After I played Carcassonne for the very first time, I opened up a new topic giving my opinion on the game and some of its expansions. Now, I am 100% (I'm not tempted to write like some guys, more than 100%-that's impossible) addicted to this game so I think I should state another opinion of some other kind.
As for the base game, there's nothing more to be told. It's a real I-can't-stop-playing-it game. As for the big expansions this is what I think:
- I&C, T&B and A&M are the most successful expansions mostly because that help game play. I mean people love these expansions because they can improve cities, roads and farms with its features. People like T&B more than I&C just because it came afterwards bringing plenty of awesome new features. Then A&M came up and it became nr. 1 favorite expansion, for the same reasons. Something helpful and new. Besides these expansions brought some new items to play with, such as big meeples, pigs, builders and the traders tokens. I think that if the 2009 expansions brings up the forest item, it'll make success for the same reasons, again.
- P&D and The Tower are lovely too, but they didn't make so much success because it makes players play agressive and some people won't accept that at all.
- Count, King and Consorts is somewhat different because this is what I call a multi-expansion. The King and Baron expansion is great because it makes people build greater elements on the game. I'll write about the Baron ahead. Shrine and Heretics suffers a little like the agressive expansions, but when tiles are played alone they carry the cloisters success.
- The Catapult was a real disappointing expansion mostly because the main feature is action and boardgamers aren't that kind of players. I do understand that the creators tried to get something real new to the game, but I'm sorry to say that they didn't quite succeed. I think that's a kind of expansion not to be followed.
Now for the mini expansions.
- The Rivers are very successful because they act like a game before the game. I think it's really wonderful to build cities and roads around the river course.
- About GQ11 there's not really much to say. It only adds new tile configurations and some of them I do really like such as the spring-road, field-only tile and some others. It's good for who likes to play with new tiles. And I do.
- The Count. Oh, The Count! It should fit in the first category, I mean the beloved ones, but its rules are really confusing and the mechanics are not appealing. And the fact of making others score is not really appealing, now is it? The only good thing about it is that we can use a lay down Count to substitute the second dragon on the fan-made Dual Dragon expansion.
- I can't give you a strong opinion about the The Cathars because I don't have it, but I feel that what makes it success is the fact of being ... rare. Or not. When I'll get it and play, I'll add a comment here.
For now, I think I didn't miss anything. For those who manage to read this post this far, thanks... I swear I didn't mean to make it this long...
