# Carcassonne: Inns & Cathedrals ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2002 - **BGG Rating**: 7.6 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 60 min - **Weight**: 1.93 / 5 - **Designers**: Klaus-Jürgen Wrede - **Artists**: Anne Pätzke, Chris Quilliams, Doris Matthäus, Klaus-Jürgen Wrede - **Publishers**: Hans im Glück, 999 Games, Albi, Bard Centrum Gier, Brain Games, cutia.ro, Devir, Enigma (Bergsala Enigma), Fantasmagoria, Feelindigo, Filosofia Éditions, Giochi Uniti, Hobby World, Ísöld ehf., Kaissa Chess & Games, Korea Boardgames, Lautapelit.fi, MINDOK, Möbius Games, Nordic Games ehf, Piatnik, Rio Grande Games, Schmidt Spiele, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Venice Connection, Z-Man Games - **Categories**: City Building, Expansion for Base-game, Medieval, Territory Building - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement ## Verdict Essential for those who have mastered the base game and want more strategic depth and more players at the table.Big Meeple shifts the strategyNew tiles break the monotonySupports up to 6 playersScoring cards make life easierRequires base game to playSlightly increases complexityHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description Ever felt that original Carcassonne is great, but could use a little 'extra spice'? That's exactly what the Inns & Cathedrals expansion delivers. As the first major expansion of the series, it doesn't just add content; it expands the strategic possibilities for those who have already mastered the art of tile-placement in the medieval landscape. The biggest news here are the new terrain tiles. Now, you'll find Inns, which introduce new ways to score and interact with roads, and Cathedrals, which upgrade cities, making the battle for territory even more intense. Additionally, the expansion introduces new shapes for roads, cities, and cloisters, breaking the monotony of basic patterns and forcing players to think more creatively about how to complete their structures. But the real game-changer is the 'Big Meeple'. Each player receives this chunky figure that counts as two regular meeples. This completely shifts the area-control dynamic: imagine trying to hijack a massive city by dropping a Big Meeple to flip the majority in one go! It's the perfect tool for those who love an aggressive playstyle. For those who often host game nights, the expansion solves the player limit issue, allowing up to 6 people to join the fray. And to end the mental struggle of keeping track of the score, the inclusion of scoring cards helps organize the point tallying in a much more fluid way. If you already love the base game, this expansion is the natural next step to add depth and fun to your sessions, turning map building into a more dynamic game of influence and strategy. ## How to Play Game Objective The Expansion 1 - Inns & Cathedrals adds new elements to the base game of Carcassonne, such as inns, cathedrals, and the large meeple. The main goal remains the same: players must build roads, cities, monasteries, and control fields to score points. The difference lies in the new scoring rules and strategies introduced by the special tiles. Victory condition: The player with the most points at the end of the game wins, counting roads with inns, cities with cathedrals, and the use of the large meeple. Setup To play this expansion, you need the base game of Carcassonne. Follow the steps below: Shuffle the 18 new terrain tiles (6 with inns and 2 with cathedrals) with the base game tiles, forming face-down stacks. Each player receives a large meeple in their color, which stays in reserve alongside the regular meeples. Add the 50/100 scoring tiles to facilitate counting points above 50. If playing with 6 players, use the 8 meeples and 1 pink abbot included. Game Flow The game follows the same structure as the base Carcassonne, with turns divided into 3 actions: Place a terrain tile: Choose and position a tile from the draw pile, correctly connecting it to existing tiles. Place a meeple: Optionally, place a regular meeple or the large meeple on the newly placed tile (following occupation rules). Score points: If the tile completed a road, city, or monastery, involved players score points immediately. Actions and How to Play New Terrain Tiles Inns: Double the points for completed roads (2 points per segment instead of 1). If the road is not completed, it scores zero points at the end. Cathedrals: Increase the points for completed cities (3 points per tile/shield instead of 2). Incomplete cities with cathedrals score zero points. Large Meeple Can be placed like a regular meeple but counts as 2 meeples when determining majority. If used as a farmer, it counts as 2 at the end of the game. Returns to the reserve after scoring and can be reused. Scoring Tiles When exceeding 50 points, take a 50/100 tile and add it to the tracker. If you complete another full loop, flip it to the 100 side. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when all tiles have been placed. Score: Completed roads with inns: 2 points per segment (e.g., 5 segments = 10 points). Completed cities with cathedrals: 3 points per tile/shield (e.g., 7 tiles + 2 shields = 27 points). Incomplete roads/cities with inns/cathedrals: Zero points. Large meeple: Counts as 2 meeples in majority disputes or as a farmer. Tips to Win Prioritize completing roads with inns and cities with cathedrals to avoid losing points at the end. Use the large meeple in close contests to secure majority and score alone. Keep an eye on the scoring tiles to avoid losing track when exceeding 50 points. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to play? Yes! This is an expansion, so you must own the original Carcassonne to use these new components. ### What exactly does the Big Meeple do? It counts as two regular meeples when deciding who owns a city or road, making it great for stealing areas from opponents. ### Does the game become much harder? Not exactly 'harder', but more strategic. The new tiles and the Big Meeple add layers of decision-making without overcomplicating the rules. ### How many people can play now? With the expansion, the limit increases to 6 players, which is ideal for larger groups. ### Is it worth buying if I only play with 2 people? Absolutely! Even in a 2-player game, the new tiles and the Big Meeple change the dynamics and make the match more competitive. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 11.45 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=149248&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 11.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5044317&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 11.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6874323&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.29 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6874442&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.90 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3434016&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.19 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6621622&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.19 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6998716&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.20 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6513066&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.60 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6804544&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.81 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6443413&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/854/carcassonne-inns-cathedrals?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com