Duel of the base game is the most cutthroat. Expansions make blocking harder which is a crucial mechanic. Another tip is to count tiles to accurately judge yours and opponent's chances for every given situation. Count your scored and potential points too. Adjust your risk taking decisions based on point difference.
Good tips, though I guess I've played so much that I'm subconciously "tile counting" now, always evaulating the chance of whether my own castle could be finished - or whether an opponent's could once I've put something down to mess it up. I can't say I've ever tried counting points close to the end of the game, I'd just go high risk anyway!
Great tips! Just one correction: Cathedrals are NOT double-or-nothing for castles, only for roads! For castles it's actually 150%-or-nothing (so 3 points per tile instead of 2).
UNDERRATED!!! This is quality content at its finest! You have gotten a subscriber because of the help this has given me because I have been getting stomped when my family plays it until now. Lots of help!
I actually find the sides of castles are better for introducing new farmers (particularly if you are adding the piece to a small castle you already claimed).
Thanks for the disclaimer at the beginning about the difference between it being a gateway game and cut-throat game. I hate to say, that I am going to not watch this because it is a simple hobby for me, so thank you again :)
this is the reason I like tower expansion and princess & dragon. They remove meeples what is in "my" castle, or I can remove my own meeple what stuck there. also you forgot to mention, after many games you will remember which type or tiles limited or not exist, so you can screw up other players easier if you see all those types already used in the game, or those tiles just not exist. "knowing the tiles" is not nice to use against beginners as they have no idea what kind of tiles they can expect to draw. I like to use all expansion tiles even if we not play their rules, so beginners get same chance to draw any kind tiles, and nobody use the tile counting tactic.
I think it was the iPad app that made it really clear for me, as it scans around each farmer and counts each castle. IRL, I find it easiest to find the edge of their field, and follow it all the way around, counting how many unique completed castles it touches - then do any in the middle that you missed.
I actually despise board games... This is the go to game for our family and i don't really mind it. I will play a poop game then watch one of your videos and make everybody mad! XD Thanks!
i played the board game a couple of times way back when it was new and now i got the online version and i really dont understand how these farms work. just now i played a game where i had almost all of the farmland under control but the biggest part of it i shared with an opponent and he got way more points than i did and i have no idea why
Without a screenshot it's hard to explain exactly what happened, but the only way you could share (ie, same have the same area under control) and get different points is if they also played a pig onto their farmland - that would give 4 per served castle rather than 3. Also, if they managed to sneak in more farmers than you, they would steal all the points instead, same way castles or roads work. Is it possible you placed multiple farmers, took multiple patches of farmland, but they were each separate, and your opponent managed to steal the largest patch? Farms are separate unless obviously connected by a large strip of grass - so road, castle walls that are just about touching tile corners, other castles or roads etc... those will all stop the patch of farmland from continuing.
How is farm land scored? I thought it was just how many connected greenspace tiles were there adjacent to any completed castle - but do you only get the points if it's your castle that is finished?
I only play with Traders and Builders, and Inns and Cathedrals. These, I think, make it a complete game with no real need to further complicate. I love the added "betting" mechanics - double or nothing with the cathedral piece; the big meeple to really muscle in; and the goods tokens that can sometimes swing the end game. Not sure if the bishop/abbot was a part of those, but its in our box and we tend to leave it out. I don't like the river as it seems to spread out the early game leading to less direct player interaction - you're all just building your own little castles on one bit of the river instead. But some of the other expansions are just outright silly, with the flicking mechanics etc. Admittedly I haven't played all of them, but I also don't want to add more complexity to the game as it's mostly something we play either with new players, or friends and family who love Carcassonne as they know it.
@@TabletopDungeon Makes perfect sense. I haven't really though abit that river that way, but I'm going to try a few games without. I really enjo Inns and Cathedrals. Mainly due to the roads now makes more sense. We do play with the abbot, but I would like some sort of reward with that and monasteries, give the players a reason for completing them. I also like to keep the game simple I own a Big box version, but havent tried all the expansions, and im not going to.
Only ones worth playing with are "Inns and Cathedrals" + "Traders and Builders". I'm not a fan of "The River" since it separate everyone too much at the start, but it's ok if you want a more relaxed start to the game. The rest are trash ;)
Can i get a answer? i played this game tonight and i didn’t have fun at all… there is 71 cards, = 1 person has no last turn.. that’s stupid… why cant everyone has the same number of tiles? everyone played 18 tiles and i had 17… thats like the first game i’ve seen who isn’t fair for everyone.. played 4 players and 71 \ 4 = 17.75… or 18-18-18-17…
Well there should be 72, so maybe you were missing a tile. But expansions change that dramatically, with the builder enabling players to take a second tile if they added to somewhere their builder is placed. The bigger point is that it shouldn't matter how many turns you get, as your strategy throughout the game will be a much bigger influence on gaining points rather than having a final go. Here's a big thread about the number of tiles: boardgamegeek.com/thread/759969/number-tiles I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the game, but was there any reason other than you don't think it was fair from the number of turns?
@@TabletopDungeon there are 72, 71 plus the starting tile… that no one starts by putting it on the board, we start with it there… so 71 left… so 18-18-18-17..
@@ptidavinou You're right, but in my defence, I haven't played the base game in years. Like I say, the expansions change this even more and turns are always going to be uneven. Over the course of a game, it shouldn't make any difference. What in particular didn't you like about the game? Not that you HAVE to like every game of course!
If people aren't going to play Carcasonne competitively then what's the point? I've learnt that playing Carcasonne without farmers to ease in new players is a really bad idea. Farmers really provide a lot of the magic and they aren't THAT hard to understand. Holding back from over-egging your farming with newbies seems fair, but leaving the farmers out entirely when introducing newbies to the game is a bad idea.
Best use of roads? Sabotaging castles!
A great bunch of tips! Especially when you are are playing with a sister-in-law who claims, "she always wins."
I have one too 😂
Or a sister who does "always win", within living memory.
Instructions clear: I lost my family too and I've been exiled on a desert island.
I like the outdoor backdrop. Very pretty and calming.
Discovered lightning and now these Carcassonne tips. Amazing. Thank you Ben Franklin!
I suppose there are worse things to be called. You're welcome!
Duel of the base game is the most cutthroat. Expansions make blocking harder which is a crucial mechanic. Another tip is to count tiles to accurately judge yours and opponent's chances for every given situation. Count your scored and potential points too. Adjust your risk taking decisions based on point difference.
Good tips, though I guess I've played so much that I'm subconciously "tile counting" now, always evaulating the chance of whether my own castle could be finished - or whether an opponent's could once I've put something down to mess it up. I can't say I've ever tried counting points close to the end of the game, I'd just go high risk anyway!
thanks for the tips, i introduced my friends to carcassone and havent won since!
Thank you, this is very helpful to a newbie! I’m tired of being bombarded when I try to build a castle.
Great tips! Just one correction: Cathedrals are NOT double-or-nothing for castles, only for roads! For castles it's actually 150%-or-nothing (so 3 points per tile instead of 2).
UNDERRATED!!!
This is quality content at its finest!
You have gotten a subscriber because of the help this has given me because I have been getting stomped when my family plays it until now. Lots of help!
Perfect explanation of the strategy. The game is boring without playing with these tactics.
I actually find the sides of castles are better for introducing new farmers (particularly if you are adding the piece to a small castle you already claimed).
Definitely a good tactic, though generally I would let other people build existing castles that I'm involved in ;)
as a new carcassonne player I really appreciate your video. Time to get my wife mad!
Used this in my games class today. Thank you!
Thanks for the disclaimer at the beginning about the difference between it being a gateway game and cut-throat game. I hate to say, that I am going to not watch this because it is a simple hobby for me, so thank you again :)
Great video. Good ideas, well presented.
this is the reason I like tower expansion and princess & dragon. They remove meeples what is in "my" castle, or I can remove my own meeple what stuck there.
also you forgot to mention, after many games you will remember which type or tiles limited or not exist, so you can screw up other players easier if you see all those types already used in the game, or those tiles just not exist.
"knowing the tiles" is not nice to use against beginners as they have no idea what kind of tiles they can expect to draw.
I like to use all expansion tiles even if we not play their rules, so beginners get same chance to draw any kind tiles, and nobody use the tile counting tactic.
The editing goes hard for Carcassonne
Thank you for the great tips! Do you have any tips or video on calculating the farmers? I can never calculate them right when i play online…
I think it was the iPad app that made it really clear for me, as it scans around each farmer and counts each castle. IRL, I find it easiest to find the edge of their field, and follow it all the way around, counting how many unique completed castles it touches - then do any in the middle that you missed.
@@TabletopDungeon okay, thats great i’ll try that out. Thanks
I play Carcassonne on BGA but I always feel I don't make the most of my farms... All tips welcome.
I'm getting rekt at BGA, that's why i came here. Hahaha.
Wonderful tips, thank you!!!
I really enjoyed this video!
The gf and I play a less aggressive play about stealing each other's cities but when her son is over its cut throat
I actually despise board games... This is the go to game for our family and i don't really mind it. I will play a poop game then watch one of your videos and make everybody mad! XD Thanks!
i played the board game a couple of times way back when it was new and now i got the online version and i really dont understand how these farms work. just now i played a game where i had almost all of the farmland under control but the biggest part of it i shared with an opponent and he got way more points than i did and i have no idea why
Without a screenshot it's hard to explain exactly what happened, but the only way you could share (ie, same have the same area under control) and get different points is if they also played a pig onto their farmland - that would give 4 per served castle rather than 3. Also, if they managed to sneak in more farmers than you, they would steal all the points instead, same way castles or roads work. Is it possible you placed multiple farmers, took multiple patches of farmland, but they were each separate, and your opponent managed to steal the largest patch? Farms are separate unless obviously connected by a large strip of grass - so road, castle walls that are just about touching tile corners, other castles or roads etc... those will all stop the patch of farmland from continuing.
My big tip, its just a game... if everyone is not having fun, no one is having fun, whats is the point.
How is farm land scored? I thought it was just how many connected greenspace tiles were there adjacent to any completed castle - but do you only get the points if it's your castle that is finished?
You get 3 points for every finished castle in the claimed farmland. It's 3 points no matter the size of the castle.
Whats your take on the expansions?
I only play with Traders and Builders, and Inns and Cathedrals. These, I think, make it a complete game with no real need to further complicate. I love the added "betting" mechanics - double or nothing with the cathedral piece; the big meeple to really muscle in; and the goods tokens that can sometimes swing the end game.
Not sure if the bishop/abbot was a part of those, but its in our box and we tend to leave it out. I don't like the river as it seems to spread out the early game leading to less direct player interaction - you're all just building your own little castles on one bit of the river instead. But some of the other expansions are just outright silly, with the flicking mechanics etc. Admittedly I haven't played all of them, but I also don't want to add more complexity to the game as it's mostly something we play either with new players, or friends and family who love Carcassonne as they know it.
@@TabletopDungeon Makes perfect sense. I haven't really though abit that river that way, but I'm going to try a few games without. I really enjo Inns and Cathedrals. Mainly due to the roads now makes more sense.
We do play with the abbot, but I would like some sort of reward with that and monasteries, give the players a reason for completing them.
I also like to keep the game simple I own a Big box version, but havent tried all the expansions, and im not going to.
Strategy! 🎉
James!!
What! This is how Carcassonne is meant to be played! If blood isn't spilled, you're playing the kiddie version!
Can you make and pin a quick comment with how these expansions fall in your ranking system?
Only ones worth playing with are "Inns and Cathedrals" + "Traders and Builders". I'm not a fan of "The River" since it separate everyone too much at the start, but it's ok if you want a more relaxed start to the game. The rest are trash ;)
Can i get a answer? i played this game tonight and i didn’t have fun at all… there is 71 cards, = 1 person has no last turn.. that’s stupid… why cant everyone has the same number of tiles? everyone played 18 tiles and i had 17… thats like the first game i’ve seen who isn’t fair for everyone.. played 4 players and 71 \ 4 = 17.75… or 18-18-18-17…
Well there should be 72, so maybe you were missing a tile. But expansions change that dramatically, with the builder enabling players to take a second tile if they added to somewhere their builder is placed. The bigger point is that it shouldn't matter how many turns you get, as your strategy throughout the game will be a much bigger influence on gaining points rather than having a final go. Here's a big thread about the number of tiles: boardgamegeek.com/thread/759969/number-tiles
I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the game, but was there any reason other than you don't think it was fair from the number of turns?
@@TabletopDungeon there are 72, 71 plus the starting tile… that no one starts by putting it on the board, we start with it there… so 71 left… so 18-18-18-17..
@@ptidavinou You're right, but in my defence, I haven't played the base game in years. Like I say, the expansions change this even more and turns are always going to be uneven. Over the course of a game, it shouldn't make any difference. What in particular didn't you like about the game? Not that you HAVE to like every game of course!
If people aren't going to play Carcasonne competitively then what's the point? I've learnt that playing Carcasonne without farmers to ease in new players is a really bad idea. Farmers really provide a lot of the magic and they aren't THAT hard to understand. Holding back from over-egging your farming with newbies seems fair, but leaving the farmers out entirely when introducing newbies to the game is a bad idea.
I learnt farmers first, and got 2nd place on my first game at BGA. But i find it a little less complicated than castles.
Why do you all say"carcazone"? It's an S not a Z
I think butchering foreign languages is a cultural thing for us brits ;)
@@TabletopDungeon Yeah and historically english has been borrowing and modifying french words so I guess it's just normal continuity (great vid btw)