Carcassonne: The Ferries Review

[Whaleyland]

With the Carcassonne Minis, there are few expansions that truly catch my eye. The Ferries is one of them, and after a play-through, I can publicly announce how good my eye has become at catching things.

Rowing Through the Ambiguities
* Circling - Okay, so I admit that I read the rules the first time through when I should have been asleep. My fault! The rules initially seemed somewhat confusing and a bit wonky. I was wrong on the latter account - the rules are actually amazingly simple - but they are still a bit confusing. The number one issue for me regards the ability to move ferries when placing an attaching tile. I still don't know if a player can move all the ferries attached in the series (which is how we decided to play) or if they can only move the nearest, and if the nearest, what to do when a tile is placed equidistant between two. Again, still confused.

* I Lost My Oar! - This is really more than a minor gripe than a major problem, but those little ferry pieces are tiny! They make Catan roads look like four-lane highways and Agricola fences look like interstates! I feel like they will be the first Carcassonne piece I've ever lost, and I've been playing Carc since 2003!

* I Need Closure - This is also a benefit (see below), but the ability to frequently and continuously clone and open roads, scoring the same route time and again, is seriously bugging out my Carcassonne sense. SERIOUSLY! We (two-player game) scored one segment of road at least five times because the route kept opening up. Definitely a weird experience.

Better Than Jet Skiing
* Closure's Overrated - Despite my previous comment, the fact that roads can open and close again is truly an awesome mechanic. I'm amazed it hadn't been thought of earlier. And with each re-opening of the route, it was worth more...and more...and more. Mix this in with Inns & Cathedrals any day!

* Split Those Farms, Split Them Real Good - An unintentional aspect of this expansion is that farms get split up all over the place. The increase of roads dead-ending (well, ending at lakes) means fields can't wrap around them. And while this didn't play a huge factor in my game, it was noticed and future games will be more heavily embraced. The days of mega-farms is over.

* In Your Reflection - Even if the new rules do nothing for you, the pure visual quality of the tiles is enough for me. I love looking at bodies of water - the River expansions, The School, and Inns & Cathedrals are all visually nice. This adds to and enhances the visual quality of the Carcassonne board in ways that were previously not possible. No strange icons or ahistorical images on the landscape, just peaceful little lakes.

Inconclusion
There is no doubt that this is one of, if not the, best expansion in the Carcassonne Minis series. It is straight-foward (mostly) and simple, while keeping the game fresh. Mixed with Inns & Cathedrals, this may just be one of the strongest expansion-combinations out there. Enough talking, just get it! I promise you won't regret it.

Playability: A
Affordability: A
Compatibility (with other expansions): A
Aethetics: A+
Learning Curve: A-
FINAL GRADE: A

[meepleater]

Of all 7 minis, this is the one that interested me the most.

Enough talking, just get it! I promise you won't regret it.

Yes sir!

[jungleboy]

Another great review, thanks!

Everyone seems to agree that out of all the minis, Ferries offers the best gameplay experience/addition. What about playing it with both I&C and T&B? You could use the builder on your roads to make them even bigger and thus worth even more.

I just wish the ferry pieces were a bit nicer, that's all.

[kettlefish]

Thanks again Whaleyland for that great review.

At the HiG-Chat last year, the people liked the ferries, too.

Here is the rule from the BigBox4 
(this information is already in the CAR 6.2):

Extension traders & builders:
If a road on which a builder has been placed is extended only through moving a ferry, the player may not perform a double turn.

Extension Inns & cathedrals:
A ferry lake has nothing to do with an inn lake. Thus, a road that is only beside a ferry lake only scores only 1 point per tile.

[Albinoasian]

Thanks for another great review and agree that this is one of the best of the 6. May I suggest that the ferries act like a road block....in that you can only move the one(or ones) connected directly to the piece you placed. This is what it means by nearest...the nearest in a series of ferries.

[Carcking]

* I Need Closure - This is also a benefit (see below), but the ability to frequently and continuously clone and open roads, scoring the same route time and again, is seriously bugging out my Carcassonne sense. SERIOUSLY! We (two-player game) scored one segment of road at least five times because the route kept opening up. Definitely a weird experience.

Better Than Jet Skiing
* Closure's Overrated - Despite my previous comment, the fact that roads can open and close again is truly an awesome mechanic. I'm amazed it hadn't been thought of earlier. And with each re-opening of the route, it was worth more...and more...and more. Mix this in with Inns & Cathedrals any day!

Again, Whaleyland, great review - and I agree with all of it. This one is my favorite of all the Minis.

I am glad to say that we developed the re-opening and re-scoring mechanic in my Stone Walls. It's one of the aspects of that fanspansion that we really enjoy. And it was done well prior to the Minis coming out. I was well pleased to see the mechanic presented in this Mini - and it's that mechanic that makes it my favorite. �

[kettlefish]

At BGG answered Christof Tisch the open question.
His answer is official.

Here is the link.

[meepleater]

Got my copy of the minis today (thanks Carcatronn!), can't wait to try them all out!

[Carcatronn]

Got my copy of the minis today (thanks Carcatronn!), can't wait to try them all out!

You betcha! I haven't had a chance yet to play all the Minis so let us know what you think! I also have Windrose, Houses, Winter Edition, and Gingerbreadman all just sitting here.... Been playing Dominion and can't get my gaming circles to switch back to Carc :-(