# Carcassonne: The Ferries ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2012 - **BGG Rating**: 6.8 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: — - **Weight**: 1.81 / 5 - **Designers**: Klaus-Jürgen Wrede - **Artists**: Doris Matthäus - **Publishers**: 999 Games, Devir, Enigma (Bergsala Enigma), Filosofia Éditions, Giochi Uniti, Hans im Glück, Lautapelit.fi, MINDOK, Rio Grande Games, Z-Man Games - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Medieval, Territory Building, Transportation - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement ## Verdict If you love Carcassonne and want extra road drama, The Ferries shows up just in time.Introduces new quick routesTactical ferry movementKeeps game lightOnly eight tilesRequires extra road focusRECOMMENDED ## Description Carcassonne: The Ferries is a tiny expansion that spices up the classic tile‑laying game. It adds eight new terrain tiles, each showing three or four road segments that all lead to a lake in the centre of the piece. These tiles are shuffled into the regular deck, so at any moment you might draw a "ferry tile". When you do, you place it according to the normal placement rules, decide whether to put a follower (and, if on a road, which segment), and then place a ferry connecting two of the road segments on that tile. Any segments left unconnected simply fall into the lake, ending that part of the road. The fun kicks in when you extend a road that already contains ferries. By laying a new tile—whether another ferry tile or a regular road tile—you may move the nearest ferry in each direction along that road, reconnecting different segments. If this movement closes the road at both ends, the road scores immediately. This creates quick tactical choices: close the road now or wait for a better ferry placement? The result is a more dynamic flow, with chances to score short routes that would otherwise go unnoticed. The expansion keeps a light weight (1.8/5) and fits comfortably in games for 2‑6 players without altering the typical playtime. If you love Carcassonne and want extra interaction on the roads, The Ferries delivers exactly that, without bogging the game down. In short, The Ferries adds new tiles, new ways to close roads, and a splash of water‑side flavor to the board, all while preserving the easy‑to‑learn charm that makes Carcassonne a family and casual‑gaming favorite. ## How to Play Game Objective A vast network of roads surrounds Carcassonne. The ferries along these roads mean that paths can change, making the work of thieves much more fruitful. The objective of the game is to score completed features, such as roads, using your followers and the new ferry mechanics. Preparation (Setup) The new tiles (identified with a lake) are shuffled with those from the base game. Keep the wooden ferries (8 in total) nearby, in a supply. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Game Flow The basic rules of Carcassonne remain unchanged. The turn sequence with the mini-expansion The Ferries is as follows: Place a tile (with or without a lake). Place a follower or not. Place a ferry (if the placed tile has a lake). Move the ferry (if the placed tile continued a road with a ferry). Score completed features (if at least one feature was completed). Actions and How to Play Placing a Tile with a Lake Whenever a player draws a tile with a lake, they place it and can place a follower on it, according to normal rules. If they decide to place their follower on the road, they must place it on one of the three or four road sections. Then, this player (the active player) takes a ferry from the supply and places it on the lake to connect two road sections, regardless of whether they placed a follower or not. The two sections connected by the ferry create a continuous road on the tile. The lake ends the other road sections. If, by placing a tile with a lake, one or more features are completed, these are scored as usual. Continuing a Road with a Ferry If, when placing a tile, a player continues a road where there is a ferry, that player may move the ferry. Moving the ferry is optional; a player has the choice to move the ferry or not. The ferry must always connect two road sections. The ferry can be moved in such a way that it is no longer part of the road that was continued. From the new tile, only the first ferry found on that road can be moved. Two particular cases: If, when placing a tile, you continue the road in more than one direction, you can move the first ferry found in each continued direction. When moving ferries, it is possible to reopen a closed road. Additional rules: A ferry can be placed (or moved) only once per turn. If when placing a tile with a lake you continue a road with a ferry, you will first place the new ferry, and then you can move the ferry (or more than one, if applicable) or not. End of Game and Scoring Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning When placing a tile with a lake, use the ferry to connect road sections that benefit your followers or complete roads for scoring. Consider moving a ferry to reopen a closed road, which may allow you or other players to continue building and scoring on that road. Be aware of the possibility of moving a ferry to disconnect other players' followers from their roads, making it harder for them to score. ## FAQ ### How many players can use the expansion? It works with 2 to 6 players, just like the base game. ### How much extra time does the expansion add? Usually only a few minutes, since the rules are straightforward and there are few pieces. ### Do I need any other expansion to play The Ferries? No, you only need the Carcassonne base game. ### How many new components does the expansion include? It adds eight new terrain tiles and eight ferry tokens. ### Does the expansion increase the game's complexity? It stays low; the new ferry‑moving mechanic is easy to pick up. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 3.67 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7189072&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 5.24 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7189061&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/422/carcassonne-the-ferries?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com