of the game.

The 72 LANDSCAPE TILES show roads, cities, and monasteries, in a field.

Tile showing a city

Tile showing a road

Tile showing a monastery

The backs of all the tiles are the same, but the START TILE has a darker colored back, so you can recognize it easily. Other graphical elements such as houses, people, or animals have no impact on the game.

Regular back

Dark back

Place the start tile (the one with a dark back) in the middle of the table. Shuffle the remaining tiles and set them as different facedown stacks that are easily accessible to all players.

Start tile

Then comes the scoreboard, which you set to the side of your playing surface (table, floor, etc.).

Part of the scoring track with meeples on initial positions.

Finally, we have the meeples. You will find in the box 40 regular meeples, including 8 meeples in each of these colors: yellow, red, green, blue, and black. In addition, there are also 5 abbots, including 1 in each of the same colors.

Meeples

Start by distributing 7 meeples of the color of their choice to each player. These meeples constitute each player’s personal supply. Each player takes seven meeples of their chosen color to form their supply. Place each player's eighth meeple on the 0 space on the scoreboard. These will be used to track each player's score throughout the game. If you are not playing with The Abbot, put those unique meeples back into the box.

Overview and goal of the game

In Carcassonne, players take turns placing tiles and expanding the landscape of roads, cities, monasteries and fields, one tile at a time. Players may place their meeples on the individual features of tiles as well (roads, cities, monasteries, and fields), where they will become highwaymen, knights and monks. Points are earned throughout the game, and the player with the highest score at the end is the winner!

Gameplay

A game of Carcassonne is played in clockwise order. Starting with the youngest player, the current player does the following actions in the order listed below, after which it is the next player’s turn, and so on and so forth. First, we’ll give you a brief description of the actions you have to do during one of your turns. These actions will be detailed as we present the roads, the cities, and finally the monasteries. So what are these actions?

1. Placing a tile: The player must draw exactly 1 Land tile from a stack and place it faceup to continue the landscape.
2. Placing a meeple: The player may place a meeple from their supply onto the tile they have just placed.
3. Scoring a feature: The player must score any feature completed by the tile placement.

The paths

Placing a tile

You draw the depicted tile with three road segments starting from a village. You must place it in such a way that it continues the existing landscape (the tiles already in play). In the rare case that a tile cannot legally be placed anywhere, and all players agree, it is removed from the game, and the player draws another.

You place the tile here. The road and fields continue the existing landscape.

Placing a meeple on a path

After placing the tile, you may place a meeple as a highwayman on one of that tile’s road segments, but only if the road is unoccupied by another highwayman.

In our example, since the road is not yet completed, no scoring occurs (see action 3) and play moves on to the next player.

The next player draws a tile that he/she places to continue the landscape. They may not place a meeple on the road to the right since your highwayman is already present on that road. Instead, they choose to place their meeple as a knight in the city segment of that tile.

You use your meeple as a highwayman on this road. This is possible because no other meeple is present on it.

Since the road to the right is occupied, the blue player decides to put his meeple in the city.

Scoring a path

When both ends of a road are closed, that road is completed and scored. The end of a road is closed when it meets a village, a city, a monastery, or it loops onto itself by meeting the other end.

Since the road to the right is occupied, the blue player decides to put his meeple in the city.

Even though it is your opponent that placed the tile, this still completes your road. How many points do you score? When scoring a road, each tile of that road grants you 1 point. Here, since you scored a road that is made out of 3 tiles, you score 3 points.

It is now time to note your score. You keep track of your score with the meeple you placed on the scoreboard before starting the game. Continuing our example, you move it forward 3 spaces to show that you’ve scored 3 points. Note: if your score passes 50 points, lay down your scoring meeple to show your 50+ points. After each scoring, return to your supply the meeple that was just scored.

Since the road to the right is occupied, the blue player decides to put his meeple in the city.

We’ve already seen the most important parts of the game. Now, we will further expand on those actions by showing you how they apply to the other features, namely the cities and the monasteries:

The Bush

Placing a tile

As usual, you draw a tile that you use to continue the landscape. Of course, the illustration must be continued as well. For example, a city segment must be connected to an open city.

Example of city tile.

Placing a meeple as a knight

Then, you see if there is already a meeple as a knight in the city. Here, there isn’t, so you can place one of your meeples as a knight in this city.

You placed this tile and it expands the city by one tile. Since the city is unoccupied, you place a meeple there.

Scoring a city

Let’s continue our example and assume that a few turns have passed. You now draw this tile that you place to continue your city. Since the tile you’ve placed completes a feature (here, the city), it must now be scored. A city is completed when it is surrounded by walls and there are no gaps inside the city. Since you have a meeple in the completed city, you are the player to score it.

Each tile in a completed city is worth 2 points. In addition, each coat of arms is worth 2 more points. For this city, you score 8 points! As usual, the meeple that was in the scored feature returns to your supply.

Completed city scoring.

Baobab

Placing a tile

Once more, you draw a tile to continue the landscape. Monasteries are always depicted in the center of a tile. When placing such a tile, you must, as usual, make sure that it continues the illustration.

Tile showing a monastery

Placing a meeple as a monk

You can place a meeple on a monastery as a monk. Of course, that meeple must come from your supply.

Completed monastery scoring.

Scoring a monastery

A monastery is completed when it is surrounded by tiles. During scoring, the monastery is worth 1 point per tile that completes it (including the monastery itself).

By placing this tile, you complete your monastery. It earns you 9 points and allows you to take your meeple back.

A monastery is always in the middle of a tile. You may place this tile here because the monastery on it is surrounded by fields.

Patrol car

Placing a tile

Once more, you draw a tile to continue the landscape. Monasteries are always depicted in the center of a tile. When placing such a tile, you must, as usual, make sure that it continues the illustration.

Tile showing a monastery

Placing a meeple as a monk

You can place a meeple on a monastery as a monk. Of course, that meeple must come from your supply.

Completed monastery scoring.

Scoring a monastery

A monastery is completed when it is surrounded by tiles. During scoring, the monastery is worth 1 point per tile that completes it (including the monastery itself).

By placing this tile, you complete your monastery. It earns you 9 points and allows you to take your meeple back.

A monastery is always in the middle of a tile. You may place this tile here because the monastery on it is surrounded by fields.

Placing a tile

Once more, you draw a tile to continue the landscape. Monasteries are always depicted in the center of a tile. When placing such a tile, you must, as usual, make sure that it continues the illustration.

Tile showing a monastery

Placing a meeple as a monk

You can place a meeple on a monastery as a monk. Of course, that meeple must come from your supply.

Completed monastery scoring.

Scoring a monastery

A monastery is completed when it is surrounded by tiles. During scoring, the monastery is worth 1 point per tile that completes it (including the monastery itself).

By placing this tile, you complete your monastery. It earns you 9 points and allows you to take your meeple back.

A monastery is always in the middle of a tile. You may place this tile here because the monastery on it is surrounded by fields.

Waterhole

Placing a tile

Once more, you draw a tile to continue the landscape. Monasteries are always depicted in the center of a tile. When placing such a tile, you must, as usual, make sure that it continues the illustration.

Tile showing a monastery

Placing a meeple as a monk

You can place a meeple on a monastery as a monk. Of course, that meeple must come from your supply.

Completed monastery scoring.

Scoring a monastery

A monastery is completed when it is surrounded by tiles. During scoring, the monastery is worth 1 point per tile that completes it (including the monastery itself).

By placing this tile, you complete your monastery. It earns you 9 points and allows you to take your meeple back.

A monastery is always in the middle of a tile. You may place this tile here because the monastery on it is surrounded by fields.

Summary

Placing a tile

• You must place your drawn tile in such a way that it continues the landscape and the illustration.
• In some very rare cases, it may be impossible to place the tile. In those cases, simply return the tile to the box and draw a new one.

Placing a meeple

• You may place a meeple on the tile you’ve just placed.
• You may not place a meeple in a feature where there already is at least one other meeple, including one of yours.

Scoring a feature

• A road is completed when both ends lead to a village, a city, a monastery, or the road forms a loop. Each tile in a completed road is worth 1 point.
• A city is completed when it is surrounded by walls and there are no holes inside the city. Each tile in the completed city is worth 2 points. Each coat of arms in the completed city is worth an extra 2 points.
• A monastery is completed when it is surrounded by 8 tiles. Each of the monastery’s tiles (the 8 surrounding tiles and the one with the monastery itself) is worth 1 point.
• Scoring always occurs at the end of a player’s turn. At that moment, each player with a meeple in a scored feature earns points.
• After each scoring, return to your supply the scored meeples.
• If there are multiple meeples in a single scored feature, the player with the most meeples is awarded full points and all other players receive nothing. When more than one player have the most meeples in a scored feature, the tied players all score full points.

Game end and final scoring

The game ends immediately after the turn of the player who placed the last tile. Then, players proceed to a final scoring, after which the winner will be known.

Once the game is over, all meeples still in play are scored:

• Each incomplete road is worth 1 point per tile, just like during the game.
• Each incomplete city is worth 1 point per tile and 1 point per coat of arms, which is only half the points.
• Each incomplete monastery is worth 1 point plus 1 point per adjacent tile, just like during the game.

Final scoring - left city: Green is the only one to score 8 points (5 tiles and 3 coat of arms). Black does not score any points since Green has the most meeples in this city.
Final scoring - monastery: Yellow scores 4 points for this incomplete monastery (3 points for the adjacent tiles and 1 point for the monastery itself).
Final scoring - city: Blue scores 3 points for this incomplete city (2 tiles and 1 coat of arms).
Final scoring - road: Red scores 3 points for this incomplete roads (3 tiles).

Once the final score is known, the winner is the player with the most points.

Special cases

Many meeples on the same feature

The tile you’ve just drawn could continue the road. However, there already is a highwayman on that road, which means that you may not place yours. You decide to place your tile, and a highwayman, so that it is not connected.

During a following turn, you draw this tile and decide to continue the road with it. Both roads, each with a highwayman, are now connected. Since this completes the road, it is now scored and both you and the other player score 4 points. Then, you both take your meeple back.

Use of a Table

A number of questions have been asked about rules related to the play area itself, including what happens when the edge of the area is reached, or if a table has to be used for play. The following clarifications are from Georg Wild from HiG (5/2013):

• The edge of the table is the limit for the game if, as stated in the rules, a table is used.
• The rules state that the starting tile is placed in the middle of the table. If all of the tiles are shifted to allow more room, the starting tile would no longer be in the middle. So in principle, total shifting of the tiles is not allowed. Additionally, with a manual shift of all of the tiles, the tiles and figures on the field can slip, which could lead to incorrect positioning of tiles or figures.
• Addition of a second table is possible if one of an appropriate height is added to the first table. If a table is extended (as with an additional panel), make sure that the tiles and figures on the playing field do not slip.
• Playing on the floor: The rules technically do not allow this, because the rules state that the first tile is placed in the middle of the table. Playing on the floor is not forbidden, however, if use of a table is not feasible. If the floor is used, tiles must be placed so all tiles are visible to all players. Tiles cannot be placed under the sofa, cabinet/shelf, etc.
• It is important generally, that all the players in the round agree how to play:
  • Table - Standard
  • Table - with "total shifting" of tiles
  • Table - with extension
  • Floor
• Continue to play fairly and not intentionally unfair to other players.

Tile reference

Total Land Tiles: 72 Tiles + 1 Start Tile

  x2
- | -

  x1
E

  x4
E | G | G | Z

  x3
A | E | L

  x1
L

  x4
A | A | E | L

  x5
E | G | G | L | Z

  x1
AA

  x1
AA

  x2
LL | ZZ

  x3
GG | ZZ | ZZ

  x1
Z

  x2
G | Z

  x3
A | AE | ZZ

  x1
AE

  x1
Z

  x1
G

  x1
EL

  x1
EGG

  x5
A | A | G | L | Z

  x4
E | L | Z | -

  x1
L

  x1
AEE

  x1
EEL

  x3
AL | AL | L

  x5
EE | EG | EZ | LL | LZ

  x2
AG | AL

  x2
G | Z

  x1
E

  x4
G | G | L | Z

  x1
LZ

  x1
GG

  x3
A | A | G

  x1 (Start Tile)
AEG

If several tiles of one type are present, it is listed which and how many animals are on each one.

The individual tiles are separated by a pipe symbol. Birds are not listed.

A = ape | E = elephant | G = giraffe | L = lion | Z = zebra | "-" = no animal

Total Animal/Watering Hole Tiles: 50

  x10 A

  x10 E

  x10 G

  x10 L

  x10 Z

Letters indicate the animal included on each tile:

A = ape | E = elephant | G = giraffe | L = lion | Z = zebra

Total 50/100 Point tiles: 5

  x5

Footnotes

For Icons explanation and licensing please visit Icons page.