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Carc Central Community => General => Topic started by: Whaleyland on April 15, 2017, 04:53:42 PM

Title: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Whaleyland on April 15, 2017, 04:53:42 PM
ELEMENT OF THE WEEK: THE LABYRINTH

Each week, a specific element from an expansion or spin-off is chosen for deeper discussion. This is an opportunity for you, Carcassonne's biggest English-language fans, to discuss strategies and problems you have encountered through the years regarding specific expansion elements. All forms of critique – from the most joyous to the most scathing – are encouraged.

This week's element is THE LABYRINTH. As an expansion, this two-tile release in 2016 marked the passing of batons between the old art and the new. Two tiles with identical purposes and arrangements, one illustrated by Doris Matthäus, the other by Anne Pätzke. As an element, there is only really one tile to consider. The Labyrinth is basically a four-way Road. All Roads going into the Labyrinth are considered the same and, therefore, it has no special rules. But naturally there are official variant rules for this visually unique tile, so why are we even bothering with the "official" rules?

The official variant rules for this element were released by Hans im Glück shortly afterwards. Basically, when a player places the Labyrinth, they can claim the maze with one of their Followers. It does not matter if there are other Followers on connected Roads. When all the Roads in the network are completed, the Labyrinth is scored. The whole Road network is considered in determining who has the majority of Followers (including the Follower on the Labyrinth). Furthermore, the victorious player receives 2 points per Follower of any player on the Road network. Thus, the stakes are raised quite high. Now granted, there is a distinct advantage to the player who draws the Labyrinth – they can choose where to place the tile and automatically get to claim the title (if they so choose). That means they often can begin with a +2 advantage over anybody else who tries to sneak into the Labyrinth. But if you are the daring type, you can place it on a tile with somebody else's Follower and try to increase the amount of the completion bonus.

Discuss your relationship with The Labyrinth, as well as your strategies for taking advantage of this element.

Next Week's Topic: Equipment (from Star Wars)      C:-)  :-X
Title: Re: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Halfling on April 16, 2017, 12:14:12 AM
I didn't realise there were variant rules.  I use the rules received with the tiles and magazine as it is difficult to maintain credibility with my gaming friends by changing / adding rules to those originally published.
Title: Re: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Decar on April 16, 2017, 01:24:14 AM
Thankfully the rules in the magazine say to fvisit the Hans Im gluck website for the advsnced rules. So that was always their intention.  They probably wanted to rush something to print.
Title: Re: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Willem on April 16, 2017, 01:57:15 PM
I didn't know of the 2 points per other meeple :o
I like putting them in (usually use both of them in one game), because it can make for some interesting roads.
Roads with lakes, or leading up to German Cathedrals, or German Castles, or even to the School can be made very interesting and worth a lot of points with the labyrinth.
Usually they end up being used as 4-way crossroads, but sometimes someone will be able to score some decent points by stealing it from someone else with the labyrinth.
Its happened often that someone starts with the labyrinth with 1 meeple on it, and someone connects to it using their big follower, thus getting the majority already.

I like this little mini expansion!
Title: Re: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Christopher on May 18, 2017, 03:26:25 AM
New Element of the Week posts, how exciting!

I like the Labyrinth, but as I've said before, I like anything which makes roads more dynamic. I often throw this into larger games as wildcard, given that it's only one tile.

I also like using it with my little variation expansion described here.

http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2598.0 (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2598.0)

It gets a bit wild with multiple players, but it's good fun!
Title: Re: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Sparky Ham on May 25, 2017, 03:48:34 PM
Used the Labyrinth tile for the first time last night in a 3-player game. Played the official rules and we all agreed that it injected an element of excitement into the game! When it was drawn and placed, it created a new area of competitive road building; Felt like competing for a city, but in a more sprawling, chaotic way! Will definitely be using it again.
Title: Re: Element of the Week #56 – The Labyrinth
Post by: Decar on May 25, 2017, 04:06:48 PM
Welcome to the forum Sparky Ham!

Thanks for sharing yoir thoughts on the Labyrinth tiles. It sounds like you had a great time with it!  Did you play with any other expansions?