Promotions (was: Meeple Upgrades)

[loganmann1]

Is this a variant or an expansion (since you have extra tokens to mark whose upgraded)?

Also, I see the tokens can only be used once per game but does it stay with the follower for the rest of the game or just until they are scored and returned to the player's supply at which point they are discarded?

[Gwommy]

Novelty did post a comment in this thread that it is an expansion, it looks like the topic never got moved though.

[Gwommy]

Here's an overview of what we have so far, the text in purple are my comments:

REGULAR & LARGE FOLLOWERS
+ Upgrade gets +.5 strength
- Downgrade gets -.5 strength
I like these.

BUILDER
+(1) May choose to redraw a tile when taking the additional turn.
I like this option best, I don't think that it's too powerful.
+(2) Opponents' builders are removed from the same feature as an upgraded builder.
I don't care for this option, I rarely ever see features that have more than one builder in them.
- Opponent may tell you to redraw a tile when taking an additional turn.
I like this option. Another option that I like is that a downgraded builder can place a 2nd tile, but not take a 2nd action, but it wouldn't match the upgrade very well.

PIG & BARN
+(1) Extra 1 point for every two completed cities on farm.
I'm not sure how much I like this option, but it might be alright considering your token will be there for the rest of the game.
+(2) May place an extra tile if you extend the farm.
This option seems a bit powerful as it is quite easy to add to a farm.  Perhaps it would be acceptable if you're not allowed to place a follower or take an action with that tile.
- Lose 1 point for every two completed cities on farm.
Again, I'm not sure how much I like this option.

MAYOR
+ Upgrade gets +.5 strength (still zero if no pennants)
- Downgrade gets -.5 strength (still zero if no pennants)
These seem fine, as they match the regular and large followers.

WAGON
+ May move as normal after completing its feature, or to an unoccupied and incomplete feature on an adjacent tile.
- Wagon is returned to your supply after completing its feature.
These options sound acceptable to me.

OTHER RULES
(1) Each player gets one upgrade token.
A downgrade token was never mentioned. My thought would be to paint wooden discs (as suggested by Laserschwert) and perhaps paint a white "X" on the back to signify the downgrade.
(2) Each token may only be used once in the game.
I would think that if you use rule 3 (below), then you could use the token as many times as you want. Otherwise it would suck if you used your token on your pig and the then the dragon comes along and eats your pig, then you just lost your one chance to do anything with your token.
(3) A token may be placed instead of deploying a follower (or other action).
It should probably be added that only one token may be placed on any one follower, pig, builder or barn.

[Gwommy]

Just throwing some more ideas into the kettle:

PIGS AND BARNS
Since I don't particularly like the upgrade/downgrade options for these, we could just say that these pieces can't be up/downgraded.

OTHER RULES
(4)If playing with the Princess & Dragon, an upgraded meeple is immune to the dragon while a downgraded meeple can't contain the fairy.
(5)The fairy can protect a meeple from being downgraded.
(6)Towers can not capture an upgraded meeple, but can capture a downgraded meeple that is 1 tile further away from the tower's current capturing area.
(7)Catapult can not affect an upgraded meeple, when using the Knock Out token, then the a downgraded meeple is removed the board if the token touches the tile that the meeple is on.
(8)Upgrading a follower on the Wheel of Fortune will double the points you get.  A downgrade will lose 3 points.

Any other thoughts or comments are welcome.

[Gwommy]

Coming back to this finish this expansion.  There is an overview posted by me above.  I haven't heard any replies, so if anyone has any comments they'd like to add, please do.  Here's what I'm thinking of using when I write up this expansion:

REGULAR & LARGE FOLLOWERS
+ Upgrade gets +.5 strength
- Downgrade gets -.5 strength

BUILDER
+ May choose to redraw a tile when taking the additional turn.
- Opponent may tell you to redraw a tile when taking an additional turn.

MAYOR
+ Upgrade gets +.5 strength (still zero if no pennants)
- Downgrade gets -.5 strength (still zero if no pennants)

WAGON
+ May move as normal after completing its feature, or to an unoccupied and incomplete feature on an adjacent tile.
- Wagon is returned to your supply after completing its feature.

PIG & BARN
These special figures can not be upgraded or downgraded.

OTHER RULES
(1) Each player gets one upgrade token in his color at the beginning of the game.
(2) If the follower that your token is placed under is removed from the board, then you may take your token back into your supply.(3) A token may be placed instead of deploying a follower (or other action).
(4)If playing with the Princess & Dragon, an upgraded meeple is immune to the dragon while a downgraded meeple can't contain the fairy.
(5)The fairy can protect a meeple from being downgraded.
(6)Towers can not capture an upgraded meeple, but can capture a downgraded meeple that is 1 tile further away from the tower's current capturing area.
(7)Catapult can not affect an upgraded meeple, when using the Knock Out token, then the a downgraded meeple is removed the board if the token touches the tile that the meeple is on.
(8)Upgrading a follower on the Wheel of Fortune will double the points you get.  A downgrade will lose 3 points.
(9)A follower may not have more than 1 upgrade or downgrade token under it.
(10)Upgrading a follower in a castle (from the Bridges, Castles and Bazaar expansion) or in the City of Carcassonne (the Count expansion) has no effect.

[Gwommy]

First of all, this does include a new piece (token), so that would make this an expansion.  So if someone could be as kind as to move it to the expansion forum, that would be great.

Secondly, I've written up the 1st draft.  I've made a additions that aren't mentioned above, as well as taken out other things that I mentioned.  It'd be nice to have some other opinions considering this is supposed to be a group expansion.  If no one thinks that there should be any changes or additions, then it's ready to be checked for spelling and grammar.

http://gwommy.tripod.com/carcassonne/MeepleUpgrade.pdf

[Novelty]

Moved.  Finally.  Erm... which month's collaborative expansion was this for?

[Gwommy]

It's from January...

http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/forum/index.php?topic=1164.0

[djdahmer]

First of all, this does include a new piece (token), so that would make this an expansion.  So if someone could be as kind as to move it to the expansion forum, that would be great.

Secondly, I've written up the 1st draft.  I've made a additions that aren't mentioned above, as well as taken out other things that I mentioned.  It'd be nice to have some other opinions considering this is supposed to be a group expansion.  If no one thinks that there should be any changes or additions, then it's ready to be checked for spelling and grammar.

http://gwommy.tripod.com/carcassonne/MeepleUpgrade.pdf

I found a couple of spelling mistakes you might want to correct.
Under section 2. Deploy a Follower:

Mayor    Adds +1/2 strength when determingdetermining the majority of a city (still 0 if no pennants).

And:

Mayor    Loses -1/2 strength when determingdetermining the majority of a city (still 0 if no pennants).

[Gwommy]

Mistake fixed. Thanks!

Anything else or should I prepare the final copy?

[Novelty]

I'm just wondering if this expansion should be renamed Followers upgrade.  It seems rather weird to have meeple near the top of the rules document, but followers in the main body.

[Gwommy]

Huh...I never thought about changing the name.  I think I agree with you, Meeple Upgrade isn't really that great of a name.  But then again, I don't like the sound of Followers Upgrade either. 

What about "Job Enhancement", "Promotions", "Job Development", or "Advanced Workers"?  Cast your vote or come with a better name! =)

[Janno]

I like promotions

[djdahmer]

I'd agree - promotions & demotions sounds much better.

I've just had another read-through of the rules & have a question: under section 2. Deploy a follower it says:

When deploying a follower (or any other related action), you may instead choose to place your wooden disc under
a follower or special figure in play.

What is meant by "or any other related action"? Does that mean that you may place a follower and then place a disc under a meeple instead of, for example, drawing another tile (when using the builder)?

If it is only supposed to be played instead of placing a meeple then perhaps this might be better:
  Instead of deploying a follower a player may choose to place their disc under a follower or special figure already in play.

[CKorfmann]

Sorry I haven't been able to contribute.  I've been out of town for a while and am going to be away for the next 3 weeks again.