Carcassonne: Expansion 2 – Traders & Builders*

Carcassonne: Expansion 2 – Traders & Builders is an expansion to the original Carcassonne game, adding new elements and strategic layers.

Expansion Features:

1. New Tiles: Includes 24 tiles with features like Bridges and Cities.
2. Goods: Tiles feature goods symbols (Wine, Cloth, Wheat). Players collect these when scoring the related feature.
3. Bonus Points: At game end, the player with the most of each goods type scores additional points.
4. Builder Meeple: Acts as a supervisor in cities or roads, allowing an extra tile placement when the feature is extended.
5. Pig Pawn: Can be placed in a field by farmers for extra points at the game's conclusion.
6. Cloth Bag: Included for convenient storage and handling of tiles, also standardizing the tile backs.

Gameplay Enhancements:

• Trade and Strategy: Introduces a layer of trading (via a popular house rule) and strategic placement of builders and pigs.
• Scoring Dynamics: Changes the scoring dynamic, especially for cities and farms, making them potentially more valuable.
• Compatibility: Playable with or without the first expansion.

Player Experience:

• Depth and Variety: Adds depth to the base game with new strategic choices.
• Replayability: Increased with new tile combinations and scoring opportunities.
• Tactical Decisions: More complex decisions about when and where to place builders and pigs.

Conclusion:

Traders & Builders is a significant expansion that enriches the Carcassonne experience. It introduces new gameplay elements that offer additional strategic depth and decision-making, without overcomplicating the game. This expansion is particularly appealing to players who enjoy the economic aspects of games and are looking for ways to enhance their Carcassonne play with more varied strategies and scoring possibilities.