Carcassonne Central

Carc Central Community => General => Topic started by: Carcassonne0123 on September 17, 2020, 10:33:40 AM

Title: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Carcassonne0123 on September 17, 2020, 10:33:40 AM
Just wanted to know what expansion you guys like the most.   :)
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: DrMeeple on September 17, 2020, 12:51:36 PM
WoF I think it’s more like a carcassonne full game version.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Drodo on September 17, 2020, 01:23:13 PM
Traders & Builders is a must have. Plus the big meeple from Inns.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Willem on September 17, 2020, 01:54:35 PM
I've gone with Abbey&Mayor this time.
I agree that Inns&Cathedrals are basically part of the base game for many, and Traders&Builders provide some very useful additions as well (in part by putting more focus on cities);
However I recently played a game with Abbey&Mayor expansion, and was a bit surprised on how much I liked it.
The Mayor is a bit of a downside to the expansion, as it's not always as useful as it's made out to be, but the barn is very much a tactical point. And, I always see how bad I am at that, as I can't remember ever winning a game with this expansion, as I just can't seem to predict barn placement, make use of existing barns nor play my own some times.
The wagon might be more used as just an extra meeple, it is at least still an extra meeple!
And the abbey can be very useful in its own right!

In my recent game I was relying on a crfr tile (starting tile), with which I could finish a long road (with an inn), place my barn in my main field, build on my city with cathedral and builder, and use the extra builder turn to finish said city with my Abbey. All came together at the end of the game, and it got me from really far behind to only just losing the game.

So I think it might be a bit of an underrated expansion (or at least in my previous experience), so I've gone for it now  :)
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Halfling on September 18, 2020, 01:26:26 AM
Wheel of Fortune for me. Scrap the base game, this is what it should have been. For a true expansion I would have voted Abbey & Mayor or for #10 the Circus.

Have to say I enjoy all except #7 and #8. The variety offered means that I can play this game no matter my mood.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 18, 2020, 02:03:56 AM
As a expansion, I&C may be the best forme due to its simplicity (it takes 2 minutes to explain) and, as KJW said in an interview, it contains stuff taken out from the original base game to keep it lean.

I don't have preferred expansions but preferred mechanics from major expansions:
- The large meeple (I&C)
- Inns and cathedrals (I&C)
- The builder (T&B)
- The abbeys (A&M)
- Bridges (BC&B)

...that I like to combine with some minis like the rivers, phantom, German castles,...  ;)
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Bumsakalaka on September 18, 2020, 02:34:36 AM
According to Meepledrone my current favorite setup is:
Under the Big Top - full
Inns & Cathedrals & Large Meeple
Magic portals - P&D
Hills and Sheeps
Builder - T&B
Pantom
Fruits
Messages
Flyer
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Whaleyland on September 18, 2020, 03:53:11 AM
I’m one of those strange people who doesn’t really like Traders & Builders at all and doesn’t use Inns & Cathedrals much. My favourite expansion is probably Hills & Sheep because all three elements are really fun. The Hills are nice because they make tile counting impossible (although I don’t think the tie breaker ability quite works). Shepherds are fun and use tiles creatively. Vineyards are also a welcome bonus for Monasteries.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Windekind on September 18, 2020, 05:01:49 AM
My top 5:
1) Bridges, Castles and Bazaars. (Without Bazaars. I do not like it. It breaks the game flow)
When I play with my partner, the bridges have the surprise effect when there is a farmer on the meadow. No, there is no place here because there is my farmer, the meadow is open along here and here ...
2) The Princess & The Dragon
3) Abbey & Mayor
4) Hills & Sheeps
5) The Tower

Inns & Cathedrals is actually the basic game for me. It is indispensable.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: DIN0 on September 18, 2020, 02:35:46 PM
Hills and Sheep is the best, hands down! :white-meeple:
New and inovative tile configurations. New special figure along with brand new scoring option. Very well done push your luck mechanic. And finally after all those years cloisters get some boost in vineyards! Better late than never. The support from other expansions this recieved was also welcome.
The only thing I don't like (kind of hate in fact) is the hills depleting the tiles. But I just use blank tiles for that.
The other parts are just so good, they overshadow this lackluster portion.

This expansion should recieve more recognition!
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: danisthirty on September 22, 2020, 03:13:10 PM
I voted for The Tower because I felt sorry for it that nobody had voted for it. While I don't feel that it's entirely in keeping with the spirit of the game and can be a bit of an acquired taste, it certainly changes the way you play the game once you've gotten used to it.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 22, 2020, 03:32:39 PM
Dan, you are sentimental!  ;)
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: dirk2112 on September 22, 2020, 05:02:09 PM
I voted for The Tower because I felt sorry for it that nobody had voted for it. While I don't feel that it's entirely in keeping with the spirit of the game and can be a bit of an acquired taste, it certainly changes the way you play the game once you've gotten used to it.

I'll never get used to it  :-[.  My wife and child put it and the Count, King, and Robber in the "no way we are ever playing that again" box. 
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Drodo on September 22, 2020, 10:20:06 PM
I voted for The Tower because I felt sorry for it that nobody had voted for it. While I don't feel that it's entirely in keeping with the spirit of the game and can be a bit of an acquired taste, it certainly changes the way you play the game once you've gotten used to it.

I'll never get used to it  :-[.  My wife and child put it and the Count, King, and Robber in the "no way we are ever playing that again" box.

What's wrong with Count, King and Robber?

The Count adds a nice layer of strategy, the King and Robber is a minimal change and the River II is legit. Only the Cult tiles are kind of lame imo, more monasteries ????
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: danisthirty on September 23, 2020, 01:15:24 AM
I voted for The Tower because I felt sorry for it that nobody had voted for it. While I don't feel that it's entirely in keeping with the spirit of the game and can be a bit of an acquired taste, it certainly changes the way you play the game once you've gotten used to it.

I'll never get used to it  :-[.  My wife and child put it and the Count, King, and Robber in the "no way we are ever playing that again" box.

What's wrong with Count, King and Robber?

The Count adds a nice layer of strategy, the King and Robber is a minimal change and the River II is legit. Only the Cult tiles are kind of lame imo, more monasteries ????

Totally with you dirk2112! Although thesteveallen was kind enough to teach me how to play with The Count and all of the tactical elements that it introduce/ changes, it doesn't quite sit right with me in terms of how easy it is to take features over for minimal effort (some effort, yes). For me, Carcassonne is about managing your meeples carefully, managing risk and cunningly and imaginatively creating opportunities for yourself. Certain expansions trample over this elegant simplicity in a way that I find difficult to enjoy without adjusting my expectations accordingly. Like someone turning up to a 100m sprint on a motorbike.

It's a similar situation for me with The Tower. But while I mentioned how you need to adjust your expectations depending on what expansions are included, I actually quite enjoy the required adjustments when The Tower is included, and don't feel so sorry for myself when my meeples get kidnapped if there were ways I could have defended them but which I didn't prioritise.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Halfling on September 23, 2020, 10:00:11 AM
Oi, the catapult has 2 votes. Man up and explain yourselves, come and convert us to your way of enjoying the game.....
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 23, 2020, 12:19:56 PM
In the end you will see that The Catapult was completely misunderstood by us mere mortals and it deserves a place in the Carcassonne Hall of Fame.  :o
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: dirk2112 on September 23, 2020, 12:57:44 PM


What's wrong with Count, King and Robber?

The Count adds a nice layer of strategy, the King and Robber is a minimal change and the River II is legit. Only the Cult tiles are kind of lame imo, more monasteries ????

We like the River II, but the rest of this expansion is worthless.  We have multiple versions of the Cult so it is unnecessary.  King and Robber are a couple of extra tiles, but the change isn't worth the effort.  The Count is fiddly and allows for some annoying point stealing possibilities.  Nobody puts a meeple on the Monastery part of Carcassonne and rarely do people care enough about roads to put one there either.   Basically the count just goes back and forth between the same 2 spots. 

We will occasionally pull out the Catapult, but this one and the Tower have only been played once total.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Halfling on September 24, 2020, 05:25:48 AM
In the end you will see that The Catapult was completely misunderstood by us mere mortals and it deserves a place in the Carcassonne Hall of Fame.  :o

Watch out there could be a visit from the men who strap you up in a long sleeved jacket and take you to a padded room.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 24, 2020, 06:26:04 AM
Don't know why!

The Catapult is so awesome I'm gonna get a second copy! :o
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: danisthirty on September 24, 2020, 06:31:22 AM
The Catapult is so awesome I'm gonna get a second copy! :o

The only possible reason for doing this would be to use the second catapult to get rid of the first catapult. But then you'd need a third catapult to get rid of the second.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 24, 2020, 07:32:14 AM
Well... Here you can see my two catapults and a custom-made one I had around just for emergencies...

I can use the third one to get rid of the other two and disassemble it so no trace is left behind...

Who would know? I had a plan... >:D
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Bumsakalaka on September 24, 2020, 08:26:36 AM
Haha, but you can chenge the strength of catapult, so you are cheting ;-D
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 24, 2020, 09:00:09 AM
You can put it this way: My custom solution has more features than the original one!  O0
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Halfling on September 24, 2020, 09:42:27 AM
Suddenly Dirk seems the voice of reason
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 24, 2020, 09:49:13 AM
Are you worried?  ;D
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Halfling on September 24, 2020, 10:06:19 AM
Are you worried?  ;D

Nope, you can't all be as sane as me. I tolerate you.
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 24, 2020, 10:25:31 AM
You know... Too much sun can fry your brain!  8)
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: DIN0 on September 24, 2020, 12:35:59 PM
I am pretty sure, there is a way to self-catapult a a catapult?  ???

That way, you won't need a second one >:D
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: dirk2112 on September 24, 2020, 12:49:44 PM
Suddenly Dirk seems the voice of reason

I am just as shocked as you.   :o
Title: Re: Favorite Major Expansion
Post by: Meepledrone on September 24, 2020, 03:30:43 PM
Pure envy!  ;D ;D ;D