Carcassonne: Seasons

[JPutt927]

I'm back with yet another expansion. You can find all the details in the links below...

Rules - http://www.mediafire.com/?jhjznltrdyu

All the various tiles - http://www.mediafire.com/?1vdmjzzenyg
                             http://www.mediafire.com/?dbqt2nzqnwk
                             http://www.mediafire.com/?m3ynjz2mnmm
                             http://www.mediafire.com/?iibmnmodztg

and here's a picture...!

[Whaleyland]

I really like the concept behind this expansion. It reminds me strongly of the Agricola mini-expansion Seasons. I do have one question, though. You provide four sets of 12 season conditions but every one of them has at least two entries for fan-expansions. I don't have a problem with the cloister/shrine conditions, but could you make at least one series of 12 conditions without any fan expansion features? I enjoy fan expansions, but the ones you include are forests and mountains, and I don't play regularly with either and I see myself playing regularly with this excellent mini-expansion. Thank you!

[JPutt927]

First off, if this bears any resemblance to Agricola and it's expansions (or any other game for that matter), it is purely by coincidence! And second of all, thanks for your kind words in regards to this expansion. However, maybe I've misunderstood your statements, but there's actually only 7 tiles in the entire pack that solely include a fan-made expansion, and only 4 others that include a fan-made expansion (along with non-fan-made expansion features as well). I actually intended for ALL the tiles to be shuffled together at the beginning of the game, as opposed to using them in sets of 12. Furthermore, any one game of Carcassonne will include ONLY four conditions. If you're not playing with mountains or forests, you would still have a possible 39 tiles as possibilities...and 35 possibilities if you don't want to include ANY of the conditions with forests or mountains on them at all...

After all that rambling, I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. More importantly, I hope I understood what you were trying to say! Haha, let me know if any further clarification needs to be made! 

[Whaleyland]

Thanks for your reply. I guess what I wanted to imply, and did a bad job of doing for lack of understanding of one part of the rules (it was my fault, not yours), is that I'd like it if the 9 fan expansion tiles were on one page so I could print out just one of the two.

[JPutt927]

Aha!...well, that should be easy enough...and I'd be happy to do that. In fact, the above links should now be updated with your request! 

[Lakoda]

OK, first off, this is an awesome idea, and you did a masterful job with it. Thematically it is similar to fan-made Season expansions for Agricola and Settlers of Catan but in both cases it is mechanically different - the variably effects for each season being the major departure point.

I do have to say that it seems there is a oddly large portion of the condition tiles that pertain solely to fan-made expansion features as well as there being a large number of +0 (which I assume means there are no conditions for that season) making it possible (but unlikely) for a completely unmodified game (throughout all 4 seasons). Also, unless you play with the barn (which I don't but I'm sure most people with the expansion do), the field modifiers will never have an effect unless they are the active season at the end of the game.

Anyways, I will be building this expansion, so thanks and kudos!

[CKorfmann]

Wow, impressive.  I really like this expansion and the potential for variety it brings to the game.  After briefly reading through the instructions and looking over the tiles and such, my only suggestion is this.  Perhaps you should put a few of the +0 on the other page as well so those who wish to only print one page, as Whaley suggested, would not get "stuck" with all of them.  I'll probably make this one with some of my 500 tiles.

[Whaleyland]

Wow, impressive.  I really like this expansion and the potential for variety it brings to the game.  After briefly reading through the instructions and looking over the tiles and such, my only suggestion is this.  Perhaps you should put a few of the +0 on the other page as well so those who wish to only print one page, as Whaley suggested, would not get "stuck" with all of them.  I'll probably make this one with some of my 500 tiles.

Yeah, as I was looking through the newly organized tiles, I realized that perhaps more "Core Tiles" should go on the first page and the second should be for "Additional Tiles" in case you want more variety or something. I see the appeal for more tiles = more randomness but I am perfectly comfortable with 24 or so tiles in my random batch. I also noted a problem that while you separated the tiles as I requested, you placed the Season Marker on the fan-expansion page, which means I'd still have to print that if I wanted to use it (I mean, I could use a coin or something, but it is a very impressive little marker!). Don't take any of this as criticism, I really like this expansion and I just want to help make it the most playable/usable expansion it can be.

OK, first off, this is an awesome idea, and you did a masterful job with it. Thematically it is similar to fan-made Season expansions for Agricola and Settlers of Catan but in both cases it is mechanically different - the variably effects for each season being the major departure point.

The Agricola Seasons expansion is official, but was a promo from Spielfest (or from donating to Z-Man's Ethiopia Charity). I've never heard of a Catan version, though. Where's that located at?

[JPutt927]

I also noted a problem that while you separated the tiles as I requested, you placed the Season Marker on the fan-expansion page, which means I'd still have to print that if I wanted to use it

Good point, something I completely overlooked. As for putting more of the "core" game tiles on the first page, I can probably try to do that. It's hard trying to determine which of the tiles should make it into the "top 24". I'll mess around with things and see what I can do. One thing is for certain, I will move some of the +0 tile's to the second page. Other than that, thanks for the kind words...it makes all of the time spent worth it!

*Edit!*
The original links should once again be updated with a more organized set of what could be two separate sets of tiles if you so choose. Also, the clock token is on the first page now. Let me know if there is anything else I can do!

[Whaleyland]

Downloaded. Printed. Glued to 12 tiles. I'm going to try out this expansion tonight with my girlfriend. She really likes the concept too. Says it increases the randomness while not making it entirely unpredictable. We will probably play with all 12 tiles, though, to cycle through the seasons more frequently. I also noted one possible problem: Since players can always know how many "Season" tiles are left in the tile mix, won't everyone know right at the start what Season the game will end on? I mean, if everyone knows it will end on Winter and Winter is a really crappy month, say, for fields (which have the worst effects), wouldn't it mean that the players may avoid placing farmers as often? I just realized it.

One solution I had for that problem is that instead of the normal deal out the four seasons at the start of the game, instead the seasons are put into play upside-down, with only the current season showing. Once a season passes (moves to the next), a new season is dealt upside down where the old one was, thus the seasons are always unpredictable (like they usually are) and changing if the seasons cycle around again. Just a suggestion for a variant, I guess.

[JPutt927]

I would say that is certainly a valid concern, and also a possible solution/variation! To be honest, that "problem" had come up during the design process, but I didn't consider it so much of a problem. I actually was somewhat keen on the idea that players may be cognizant of the fact that the ending season may not be good for farms. To me, this would (in certain games) decrease the reliance on farms (which, to me, is a good thing).  Furthermore, if a player was anticipating the ending season being bad for farming...it may force them to find a way to play their barn (if playing with the barn) before the final season approaches, in order to get the most out of their farm. That was my thought process at least! Another possible solution might be to find a way to randomly shuffle only some of the tiles with the season icon into the mix. Then you wouldn't know how many were in play, and thus wouldn't know what season the game would end on! But alas, I'm very happy to hear that you've printed them and are going to give them a try!  

[CKorfmann]

Downloaded. Printed. Glued to 12 tiles.

Wow, that's fast!

One solution I had for that problem is that instead of the normal deal out the four seasons at the start of the game, instead the seasons are put into play upside-down, with only the current season showing. Once a season passes (moves to the next), a new season is dealt upside down where the old one was, thus the seasons are always unpredictable (like they usually are) and changing if the seasons cycle around again. Just a suggestion for a variant, I guess.

I really like this suggestion.  I think it is an excellent solution.

[Lakoda]

I've never heard of a Catan version, though. Where's that located at?

Where else but the geek?! It's easy to miss because it is on the City & Knight's page.

[Scott]

I really like this expansion. Kudos!

[Whaleyland]

What a coincidence! I just got in the mail today my copy of Agricola: Through the Seasons! I really need to check my mail earlier, though. Today is just a season-full day!