Carcassonne: Expansion 6 – Count, King & Robber (2007)

Carcassonne: Count, King and Robber

Carcassonne is a tile-based German-style board game designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede and published in 2000 by Hans im Glück. The game is named after the medieval fortified town of Carcassonne in southern France and has sold over 12 million copies and been officially translated into 22 languages. The game has inspired numerous official and unofficial adaptations, including video games for PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and even a Facebook game.

Game Components of Carcassonne: Expansion 6 – Count, King & Robber

2 Large City tiles forming the City of Carcassonne

1 Wooden Count figure

1 King Marker and 1 Robber Marker

1 King Tile and 1 Robber Tile

22 Land Tiles, including 5 Shrine tiles, 5 Land tiles, and 12 River II tiles

Rulebook

How To Setup Carcassonne: Expansion 6 – Count, King & Robber

To set up the game, start by placing the two large City tiles to form the City of Carcassonne. This city is a special area where players can place and later redeploy their meeples. The River II tiles can be used as an alternative starting layout, adding new features like an inn, a volcano, and a pig-herd. The King and Robber tiles are placed aside, ready to be claimed by players who complete the largest city or the longest road.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Key Mechanics:

City of Carcassonne: Players can place meeples in the city and later move them to scoring features.

The Count: A neutral figure that can block or free meeples in the city.

River II: An alternative river layout with new features.

King and Robber Tiles: Reward players for building the largest city or the longest road.

Shrines: New monastic buildings that can challenge existing monasteries.

Game Objective:

The objective is to score points by building cities, roads, and monasteries. The King and Robber tiles add a new layer of scoring by rewarding the largest city and the longest road. Players can also use the Count to strategically manage meeples in the City of Carcassonne.

Player Experience

This expansion enhances the base game by introducing new strategic elements and more dynamic gameplay. Players must balance their efforts between building their own features and competing for the King and Robber tiles. The Count mechanism allows for a catch-up option, where players who do not score in a round can place a meeple in the City of Carcassonne and potentially block or free other meeples. The addition of Shrines adds a competitive layer to monastic buildings, making the game more engaging.

Pros

Enhanced Strategy: New mechanics like the King, Robber, and Count add more strategic depth.

Increased Replayability: More tiles and features mean a different game every time.

Catch-Up Mechanism: The Count helps players who are behind catch up.

Aesthetic Improvements: More completed cities and roads improve the game’s visual appeal.

Cons

Additional Complexity: New rules and components can be overwhelming for new players.

Dependence on Base Game: Requires the base Carcassonne game to play.

Limited Use of Some Tiles: Some players might find the River II tiles less necessary if they already own other river expansions.

Personal Thoughts on Carcassonne: Expansion 6 – Count, King & Robber

This expansion is ideal for fans of the base game looking to add more complexity and variety. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy strategic gameplay and competitive elements. New players might find it a bit challenging due to the additional rules, but it significantly enhances the overall Carcassonne experience. If you’re looking to spice up your Carcassonne sessions and add new layers of strategy, this expansion is a must-have.

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