Chariot Racing

[JPutt927]

It's time for another expansion! I'll allow everyone to see what it's all about in the links below... As always, I hope you all enjoy it.  

Chariot Racing Rules:  http://www.mediafire.com/?d2eidzedog2
Chariot Racing Tiles:  http://www.mediafire.com/?fyzwmzoadoo
Race Tokens:  http://www.mediafire.com/?enzcfnf4mzz
Betting Tokens:  http://www.mediafire.com/?qdjuce3tg2y

and here's a picture...

[meepleater]

When do find time to sleep???

Another amazing expansion, the betting is an entirely new aspect. I can't really find any faults with this... just curious, out of all the expansions you've made so far, which one would you use the most?

[JPutt927]

Thanks for the very kind words. I've still got a few more ideas up my sleeves...

And briefly getting off topic...In terms of which of my expansions I enjoy the most, I think I've got to hand that one to Seasons. It's adds a subtle, yet very interesting dynamic which makes for a different game every time its played.

[CKorfmann]

Man, this looks really interesting.  I'm going to be at work forever and won't get a chance to read this for a while unless I'm lucky.  Silly firewall...  Could you do me a favor and briefly describe the concept in the thread?  

[JPutt927]

Sure thing...!

As soon as this tile is drawn and placed...all players get a chance to deploy a follower to one of the family pennants as a "Better". They also choose how many points they would like to bet, up to 10. After a full rotation of turns, a race token is randomly drawn from the set of 30 (They each feature a specific family pennant on them).  This continues each round of turns until 3 of the same color pennant are drawn. That's the winner of the race. The players who bet on the winning chariot will receive points based on the odds underneath the respective pennant.

I hope that was somewhat understandable! And I hope you'll get to read the real rules soon! 

[CKorfmann]

That's pretty cool.  I like it!

[Whaleyland]

Wow, I am pretty impressed. I like the concepts, the rules read really well, and the multi-colored pennants are very nice. As per usual, my compliments always come with some helpful advice, so here it is:

i) You don't mention what happens if a number has to be rounded in the case of a 3:2 bet (all odd bets would equal a .5, does that round up or down?).
ii) The graphics on the Chariot Circus are a bit too crisp in comparison to the Carcassonne features. However annoying it is, try to crisp up the road a little (only a little) while also blurring or filtering the circus (again, only a little). In other words, try to bring them to equal levels of distortion.
iii) If possible, see if you could put meeples in the stadium instead of little people. Carcassonne seems to like the little meeple pictures (except with the Princess and Cathars, but pah!)
iv) I didn't know Carcassonne had circuses back in medieval days. I'm pretty sure that Roman practice was discontinued before Carcassonne was ever called Carcassonne. But don't worry, at some point in its pre-history, it could have had a circus.

Again, a very nice expansion. Perhaps you could help me make a Faerie Circle or medieval-period pagan temple.

[JPutt927]

Thanks for the comments...in regards to some of them!

i) Actually, the betting tokens only consist of even numbers. I figured that was the easiest way to handle that situation.
ii) Good call, I typically blur things a bit, but seemingly forgot to do so for this one. I'll do that.
iii) I've got to disagree with you on that one. If I'm not mistaken, the only place meeples have been previously used was on the Catapult Tokens (and  most people didn't respond too kindly to that decision)
iv) Yea, upon some of my research, I stumbled across a few sources suggesting that many areas of Europe, including France, were influenced by the Romans, and partook in the sport of Chariot Racing. It claimed this continued through the medieval period. In the event that it did not take place during this exact period, I'm willing to let it slide...it still feels like it fits to me.

Finally, I wouldn't be completely opposed to helping you make something. PM me with more specific details on what exactly you're looking for, and I can think about if it sounds like something I would like to do!  

[Whaleyland]

I just realized that the entire circus has a shadow effect on it. I think that may also be causing some of the tile-blending issues I was taking about. Perhaps try removing the shadow effect in addition to blending. It may help (Carcassonne doesn't use deep shadowing effect).

[Bubbasco]

I think that the tile looks awesome, and I think that this expansion looks awesome. I personally really like the look of the tile, and can not wait to print this out and start playing with it! Another excellent expansion!

[CKorfmann]

iii) If possible, see if you could put meeples in the stadium instead of little people. Carcassonne seems to like the little meeple pictures (except with the Princess and Cathars, but pah!)

iii) I've got to disagree with you on that one. If I'm not mistaken, the only place meeples have been previously used was on the Catapult Tokens (and  most people didn't respond too kindly to that decision)

I think I'll agree to disagree too.  I don't recall ever seeing the likeness of a meeple anywhere in the game except for the I&C watermark or the Catapult tokens.  The tiles bear images of sheep and pigs in fields and stuff like that and most, if not all of JPutt's previous expansions have had little people in them and they didn't look bad.  Meeples might be "cute" but I don't think they'd fit any better.

[Novelty]

This looks like another good expansion idea.  BTW, do you think it would be possible to remove the lines from the single tile such that it looks like one tile?  If not it's OK.

Questions as usual:
1. When does the player receive the betting tokens?  is it at the start of the game?
2. Can I play the chariot tile next to two or more tiles, or must it be exactly "only one" as the rules state?
3. When the road on the chariot race tile is completed, does it count as 2 tiles or 1 tiles when determining the scoring of the road?
4. Can the dragon or the tower remove bettors?
5. Does the big tile count as 2 tiles for the "range" of the tower?
6. Can the dragon move onto the race tile?  If so, does the tile count as 1 tile or 4 tiles?
7. Can I use a magic portal to deploy a bettor?
8. Can the fairy be moved next to a bettor?
9. In the event of a double turn (due to the builder, etc.) how many race tokens are drawn that turn?
10. What happens when the tile is drawn, but there is no place to place it?

Sorry for the number of questions...

[CKorfmann]

This looks like another good expansion idea.  BTW, do you think it would be possible to remove the lines from the single tile such that it looks like one tile?  If not it's OK.

I thought about that too.  I think it would look better. 

Here's a question I just thought of.  Sorry if you answered it in the rules, I can't remember.  Can more than one player make the same wager, or can only one player claim each of the wagers?  Your answer would probably answer my next question, can only four players place a wager or can more than four players bet?

[Joff]

This looks like another good expansion idea.  BTW, do you think it would be possible to remove the lines from the single tile such that it looks like one tile?

Wouldn't this then require an additional explanation about how tiles must be played in the rules?

What would stop me placing tiles like this:

[JPutt927]

This looks like another good expansion idea.  BTW, do you think it would be possible to remove the lines from the single tile such that it looks like one tile?

Wouldn't this then require an additional explanation about how tiles must be played in the rules?

I was initially confused by this as well. However, what I THINK they mean, is removing the lines from the smaller chariot racing DRAW tile...as opposed to the larger placement tile.