Carcassonne: The Dice Game (2011) Board Game

Carcassonne: The Dice Game is a standalone dice version of the popular tile-laying game, Carcassonne. It was designed by Olivier Lamontagne and Klaus-Jürgen Wrede and released in 2011 by 999 Games. The game is set in the medieval fortified city of Carcassonne in France and retains the city-building theme of the original game.

Game Components of Carcassonne: The Dice Game

9 Carcassonne six-sided dice: Each die has 4 city segments, 1 knight, and 1 catapult on its faces.

1 pad: For recording scores.

1 pencil: For keeping track of points.

Metal meeple shaped box: The game comes in a uniquely designed box.

How To Setup Carcassonne: The Dice Game

To set up the game, each player selects a starting player who begins the game. The starting player takes all 9 dice and rolls them to start their turn. The game is then passed to the left neighbor, who continues the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll the dice up to 3 times per turn.

Push Your Luck: Players can choose to re-roll dice to build larger cities or avoid catapults.

City Building: The objective is to build the largest closed city possible using the city segment dice.

Scoring: Points are awarded based on the size of the largest closed city built. Scoring rules include:
– 3 dice = 1 point
– 4 dice = 3 points
– 5 dice = 6 points
– 6 dice = 10 points
– 7 dice = 15 points
– 8 dice = 21 points
– 9 dice = 28 points
– If a player has a knight at the beginning of their turn, they score double the points.

Game End: The game ends when a player reaches 42 total points, or if a player rolls 9 catapults in one turn, winning immediately.

Player Experience

Carcassonne: The Dice Game offers a quick and engaging experience, lasting about 10 minutes per game. It combines the strategic elements of city building with the unpredictability of dice rolling. Players must balance the risk of re-rolling dice to build larger cities against the risk of encountering catapults that can disrupt their plans.

Pros

Quick Gameplay: Games are short and fast-paced.

Simple to Learn: Easy rules make it accessible to new players.

Strategic Depth: Decisions on when to re-roll and how to build cities add a layer of strategy.

Portable: Comes in a compact, metal meeple shaped box.

Cons

Luck-Dependent: The game heavily relies on dice rolls, which can be unpredictable.

Limited Player Interaction: Players primarily focus on their own dice rolls rather than interacting directly with other players.

Personal Thoughts on Carcassonne: The Dice Game

Carcassonne: The Dice Game is perfect for fans of the original Carcassonne series looking for a quicker, more portable alternative, as well as for those who enjoy dice games and strategic city building. It’s ideal for families and casual gamers who want a fun, light-hearted experience without the complexity of the full Carcassonne game. However, it may not satisfy players seeking deep, complex gameplay or high levels of player interaction.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.