Carcassonne Central

Worth a read. Doesn't dumb it down two much, although some of the comments about Germans are predictably stupid...

http://www.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/magazine/17-04/mf_settlers?currentPage=all

Interesting, although I thought an article like this might have been written years ago.

True, it does read a little as though the author is amazed by this new sliced bread thing he's discovered. But I thought it was well written and informative nonetheless.

And Carcassonne gets a mention too :)

I thought the comments about Germans were meant as humour, that's why they were stupid.

But is is a very nicely written article.  Thanks for making it available.

I agree that the information does seem a LITTLE dated... I for one (and my local group of gaming friends) have NOT ever played Settlers of Catan [yet!].  However I thoroughly enjoyed the article and have a renewed interest in at least trying it soon, just as long as I'm NOTthe one who has to buy it, since I've already supplied all the other games we normally play.

Speaking of Catan, I'm probably buying it tomorrow...

Well worth picking it up - Settlers and Carcassonne together make up our "take it with us" game bag for any occasion because you can play both with people who haven't played before and they can enjoy them first time up.

I've played it on AsoBrains... I would get the Seafarers as well, but it's all so expensive...

I'd like to get the complete set, but I agree that it's quite expensive.  I've only played the original and seafarers.  I'd like to learn the other two some time. 

The only reason I can afford even the base game is because I won (AU)$150 in a poetry contest (and I'm not spending any more than $75

meepleeater, have you ever written a poem about Carcassonne?  :D

No, I haven't...

Just unpacked settlers... it looks great! Can't wait to play it...

EDIT:
Played a few games of it, it is really good! I still think I prefer Carcassonne, though, but it's still fun. Are old expansions like the games quarterly ones compatable with the latest (4th, I think?) version?

Buy Traders & Barbarians instead of the Games Quarterly expansions. T&B contains both GQ expansions and Catan Event Cards, as well as a bunch of other stuff. It really isn't an expansion in itself, rather a compilation. But it is still a worthy buy, I'd highly recommend it, especially over Seafarers. If you are a gamer, buy T&B, then Cities & Knights, then Seafarers. Seafarers is only for people who like the exploration idea, otherwise it just takes a bunch of time. Most of the scenarios included can be won without exploring. Just my advice. T&B, though, buy that, not the individual expansions. It's worth the money for the extra stuff. Cheers!

P.S. I'm back from my trip, so I should be getting around to working on my project again (Catan CARAS) and general commenting. It may be touch and go, though, because I have two essays, a research proposal, an annotated bibliography, and a conference to attend all in the next four weeks. On top of that, I have to start and finish the research for my masters' thesis by the end of June. It will be rocky.

I do not really like Settlers, but if I play it I demand to use Event cards - they change the flow of the game so much to the better. That said: I do own both Settlers and Settlers of Zarahemla. The latter is a better game since it does not have any expansions (but it can be played with event cards!).

Elasund, now, that is a great game :)

I wasn't planning on buying the GQ expansions, I was just curious. I think I'll buy either T&B or Seafarers (despite your advice I still would like to get it.) I've played C&K on AsoBrains and found it way too complicated...

EDIT: read more about T&B on BGG and definately getting it before seafarers. That still won't be for a while, though, because of the price...

Buy the expansion from BoulderGames.com. Mayfair sets their in-store and on-line prices but Boulder claims that is bullocks so has the cheapest price online. It may not be cheaper after shipping, but some other sites like TimeWellSpent.org usually price matches if they have cheaper shipping (I have done this at least three times but not in the last year). Just my advice. I am a student so rarely can afford anything I buy, hence why I go price shopping frequently.

Just done more research and changed my priorities a few times, most recent list in order of priority for expansions:

Already Have:
Base Game
Traders and Barbarians

Want to get (in order of priority):
Seafarers (I still think I'll get this first!) Got T&B anyway. Now it really is first
Traders and Barbarians
Base game 5-6
Sefarers 5-6
T&B 5-6

Might not get:
Cities and Knights
C&K 5-6