Carcassonne interaction between "The Robbers" and "The Messages"

Question

I probably didn't get some part of the rulings correctly but it seems to me that there is an interaction problem with 2 of the mini-expansions in Carcassonne. The problem seems to be the following:

• Adding the mini-expansion "The Robbers" allows you to put a robber on the scoreboard and whenever a player moves a Meeple that is on the same square as your robber, you then get to steal points.

• Adding the "The Messages" mini-expansion, gives you a second Meeple on the scoreboard which allows and allows you to move either one of the two when you score points.

The problem: Once you have the robber on the board, no one will ever move a Meeple that has the robber on the same square as a Meeple. They will always move the other Meeple as to not give any points to a stealing player thus rendering the robber completely useless.

How do you guys deal with this? Or am I not getting something?

Thanks

Answer 1

Official answer, taken from Carcassonne Central. The source is Georg Wild from HiG, via telephone call.

TL;DR; yes, it is possible that the robber might stand still until the end of the game. You haven't missed anything, this is how it's supposed to work.

Robber and Messages:

1. Robber stands near one particular counting figure and robs only its points. In this situation it is possible that robber will stand on the scoreboard till the end of the game, if the player will decide not to move this particular figure.

Answer: Yes, it is possible that the robber would stand till the end of the game.

2. Robber stands near any counting figure and robs any points that this player will receive regardless what figure player will move forward. In this situation robber stands near "virtual" counting figure and receive first available points (of course, according the rules).

Answer: No, the robber can only rob the points from the counting figure which is on the same space as the robber.

And just to be clear, you can "rob" points from either figure (source):

Q: When playing with The Messages and The Robber, can a player's Robber follow either Messenger?

A: The Robber can rob points from both scoring figures - from the follower and from the Messenger (woman follower). If there are more than one scoring figure at the same space as the Robber and multiple scoring take place - the Robber can only rob from one scoring figure for one scoring.

Telephone call with HiG - Georg Wild - 03 05 2013

Own thoughts: you might still be inclined to move your "locked" scoring meeple if you score 2-3 points, just to free it. Much of the strategy in the "Messengers" expansion is to keep your two scoring meeples from the dark spaces (multiples of 5) at different distances. I wouldn't mind giving over 1-2 extra points to my opponent for increased flexibility, especially if most of the robber tiles have already been drawn.

Answer 2

Not an official answer. But there is some interaction between the two.

First the Messenger, you now have an extra meeple on the scoreboard. When you score, you can choose which of the two to move. And in the end of the game, add the total of both. So far no advantage. But there are 8 prices to win when you land on a score field which is a multiple of 5. So with two you almost double the chance of a price.

Next, the Robber, you now have a robber token. If you draw a tile of a robber (1 of 8) you can put a robber tile next to a score marker of another player. And if the player moves this score marker, the owner of the robber gets 50% of the score.

Both expansions have a small advantage. When combined, a few things happen. As long as there are prices left, placing the robber slightly decreases the chance of getting one. It does not limit the choice, but nobody likes to give away free points. So you only go for the "robbed" score marker if the gains are low and there is a price to win. If all the prices are gone, the robbers become almost useless (unless one player has two of its meeples robbed.

I would use these together. Possible adding a new rule, that having a robber on the score board at the end of the game, gives a few extra points (5 looks balanced) to its owner. So it can be advantageous to remove it somewhere in the game.

By the way, if both player have a robber you can probably rob some of the points back.