Carcassonne Central

Carc Central Community => News and Events => Topic started by: Decar on July 31, 2019, 02:28:03 AM

Title: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on July 31, 2019, 02:28:03 AM
It's time for our 5th annual Gencant contest!

For those of you who don't know:  GenCon is the largest tabletop-game convention in North America by both attendance and number of events.
However, lots of people, like me, can't attend this large convention.

Since 2015, Carcassonne Central has takes part in the large 'unconvention' that uses social media to unite those not attending Gencon—GenCant
More details here: http://www.gencant.com/history/

History of GenCant at Carcassonne Central
In 2015, we attempted to break the high-score using a Carcassonne base-game.
In 2016, I shared a solo-variant of Carcassonne called:  Carcassonne: Solomo (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=317)
In 2017, I shared
The Abbot's Walk (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=333)
In 2018, I shared
The Knave of Carcassonne (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=340)

This year I share: Carcasonne: The Invaders.

I am going to publish the rules later today, subscribe to this thread to get updates ASAP!

Post your entries on this thread, provide a photograph of the board and score-track before final scoring.

To post on Twitter include: #GenCant2019 #Carcsolocon @Carcassonne in your tweet.

Keep your eyes peeled for The Invaders!

Results

Leven 87
Meepledrone 85
Rosco 81
TheSteveAllen 48?  --> Possibly
RichTheFish 14  :o
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: danisthirty on July 31, 2019, 08:45:41 AM
Looking forward to it!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on July 31, 2019, 02:10:05 PM
You can download the rules as a member of Carcassonne Central here:

The Invaders (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=355)

In quick summary:

Set up the game as normal.
Instead of creating a supply create a pyramid with levels:
 :black1-meeple: :red-meeple:
 :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :red-meeple:
 :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :red-meeple:
 :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :red-meeple:
 :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :red-meeple: :gray-meeple:
 :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :red-meeple: :gray-meeple:
 :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :black1-meeple: :red-meeple: :gray-meeple:

The black meeple are invaders, the red meeple are yours. 
Use a mixture of coloured meeple for the invaders, if you don't have enough!
The grey meeple are spaces for reinforcements, I'll cover that in a moment.
Put your last meeple on 0 on the score-track. Put another meeple to represent the invader's score.

Game play is the same as the base game, except if you play a meeple, it must be the left most meeple from the pyramid.
So the first meeple is an invader, the second is yours.  You'll work your way down the pyramid.

You can only play Invaders in fields, if they've not already be claimed.
During play, if you draw a cloister and the next meeple to play is an invader, they invade the cloister. Place the cloister where it can be surrounded by the most tiles and claim it with the invader.  If there is more than one place, you can choose. If a cloister is completed with an invader, you can leave the invader there until the end of the game.

If you complete a feature, do not return your meeple to your supply. Instead, you may make the meeple a reinforcement, and add it to the next available reinforcement location on your
pyramid.
You can only reinforce:
• Level 3, 2, or 1 of the pyramid.
• Any level ahead of the next meeple to place.

The game ends when all the tiles are placed.

End game scoring:

-10 points for any unplayed meeple still in the pyramid.
-20 points for any of your meeple still on the board.
Invaders score:
Their cloisters,
For every field where they hold a majority, 3 points per complete city, and 2 points per incomplete city.

Your final score is = your score - the invader's score.

Complete rules are available as a PDF.

Contest Ends at Midnight on Sunday
Thanks to TheSteveAllen for play testing!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on July 31, 2019, 02:19:52 PM
Sounds interesting - I will give it a try

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: TheSteveAllen on August 01, 2019, 03:59:12 AM
Sounds interesting - I will give it a try

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

It is very interesting. In fact, attached is one I made earlier - looks like a battlefield, but is actually a very friendly game!  ;D
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Leven on August 01, 2019, 10:20:27 AM
My first attempt. Not a good one (115-51=64), just getting familiar with the rules. Will be better.
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 01, 2019, 12:51:49 PM
Looks like the invaders did well with cloisters!
Just checking the meeple on complete features didnt score you -20 points t the end of the game. My wording in end game scoring isn't clear-It's only your meeple on incomplete features that are penalized.  Can't see any on your photo, so looks good!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 02, 2019, 11:38:53 AM
I've been enjoying this devilish child of Decar's...

This was my first attempt, corrections included to the scoring - my bad... These invaders are very vicious:

Invaders - Round #1: Result = 112 - 55 = 57 points

I was lucky and claimed a couple of monasteries  ^-^
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 02, 2019, 11:44:24 AM
It was not enough so I gave it a second try and even had the luxury of not placing a meeple  :o:

Invaders - Round  #2. Result = 98 - 50 - 10 (penalty) = 38 points

This is becoming a spiral of self destruction  >:D
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Leven on August 03, 2019, 11:56:26 AM
My new personal best: 115 - 42 = 73.
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 04, 2019, 03:06:47 AM
I continued this morning down the path of self destruction and hatred...

You can see my results for Round #3:

Result = 115 - 39 - 20 = 56 points

I waited to much to place the last row of meeples. I had to place them come what may as I only had 8 tiles for eight meeples. So my last meeple was placed as a farmer on the last tile to scratch 2 lousy points when confronted the following dilemma:
* Not placing the meeple = -10 points
* Placing the meeple as a farmer = 12 points from cities - 20 points = -8 points
Two points are two points. Misery wins!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 04, 2019, 03:17:16 AM
So, unhappy with the result I give it a go again...

Round #4 unfolds as follows...

Result = 99 - 31 = 68 points

Finally I managed to place all the meeples and let invaders only score monasteries. However the score per monastery was modest: 5 points in average.

Not a great scoring on my part but better than ever… Reinforcements can be a nightmare more than a help.

This can only get better... Right?  :o
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 04, 2019, 03:30:52 AM
So... full of hope, I decide to succumb again to this challenge.

Round #5 is on...

Result = 120 - 35 = 85 points

Unbelievable!!! Invaders scored 4 monasteries only… And I managed to score 3 succulent cities plus a small one... and a long road. Monasteries came out in arow so no much damage control could be done. I got the one I claimed so I preferred to join the cloister game. Game on!!! 

No reinforcements used and I get this awesome result! Awesome!!! :o
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 04, 2019, 12:54:06 PM
Excellent work Meepledrone!

85 is a great score!  Not too long left for entries, no sign of entries from Rosco yet  :o
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 04, 2019, 02:47:45 PM
What time GMT do I have until?

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Leven on August 04, 2019, 03:37:30 PM
So this is my last attempt: 114 - 27 = 87.
This time I used only 2 reinforcements and I had to "waste" one of my meeples for a 2 pt road. On the other hand invaders could claim only two cloisters.
Thanks for this great challenge, Decar (and Steve).
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 04, 2019, 05:37:21 PM
What time GMT do I have until?

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

As long as it's still Sunday somewhere!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 04, 2019, 05:39:53 PM
Wow Leven, it looks like you have developed some interesting strategies to score so well!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 12:42:40 AM
It's almost 10pm in the Cook Islands, so that gives another 2 (and a bit) hours until Sunday!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 05, 2019, 01:07:04 AM
WOW! Let's have a late dinner in Cook Islands!  ;D

Did the Invaders try to conquest them too?
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 05, 2019, 01:13:19 AM
So this is my last attempt: 114 - 27 = 87.
This time I used only 2 reinforcements and I had to "waste" one of my meeples for a 2 pt road. On the other hand invaders could claim only two cloisters.
Thanks for this great challenge, Decar (and Steve).

Congrats, Leven!

Those late monasteries are a blessing. Hope you enjoyed as much as I did.  ;D

Cheers!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 01:25:13 AM
WOW! Let's have a late dinner in Cook Islands!  ;D

Did the Invaders try to conquest them too?

I like to make sure everyone has enough time to play regardless of timezone. Carcassonne Central is a global forum after all!

I don't know any Carcassonne fans from the Cook Islands, but I like to give them the opportunity.

Unfortunately, when I estimated the time earlier, I forgot about American Samoa this year, with -11 UTC.  That gives everyone another hour!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 05, 2019, 02:55:09 AM
First attempt -
122 - 70 = 52

I am not sure if I have done it right to be honest.

But I will try again and see what happens.

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 05, 2019, 03:56:39 AM
My last attempt - seems OK I think

144 - 23 = 121

I had almost all the invaders on zero scoring fields and the invaders had 3 small cloisters.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190805/1bef6d38ec5208d8c5e44ee98bbc855e.jpg)

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Meepledrone on August 05, 2019, 04:37:11 AM
My last attempt - seems OK I think

144 - 23 = 121

I had almost all the invaders on zero scoring fields and the invaders had 3 small cloisters.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190805/1bef6d38ec5208d8c5e44ee98bbc855e.jpg)

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk



WOW! Congrats, Rosco!!!

Cheers!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 04:42:14 AM
An excellent score....but:


So I count:

For a total of -30.

Taking your score to: 114—Still amazing and you demonstrate that 120 is achievable!!

Congrats Rosco!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: TheSteveAllen on August 05, 2019, 04:44:10 AM
An excellent score....but:

  • Any player meeple that remain on the board penalize the player -20 points; including player’s farmers.

So I count:
  • -15 for cloisters.
  • -8 for farms
  • -7 for your farmers (21 + 12 - 40)

For a total of -30.

Taking your score to: 114—Still amazing and you demonstrate that 120 is achievable!!

Congrats Rosco!

Just thinking of what might have been achieved if Rosco had a bigger table!  >:D
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 05, 2019, 05:05:26 AM
I hadn't realised that.  Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with the farmers and would have closed the cloisters!!! Bugger

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 06:02:15 AM
Still a remarkable score, and not a moment before the deadline!

I guess it was -40 not -7 because you already scored the farms in your score?

Ouch!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 05, 2019, 06:23:57 AM
 I don't understand the scoring above.  Please explain

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 06:33:31 AM
Originally:  144 - 23 = 121

Invaders scored:
-15 for cloisters
-6 and -2 for farms. 
That's the -23.

But you have 2 farmers that score -20 each, -40 :(
There net score was -7, I think you already included the 21 and 12 points in your 144.
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 05, 2019, 06:58:26 AM
So what does that make my score!?

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 07:01:18 AM
I think it's 121-40 = 81  :o  :-\   :(  >:(
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Rosco on August 05, 2019, 07:13:40 AM
Well that's crap!  I did struggle to understand the rules although only skim reading them probably didn't help

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: TheSteveAllen on August 05, 2019, 07:17:37 AM
Well that's crap!  I did struggle to understand the rules although only skim reading them probably didn't help

Sent from my H8416 using Tapatalk

Snap! I didn't bother reading about the -20 for the farmers either. Though that I had done well and was really proud - until I read the rules!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on August 05, 2019, 08:42:01 AM
Thanks to everyone who took part this year:

Here are the results:

Leven 87
Meepledrone 85
Rosco 81
TheSteveAllen 48?  --> Possibly
RichTheFish 14  :o --> From twitter

I think Rosco was incredibly unlucky missing a vital rule when scoring!  Those invaders are brutal!
Considering he won the solo variant for 2018, 2017, and 2016, it seems he was letting someone have a chance!

And that someone was Leven! Congratulations Leven! You're the new Solo variant champion.  O0

I'd best dig out some prizes!

I'll keep this tread open for any late contenders. Otherwise see you in 2020!
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: danisthirty on August 08, 2019, 06:31:27 AM
Well done to everyone who took the time to take part in this initiative this year, and huge thanks to Decar for coming up with yet another novel way to enjoy Carcassonne without opposition! A hugely deserved +1 merit from me. :) :(y)

I was sorry I didn't find time to sit down and give this a proper go, but I certainly intend to when (if) things calm down with my work/ home commitments.
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: asequoyah on September 25, 2019, 07:20:19 PM
Thank you for posting this variant!  I just tried it, outside of the competition, and it was a fun play!  But I am confused on how to do final scoring of farmers/fields.  Here is a picture with descriptions of my tile layout and followers left at the end of the game.  Can you tell me what my score would be?

Thanks!
-- Adam
Title: Re: Gencant Solo Contest: 1st August – 4th August 2019
Post by: Decar on October 01, 2019, 01:58:21 AM
Hi asequoyah, thanks for giving this a go, glad you enjoyed it.

I'll have a proper look tonight and explain the scoring again.