2017 Big Box - content speculation

[jungleboy]

We've heard that a Big Box with the new artwork is coming in 2017. But what will be in it?

This is what has been released or announced in the new art so far (please add in anything that I've missed)

- Base game
- River
- Abbot (just meeples)
- Inns and Cathedrals
- Traders and Builders
- Princess and the Dragon
- The Tower
- Abbey and Mayor
- King, Count and Consort
- Bridges, Castles and Bazaars
- The 10th expansion
- Watchtowers
- Festival
- Japanese Temples
- One labyrinth tile

Here is Decar's rundown of the five previous big boxes. Every one contained the base game, Inns and Cathedrals and Traders and Builders, so I think we can expect all of that to be in this new big box. But what else?

The first three big boxes all contained 2-3 other large expansions in addition to I&C and T&B. As large expansions dried up, the fourth and fifth big boxes contained different things instead (minis, a WoF version, a new river implementation etc). All large expansions except the Catapult (which also has not been printed in new art) were in at least one big box, and P&D was in all three first big boxes.

I would say, given that its the first big box in the new art, that it is more likely to go back to the large expansion model of big boxes 1-3, rather than the small exclusive items that we saw in Big Box 5. So I would expect 2-3 more large expansions beyond I&C and T&B. And I'll speculate that P&D and A&M will be in it, and I guess the abbot meeples because gardens are in every major expansion.

What are your thoughts?

Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=3064.0

[Decar]

My Bet:

Base game /River / Abbots
Inns and Cathedrals
Traders and Builders
Princess & Dragon or The Tower
The new 10th expansions

[ozgurceylan]

I guess;

Base game /River / Abbots
Inns and Cathedrals
Traders and Builders
Princess and Dragon
Abbey and Mayor

[dirk2112]

Base game / River / Abbots
Inns and Cathedrals
Traders and Builders
The Tower
Princess & Dragon
The Festival
Introducing new gray meeples 

[kettlefish]

In my opinion it could be included:

- CC II base game with the Abbot figure
- The CC II river ? - not sure
- 1st expansion - Inns and Cathedrals
- 2nd expansion - Traders and Builders
- 3rd expansion - Princess and Dragon - I hope so
- 8th expansion - Abbey and Mayor
- 10th expansion

I don't think that there will be the Tunnel included, because of the many wood pieces. The 10th expansion will have enough new figures.

I personally prefer expansions in the first BigBox for CC II that included as much as possible players figures.

That means perhaps instead of the 3rd expansion the 9th expansion "Hills & Sheep" - but I love the Dragon from the 3rd expansion - not easy to decide...

And yes the wish to get more players figures for the 7th and 8th player ( )...

[jungleboy]

The more I think about it, the more I think Decar and kettlefish are right and that the 10th expansion will be included. This will be a unique big box in a way, because when expansions in the new edition started being published in 2015, it became obvious that there would be a big box pretty soon. Carc 1 fans who might have been somewhat or even reasonably interested in the new edition would have known that they could just wait a bit longer for a big box. So in order to really hook those fans who weren't fooled by the worthless gimmick of the abbot, the publishers might need to include something exclusive to the new art that is actually substantial.

I'd be interested to hear what whaleyland has to say about all of this because he's usually very insightful about this kind of stuff.

[dirk2112]

If the 10th expansion truly is exclusive like the River 3, you alienate the people who bought the standard game and individual expansions.

[jungleboy]

If the 10th expansion truly is exclusive like the River 3, you alienate the people who bought the standard game and individual expansions.

That's not what I meant. I meant exclusive to the new art (as in, that it doesn't exist in the old art). If the entire big box contains only stuff that already exists in old art, there's no real reason for someone like me to bother.

[dirk2112]

That's not what I meant. I meant exclusive to the new art (as in, that it doesn't exist in the old art). If the entire big box contains only stuff that already exists in old art, there's no real reason for someone like me to bother.

If it is that good of an expansion.  I will buy it and just mix add it to my old art collection as a separate entity.  I already have to do that with the Watch Tower.  I don't think there is a reason for someone like you to bother. 

If you absolutely can't stand mixing new and old art, your best bet is to wait for the last new art big box and hope to get the most new art only expansions possible. 

[Halfling]

I will be purchasing no matter which major expansions, so the more the merrier.

I can then start selling off the original artwork versions.

[Whaleyland]

My Bet:

Base game /River / Abbots
Inns and Cathedrals
Traders and Builders
Princess & Dragon or The Tower
The new 10th expansions

This. It follows the pattern and most closely resembles the original Big Box. But they like releasing something newish in each Big Box, so this especially makes sense. If not 10th expansion, then Hills & Sheep with the updated River (III). I don't think they will throw in a fifth expansion, though. The addition of The River and The Abbots already makes the Big Box look bigger than it really is. They may throw in The Festival, however, as a bit of a stinger. Either way, this will be marketed to people like us as a starter set to put us on the CCII path.

[Danci]

Could someone explain what the "10th expansion" is that some of you are referring to. I think they will (should) add something completely new for all the collectors that already have the items listed above in the old art version. 

[dirk2112]

Could someone explain what the "10th expansion" is that some of you are referring to. I think they will (should) add something completely new for all the collectors that already have the items listed above in the old art version. 

Check out the 3rd post (BigBoss' post) here:
http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=3031.0

And read whaleyland's great post on page 3. 

"manege frei"  -  Big Top Pee Wee   

[Danci]

Thanks for the link! The Big Top expansions sounds exciting and fun and I hope ZMan or HiG includes it in the new big box! But the photo I looked at had some weird looking artwork. One looked like an upside down beer cap (with tokens on it) and the other was a hideous mint green tile (that did not match) with a bandaid looking image on it. Hope this isn't the final artwork for this 10th expansion. Weird just like 

[Valheru]

I will be purchasing no matter which major expansions, so the more the merrier.

I can then start selling off the original artwork versions.

Does that selling include Darmstadt, Cathars and the Russians?