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Rio Grande Games Carcassonne
by RebeckaRowan
Carcassonne is a wonderful board game. I would recommend it to anyone!
It's simple to grasp and yet hard to master, which is truly the sign of any great board game. It is a turn-based game where each player chooses a mystery tile and decides where to place it next on the table. There are squares with cities, roads, churchs and ... fields, and eventually you end up with a table covered in what looks like (aha!) a little French countryside region. The aim of the game is, via various methods, to claim territory. As I said, it's really easy to understand, and would be suitable for a 10+ age range in my opinion. It's also the kind of game you can simplify, if you want to play with younger children.
Also, there are some really beautiful expansion packs, if you get tired of the original map. I don't own any of them, but they're definitely on the wish list! Carcassonne the original is also a very lovingly drawn game. It might look old-fashioned, but don't let that deceive you! It's good as a social game, as a game to teach tactics, as a way to practise strategy, and it's different every time you play. I've played it various ways, from in a big group with a movie on in the background, to an intense tactical battle between two people - and every way is just as fun.
Overall, it's just a brilliant game to have around the house. In a time when people are spending less and less time as a family, or face to face with each other, board games are a wonderful way to pass the time. And like the box says, it's a great game for two players as well as for a group, although obviously the vibe can be quite different. More players makes the game much more unpredictable, and you will need to change your tactic! If you like board games, or strategy games, then I cannot recommend Carcassonne enough!
Players: 2 - 5 (more with expansions)
Suitable for: 10+ (8+ it says on the box)
Average game length: 30mins - 1 hour
Understandability: Easy
Requires: A table
Fun: 10/10!
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Rio Grande Games Carcassonne
by Grave-Joy
Being brought up in a tabletop gaming family I was already playing a lot of Euro games before Carcassone came about, however it is by far one of my favourite games and a great way to get people playing games who generally do not.
Carcassone is a really easy game to pick up and learn even for a gaming novice, there is not one ... person that I have played it with that hasn't enjoyed it. It is both a great two player game and supports up to four (more with expansions) More players of course makes the game a bit more hectic and random, whereas a two player is a bit more strategic.
The game itself is very simple to play, every turn you choose a random tile from a bag and place it down next to another tile. Now as long as the sides of the tile link you can place the tile anywhere, like a road to a road or a city to a city. Once a specific thing has been closed off completely such as a road or cloister (meaning no more tiles can be added to it) you then score points for that object. So simply the more things you finish the more points you earn. Now the only thing that complicates this is that there are actually a few different rule sets between America and the European editions so some games come with different rules. So if you find yourself playing with someone who has played a different edition it can get confusing.
I have easily played over a hundred games of Carcassone and I still love it, it is often a fast game finishing between 20 and 30 minutes, with more players it does take longer. Every game is different due to the element of random tiles and if that gets stale there are more expansions that add a new rule or tile type to the game.
Now if I play Carcassone with my girlfriend the game is a relaxed and carefree one, but if I play it with my father it becomes very cut throat and personal, stealing each others cities and farming fields. As I have revealed what may seem like a simple game at first is actually pretty deep, if you chose to get more brutal in your Carcassone there is a lot of tactics that can be put into place.
Whether you are new to games or a veteran, Carcassone is a sure fire winner and it is a great game to play with dinner guests even after a few drinks, but alternatively playing it as a couple never gets stale. I have been playing the game for years and it still is one of my favourites, it is a keeper and if you haven't got a copy I suggest purchasing one.
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Rio Grande Games Carcassonne
by beccus
My lovely better half bought me the board game Carcassone for Christmas and the first expansion, Inns and Cathedrals. I was thrilled to bits to recieve this, as we've been playing with our friends and I've been getting really into it.
The premise of the game is relatively simple. Players take it in turns to choose a tile ... which they add to the board that is forming in the play area. As the tiles are laid, roads, cities and farms are created which players can lay claim too. The winner is the person with the most points from claiming areas of the land at the end.
Thats a pretty simple explanation, but the game is about tactics, and alliances and I adore it! The game is complex and never the same twice. I've yet to win a board game version (you can also get it on the Xbox 360 and so far I've done pretty well at that version!) but each time I play I learn something new and interesting.
The game itself is beautifully illustrated and really well made, the next expansion I'd like is the tower one which gives you a storage and display box for the tiles, as well as an expansion to the game (I haven't played the tower version as yet).
One warning, you'll probably need a decent sized table to play this game.. its really frustrating when you're playing a game and find you need to either stop working on your road/city/farm or move the whole game up a bit or you're going to lose it off the edge. And be prepared for a numb bum if a few of you are playing. The basic game is suitable for 2-5 players and the first expansion gives you enough followers to take it up to a 6 player game. Its great to play with 2 players, but obviously the more players you add the more time it takes.
Overall I love this game and I can't wait until we play again!
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