# Carcassonne Big Box 5 ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2014 - **BGG Rating**: 7.9 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-8 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 40 min - **Weight**: 2.22 / 5 - **Designers**: Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, Rudolf Ross - **Artists**: Doris Matthäus, Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, Manfred Keller - **Publishers**: 999 Games, Devir, Enigma (Bergsala Enigma), Filosofia Éditions, Giochi Uniti, Hans im Glück, MINDOK, Schmidt Spiele, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Z-Man Games - **Categories**: City Building, Medieval, Territory Building - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Map Addition, Pattern Recognition, Tile Placement ## Verdict If you enjoy a game that's easy to learn but full of strategy, Carcassonne Big Box 5 is for you! This souped-up edition comes with a ton of cool stuff to expand the base game.Genius tile placementExpansions add a lotAccessible yet deep strategyGreat for multiple playersCan have low direct interactionRelies on draw luckCan get repetitive without expansionsHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready to expand your medieval kingdom in Carcassonne Big Box 5! In this classic tile-placement game, you'll draw and position tiles representing the landscape of southern France, connecting cities, roads, and cloisters. Each placed tile is a decision: where to expand your city, where to build a road, or where to house a monk in their cloister? And don't forget the farmers, who control the fields! The fun doesn't stop there. After placing a tile, you can choose to place one of your meeples (those colorful little figures!) to claim an area. Whether you're a knight in a city, a robber on a road, a monk in a cloister, or a farmer in the fields, strategy is key. When an area is completed, the meeple present there secures points for its owner. But beware! Is it worth using your last meeple on that city your opponent has their eye on? Or perhaps it's better to disrupt their plan, even if it doesn't score you many immediate points? Carcassonne Big Box 5 is a feast for those who love accessible strategy. It comes with the base game and several popular expansions like Inns & Cathedrals, Traders & Builders, Wheel of Fortune, Hills & Sheep, and The River, plus two extra sets of meeples (pink and purple!) so more people can play or to add variety. With simple rules to learn but plenty of tactical depth, this game is perfect for families and groups of friends who enjoy a good challenge without complication. It's the kind of game that flows quickly but keeps you thinking about every move. ## How to Play Game Objective The objective of the game is to build a medieval landscape of cities, roads, monasteries, and fields by placing land tiles and deploying your followers to control these constructions. Players score points by completing these constructions, and the player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. Preparation (Setup) All Carcassonne rules remain the same. The 18 new land tiles are placed as usual: field to field, road to road, and city to city. Each player receives, along with their 7 followers, one large follower. The 6 50/100 scoring tiles are used to facilitate score tracking. The 8 additional followers allow the game to be played with a sixth player. Gameplay Flow Refer to the manual for details on this section. Actions and How to Play The game progresses with players placing land tiles and using their followers. The rules of Carcassonne remain the same, with the following additions and modifications: New Land Tiles: The 18 new land tiles are placed following the basic connection rules (field to field, road to road, city to city). Farm on the Lake (6 tiles): If there are one or more farms on a completed road, the road's thief gains 2 points per road segment (number of pieces). If the road is not completed by the end of the game, it will not be worth any points. Cathedral (2 tiles): If one or more cathedrals are in a completed city, the city's knight will receive 3 points per city part (number of pieces) and coat of arms. If the city is not completed by the end of the game, it will not be worth any points. Scoring Tiles (6 tiles): When a player passes the 0 space on the score track, they take a scoring tile and place it with the number 50 facing up. If the player passes the 0 space again, they flip the tile to the side with the number 100. In two-player games, if a player flips the tile for the 3rd time, they must take a new scoring tile and place it with the number 50 showing. Large Followers (6 followers): Each player receives one large follower. It can be used like any other follower. For scoring, it counts as if the player had 2 normal followers on the terrain in question (road, field, or city). After scoring, it returns to the player's supply and can be used from the next turn. If the player places the large follower as a farmer, it must remain in the field until the end of the game, like normal followers. End of Game and Scoring Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning Use the large follower strategically on constructions you are sure to complete or that will yield many points, as it counts as two normal followers. Pay attention to the new land tiles like the Farm on the Lake and the Cathedral. Plan your constructions to include these tiles and maximize your points, but remember that roads and cities with these constructions are not worth points if they are not completed by the end of the game. ## FAQ ### How many players can participate? This game is for 2 to 8 players. It works well with fewer people, but with 8 players, the table gets quite lively! ### How long does a game take? A game of Carcassonne Big Box 5 usually takes about 40 minutes, but this can vary depending on the number of players and how familiar they are with the rules. ### Is it too complicated to learn? The basic rules are quite simple, focusing on placing tiles and meeples. The expansions add complexity, but in a gradual and fun way. ### What comes in this Big Box? This edition includes the base game Carcassonne, plus the Inns & Cathedrals, Traders & Builders, Wheel of Fortune, Hills & Sheep, and The River expansions. Oh, and two extra sets of meeples! ### Is it a good game for board game beginners? Absolutely! Carcassonne is a classic introductory game. The Big Box offers more content for when you want to go beyond the basics. ### Do I need anything extra to play? No, the Big Box comes with everything you need to start playing. Just open it up and have fun!