Tactical Tuesday -- Week 01

[kothmann]

See the series introduction here.
Next Week -->

Players: Black, Gray, Red, Yellow (order of play as listed, alphabetical by color name).

Score: B=0, G=0, R=0, Y=0

Description (photo below): All players placed a meeple on their first turns and black has now drawn the RRRR tile.  Where should they place the tile?  Should they place a meeple and if so, where?


Option A (photo below)
[-1; 0], RRRR, meeple as thief on the south road.  Yellow scores 4 points.


Option B (photo below)
[-1; 0], RRRR, meeple as thief on the west road.  Yellow scores 4 points.


Option C (photo below)
[2; -1], RRRR, meeple as thief on the north road.  Black scores 2 points.


Option D (photo below)
[2; 1], RRRR, meeple as thief on the south road.  Black scores 2 points.


Option E (none of the above)
Please describe a better play in your reply.


Linkback: https://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=5462.0

[Ker42]

Hi, Kothmann!  Sounds like fun!  Here's my 2 cents:  I like option D.  You're not giving yellow any free points; you're getting a couple points for yourself and possibly making it harder for pink and gray to finish their city.  Option A and B help the monastery, but this early in the game I wouldn't be worrying about that. 

[Meepledrone]

Same opinion here... And even Yellow would be interested in extending their road, and help your monastery in the process. No need to give 4 points away in this case with options A or B.

[unclewill]

I agree, Option D.

Two points in-and-out is nice on top of making it that bit more difficult for Grey and Red in their city with no point gain for anyone else. It also sets up a possible trap for the two knights which would be great for Yellow and Black.

Option C makes it that teeny bit harder for Black's monastery, and opens up an early opportunity for the other players to trap my monk with the need for a FFFR ( 1 of only 2) or better still a non-existent CFFR at (1,-1). It might be unlikely, but the risk of a meeple down this early would be bad for no real gain.

[DIN0]

Option D of course! Inconveniencing two other players, not benefiting the third and still bouncing +2 points for yourself.

[kothmann]

Thanks everyone who took the time to reply.  Evidently, this was a good warm-up problem.  Hopefully a newbie would find the answers useful.  We'll get to more interesting situations soon.  Also, don't forget to snap a photo or a screen-shot and send it to me if something interesting comes up in your own games...

Also, I welcome any suggested changes to format or presentation.

See you next Tuesday.

[Allograft]

Also, don't forget to snap a photo or a screen-shot and send it to me if something interesting comes up in your own games...

This would be a nice way to promote community involvement. Also, maybe even get HiG to give a nominal prize (Spiel tile, signed KJW tile) quarterly for the most challenging scenario. - 

[Bumsakalaka]

Nice, In this game you have to also find a best way how to block other players meeples.
In game of 4 it can be hard, but why not. Option D is best option you can made. Score road and get 2 points and not help somebody else to earn points is best option. And for bonus you can block 2 meeples of opponents (for a while or for rest of game). Of course if you not play Abbeys or other expansion.

[Bumsakalaka]

For those, who want to check this situation also online. Here is file for new version of JCloisterZone 5.7.101, which finaly support also online game. You can download it from https://www.github.com/farin/JCloisterZone-Client/releases


Save file is ziped, due to restriction on forum, so need, unzip and load game.


File will be updated to include tiles order used in next weeks round. Currently include tiles order until Week 04.


Enjoy.