# Carcassonne: Cult, Siege & Creativity ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2008 - **BGG Rating**: 6.8 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 60 min - **Weight**: 1.89 / 5 - **Designers**: Christwart Conrad, Jay Tummelson, Klaus-Jürgen Wrede - **Artists**: Doris Matthäus - **Publishers**: Hans im Glück, Rio Grande Games - **Categories**: City Building, Expansion for Base-game, Medieval - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement ## Verdict If you already love Carcassonne and want a few extra tiles with fresh art and a creative twist, this expansion hits the spot.exclusive tile and new artincludes blank tileskeeps rules simpleonly a handful of new tilesno major mechanic shiftsRECOMMENDED ## Description Carcassonne: Cult, Siege & Creativity is a compact expansion that bundles three tiny add‑ons for the beloved tile‑laying series. The "Cult" section supplies six new tiles, one of which is exclusive to this compilation, featuring cult areas that grant extra points when controlled. The "Siege" part brings four tiles with fresh artwork – distinct from the original 2004 release – introducing walls and siege zones that expand blocking and city‑building options. Finally, the "Creativity" component offers two blank tiles, encouraging players to unleash their imagination and craft custom rules or scenarios, a rarity among commercial expansions. All pieces mesh seamlessly with the base game and other official expansions, preserving the core Tile Placement and Area Majority/Influence mechanics that make Carcassonne a classic. This set is perfect for those who have mastered the standard board and crave a sprinkle of novelty without inflating the box. Playtime hovers around 60 minutes for 2‑6 players, and the game’s light weight (BGG 1.9) keeps the learning curve gentle. If you enjoy tinkering with your game or just want a few extra tiles with a fresh look, this expansion delivers exactly that while staying true to Carcassonne’s essence. ## How to Play Game Objective The objective of the game is to build and expand the world of Carcassonne, using tiles to create cities, roads, monasteries, fields, and, with this expansion, also cults and besieged cities. Players score points by completing these features and by strategically positioning their followers (monks, heretics, knights, thieves, farmers). The player with the most points at the end of the game is the winner. Preparation (Setup) Mix the 6 "cult" tiles with the other tiles from the base game (and any expansions you decide to include). Mix the 4 "siege" tiles with the other tiles from the base game (and any expansions you decide to include). The 2 "creativity" tiles can be used to create your own tiles and should be prepared according to your choice. The rules for the base game (and expansions) apply with the specific additions of this expansion. Game Flow Refer to the manual for details on this section. Actions and How to Play Placing the Place of Worship A cult tile is used and scored exactly like a monastery. If a player places a follower on the place of worship, that follower is called a heretic. When a player places a cult directly (horizontally, perpendicularly, or diagonally) adjacent to a monastery occupied by another player's monk, and places a heretic on it, then the heretic must challenge the monk. The same applies if a player places a monastery with a monk directly (horizontally, perpendicularly, or diagonally) adjacent to a cult occupied by another player's heretic. Thus, the monk must challenge the heretic. A player cannot place a cult adjacent to multiple monasteries, nor can they place a monastery adjacent to multiple cults. When a player places a tile with a cult, they do not have to place the follower on the cult; they can place it on the field, road, or city, when present. The Challenge (Cult vs. Monastery) Once a challenge has been declared, the player (of the two involved in the challenge) who first completes their cult or monastery scores 9 points as usual. The other player scores no points and both followers return to their players. If a challenge is not resolved by the end of the game, both players receive the usual points for a monastery. Siege A city that includes a tile with a siege is considered under siege. A city containing multiple siege tiles does not suffer additional effects. Monasteries that are adjacent to any tile of a besieged city (horizontally, perpendicularly, or diagonally) allow knights to escape from besieged cities. If a monastery is adjacent to any tile of the besieged city, a player can, at the end of their turn, remove one of their knights from the besieged city, returning it to their supply. Creativity The 2 "creativity" tiles are provided blank on the front. You are free to create and draw your own tiles to play in any way you choose. End of Game and Scoring Scoring Besieged Cities A besieged city, when complete, scores only 1 point per tile and 1 point per shield. A besieged city, when completed with a cathedral, scores only 2 points per tile and shield. An incomplete besieged city at the end of the game scores nothing. Scoring Farmers with Besieged Cities Farmers supply besieged cities. At the end of the game, each besieged city scores double: 6 points or 8 points if there is a pig in the farm. Scoring Unresolved Challenges If a challenge (between cult and monastery) is not resolved by the end of the game, both players receive the usual points for a monastery. Tips for Winning When placing a cult, consider the possibility of initiating a challenge with another player's monastery to try to deny points to the opponent. If you have a knight in a besieged city, try to position a monastery adjacent to it to be able to rescue your knight at the end of your turn, freeing him for other actions. ## FAQ ### How many players can use the expansion? It works for 2 to 6 players, just like the base game. ### How long does a game last with the expansion? Average playtime stays around 60 minutes, depending on player count. ### Do I need other expansions to use this one? No, it’s fully compatible with the base game and can be played on its own. ### Are the blank tiles actually useful? Absolutely – they let you design custom rules or scenarios, sparking group creativity. ### What’s the visual difference of the Siege tiles? They feature new artwork, distinct from the 2004 original, giving the board a fresher look. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 4.19 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=149246&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/932/carcassonne-cult-siege-and-creativity?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com