Carson City: Big Box

2015 · Economic

Carson City: Big Box

Players build fortunes in an 1858 frontier town by acquiring land and developing it with ranches, mines, saloons and other buildings. Play proceeds over four rounds; each round players select character actions from a shared pool. When multiple players choose the same action, they resolve a duel where the highest firepower wins the spot. Additional mechanics include recruiting townsfolk with special abilities, using horses to unlock actions, and visiting the rodeo for bonus points. Victory points are scored during play and at game end for developed parcels, characters and special objectives; the player with the most points becomes the town’s leading citizen.

Players
2–6 best 4
Playing time
90–180 min
Age
12+
Complexity
3.2 / 5
8.1 on Ludoyafrom $52.11City BuildingAmerican WestDice RollingWorker PlacementVariable Player Powers

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
202
Plays logged
399
Players
2h
Average play
99
In collections
13
On wishlists

8.1/10

from 34 Ludoya reviews

  • Garfield8.0

    #29.2 BGExpansions in Box I like the theme. Maybe you have too many options. Game was over very quick. Maybe I should add some of the additional stuff. [c] Theme: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Very good --> Gameplay: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Many options --> Interaction: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Steal money, duels, fight for parcels --> Artwork: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Ok --> Luck: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Duels --> Strategy: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Many strategies possible --> Components: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Great --> Play duration: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Almost too short --> Easy to teach: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]A lot to teach --> Rules quality: :star::star::star::star::nostar: <!-- size 7]Very good --> Setup time: :star::star::nostar::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Takes some time to setup --> No downtime: :star::star::star::nostar::nostar: <!-- size 7]Plays very quick --> Replay value: :star::star::star::star::star: <!-- size 7]Modular board, different character cards, additional stuff you can add to the base game --> [/c]

  • Benjamín Amorín7.0

    Worker Placement - City Building Game. I've not really enjoyed the two mechanics mixed, but the game is pretty solid.

  • Javo8.0

    Juego de colocación de trabajadores con mucha interacción entre jugadores. Lo mejor: - Mucha interacción - Turnos ágiles - Es bastante accesible para jugadores no muy jugones. Lo peor: - Para que el juego brille lo mejor es ser mínimo 4 Modo solitario: No es su mejor número. El bot está bien porqué te molesta pero algunas acciones requiere que analices cual es la mejor opción y eso puede ser un poco tedioso. Rejugabilidad: Incluye muchos personajes para variar entre partidas aunque la estrategia y mecanismos sigue siendo el mismo. Lo divertido del juego es la interacción que se produce entre jugadores. Para quien lo recomiendo? Para jugadores que busquen un euro con mucha interacción y les guste fastidiar. Si prefieres multisolitarios o que no te fastidien huye de el, las cuchilladas son a doquier y puede pasar de todo.

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Can I place a cowboy on an action space or parcel that already has other players' cowboys, or do cowboys block spaces?

You may place a cowboy on any action space, parcel or building even if other players’ cowboys are already there; this usually triggers a duel (exceptions: Wages and Road spaces, where no duel occurs). (pages 6–7)

What happens to cowboys after a duel — do winners or losers lose their cowboy?

The winner’s cowboy is returned to the general supply (and the winner may choose to perform or decline the action), while the loser(s) recover their cowboy back into their personal supply. In ties the pass-order track breaks the tie. (page 7)

How is the purchase price of a parcel calculated?

A parcel costs $1 plus $1 for each building, mountain or House on or adjacent (orthogonally or diagonally) to that parcel, with a minimum $1 and a maximum that can reach $10. Your cowboy is placed in the general supply and you put your property tile on the parcel when you win. (page 8)

What are the conditions to build, and can I delay placing a building or use Townhouses instead of Houses?

To build you must own the parcel, have it connected to the road system (Ranches and Mines are exceptions), and place a free House on a connected unoccupied parcel (except for Ranch, Mine, Train Station); you may instead flip an eligible House to a Townhouse under the listed conditions, and you may keep buildings in front of you to place later (deferred placement). (pages 8, 12)

If I put a cowboy on someone’s building to attack, how does that affect income during the Building Income phase?

An attacker who wins the contest for a building steals half that building’s income (rounded down) from the owner during the Building Income phase; if the owner successfully defends, they receive their normal income. Building Income is automatic and after that phase cowboys on buildings (except City Hall) return to the general supply. (page 9)

Do character powers activate immediately when I choose a character, or do they apply later?

Some characters have immediate effects when chosen (for example, the Banker gives $9, the Chinese Worker immediately gives two roads, the Settler immediately grants a parcel), and every chosen character also determines turn order and the cash limit for that round. (pages 6, 14)

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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.