When can the prisoner buyback occurr?

[mdjvz]

Although it is stated in the (bix box) annotated rules that a player may decide to pay the ransom and buy back one prisoner from one opponent during his turn (and only once during a double-turn, in case of a builder). It is not stated WHEN exactly he may buy  a prisoner back. Is this at the beginning of his turn? or may he decide AFTER he has drawn a tile? The best time to decide if you really want to buy back a prisoner is of course AFTER you draw a tile... 

[mjharper]

The exchange of prisoners happens immediately - that is, the moment you capture a follower belonging to a player who has captured one of yours.

Oddly enough, I don't recall anybody asking when prisoner 'buy-back' occurs. I think it's safe enough to assume - from the fact that it isn't mentioned in either the original rules or the revised Big Box rules - that it occurs when you want it to. But only once per turn!

[mdjvz]

Ok, maybe I am to much of a perfectionist in ruling 

[mjharper]

I wouldn't worry about that - it just means you're in good company ;-)

Anyway, I sent the question to HiG, so maybe in a few days we'll have an official word. They seem to be out of the office until Tuesday, but I'll post the answer (and add it to the FAQ) as soon as I know.

[lmforget]

According to this site http://www.modernjive.com/carcassonne/carcassonne.htm, Prisoner buy back occurs at the begining of your turn before you draw your tile so you really do not know if it is worth it yet.

My partner and I also play that at the end if you have any prisoners/hostages, you have to buy them back as you figure out the final scores.

Cheers, Marcel

[mdjvz]

I just came up with a 2nd place where you would like to do a prisoner buyback.
This only occurs if you are playing with the count of carcassonne...

That is if you want to send a follower to carcassone, and you have run out of follwers. You cannot really know that before, because you do not really know that you will not score any points, and some opponents will, this is so because your opponents can always put in followers from carcassone before the counting is done.

Michiel

[mjharper]

Just got a reply from HiG on this, and the answer was: Whenever you want.

[mdjvz]

"Whenever you want" ... does that still mean only once per double turn, or is this no longer valid. and does it REALLY mean whenever you want? 

[mjharper]

No, the rules do specify that you can only buy back one follower from one player per turn. The FAQ now clarify this as: a double turn is only one turn, and you can buy back at any time during the turn.

I could write to HiG and ask whether the latest reply contradicts the rules, but I'm thinking that if I do, they might start to get annoyed at me for and their response might well be

If you see what I mean

[mdjvz]

Ok, the smileys, say everything....

thx,

Michiel

[mjharper]

I didn't mean you, honest 

I've already acquired a reputation for asking the same question in six different ways as it is…

Seriously, keep the questions coming. People who see holes are just what we need 

[mdjvz]

oh I understood that I wasn't the horse

I really appreciate all your efforts in these questions the AR the CAR... etc.
as a matter of fact I like twisting my mind to cover all possible situations, and see if the rules cover that!

Oh by the way,...I  had one very tiny tiny question...left: ok, here it comes.

Are you allowed to have negative points?

(I know It is very theoretical to have spend all your followers and having made less than 3 points, but can you buy back a prisoner in this case? )

I know it is very theoretical, so don't wory about it to much

Michiel

[Hypnotoad]

Are you allowed to have negative points?

(I know It is very theoretical to have spend all your followers and having made less than 3 points, but can you buy back a prisoner in this case? )

I know it is very theoretical, so don't wory about it to much

I believe it's stated in the rules that you actually need to have points to spend to be able to buy back a prisoner. But then again I might just have made that up as i'm too lazy to actually check right now  :

[mjharper]

I don't see it anywhere in the rules - but it seems to me that you have to have the points to spend them. -2 on the table would be on the '48' field on the scoreboard, but how would you indicate that it was actually negative? Stand the meeple on it's head?