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Carc Central Community => News and Events => Topic started by: asparagus on June 08, 2015, 01:33:17 PM

Title: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: asparagus on June 08, 2015, 01:33:17 PM
Spiel 2015

Friedhelm Merz Verlag - Internationale Spieltage SPIEL'15 in Essen

http://www.merz-verlag-en.com/index.html (http://www.merz-verlag-en.com/index.html)

when: 08. - 11. October 2015

where: Germany, Messe Essen

open times:
Thursday to Saturday, October 8 - 10, the convention is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
on Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets will be available from July 2015 on
------------------------------------------------------------
The organization for the Championship - runs by HiG and Spielezentrum Herne

German Carcassonne Championship

Spiel 2015 in Essen
Saturday 10. October 2015
---------------------------------------------
Carcassonne World Championship

Spiel 2015 in Essen
Sunday 11.October 2015
---------------------------------------------
The members of the community meets each other since some years at the Spiel 2015 in Essen.

when: Thursday 08. October 2015 - at 12:30pm

where: Hall 1 - HiG - Tournament booth and CundCo booth.
            (more information follows)

Carcassonne-on-Tour (Udo Schmitz) will present us the new Carcassonne StarWars.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on June 08, 2015, 02:05:39 PM
asparagus - please use the correct link to the correct organizer of the exhibition:

Spiel 2015

Friedhelm Merz Verlag - Internationale Spieltage SPIEL'15 in Essen

http://www.merz-verlag-en.com/index.html (http://www.merz-verlag-en.com/index.html)

when: 08. - 11. October 2015

where: Germany, Messe Essen

open times:
Thursday to Saturday, October 8 - 10, the convention is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
on Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets will be available from July 2015 on
------------------------------------------------------------
The organization for the Championship - runs by
HiG (http://www.hans-im-glueck.de/home/) and Spielezentrum Herne (http://www.spielezentrum.de/home3.htm)

German Carcassonne Championship (http://www.spielezentrum.de/Carcassonne/CC-2015/Cc15-Allg_Finaleessen.html)

Spiel 2015 in Essen
Saturday 10. October 2015
---------------------------------------------
Carcassonne World Championship (http://www.spielezentrum.de/Carcassonne/CC-2015Engl/E-CCWC2015-finals.html)

Spiel 2015 in Essen
Sunday 11.October 2015
---------------------------------------------
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on June 08, 2015, 11:27:46 PM
The members of the community meets each other since some years at the Spiel 2015 in Essen.

when: Thursday 08. October 2015 - at 12:30pm

where: Hall 1 - HiG - Tournament booth and CundCo booth.
            (more information follows)

Carcassonne-on-Tour (http://www.carcassonne-on-tour.de/termine/?content_events_s_78.html) (Udo Schmitz) will present us the new Carcassonne StarWars.
------------------------------------------------
Who will come to the Spiel 2015?
when are you there?
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on July 31, 2015, 10:57:33 PM
Quote from: 'Ailurus by PM'
I wondered whether there's a topic about Spiel 2015? I'm still not sure whether I'll go or not, I might let it depend on how many people from CarcC are going.
Cheers, Ailurus

Here it is - SPIEL 2015 in Essen

Who will come to the Spiel 2015 in Essen?

here is the list from CarcF - with the members from Carcassonne-Forum (many of them are also here at CarcC member:

Thursday 08.10.2015:
- kettlefish
- Udo
- Ratz65
- Strix
- Benny
- Safari
- maik63de
- bonsom
- Käpt’n Konrad
- Dominian
- Fan
- Christian H.
- Cymoril
- MrNumbers
- Khonnor

Friday 09.10.2015:
- Hermine1
- Christian H.
- Cymoril
- MrNumbers
- Khonnor

Saturday 10.10.2015:
- Martin H
- Safari
- CARfirst
- Christian H.
- Cymoril
- MrNumbers
- Khonnor

Sunday 11.10.2015:
- Christian H.
- Cymoril
- MrNumbers

following members are also at the Spiel 2015 - but I don't know when they will come:
- Spielekeller
- Tünnes – Samstag oder Sonntag
- SRBO – perhaps on Saturday
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on August 02, 2015, 06:19:27 AM
I will be there as well this year, from Thursday to Saturday.

5th year in a row!  ;D
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: SRBO on August 02, 2015, 10:42:49 AM
My girl just suggested it to me so many i also will go!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on August 03, 2015, 01:24:39 AM
I will be there as well this year, from Thursday to Saturday.

5th year in a row!  ;D
Hi Khonnor,
I hope that we meat each other this time.
On Thrusday - 12:30pm in front of the HiG-tournament booth in Hall 1.

My girl just suggested it to me so many i also will go!
SRBO - at which day do you plan to go to Spiel?

----------------------
Are there some more people from the Netherlands who will come to the Spiel 2015?
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: SRBO on August 03, 2015, 03:21:09 AM
I will be there as well this year, from Thursday to Saturday.

5th year in a row!  ;D
Hi Khonnor,
I hope that we meat each other this time.
On Thrusday - 12:30pm in front of the HiG-tournament booth in Hall 1.

My girl just suggested it to me so many i also will go!
SRBO - at which day do you plan to go to Spiel?

----------------------
Are there some more people from the Netherlands who will come to the Spiel 2015?

we dont know yet! it was only a suggestion so far. but my guess is that i will come on saturday
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Lobo on August 24, 2015, 01:21:43 PM
Is there some news about the usual mini expansion(s) that'll be released (even if they come later at Cundco)?

Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on August 24, 2015, 11:48:40 PM
Is there some news about the usual mini expansion(s) that'll be released (even if they come later at Cundco)?
start with the Spiel 2015 in Essen:
At CundCo - we will get some more blanc tiles - for some of the spin-off games.
And the mini "Burgen in Deutschland" (Castles in Germany) will come back to the CundCo Shop.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on August 31, 2015, 12:33:54 AM
I hope it's okay to ask in this topic, was thinking to maybe post in 'Other Games', but since it's regarding Spiel...

Is anyone joining the Catan Big Game at Spiel on Saturday?

You will get all kinds of goodies for participating, including 1 set of colored plastic playing pieces (new version).
If you are not interested in these playing pieces, I'll gladly take them from you at SPiel for a max of 5 euro each.  :blue-meeple:

Or, additionally, if anyone is interested in joining the Big Game, I could purchase a group ticket with a minimum of 4 people.
This would only cost you 3 euro and I'll pay the rest in exchange for the playing pieces ofcourse  :)

The six available colors:  :blue-meeple: :green-meeple: :gray-meeple: :violet-meeple: :pink-meeple: :yellow-meeple:

I could also trade for any of Darmstadt promos, a Spiel 2014 tile promo, or a promo from the Brettspiel Advent Calendar from Frosted Games that has 24 promos to 24 different games, including Catan and Carcassonne.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: MrNumbers on August 31, 2015, 01:12:22 AM
I already bought the ticket to this Catan Big game, but I didn't know what will be inside the goodies bag. Once I receive it, I'll decide whatever I need them or not :)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on August 31, 2015, 01:23:40 AM
I already bought the ticket to this Catan Big game, but I didn't know what will be inside the goodies bag. Once I receive it, I'll decide whatever I need them or not :)

You get 1 set of colored playing pieces (new plastic version).
One set of small cards.
And one scenario promo.  :)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on August 31, 2015, 11:48:50 PM
Hi Khonnor,
some members from CarcF (also here at CarcC) will play in the Catan Big Game:
- CARfirst
- Safari
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on September 01, 2015, 01:46:43 AM
Hi Khonnor,
some members from CarcF (also here at CarcC) will play in the Catan Big Game:
- CARfirst
- Safari

Thank you Kettlefish,

I hope they won't mind if I send them a PM about this, in case they don't read this thread.  :)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on September 01, 2015, 02:44:57 AM
on Thursday 08.10.2015 at 12:30 we will meet us - the members-meeting at Spiel 2015 in Essen.

I've called with Moritz Brunnhofer (HiG) some days before. At our members meeting we will get some Carcassonne game for playing - the new spin-off games.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: wamboyil on September 02, 2015, 01:48:25 PM
I am jealous of those going to Spiel...they will get to play the new Uber Stock und Stein! I'm just about done translating the German rulebook into English.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Duncan90 on September 04, 2015, 12:31:19 AM
So there are no new Carcassonne expansions coming out at Spiel. Is this assumption correct?
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on September 07, 2015, 04:04:12 AM
http://www.merz-verlag.com/news.html (http://www.merz-verlag.com/news.html)
01.09.2015:
Quote from: 'translation by bing translator'
So: Carcassonne World Championship.
This year to the 10th.
10 years want to we with a special prize will honor World Championship Carcassonne. Due to the given event we have considered the following:
As always, the points of all winners of the World Championships are being held. At the end of the World Cup, we will donate €1 to a local refugee aid for each 2 points that are earned. Including some Carcassonne games in German, English and French.
So that it is not abused, we limit the donation to €10,000.
It play so members from 36 Nations and try a bit to help the refugees. They are better, the more money it comes together and we a little all engaging us on this subject.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Safari on September 07, 2015, 02:16:55 PM
So there are no new Carcassonne expansions coming out at Spiel. Is this assumption correct?
I hope you're wrong. So far nothing has been anounced. Kettlefish wrote that German Castles would be available again and that they were going to publish blank tiles for some spin offs.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on September 15, 2015, 12:24:09 PM
I hope it's okay to ask in this topic, was thinking to maybe post in 'Other Games', but since it's regarding Spiel...

Is anyone joining the Catan Big Game at Spiel on Saturday?

You will get all kinds of goodies for participating, including 1 set of colored plastic playing pieces (new version).
If you are not interested in these playing pieces, I'll gladly take them from you at SPiel for a max of 5 euro each.  :blue-meeple:

Or, additionally, if anyone is interested in joining the Big Game, I could purchase a group ticket with a minimum of 4 people.
This would only cost you 3 euro and I'll pay the rest in exchange for the playing pieces ofcourse  :)

The six available colors:  :blue-meeple: :green-meeple: :gray-meeple: :violet-meeple: :pink-meeple: :yellow-meeple:

I could also trade for any of Darmstadt promos, a Spiel 2014 tile promo, or a promo from the Brettspiel Advent Calendar from Frosted Games that has 24 promos to 24 different games, including Catan and Carcassonne.

Last desperate attempt. I have 2 spare tickets. If anyone's interested in participating with the big game, let me know. The ticket is completely free for you! All you need to do is show up, play, have fun! All I want in return are the goodies, you receive for playing. Or at least the playing pieces. I'm sure something could be arranged.  :)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on September 18, 2015, 08:19:05 AM
Spiel 2015 in Essen - the hall plans are online

http://www.merz-verlag-en.com/hallplans.html (http://www.merz-verlag-en.com/hallplans.html)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Rosco on September 30, 2015, 02:02:47 AM
Of those going, is there anyone who would be willing to aquire whether as free gifts or by purchasing any surprise carcassonne goodies for the community?

Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 05, 2015, 12:01:14 AM
The members of the community meets each other since some years at the Spiel 2015 in Essen.

when: Thursday 08. October 2015 - at 12:30pm

where: Hall 2 - booth 2-C101 - HiG-Tournament booth and CundCo booth.
           
Carcassonne-on-Tour (Udo Schmitz) will present us the new spin-off games:
- Carcassonne - Über Stock und Stein
- Carcassonne - Star Wars

We meet us at the booth and then we all go to the cafè where we find some tables to play the games. I think we will go to Hall 1.
---------------------------------------
I have updated the list - who will come to Spiel (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=1848.msg26797#msg26797)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on October 05, 2015, 04:49:18 AM
Ah, hopefully I'll be able to drop by.

I have some trades at 12 and 13:30 arranged. I might show up for the explanations/presentation of the new games, but probably won't be able to play any games...  :-\
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 05, 2015, 09:09:42 AM
I hope everyone going has a great time and finds themselves lots of bargains. Good luck also to jazbang who will be representing the UK at the world championship on... Sunday? :(y)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Jéré on October 08, 2015, 08:57:10 AM
 :o  BREAKING NEWS!  :o

Last minute decision: I will be at Spiel on Saturday and possibly Sunday too!

I was supposed to travel for my work but it is postponed/cancelled so I am free this weekend. The difficulty was to find accomodation because of course everything is booked. Fortunately, my girlfriend has a distant relative living in the area so we'll have a place to stay.

MrNumbers: Would you like to play our LMS match with the real game on Saturday?  :red-meeple: vs. :yellow-meeple:  Could be fun!  :)



Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 08, 2015, 09:09:48 AM
Excellent. Really pleased for you Jéré! I hope you have a fantastic time! :) :(y)

Good luck with your LMS match, I look forward to seeing the post-match report... 8)

Definitely stick around for the Sunday if you're able to, watching the world championships would be the highlight for me!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Jéré on October 09, 2015, 06:03:19 AM
Excellent. Really pleased for you Jéré! I hope you have a fantastic time! :) :(y)

Thanks!  8)

Good luck with your LMS match, I look forward to seeing the post-match report... 8)

Sent him an email with my phone number. Hopefully we'll manage to get in touch.

Definitely stick around for the Sunday if you're able to, watching the world championships would be the highlight for me!

we'll see... indeed it would be really interesting but we are also interested in the Grugapark next to Spiel. I think it is, or at least looks like, something fun for children... and perfect to escape an overcrowded convention centre!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Jéré on October 09, 2015, 06:22:19 AM
Where did I read about a Spiel 2015 promo tile?

or was it just my imagination?

I guess I'll find out tomorrow...  ::)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 09, 2015, 06:27:10 AM
Where did I read about a Spiel 2015 promo tile?

or was it just my imagination?

I guess I'll find out tomorrow...  ::)

It was mentioned in a German email I received (and probably you did too). Apparently you will get one if you buy anything from the Cundco stall.

Don't forget who your friends are! ;) :(y) O:-)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 10, 2015, 03:45:13 AM
twitter with the hashtags #spiel15 and #spiel2015 has many information about the spiel
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 10, 2015, 06:59:08 AM
BGG - News (https://boardgamegeek.com/blogpost/46621/spiel-2015-hall-2-walkthrough)

BGG - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeDpz1_Sjko&feature=youtu.be)
Spiel 2015 in Essen
a walk through the Hall 2 and the Galleria
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 10, 2015, 02:35:36 PM
Herner Spielezentrum - facebook:

Spiel 2015 - day 1 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.963874717006404.1073741879.379759658751249&type=3)
Spiel 2015 - day 2 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.964135453646997.1073741880.379759658751249&type=3)

The CundCo booth (https://www.facebook.com/spielezentrum/photos/a.964135453646997.1073741880.379759658751249/964136523646890/?type=3&theater)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 11, 2015, 05:23:13 AM
UK CC-Champion at Spiel 2015 in Essen at the 10th CC-World Cup 2015

James Cook at twitter (https://twitter.com/jamesecook)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 11, 2015, 07:48:06 AM
James Cook has posted the result of the CC world championship 2015 (https://twitter.com/jamesecook/status/653209833617944576) at twitter
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 11, 2015, 08:51:58 AM
Well done jazbang!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 11, 2015, 09:01:02 AM
Well done jazbang!

Yes indeed! Sounds like a promising start with those 2 wins. And your finishing position was a lot better than we managed last year :)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Khonnor on October 11, 2015, 09:20:22 AM
I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time. I was caught in a Mysterium presentation and some trades I had arranged. Was hoping I'd make it in time, but alas.

Hope you guys had a nice time at the meeting. Maybe next year I'm better organized... 8)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 11, 2015, 09:27:47 AM
Next year - on Thursday - we will have an evening programm after the exhibition day with the members meeting and a fan-meeting together with KJW and Udo Schmitz.
More Information will follow.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 11, 2015, 11:14:31 AM
I was on Thursday at Spiel in Essen.
As always I had my interview with HiG - Georg Wild - for the clarification of rules.
Georg Wild gave me the games for the members meeting (CC-StarWars and CC-über Stock und Stein). We met us at the tournament booth in hall 2 and then we went to the exit from hall 1 - there is a bistro with enough place to play the games. We put 2 tables together and had two games running. This year we had much to play - 2 spin-off games.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 11, 2015, 01:00:27 PM
HiG tournament booth in Hall 2:

On Thursday was the Carcassonne last chance tournament.
This year the participants played with 4 different CC-spin-off games:
- CC - South Seas
- CC - Goldrush
- CC - Über Stock und Stein (over hill and dale)
- CC - StarWars

The winner of this last chance tournament - came then into the German championship.

'The German championship took place on Saturday.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 11, 2015, 06:56:16 PM
Thursday - my day at Spiel 2015 in Essen:

During this day I had some short "meetings":

- talk with Thomas from "Herner Spielezentrum" - they organize the championship.
He told me that they have this year a professional team for video recording.
They hope to get a better video from the final world cup game.
At the Thursday morning Thomas was working - he liked to put 4 big round stickers for the world cup onto the button. But the first sticker (around 50 cm) didn't land onto the button. A visitor was running into the glue side of the sticker. That person had then a nice new design for his trousers - but the sticker was lost. That is the reason why only 3 stickers was placed on the button around the tournament booth and not 4 stickers.

- talk with Till from the CundCo Shop- Some members of CarcF helped the CundCo Shop with new description text for some articles. I met Till the first time but we had some telephone calls in the past. I like it to see the people in real life. We talked about the new shop design and about the history of the shop and that some of the wishes from the community are now a part of the assortment (blanc tiles for spin-off games, the City of Carcassonne as a start tile)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 12, 2015, 05:49:14 AM
The winner of this last chance tournament - came then into the German championship.

kettlefish, After winning the last chance you get to enter the German Championships. The winner of that enters the World Championship.

I noticed Japan had two entries in the ranking Jazbang shared on twitter.  Do you know how this happened?

Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 12, 2015, 05:59:26 AM
The winner of this last chance tournament - came then into the German championship.

kettlefish, After winning the last chance you get to enter the German Championships. The winner of that enters the World Championship.

I noticed Japan had two entries in the ranking Jazbang shared on twitter.  Do you know how this happened?
Perhaps Jo Negishi is the national Japanese Champion from this year (2015) and the Takafumi Mochizuki is the CC-world champion from 2014.

The CC-world champion from the last year has definitely a place in the actual world championship.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 12, 2015, 06:01:41 AM
Ah I see, so the previous Champion gets a free slot to defend his title. I hadn't realized this.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 13, 2015, 10:23:16 AM
Herner Spielezentrum - facebook:

Spiel 2015 - day 3 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.964757536918122.1073741881.379759658751249&type=3) - with the CC - German championship
Spiel 2015 - day 4 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.965237870203422.1073741882.379759658751249&type=3) - with the CC - world championship
Title: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Jéré on October 13, 2015, 01:27:25 PM
Where did I read about a Spiel 2015 promo tile?

or was it just my imagination?

I guess I'll find out tomorrow...  ::)

It was mentioned in a German email I received (and probably you did too). Apparently you will get one if you buy anything from the Cundco stall.

Don't forget who your friends are! ;) :(y) O:-)

My Spiel '15 Promo tile:

(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10/14/2603dab9e6910495e5bb6fd28af9e9fe.jpg)

Sorry Dan, I could get only one.  :(
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 13, 2015, 01:39:03 PM
Well that tile's ridiculously big.  How on earth is the Dragon going to move across that in a single move?
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Jéré on October 13, 2015, 01:45:39 PM

Well that tile's ridiculously big.  How on earth is the Dragon going to move across that in a single move?

I posted this via Tapatalk so an admin might want to resize it for me. Thanks!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 13, 2015, 01:50:58 PM
No way it's amazing!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 13, 2015, 09:51:57 PM
Sorry Dan, I could get only one.  :(

That's OK. It looks a bit big. How many normal size tiles would it be the same as? And how big is your hand?! :o
Title: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Jéré on October 14, 2015, 02:32:24 AM
Seems that you got distracted by the perspective. My hand is not parallel to the floor and curved with fingers close together to hold the tile and prevent it from falling... (There is something called gravity on this planet).

EDIT:  I updated the image. Should be less confusing now.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 14, 2015, 03:14:41 AM
EDIT:  I updated the image. Should be less confusing now.

:(
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: MrNumbers on October 14, 2015, 04:17:16 AM
Hello!

I am safely at home and even have a workday today!
I have a lot of info and photos to share, so stay tuned :) When I will have time (this is hard now), I'll definitely post them all :D
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 14, 2015, 05:10:43 AM
Looking forward to it; mainly to see if your Spiele '15 card is as big as Jéré's.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 14, 2015, 05:23:49 AM
Hello!

I am safely at home and even have a workday today!
I have a lot of info and photos to share, so stay tuned :) When I will have time (this is hard now), I'll definitely post them all :D

Welcome back! Hope you had an awesome time... :) :(y)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: jazbang on October 17, 2015, 02:22:48 AM
Hello

After fluking my way to the UK championship title, I found myself at Spiel on Sunday taking part in the 10th World Championships.  Here's what I remember...

On arriving at the tournament area, I saw a photo being taken of half a dozen competitors waving their national flags, and a guy who looked like a cross between an older Agent Cooper and Chris Noth.  Turns out it was Klause Jurgen Wrede and all the previous world champions who'd also qualified for today's event.  So much for hoping that everyone else was going to be a first-timer.

Here's a weird thing - for years every time I check into a hotel and they tell me the room number, I always say 'Hey! My lucky number!' - whatever the number is.  On this trip it was 115, and my travelling companion (who also happened to be my Dad) pointed out that the sum of the digits was 7.

In the first round, I was drawn to play first on Table 7. OMG IT'S AN OMEN

My opponent was Nicolas from Chile. It was also his first time, and in him I sensed a kindred spirit.  Our hands were both shaking as we started to pick up tiles, and on more than one occasion I forgot to hit the chess clock timer.

The game seemed to hinge on whether I could join up 2 fields, creating one worth 24 points that I would win 3-2. I managed to get the piece I needed (a straight road, so the most common tile) and I won the game (albeit by slightly more than 24).

This meant that in the second round, I'd be playing against someone who'd also won their first game. I was drawn to play first on.... Table 7. CUE TWILIGHT ZONE MUSIC

My second round opponent was the confident Olli from Finland. Carcassonne wasn't really his game, he casually mentioned, and he'd won his opening round 'easily'.

In almost an exact copy of my first game, it all came down to whether I could connect up 2 fields, to create a big one worth 30 points by 4 meeples to 3. The piece required was the one remaining Cloister plus road. Had Olli drawn it, he would have taken the field, and the game. But I did. It was enough of a points swing to give me victory.

"It was a coin toss on that tile" Olli would say afterwards. Repeatedly.

So all of a sudden, I was 2 and 0. Maybe I was the Carcassonne savant that I always secretly hoped I would be?

In Round 3, I was drawn to play second on Table 1 - one of the 'televised tables'. Although it's not necessarily true, I'm interpreting that to mean that after the second game of the tournament I was ranked no. 2. In the World.  When recounting this story in future, I think this is when I'll stop.

My opponent was Daniel from Hong Kong.  I'd met him a couple of hours earlier when we arrived - he was the only competitor to say 'Hello'.  Incredibly friendly, and fun to be around, Daniel had brought a customised giant sized meeple with him.

"You can't just put that on the board and claim victory" I said

He laughed. Thankfully he saw it was a joke.

Just before we started, Thomas, one of the event organisers, noticing me on the top table made a comment about how unusual it was to see the British entrant doing so well. 

"Well, you've just jinxed that" I joked.

Daniel won by 10 points, although that score flattered me somewhat. It's amazing how you remember the details of your victories better than those of your defeats.

So my chances of remaining unbeaten had gone, but my aim had always been to first of all, avoid dead last - secondly, to try and win 3 out of 6.

Game 4, and the last one before lunch saw me drawn to go second on Table 5 against Cheng from Taipei. This was the most exciting, and for me, enjoyable, game - with our points tallies reasonably close throughout.

When it came to tallying up, even though I won the big field (worth 24) by 3 meeples to 1, Cheng had managed to get 3 incomplete cloisters worth 23, which meant that he won by 115-110.  In hindsight, I think this was the crucial game - because I'd invested so much energy into winning, and it hadn't come off.

At lunch I ascertained that even a 4-2 record probably wasn't going to be enough to progress, but I'd been delighted to hear that Daniel was 4 for 4. I decided I'd support him in the final stages, and at least I'd be able to say I got beat by the champ.

After lunch I was down on Table 8 against Timofei from Estonia. He played excellently, and me - not so much, I don't like going 'all in', but I found myself there with many tiles to go, with a road that I just couldn't finish. I doubt it would have made much difference though, he won by 20-30 points.

In my last game, with one last chance to finish 3 and 3, I was drawn against Martin from the Czech Republic - a former World Champion. I think on realising this, combined with my own mental exhaustion, I wasn't really at the races and he was easily able to block 2 of my meeples in, and then we played out his inevitable win.

So I finished 2 and 4. But how had Daniel done? Heartbreakingly, he'd been defeated in both his post-lunch games, so he'd be missing out on the semis.

The semis saw three former World Champions, Panteli from Greece, Els from the Netherlands (who'd just played out the tournaments only tied game) and Takafumi from Japan (last year's champ).  The fourth spot was taken by a rookie! Humberto from Brazil - a nation that had never entered before, he'd finished 5 and 1, clearly by playing crowd-pleasing samba Carcassonne.

I didn't stay for the semis (I went to get a copy of Pandemic Legacy), but my Dad and I came back for the final to find it was a repeat of the 2014 final between Panteli and Takafumi (Els won the third place play-off).  In a tense game, where the lead went back and forth (but that didn't take as long as I'd thought) Panteli with the last tile was able to win a field and take the crown that had looked for a long while like it was going to remain in Japan.

Panteli finished the tournament with 7 wins out of 8, and no defeats - so it's hard to argue with that.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 17, 2015, 03:24:17 AM
An excellent write right up (+1) - You did us proud.  :(y) :(y) :(y)

Thanks for taking the time to come back and share it with us.  It's good to hear the competition was so tight.

This made me LOL:
Maybe I was the Carcassonne savant that I always secretly hoped I would be?

If you've learnt anything, it might be to take your own table number with you next time.

Good luck at the UK Expo 2016  :(y) :(y)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 17, 2015, 05:01:41 AM
Thanks for that James, it was a great read!

If nothing else, I'm just glad you beat Olli from Finland. It sounds as though the smugness would have been unbearable if you'd lost! Still, you could always pretend that everyone else from the UK Carc championships had died in a fire and that you were named our champion by drawing names out of a hat despite never having played it: "Oh really? So I've won have I? Splendid. I hoped those lying down figures would be of some use..."
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: Decar on October 17, 2015, 05:04:42 AM
"No I don't really play Carcassonne either......I live and breath it"
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: MrNumbers on October 17, 2015, 06:32:22 AM
At last I have time to write up my journey to Essen.
It was the first time when I drove to Essen by car and on all 4 days. The distance is about 1800 km. We started at Tuesday 17:30 and about 01:00 found a motel near Warsaw. At 07:00 on Wednesday we continued and expected to be in Duisburg (where our apartment was located) at 18:00. But some traffic jam, caused by accidents and road works let us arrive only at 21:30. Nevertheless, we where very excited, because first day usually is the most "purchasing" day :)
This year I got prepared for Spiel, I have read 31 (by that time) pages of Spiel 2015 Preview (https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/174654/spiel-2015-preview) on BGG, printed out the map and marked all games I was interested in. So, before fan meeting at 12:30 I was already owner of some interesting games. I am not a fan of so called "heavy" games, so, except both new Carcassonnes, I bought "Ticket to Ride Map Collection: Volume 5 – United Kingdom & Pennsylvania" (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/182078/ticket-ride-map-collection-volume-5-united-kingdom) (must-have purchase, also received free promo Ticket to Ride: Orient Express (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameexpansion/185306/ticket-ride-orient-express)"), "Celestia" (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/175117/celestia) and "Karuba" (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/183251/karuba).
Then it was time for a fan meeting, I met some of CarcF and CarcC members and we played new Carcassonne games.

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0618.jpg)

I won my first game - Carcassonne: Über Stock und Stein 8), but Udo Schmitz won the second one - Carcassonne: Star Wars.
I also took a photo of a Stormtrooper near HiG booth.

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0627.jpg)
It was a surprise to know that Stormtrooper is played by some Chinese :D

On Friday I bought some small games:
"8-28" (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/181616/8-28), "Taste of Poland" (https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/182049/taste-poland) and "Brains" (https://boardgamegeek.com/image/2390472/w-eric-martin).

On Saturday I had a game with Jere. Hi already made a
detailed report (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=1932.msg29546#msg29546) on this game, so I only will publish a photo.

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0638.jpg)

Same day I participated in Big Catan Game. I was part of making new Guinness record: over 1000 participants!

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0632.jpg)

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0645.jpg)

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0405.jpg)

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0417.jpg)

I didn't win, but it was fun :)

Sunday's big event is, of course, Carcassonne World championship. I even had a small chance to take part in it: in case of odd amount of participants additional one is called out from other people, but you have to be at least national vice-champion to qualify for this "additional" player. But, everyone showed up and they were 32 participants in total, so no luck this year. In two previous years there was odd amount of participants and additional player was called. Strange that Canada's participant didn't show up - organizers hadn't heard anything from him in last three weeks before the tournament.
British participant before the tournament (yes, Dan, I said "Hi" to him from you :) ) :

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0657.jpg)

This is Latvian participant together with former and future champion from Greece:

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0658.jpg)

Everything is ready for the championship:

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0655.jpg)

All former Carcassonne champions:

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0675.jpg)

Final game's last seconds:

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0722.jpg)

Carcassonne World champion:

(http://www.carcassonne.lv/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0777.jpg)

Final game was awesome! Pantelis managed to steal a farm from Takafumi with very last two tiles: consequently connecting first and second farmer, and won the game by 4 points! Very interesting game to watch!

I am already thinking about next year: I will definitely visit Essen in 2016, and hope to meet more CarcC and CarcF members, for example, I hope to see Dan in person at last! ;)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 17, 2015, 07:54:47 AM
jazbang, MrNumbers,
thanks for the great reports and photos.
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: danisthirty on October 17, 2015, 11:42:04 AM
Thanks for your report and for all those photos too MrNumbers, it looks like you had a fantastic time! :(y)

No doubt Essen 2016 will be upon us before we know it!
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on October 17, 2015, 01:48:16 PM
The first picture from MrNumbers:

The members meeting:
Outside from hall 1 - in the "restroom".
the members from left to right:
kettlefish - maik63de (admin at CarcF) - Safari - Benny - Udo (behind Benny)- Fan - bonsom (litetile) - Ratz65 (admin at CarcF) and Käpt'n Konrad (with the box in his hands)
------------------------------------------------
The 2nd picture from MrNumbers:

During my time in the "private" room from the HiG booth -  the Stormtrooper came to the room - he needed some water - it was very hot in his cloth as a Stormtrooper. Sometimes he came inside only to shot at us and then he went outside to do again his job as a Stormtrooper.
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Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: kettlefish on April 29, 2016, 03:30:29 AM
The YouTube video is now online from the "Spielezentrum Herne" - who organized the Carcassonne World Championship at Spiel 2015 in Essen.

Here is the link to the YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-9BW2SRebo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-9BW2SRebo)
Title: Re: Spiel Essen (includes Carcassonne world championship) 2015
Post by: MrNumbers on April 29, 2016, 04:34:09 AM
Thanks for sharing, kettlefish! :(y)
I saw myself twice on that video :D