Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors - Expansion 5
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Your mayor enters the opposing city. Count the crests. Then you look at the owner and smile: now those knights answer to you. Messengers & Mayors turns every tile into a political move.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
The fifth official expansion brings direct conflict to the world of Carcassonne
Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors is the fifth major expansion for the classic game by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede, now re-released by Hans im Glück and Giochi Uniti with updated graphics for the new 2025 edition. Originally Messengers & Mayors, this expansion introduces three new meeple types that shift the focus from passive tile placement to direct influence over other players' territories.
At the table, you place mayors in opposing cities to convert enemy knights by counting the crests, send messengers to ride to the next road or city after completing your own, and use scarecrows to infiltrate occupied fields. It includes 12 new landscape tiles, 6 city hall tiles (which function as personalized wildcards), and a total of 18 special meeples.
What they say abroad
"In this expansion for Carcassonne, you let your mayor compete for the favor of rival knights before duty calls him to a crisis meeting."
— Hans im Glück
This is an expansion that brings new mechanics of influence and strategy to the heart of Carcassonne. BGG data is still limited: the page will be updated with community feedback in the coming months.
— FroGames
Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors - Expansion 5 (Carcassonne: Messengers & Mayors)
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first reading: based on rules and official presentation, updated with initial playtestingThe three new roles
Mayors, messengers, and scarecrows: what they really do
The Mayor
Placed in cities, even opposing ones. Its strength depends on the crests present: the more there are, the more it converts other players' knights. A meeple that steals territories without fighting.
The Messenger
<cite index="4-7">When you complete a road, the messenger can ride to the next road or city</cite>. Extends your influence by leveraging others' work.
The Scarecrow
<cite index="15-2,15-9">Can be deployed in already occupied fields to sneak in a farmer</cite>. Bypasses the blockade of controlled areas.
City Hall Tiles
<cite index="15-6">Place your city hall wherever needed to remove rival mayors</cite>. They act as personal wildcards that fill gaps and free up meeples.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to PlayThe rules in four steps▼
How to Play
The flow of each turn
Messengers & Mayors doesn't change the Carcassonne turn: draw a tile, place it, decide whether to deploy a meeple. It changes WHICH meeples you can deploy and WHERE.
As in the base game. Nothing changes here: the 12 new landscape tiles and 6 city hall tiles integrate into the existing deck.
You have the classic pawns (followers, knights, farmers) plus the three new ones: mayor, messenger, scarecrow. Each has unique placement rules.
The mayor counts crests in the city and converts other players' knights if higher. The messenger rides to the next area when you complete their road. The scarecrow enters occupied fields.
When you complete an area, score points according to majority rules (modified by mayors) and retrieve the meeples involved.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
First tiles, first doubts
You place the first tiles as usual, but you have three new meeples in reserve. You don't know when to use them yet. Others hesitate. Everyone is figuring out the right timing.
The first mayor enters play
Someone places the mayor in a contested city. Counts the crests. Smiles. The city you thought you'd share might now be theirs. You start counting the crests on every tile.
Messengers on the move
You complete a short road and send the messenger to ride to the next. You arrive in a city you didn't build. This is the expansion that rewards those who exploit others' work.
City hall as a tactical joker
Your mayor is stuck in an unfinished city. You place the city hall tile to close the gap and free them. Others understand: city halls are not decorative, they are quick-closing pieces.
Final scoring and surprises
Mayors who converted knights, messengers who arrived in distant cities, scarecrows in others' fields. The final score doesn't resemble what you imagined at mid-game.
🐸Good to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know beforehand
Three things to consider before buying
Requires the base game
<cite index="4-9">Base Carcassonne is required to play</cite>. This is a pure expansion: it does not include enough tiles for standalone games. You need a copy of the base game box, any edition.
Changes the scoring meta
Mayors overturn city math: it's not enough to have more meeples, you have to count the crests. If you like the base game because it's simple, this expansion adds an extra tactical layer.
Compatible but different
<cite index="15-3,15-11">Compatible with all other expansions, even previous editions</cite>. But it introduces direct interaction mechanics: if you prefer a relaxed Carcassonne, consider Inns & Cathedrals first.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the end rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Victory and defeat follow the rules of base Carcassonne: whoever has the most points at the end wins. Messengers & Mayors changes HOW you accumulate those points.
Victory
- You place mayors in cities rich in crests and convert opposing knights, stealing contested territories
- You use messengers to extend influence over enemy roads and reach distant cities without building them
- You exploit scarecrows to enter occupied fields and gain points from farmers without blockages
Mistakes that cost points
- You place mayors in cities with few crests: conversion fails and you've wasted a valuable meeple
- You leave cities unfinished with mayors inside: at the end of the game they count half points and the advantage vanishes
- You ignore city hall tiles: others use them as jokers to close quickly and free blocked meeples
Messengers & Mayors takes the world's most famous tile placement game and adds a dose of political conflict. It's no longer just about building: it's about infiltrating, converting, riding.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors - Expansion 5 (Carcassonne: Messengers & Mayors)
Is the base game required to play?
Yes, it is mandatory. This is an expansion: it only includes 12 landscape tiles, 6 city hall tiles, and 18 special meeples. You need a copy of the base Carcassonne game (any edition) for the starting tiles and classic meeples.
What mechanics does Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors use?
Tile placement, area majority (area control modified by mayors), area movement (messengers riding between areas), pattern building (landscape construction). The complexity remains the same as the base game: family game with tactical decisions.
How do the mayors work?
They are placed in cities, even opponents'. Their strength depends on the number of crests in the city: if the mayor has more crests than enemy knights, they convert those knights and take control. It is the most aggressive meeple in Carcassonne.
Is it compatible with other expansions?
Yes, compatible with all Carcassonne expansions, including previous editions. The tiles are shuffled normally and the special meeples integrate into existing rules. Note: more expansions together increase chaos and game length.
Is it available in Italian?
Yes, this is the Italian Giochi Uniti edition, with fully localized rulebook, tiles, and components. It is part of the new Revival 2025 series with updated graphics.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors - Expansion 5 is the fifth major expansion of Klaus-Jürgen Wrede's classic tile-placement game, now re-published by Giochi Uniti in the 2025 Italian edition. For 2-6 players, ages 7+, lasting 35-45 minutes, it introduces mayors who convert other players' knights, messengers who ride between areas, and scarecrows who infiltrate fields. It includes 12 new landscape tiles, 6 city hall tiles, and 18 special meeples. Requires the Carcassonne base game. Originally Carcassonne: Messengers & Mayors, published by Hans im Glück. Available on FroGames.it.
Carcassonne - Messengers & Mayors - Expansion 5
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
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