Author Topic: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?  (Read 5200 times)

Offline Windekind

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What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« on: June 30, 2019, 07:04:41 AM »
Is there a difference in follower and meeple?
 :white-meeple: <--> :yellow-meeple:
Especially in the 1st editions of Carcassonne, followers were used and in the new edition, meeples.

If it means completely the same, why this name change (and when?). What is the historical story behind this?
 

Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=4324.0

Offline Meepledrone

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2019, 02:59:22 PM »
Hi Windekind!

There is no difference between follower and meeple as of today. You can check how the terms are used identically in the same context in Bigbox 4 (Caracassonne I) and Big Box 6 (Carcassonne II). Please check the images the figures included in each Big Box. Notes:
* Big Box 6 includes the new abbot in the follower/meeple category.
* The term pawn was later replaced by figure

HiG started to use it instead of follower in the German base game rules, after indicating the equivalence of the terms Gefolgesleute (followers) and Meeple. This renaming has been used extensively in Carcassonne II both in German and English. However publishers such as Devir (for Spain, Portugal and Latin America) have maintained the Carcassonne I naming convention still using followers (seguidores in Spanish and Portuguese) in their translations of the Carcassonne II rules.

I haven't found anything on the reason for the change yet. My guess: Maybe just an additional resource to renew the image of the game leveraging the wide-spread iconic term meeple, coined by Alison Hansel during a Carcassonne game back in 2000.   

Cheers!
« Last Edit: July 01, 2019, 04:13:49 AM by Meepledrone »
Questions about rules? Check WICA: wikicarpedia.com

Offline Windekind

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2019, 05:30:20 AM »
In Dutch it is referred to as 'Horige'. If I translate this correctly it would be "Serfdom" in English. I think this is a better name because it has a more medieval character.

I can understand why they chose 'Meeples' because of the different forms they can take in Carcassonne and its Spin-offs.
But it is nice to have different names. The latest Spin-off versions all have the same name: Meeples. (Star Wars, Amazonas, Safari)
See: http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=4169.msg61335#msg61335


t2k

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2020, 03:04:10 PM »
Meeple and Follower are both generic terms in Carcassonne, because the standard meeple is renamed depending on it's function in the game.  Meeples are used in many other games and named for their functionality in them also.

In a standard game, any meeple becomes a Highwayman if on a road, a Knight if in a city, and a Farmer if lying in a field. And don't forget the meeple used on the scoring track who really is still just a MEEPLE.

Offline Ratz65

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2020, 12:45:39 AM »
The term Follower is used in the rules for Carcassonne I.
The term Meeple is used in the rules for Carcassonne II.  :red-meeple:

Offline Meepledrone

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2020, 11:22:02 AM »
The term Follower is used in the rules for Carcassonne I.
The term Meeple is used in the rules for Carcassonne II.  :red-meeple:

Hi Ratz65,

Do you have any insights on why HiG preferred using meeple (Meeple in German) instead of follower (Gefolgsmann in German) for Carcassonne II?

Thanks in advance!

Offline Ratz65

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2020, 11:43:27 AM »
The rules for Carcassonne II have been completely rewritten. In German the rules are now written in the "du" form. So a personal speech.

Offline Meepledrone

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Re: What is the difference between 'followers' and 'meeples'?
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2020, 11:51:16 AM »
The rules in English follow the same pattern and the color highlighting of the pronouns...

I think the rules turned a bit clearer to read as color codes for the turn phases help a lot to organize the ideas in your head.

I was interested in learning more about the internal process to get to that point in the rules rewriting, starting with the renaming of their iconic figures.  ;D


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