# Carcassonne: The Flying Machines ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2012 - **BGG Rating**: 6.7 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: — - **Weight**: 1.74 / 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**: Aviation / Flight, Expansion for Base-game, Medieval, Territory Building - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Dice Rolling, Tile Placement ## Verdict If you love Carcassonne and want a dash of airborne fun, this expansion gives you just that.Introduces flying meeple mechanicEasy to learnSeamlessly fits base gameDice roll adds luckOnly eight new tilesRECOMMENDED ## Description Carcassonne: The Flying Machines is a tiny expansion that adds a sky‑bound twist to the classic tile‑laying game. It includes eight new tiles, each bearing a pair of wings, which are shuffled into the regular deck. When a player draws one of these winged tiles, they place it as usual but also get the option to launch a new meeple toward a nearby tile. The direction is dictated by the wings' orientation, and the distance – one to three tiles – is rolled on a die. If a tile exists at that spot, the meeple can be placed on any unfinished, non‑field feature, even if another meeple already occupies it; if no tile is there, the player simply loses the chance to place a meeple that turn. This mechanic injects a dash of luck and tactical choice, as players weigh the risk of the die roll against the potential to gain influence elsewhere. The core Carcassonne rules remain unchanged: building cities, roads and cloisters, and vying for area majority. Playtime and complexity stay light (weight 1.7/5). The result is a quick, fun add‑on that gives the board a taste of flight, perfect for fans of Carcassonne who want a fresh twist without overcomplicating the game. ## How to Play Game Objective Humanity has always been fascinated by flight, wings, and flying machines. Now, your followers can finally take flight... without knowing exactly where they will land. The overall objective of the game, with the addition of The Flying Machines, remains the same as the base Carcassonne, which is to build and score features such as roads, cities, and monasteries, but now with the excitement and uncertainty of flights. Preparation (Setup) To prepare the game, follow these steps: The 8 new tiles that feature a flying machine (identified with a specific icon) are shuffled with the base game tiles. Keep the special die (with faces 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3) nearby. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Gameplay Flow The basic rules of Carcassonne remain unchanged, with the following exception: Whenever a player draws a tile with a flying machine, they place it as usual. After placing the tile, the player can, as in the basic game, place a follower on a road, in a field, etc. Alternatively, the player can place their follower on the flying machine, hoping to land on another tile in play. Actions and How to Play When a player draws and places a tile with a flying machine, they have an additional option for placing their follower: Place a follower on the flying machine: Once the tile is placed, the flying machine shows the trajectory that the follower's flight will follow (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). The player then rolls the special die. The die result determines the exact number of tiles the follower will travel in a straight line (1 to 3 tiles). The follower must be placed on the tile designated by the die, if possible. The active player (the owner of the follower) then chooses where on the designated tile they place their follower. The following rules must be observed for a flying follower: A flying follower can only land (be placed) on an incomplete feature (road, city, or monastery). A flying follower can be placed on an occupied feature, regardless of the owner(s) and the number of followers present. For example, two followers can meet in the same monastery or city section. A flying follower cannot be placed in a field, even if the field is still unoccupied (no followers in it). A flying follower cannot be placed where there is no tile. If the follower cannot land (because all features have already been scored, because it could only land in a field, or because there is no tile present), the player returns their follower to their supply. This player cannot place another follower during this turn. End of Game and Scoring Refer to the manual for details on this section. Tips for Winning A flying follower can be placed on an occupied feature, which can be useful for contesting or sharing points in cities or monasteries already with other players' followers. Remember that a flying follower cannot land on a complete feature or in a field. Plan your flights to incomplete features that may be advantageous. ## FAQ ### How many players can use the expansion? It works with the standard 2‑to‑6 player range of Carcassonne. ### Does The Flying Machines add much play time? Only a few minutes; a typical game stays around 30‑45 minutes. ### Do I need any extra components besides the eight tiles? No, you just use the regular die that comes with the base game. ### Does the expansion change the game’s complexity? Not at all; the weight stays low (1.7/5), so it’s still beginner‑friendly. ### Can I combine this with other Carcassonne expansions? Yes, the tiles mix into the main deck, though too many expansions can make the game feel chaotic. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 4.89 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=7189059&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/16701/carcassonne-mini-ext1-les-aeronefs?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com