Carcassonne Central: Advent Quiz MMXXIV

[Meepledrone]

Question #15: The Snowman places the following tile on behalf of Blue. The player would like to know the following:
a) How many points does each player score this turn? (1 point)
b) If this was the last tile of the game, how many points does each player score after the game? (1 point)

Notes:
* No additional meeples are placed.
* We are expecting the scoring to be performed according to the C2/C3 rules. Please indicate if you apply the rules of a different edition.

Answer #15: Depending on the rules applied, we will have two cases when dealing with non-square tiles in this scenario:
* The C1 rules consider each tile individually no matter their shape, so a German castle tile and Halfling tiles count as 1 tile each, evn if 2 Halfling tiles share the same square space..
* The C2/C3 rules consider occupied spaces when scoring features, so a German castle tile counts as 2 tiles, and two Halfling tiles sharing the same space count as 1 tile.

Let's review the results depending on the ruleset applied.

C2/C3 rules

>> Scoring the last turn

The tile placement completes the following features:

* The monastery occupied by Blue. The player will score 9 points for it (9 tiles x 1 point), according to the following tile count (1 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 2 tiles):
  - 1 square tile with the monastery
  - 3 adjacent square tiles
  - 2 adjacent tiles represented by 2 Halflings sharing the same space
  - 1 adjacent tile represented by 1 Halfling occupying one space
  - 2 adjacent tiles represented by the two halves of the German castle 
 
* The road occupied by Red. The player will score 8 points (5 + 3 points):
   - 5 points for the road itself (5 tiles x 1 point per tile). These 5 tiles represent (2 + 1 + 1 + 1 tiles):
       - 2 square tiles
       - 1 tile for the 2 Halflings sharing one space
       - 1 tile for the Halfling occupying one space
       - 1 tile for on half of the German castle
   - 3 points for the German castle bonus

* The city occupied by Yellow. The player will score 15 points for it (12 + 3 points):
   - 12 points for the city itself ( (4 tiles + 2 coats of arms) x 2 points = 6 x 2 points). These 4 tiles represent (1 + 1 + 1 + 1 tiles):
       - 1 square tile
       - 1 tile for the 2 Halflings sharing one space
       - 1 tile for the Halfling occupying one space
       - 1 tile for one half of the German castle
    - 3 points for the German castle bonus

>> Scoring after the game

Blue will score 6 points for the German castle (6 tiles x 1 point). These 6 tiles represent (2 + 3 + 1 tiles):
    - 2 tiles for the German castle
    - 3 adjacent square tiles
    - 1 adjacent ntile for the 2 Halflings sharing one space 
       
Bottomline:
a) Scoring during the last turn:
* Blue scores 9 points
* Red scores 8 poins
* Yellow scores 15 points
b) Scoring after the game:
* Blue scores 6 points
* Red scores no poins
* Yellow scores no points


C1 rules

>> Scoring the last turn

The tile placement completes the following features:

* The monastery occupied by Blue. The player will score 10 points for it (10 tiles x 1 point), according to the following tile count (1 + 3 + 5 + 1 tiles):
  - 1 square tile with the monastery
  - 3 adjacent square tiles
  - 5 adjacent Halflings tiles
  - 1 adjacent double-sized German castle tile   
 
* The road occupied by Red. The player will score 9 points (6 + 3 points):
   - 6 points for the road itself (6 tiles x 1 point per tile). These 6 tiles represent (2 + 3 + 1 tiles):
       - 2 square tiles
       - 3 tiles for the Halfling tiles
       - 1 tile for double-sized German castle tile
   - 3 points for the German castle bonus

* The city occupied by Yellow. The player will score 17 points for it (14 + 3 points):
   - 14 points for the city itself ( (5 tiles + 2 coats of arms) x 2 points = 7 x 2 points). These 5 tiles represent (1 + 3 + 1 tiles):
       - 1 square tile
       - 3 tiles for the Halflings
       - 1 tile for the double-sized German castle tile
    - 3 points for the German castle bonus

>> Scoring after the game

Blue will score 7 points for the German castle (2 points for the German castle tile + (5 tiles x 1 point) ). These 5 adjacent tiles represent (3 + 2 tiles):
    - 3 square tiles
    - 2 Halfling tiles
       
Bottomline:
a) Scoring during the last turn:
* Blue scores 10 points
* Red scores 9 poins
* Yellow scores 17 points
b) Scoring after the game:
* Blue scores 7 points
* Red scores no poins
* Yellow scores no points

[Meepledrone]

Question #16: This game has ended. The Grinch wants you to answer the following questions:
a) How many fields are there in this scenario? (1 point)
b) How many points does each player score? (1 point)

Notes:
* No large meeples are included in this scenario.
* We are applying the most recent rules for the Alhambra wonder. Consider a game with more than 120 tiles

Answer #16: Firstly, we score the bonus points granted for farmers by the Alhambra wonder. Red will score 18 points (3 farmers x 6 points per farmer for a game with more than 120 points). Only the red farmers are considered.

Note: Any castle lords on the board are removed before the final scoring. Any reference to them below is just for the sake of convenience.

This scenario has 5 fields:

>> 1. Field left of the castle occupied by Blue

This field is unoccupied and no player will score points for it. Note that the castle separates the fields.

>> 2. Field top left occupied by a farmer

The field top left occupied by a red farmer has no completed cities. Red will score 0 points for this field.

Red will not receive any Tanner quarter bonus points for this field, since it has no farmhouses or sheds.

>> 3. Field top left with a barn

The field top left occupied by the red barn has 1 completed city (i.e. Leipzig) and 1 castle (occupied by Blue). Red will score 9 points for the barn (4 + 5 points):
- 4 points for the completed city of Leipzig (1 city x 4 points)
- 5 points for the castle (1 castle x 5 points)
Note that the barn does not receive the Tanners quarter bonus.

>> 4. Field top right

The field top right is occupied by a blue farmer, a red farmer and the red pig. Both Blue and Red share the majority with 1 meeple each (the pig does not affect the majority; it just grants more points per feature). This field has 2 completed cities (one of them is Leipzig) and 2 castles (one unoccupied and another occupied by Yellow). Additionally, the field also has 2 farmhouses.

Blue will score 14 points for the field (6 + 8 points):
- 6 points for the completed cities (2 cities x 3 points)
- 8 points for the castles (2 castles x 4 points)

Red will score 18 points for the field (8 + 10 points):
- 8 points for the completed cities (2 cities x (3 points + 1 point for the pig) = 2 x 4 points)
- 10 points for the castles (2 castles x (4 points + 1 point for the pig) = 2 x 5 points)

Both players will receive the Tanners quarter bonus for their meeple in Leipzig, so Blue and Red will receive 4 bonus points each (2 farmhouses x 2 points).

>> 5. Bottom field

The field at the bottom is occupied by Red and Yellow. Both players share the majority with 1 meeple each. This field has 2 completed cities (one of them is Leipzig). Additionally, the field also has 1 farmhouse and 1 cowshed. Please note the field connections under the bridges.

Red and Yellow will score 6 points each for the completed cities (2 cities x 3 points)

Only Red will receive the Tanners quarter bonus for their meeple in Leipzig, so Red will receive 4 bonus points ( (1 farmhouse + 1 cowshed) x 2 points).


Bottomline:
a) There are 5 fields in this scenario.
b) Scoring during the last turn:
* Blue scores 18 points (14 points for the field top right + 4 points for the Tanners quarter bonus)
* Red scores 59 poins (18 points for the Alhambra bonus + 9 points for the barn + 18 points for the field top right + 4 points for the Tanners quarter bonus (top right field) + 6 points for the field at the bottom + 4 points for the Tanners quarter bonus (bottom field) )
* Yellow scores 6 points for the field at the bottom

[Meepledrone]

Question #16.5: Chanchito and Chanchita would appreciate your help with this sudoku. What is the sum of the cells highlighted in magenta? (3 points)

Answer #16.5: The expansion symbols map to their corresponding expansion numbers in this case:

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:
7:
8:
9:

After the translation of expansion symbols, the resulting sudoku is as follows:



It's solution is this: 



The sum of the cells highlighted in magenta is 42 (6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 5 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 3), which is equal to:



As you may know, 42 is "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything!" 

[Meepledrone]

Question #17: Danisthirty presents this end-game scenario. How many points does each player score? (1 point)

Note:
* We are expecting the scoring to be performed according to the C2/C3 rules. Please indicate if you apply the rules of a different edition.

Answer #17: Depending on the rules applied, we will have two cases when dealing with non-square tiles in this scenario:
* The C1 rules consider each tile individually no matter their shape, so a German castle tile, a wonder tile or a Halfling tile counts as 1 tile each.
* The C2/C3 rules consider occupied spaces when scoring features, so a German castle tile counts as 2 tiles, a wonder tile counts as 5 tiles, and two Halfling tiles sharing the same space count as 1 tile.

Let's review the results depending on the ruleset applied.

C2/C3 rules

At the end of this game, we first score the wonders. Only the Terracotta Army grants points at this point.



Red will score 6 points for the columns and rows with 7+ tiles ( (2 rows + 1 column) x 2 points = 3 x 2 points):
* The row with the yellow meeple placed as a claustral prior or abbot. This row (marked in red) has 7 tiles (3 + 3 + 1 tiles):
   - 3 square tiles
   - 3 tiles represented by 3 Halfling tiles occupying a single space each
   - 1 tile represented by 2 Halfling tiles sharing the same space
* The row with the yellow meeple placed on a German castle. This row (marked in yellow) has 8 tiles (2 + 1 + 5 tiles):
   - 2 tiles represented by the 2 halves of th German castle
   - 1 tile represented by 1 space occupied by the Terracotta Army wonder tile
   - 5 tiles represented by 5 spaces occupied by the Abu Simbel wonder tile
* The column with the blue meeple placed as a claustral prior or abbot. This column (marked in blue) has 7 tiles (1 + 1 + 1 + 4 tiles):
   - 1 square tile
   - 1 tile represented by 1 Hafling tile occupying a single space
   - 1 tile represented by 1 half of a German castle tile occupying a single space
   - 4 tiles represented by 2 German castle tiles occupying 2 spaces each

Note that triangular gaps do not limit a row or columns but square gaps do.

Now let's score the features:

Yellow will score 7 points for the uncompleted German castle ( (2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 7 x 1 tiles):
* 2 tiles represented by the 2 spaces occupied by the German castle
* 1 adjacent square tile
* 2 tiles represented by the 2 adjacent spaces of the Terracotta Army wonder tile
* 1 tile represented by 1 adjacent Halfling tile occupying a space
* 1 tile represented by 2 adjacent Halfling tiles sharing the same space

Blue will score 11 points for the Japanese building with the blue meeple placed as a claustral pior or abbot ( (1 + 0 + 4 + 4 + 2 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 11 x 1 points):
* 1 tile with the Japanese building
* 0 tiles in the left row
* 4 tiles in the top column (1 + 1 + 2 tiles):
   - 1 tile represented by 1 Hafling tile occupying a space
   - 1 tile represented by 1 half of a German castle tile occupying a single space
   - 2 tiles represented by 1 German castle tile occupying 2 spaces
* 4 tiles in the right row (3 + 1 tiles)
   - 3 tiles represented by 3 spaces occupied by the Terracotta Army wonder tile
   - 1 square tile (the row ends at the empty square space)
* 2 tiles in the bottom column:
   - 2 tiles represented by 1 German castle tile occupying 2 spaces

Red will score 8 points for the Japanese building with the red meeple placed as a claustral pior or abbot ( (1 + 4 + 2 + 0 + 1 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 8 x 1 points):
* 1 tile with the Japanese building
* 4 tiles in the left row (3 + 1 tiles)
   - 3 tiles represented by 3 spaces occupied by the Terracotta Army wonder tile
   - 1 square tile
* 2 tiles in the top column (1 + 1 tiles):
   - 1 tile represented by 1 space occupied by the Abu Simbel wonder tile
   - 1 tile represented by 1 Hafling tile occupying a space
* 0 tiles in the right row
* 1 tile in the bottom column:
   - 1 tile represented by 1 Hafling tile occupying a space

Yellow will score 9 points for the Japanese building with the yellow meeple placed as a claustral pior or abbot ( (1 + 3 + 0 + 3 + 2 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 9 x 1 points):
* 1 tile with the Japanese building
* 3 tiles in the left row (1 + 1 + 1 tiles)
   - 1 square tile   
   - 1 tile represented by 1 Hafling tile occupying a space
   - 1 tile represented by 2 Hafling tiles sharing a space
* 0 tiles in the top column
* 3 tiles in the right row (1 + 2 tiles)
   - 1 square tile   
   - 2 tiles represented by 2 Hafling tiles occupying a single space each
* 2 tiles in the bottom column:
    - 2 tiles represented by 2 spaces occupied by the Terracotta Army and the Abu Simbel wonder tiles, respectively
   
Bottomline:
* Blue scores 11 points for their Japanese building
* Red scores 14 poins (6 points for the Terracotta Army wonder + 8 points for their Japanese building)
* Yellow scores 16 points (7 points for the German castle + 9 points for their Japanese building)


C1 rules

At the end of this game, we first score the wonders. Only the Terracotta Army grants points at this point.



Red will score 2 points for the row with 7+ tiles (1 row x 2 points):
* The row with the yellow meeple placed as a claustral prior or abbot. This row (marked in red) has 8 tiles (3 + 5 tiles):
   - 3 square tiles
   - 5 Halfling tiles

Note that triangular gaps do not limit a row or columns but square gaps do.

Now let's score the features:

Yellow will score 7 points for the uncompleted German castle ( 2 points for the German castle + (5 adjacent tiles x 1 point per tile) = 2 + 5 points), considering the following 5 adjacent tiles (1 + 1 + 3 tiles):
* 1 adjacent square tile
* 1 tile adjacent wonder tile (i.e. the Terracotta Army wonder tile)
* 3 adjacent Halfling tiles

Blue will score 7 points for the Japanese building with the blue meeple placed as a claustral pior or abbot ( (1 + 0 + 3 + 2 + 1 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 7 x 1 points):
* 1 tile with the Japanese building
* 0 tiles in the left row
* 3 tiles in the top column (1 + 2 tiles):
   - 1 Halfling tile
   - 2 German castle tiles (no matter the orientation)
* 2 tiles in the right row (1 + 1 tiles)
   - 1 wonder tiles (i.e. the Terracotta Army wonder tile)
   - 1 square tile (the row ends at the empty square space)
* 1 tile in the bottom column:
   - 1 German castle tile

Red will score 6 points for the Japanese building with the red meeple placed as a claustral pior or abbot ( (1 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 1 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 6 x 1 points):
* 1 tile with the Japanese building
* 2 tiles in the left row (1 + 1 tiles)
   - 1 wonder tile (i.e. the Terracotta Army wonder tile)
   - 1 square tile
* 2 tiles in the top column (1 + 1 tiles):
   - 1 wonder tile (i.e.  the Abu Simbel wonder tile)
   - 1 Halfling tile
* 0 tiles in the right row
* 1 tile in the bottom column:
   - 1 Halfling tile

Yellow will score 10 points for the Japanese building with the yellow meeple placed as a claustral pior or abbot ( (1 + 4 + 0 + 3 + 2 tiles) x 1 point per tile = 10 x 1 points):
* 1 tile with the Japanese building
* 4 tiles in the left row (1 + 3 tiles)
   - 1 square tile   
   - 3 Hafling tiles
* 0 tiles in the top column
* 3 tiles in the right row (1 + 2 tiles)
   - 1 square tile   
   - 2 Hafling tiles
* 2 tiles in the bottom column:
    - 2 wonder tiles (i.e. the Terracotta Army and the Abu Simbel wonder tiles)

Bottomline:
* Blue scores 7 points for their Japanese building
* Red scores 8 poins (2 points for the Terracotta Army wonder + 6 points for their Japanese building)
* Yellow scores 17 points (7 points for the German castle + 10 points for their Japanese building)

[Meepledrone]

Question #18: Santa Claus places this tile on behalf of Yellow. The player has the following questions:
a) How many points does each player score? (1 point)
b) What happens to the Mage and the Witch after scoring? (1 point)

Note:
* No meeples are placed on this turn.
* This is a mid-game scenario. The game goes on for a few more turns.
* We are expecting the scoring to be performed according to the C2/C3 rules. Please indicate if you apply the rules of a different edition.

Answer #18: Depending on the rules applied, we will have two cases when dealing with non-square tiles in this scenario:
* The C1 rules consider each tile individually no matter their shape, so a German castle tile counts as 1 tile.
* The C2/C3 rules consider occupied spaces when scoring features, so a German castle tile counts as 2 tiles.

Let's review the results depending on the ruleset applied.

C2/C3 rules

This tile placement completes the road and the city. Let's score each one in turn.

The road occupied by Yellow has 10 tiles. Note that each half of the German castle counts as a different tile. Additionally, the scoring of the road will consider:
* The Highway scoring tile, which will treat the road as a 5-tile feature for its scoring
* The German castle on the road
* The Mage, which will consider the actual 10 tiles of the road for the bonus
Then, Yellow will score 18 points for the road (5 + 3 + 10 points):
* 5 points for the road itself (5 tiles for the Highway scoring tile x 1 point per tile)
* 3 bonus points for the German castle bonus, only considered once.
* 10 points for the Mage bonus (10 tiles x 1 bonus point per tile)
 
The city occupied by Red has 5 tiles and 1 coat of arms. Additionally, the scoring of the city will consider:
* The Bad Neighborhood scoring tile, which will discard the 3 semicircular tiles in the scoring of the city
* The German castle on the city
* The Witch
Then, Red will score 6 points for city (3 + 3 points):
* 3 points for the city itself after considering the Witch. The city would be worth 6 points ( (2 tiles for the Bad Neighborhood scoring tile + 1 coat of arms) x 2 points = 3 x 2 points), but the Witch will halve this amount so the city is worth 3 points (6 points / 2).
* 3 bonus points for the German castle bonus.

After scoring, the Mage and the Witch will be put aside.
 
Bottomline:
a) The scoring is as follows for this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 6 poins
* Yellow scores 18 points
b) After scoring, the Mage and the Witch will be put aside.


C1 rules

This tile placement completes the road and the city. Let's score each one in turn.

The road occupied by Yellow has 9 tiles. Note that the German castle counts as 1 tile. Additionally, the scoring of the road will consider:
* The Highway scoring tile, which will treat the road as a 5-tile feature for its scoring
* The German castle on the road
* The Mage, which will consider the actual 9 tiles of the road for the bonus
Then, Yellow will score 17 points for the road (5 + 3 + 9 points):
* 5 points for the road itself (5 tiles for the Highway scoring tile x 1 point per tile)
* 3 bonus points for the German castle bonus, only considered once.
* 9 points for the Mage bonus (9 tiles x 1 bonus point per tile)
 
The city occupied by Red has 5 tiles and 1 coat of arms. Additionally, the scoring of the city will consider:
* The Bad Neighborhood scoring tile, which will discard the 3 semicircular tiles in the scoring of the city
* The German castle on the city
* The Witch
Then, Red will score 6 points for city (3 + 3 points):
* 3 points for the city itself after considering the Witch. The city would be worth 6 points ( (2 tiles for the Bad Neighborhood scoring tile + 1 coat of arms) x 2 points = 3 x 2 points), but the Witch will halve this amount so the city is worth 3 points (6 points / 2).
* 3 bonus points for the German castle bonus.
 
Bottomline:
a) The scoring is as follows for this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 6 points
* Yellow scores 17 points
b) After scoring, the Mage and the Witch will be put aside.

[Paloi Sciurala]

Well, the time spent translating this thing paid off.

[Meepledrone]

Question #19: The Snowman places this tile on behalf of Red. The player has the following questions:
a) How many points does each player score? (1 point)
b) What happens to the Gingerbread Man? (1 point)
c) Will Red get a double turn? (1 point)
d) What happens with the builder after scoring? (1 point)

Note:
* No meeples are placed on this turn.
* No large meeples were used in this question.
* This is a mid-game scenario. The game goes on for a few more turns.

Answer #19: The completion of this city will trigger the scoring and movment of the Gingerbread Man. This would have happened even if the city hadn't been completed by a Gingerbread Man tile.

The players will receive the following Gingerbread Man bonus points:
* Blue will score 24 points (2 meeples x 12 tiles x 1 point per tile and meeple)
* Red scores 12 points (1 meeple x 12 tiles x 1 point per tile and meeple) . Noe that the builder is not a meeple and does not receive the Gingerbread bonus.
* Yellow will score 24 points (2 meeples x 12 tiles x 1 point per tile and meeple) 

Now we score the city as usual. Both Blue and Yellow share the majority in the city with 2 meeples each, so both players will score 30 points ( (12 tiles + 3 coats of arms) x 2 points = 15 x 2 points). Red will score 0 points with only 1 meeple. Note that the builder is not a meeple.

At this point, the Gingerbread Man will move to an unoccupied city. There are two options in this case: the uncompleted, unoccupied city at the top, or the uncompleted city occupied by Yellow.

Additionally, Red will get a double turn since the player extended this city with their builder. It does not matter that the city is completed with this tile placement, and the meeples removed. Note that we are assuming that Red just started their turn, so this tile placement was not happening during a double turn.

All the meeples in the city will be removed and returned to their owners after scoring, the same as the builder.

Bottomline:
a) The scoring is as follows for this turn:
* Blue scores 54 points (24 points for the Gingerbread Man + 30 points for the city)
* Red scores 12 points for the Gingerbread Man
* Yellow scores 54 points (24 points for the Gingerbread Man + 30 points for the city)
b) The Gingerbread Man will move to an uncompleted city (the unoccupied one at the top or the one occupied by Yellow on the right)
c) Yes, Red gets a double turn as the player extends the city with their builder
d) The builder returns to their owner's supply.

[corinthiens13]

Well, the time spent translating this thing paid off.

Congratulations ! 

I won three years in a row... While I was doing a French rule summary...  This pays off for sure.
Now, I'm making too many stupid mistakes, and some rule misinterpretation with newer expansions 

[Meepledrone]

- The Grinch: I love to keep you on your toes!
- Chanchito: Never give up! Never surrender!
- The Grinch: Mwahahahahaha!

[Orion]

we shall defend our meeple, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the monasteries, we shall fight on the 20th Anniversary tiles, we shall fight in the fields and in the cities, we shall fight in the roads; we shall never surrender

-Winston Churchill, probably

[Meepledrone]

Question #20: It is Yellow's turn. The player has the following questions:
a.1) This scenario includes several fan expansions. Can you complete their names in the following list? (OK: 3 points / NOT OK: -3 points)
a.2) A secret message is hidden in the previous result. Can you find out what it says? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)



b) How many tiles can Yellow draw this turn? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
c) Can any of the tiles A to F on the right be placed this turn? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
d) If Yellow happened to draw and place one of the valid tiles (if any), which one would grant the player the least points? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
d.1) How many points would each player score this turn? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
d.2) If this was the last tile of the game, how many points would each player score during the final scoring? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
e) If Yellow happened to draw and place one of the valid tiles (if any), which one would grant the player the most points? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
e.1) How many points would each player score this turn? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)
e.2) If this was the last tile of the game, how many points would each player score during the final scoring? (OK: 1 point / NOT OK: -1 point)

Note:
* No meeples or other figures are placed or moved during this turn.
* No large meeples were used in this question.
* All the fan expansions in this question can be found on Carcassonne Central and WICA... but one of them has not been made public on WICA yet, so it may require some digging. Good luck!
* Tile A is shown along with the token that would be placed on it as a result of the die roll.

Answer #20: The list of expansions and the hidden message are the following:



Yellow can draw 2 tiles, since the player has 1 fortune teller on the top right tile.

All the tiles in the list are CCCC tiles, so they all would fit in the square gap. However, not all the tiles available are valid due to the restrictions of coats of arms that the gap has:
* Left city: The city has a red-and-yellow coat of arms
* Top city: It has no coats of arms, so it can accept either type. The three cities connected via royal gateways have 1 red-and-yellow and 3 neutral grey-and-white coats of arms, but X tokens nullifies them all. This nullification effect will extend to the tile to be placed.
* Right city: It has a regular blue-and-white coat of arms.
* Bottom city: It has no coats of arms, so it can accept either type.

This said, we have two valid cases scenarios:
* Those tiles that connect the top edge to the left and right edges, since all the coat of arms are nullified as soon as the tile is placed. So, tiles A and C are valid in this case in any orientation.
* Those tiles that do not connect the left edge and the right edge of the gap can be allowed. So, tiles D and E are valid in this case, but only in a couple of orientations:
   * Tile D: with the coat of arms at the top (as is) or at the bottom (rotated 180º).
   * Tile E: with red-and-yellow coat of arms in top left corner (as is) or in bottom left corner (rotated 90º counterclockwise)

Let's score the scenarios for the tiles A, C, D and E in turn.

Notes:
* We are not considering the friendly version of the Hans Statue rules, since it is not requested in the question.
* The Hans Statue affects the scoring of a city and a road, but it does not affect field scorings.
* The Hans Statue affects the scoring of figures placed on the same tile, so it won't affect the penalty of the Black Fairy in this scenario.
* The Royal Gateways count as a feature scorable by vistas, but the tent ending a road on one of the vista tile isn't (the Vistas rules do not consider this road ending as a scorable feature)

>> Tile A is placed (in any orientation)

Below we show the scenario with Tile A placed as is, but any orientation is valid.



The tile completes 1 city and 1 vista:

* The city occupied by Red and Yellow with 17 tiles and 0 coats of arms due to the X tokens (note this city is the conformed by 3 smaller cities connected by royal gateways). This city is affected by the Hans Statue on the left. Both players share the majority, so they will score 68 points for the city ( (17 tiles x 2 points) x 2 for the Hans Statue = 34 x 2 points). Additionally, Red will score -3 points for the Black Fairy.

* The vista occupied by Yellow that will score 8 points for the following 8 types of scorable features: road, city, monastery, field, garden, vista, water tower and royal gateway (8 feature types x 1 point).
 
The uncompleted features are scored after the game as follows:

* Yellow will score no points for the fortune teller tent

* Red will score 5 points for the vista with 5 types of scorable features: road, city, field, vista, well (5 feature types x 1 point).

* Blue will score 12 points for the road, which has 3 tiles, 3 wells and is affected by the Hans Statue ( ( (3 tiles + 3 wells) x 1 point ) x 2 for the Hans Statue) = (6 x 1) x 2 points = 6 x 2 points).

* Blue will score 3 points for the field (1 city x 3 points). Note that 3 of the cities bordering the field are connected by royal gateways, so they count as 1 when scoring the field.

In a nutshell, during this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 65 points (68 points for the city - 3 points for the Black Fairy)
* Yellow scores 76 points (68 points for the city + 8 points for the vista)
And the end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 15 points (12 points for the road + 3 points for the field)
* Red scores 5 points for the vista
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent


>> Tile C is placed (in any orientation)

Below we show the scenario with Tile C placed as is, but any orientation is valid.



The tile completes 1 city and 1 vista:

* The city occupied by Red and Yellow with 17 tiles and 0 coats of arms due to the X token (note this city is the conformed by 3 smaller cities connected by royal gateways). This city is affected by the Hans Statue on the left. Both players share the majority, so they will score 68 points for the city ( (17 tiles x 2 points) x 2 for the Hans Statue = 34 x 2 points). Additionally, Red will score -3 points for the Black Fairy.

* The vista occupied by Yellow that will score 7 points for the following 7 types of scorable features: road, city, field, garden, vista, water tower and royal gateway (7 feature types x 1 point).
 
The uncompleted features are scored after the game as follows:

* Yellow will score no points for the fortune teller tent

* Red will score 5 points for the vista with 5 types of scorable features: road, city, field, vista, well (5 feature types x 1 point).

* Blue will score 12 points for the road, which has 3 tiles, 3 wells and is affected by the Hans Statue ( ( (3 tiles + 3 wells) x 1 point ) x 2 for the Hans Statue) = (6 x 1) x 2 points = 6 x 2 points).

* Blue will score 3 points for the field (1 city x 3 points). Note that 3 of the cities bordering the field are connected by royal gateways, so they count as 1 when scoring the field.

In a nutshell, during this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 65 points (68 points for the city - 3 points for the Black Fairy)
* Yellow scores 75 points (68 points for the city + 7 points for the vista)
And the end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 15 points (12 points for the road + 3 points for the field)
* Red scores 5 points for the vista
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent


>> Tile D is placed (with the coat of arms at the top or at the bottom)

Below we show the scenario with Tile D placed as is, but rotated 180º would lead to the same result.



The tile completes 3 cities and 1 vista:

* The city occupied by Yellow with 5 tiles and 1 red-and-yellow coat of arms. This city is affected by the Hans Statue on the left. As a result the player will score 24 points for the city ( ( (5 tiles + 1 coat of arms) x 2 points for the city) x 2 for the Hans Statue = (6 x 2) x 2 points = 12 x 2 points).

* The city occupied by Red with 4 tiles and 1 blue-and-white coat of arms. Tha player then scores 10 points ( (4 tiles + 1 coat of arms) x 2 tiles = 5 x 2 points). Additionally, the player will score -3 points for the Black Fairy.

* The unoccupied city that will not be scored by any player.

* The vista occupied by Yellow that will score 7 points for the following 7 types of scorable features: road, city, field, garden, vista, water tower and royal gateway (7 feature types x 1 point).
 
The uncompleted features are scored after the game as follows:

* Yellow will score no points for the fortune teller tent

* Red will score 5 points for the vista with 5 types of scorable features: road, city, field, vista, well (5 feature types x 1 point).

* Blue will score 12 points for the road, which has 3 tiles, 3 wells and is affected by the Hans Statue ( ( (3 tiles + 3 wells) x 1 point ) x 2 for the Hans Statue) = (6 x 1) x 2 points = 6 x 2 points).

* Blue will score 6 points for the field (2 cities x 3 points). Note that 3 of the cities bordering the field are connected by royal gateways, so they count as 1 when scoring the field.

In a nutshell, during this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 7 points (10 points for the city - 3 points for the Black Fairy)
* Yellow scores 31 points (24 points for the city + 7 points for the vista)
And the end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 18 points (12 points for the road + 6 points for the field)
* Red scores 5 points for the vista
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent

...

[Meepledrone]

(The solution starts here)


>> Tile E is placed as is (with red-and-yellow coat of arms in top left corner)

Below we show the scenario with Tile E placed as is.



The tile completes 2 cities and 1 vista:

* The city occupied by Yellow with 14 tiles and 0 red-and-yellow coats of arms due to the X token (note this city is the conformed by 3 smaller cities connected by royal gateways). This city is affected by the Hans Statue on the left. As a result the player will score 56 points for the city ( (14 tiles x 2 points) x 2 for the Hans Statue = 28 x 2 points.

* The city occupied by Red with 5 tiles and 2 blue-and-white coats of arms. The player then scores 14 points ( (5 tiles + 2 coat of arms) x 2 tiles = 7 x 2 points). Additionally, the player will score -3 points for the Black Fairy.

* The vista occupied by Yellow that will score 7 points for the following 7 types of scorable features: road, city, field, garden, vista, water tower and royal gateway (7 feature types x 1 point).
 
The uncompleted features are scored after the game as follows:

* Yellow will score no points for the fortune teller tent

* Red will score 5 points for the vista with 5 types of scorable features: road, city, field, vista, well (5 feature types x 1 point).

* Blue will score 12 points for the road, which has 3 tiles, 3 wells and is affected by the Hans Statue ( ( (3 tiles + 3 wells) x 1 point ) x 2 for the Hans Statue) = (6 x 1) x 2 points = 6 x 2 points).

* Blue will score 6 points for the field (2 cities x 3 points). Note that 3 of the cities bordering the field are connected by royal gateways, so they count as 1 when scoring the field.

In a nutshell, during this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 11 points (14 points for the city - 3 points for the Black Fairy)
* Yellow scores 63 points (56 points for the city + 7 points for the vista)
And the end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 18 points (12 points for the road + 6 points for the field)
* Red scores 5 points for the vista
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent


>> Tile E is placed rotated 90º counterclockwise (with read-and-yellow coat of arms in bottom left corner)

Below we show the scenario with Tile E placed rotated.



The tile completes 2 cities and 1 vista:

* The city occupied by Yellow with 6 tiles and 2 red-and-yellow coats of arms. This city is affected by the Hans Statue on the left. As a result the player will score 32 points for the city ( ( (6 tiles + 2 coats of arms) x 2 points) x 2 for the Hans Statue  = (8 x 2) x 2 points = 16 x 2 points).

* The city occupied by Red with 13 tiles and 0 coats of arms due to the X token (note this city is the conformed by 3 smaller cities connected by royal gateways). The player then scores 26 points (13 tiles x 2 points). Additionally, the player will score -3 points for the Black Fairy.

* The vista occupied by Yellow that will score 7 points for the following 7 types of scorable features: road, city, field, garden, vista, water tower and royal gateway (7 feature types x 1 point).
 
The uncompleted features are scored after the game as follows:

* Yellow will score no points for the fortune teller tent

* Red will score 5 points for the vista with 5 types of scorable features: road, city, field, vista, well (5 feature types x 1 point).

* Blue will score 12 points for the road, which has 3 tiles, 3 wells and is affected by the Hans Statue ( ( (3 tiles + 3 wells) x 1 point ) x 2 for the Hans Statue) = (6 x 1) x 2 points = 6 x 2 points).

* Blue will score 6 points for the field (1 cities x 3 points). Note that the 3 cities bordering the field are connected by royal gateways, so they count as 1 when scoring the field.

In a nutshell, during this turn:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 23 points (26 points for the city - 3 points for the Black Fairy)
* Yellow scores 39 points (32 points for the city + 7 points for the vista)
And the end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 15 points (12 points for the road + 3 points for the field)
* Red scores 5 points for the vista
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent


The points scored by Yellow vary in each option:
* Tile A: 76 points
* Tile C: 75 points
* Tile D: 31 points
* Tile E (as is): 63 points
* Tile E (rotated): 39 points

Tile D grants the least points and Tile A the most points. Note that the only difference between Tile A and tile C is the monastery on Tile A, which grants 1 more point to the completed vista.


Bottomline:
a.1) The expansions are:
1. The Black Fairy
2. The Royal Gateways
3. The Hans Statue
4. Family Feud
5. The Fortune Teller
6. Gambler's Luck
7. Vistas
8. The Wells
a.2) The hidden message is "The Grinch rules"
b) Yellow can draw 2 tiles. The player has 1 fortune teller.
c) Tiles A, C, D and E are valid. Tile D and E may only be placed in two different orientations.

d) Tile D will grant Yellow the least points this turn
d.1) The scoring of this turn will be as follows:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 7 points
* Yellow scores 31 points
d.2) The end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 18 points
* Red scores 5 points for the vista
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent

e) Tile A will grant Yellow the least points this turn
e.1) The scoring of this turn will be as follows:
* Blue scores no points
* Red scores 65 points
* Yellow scores 76 points
e.2) The end-game scoring is as follows:
* Blue scores 15 points
* Red scores 5 points
* Yellow scores no points for the fortune teller tent

[jamontoast]

Yippee! If anyone’s got me, I know fan expansions have got me. A lot of referencing rule sheets but I think this was the most fun question.

[Willem]

I'm gonna need to take about double the time I took to answer the quiz, to go through all the answers now and understand my shortcomings hahaha

Really thought I had done better this year, but it seems like I'll be in my usual place around spot 15-20 

At the top it looks like it's between @Paloi Sciurala and @Challa007 ! Gonna be a tight race to the finish!
Amazing how both got so many things right

[Meepledrone]

- Chanchito: I'm biting my wooden hooves just waiting to see what happens next!!!
- Chanchita: You have to be a little patient...
- Chanchito: I know, but I can't help it!
- Chanchita: Shall I bring you a lime tea or anything?
- Chanchito: Some churros and hot cocoa is perfect!
- Chanchita: Another one? You had you 24th one today less than 10 minutes ago...
- Chanchito: I can't remember... Did I?
- Chanchita: Don't play dumb! I see stains all over...
- Chanchito: I need another one to relax... 25 is the lucky charm., right?
- Chanchita: