Three or four players (up to 6 with the extension) play against each other to create the most prestigious settlement on the island of Catan, rolling dice to collect resources to build roads, towns, cities and other advancements. (90-120 minute playtime)
20
votes
7answers
995 views
Catan: when to buy development cards?
I never buy development cards in the beginning: the Knights are fairly useless, the Largest Army bonus is not a priority, and it's too risky to gamble on drawing a Road Building card.
When is the ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
When do trading deals become too unbalancing?
I've played a few games of Settlers of Catan with friends and seen some deals emerge in the trading that don't seem quite right to me. When do deals that extend beyond the current trade become ...
14
votes
4answers
364 views
What is optimal robber placement in Settlers?
Every time I think I've mastered Settlers, I discover yet another novel tactic or strategy. This time it's Robber placement.
I've usually selected robber placement based on a combination of factors, ...
13
votes
2answers
157 views
Can you collect a resource of your choice if you have no production due to the robber?
In "Cities and Knights" there is a city improvement which allows you to "collect a resource of your choice" if "you don't receive production on a turn."
Does this privilege apply when the following ...
8
votes
3answers
211 views
Can somebody continue a road after it has been cut off/separated from its nearest city?
I have - - - - - o (a settlement at the end of my road).
Now an opponent builds -- x ---o (a settlement along my road).
Can I do o - - x - - - - o (build a second settlement at the other end), or do ...
20
votes
6answers
457 views
Is there any economical game which demonstrates social-democratic economy rather than capitalism?
As much as I enjoy games like Monopoly or Settelers of Catan, I'm very concerned about the way these games affect players' concept of economy, as they demonstrate extremly capitalistic economical ...
28
votes
8answers
2k views
What are some alternatives to using dice in Settlers of Catan?
In Settlers of Catan, there's a variant where instead of rolling the dice, you use a stack of 36 cards with each combination. This reduces the luck component, but has as disadvantage that you can ...
7
votes
4answers
973 views
How is Settlers of Catan different when playing with the 5-6 player expansion?
I've read a few reviews, and these are the things I've picked up:
game will be longer. This is totally fine and normal, but I'm curious, what's the average time increase?
Ports are a little less ...
19
votes
5answers
3k views
What are the differences between the four editions of The Settlers of Catan base game?
I haven't played Settlers of Catan yet, but I've been considering asking my gaming group if they want to try it.
As I understand it, Settlers of Catan is now in its fourth major version. If I do get ...
24
votes
9answers
907 views
Are general 3-to-1 or specific 2-to-1 ports better in Settlers of Catan?
Which type of ports do you find more useful in Settlers of Catan, General 3-to-1 ports or 2-to-1 ports for a specific resource?
8
votes
1answer
116 views
How big is the Settlers of Catan board?
I'm considering buying a small table, and I want to be sure it'll support all the games I might want to play on it. Sadly, however, I don't have access to Settlers and all its expansion right now.
An ...
7
votes
3answers
414 views
Playing Settlers of Catan with a D12 instead of 2D6
Has anyone tried this?
Does it break the game?
Does it make it easier/quicker?
Assuming a 1 gave no resources to anyone and a 7 still invoked the robber how different a game would this make Settlers?
...
4
votes
3answers
174 views
When should you not place the robber to do the most damage in Settlers of Catan?
If you have the robber and are playing against the field, you might want to place it where it can do the most damage.
But my understanding is that sometimes the better use is to "sic" the robber on ...
22
votes
2answers
727 views
In Catan, can I ask how many cards are in a player's hand?
While playing Catan tonight, I rolled a 7 and moved the robber.
No one had more than 7 cards, but I still asked how many cards people had in their hand because I wanted to know who had the most.
All ...
9
votes
2answers
98 views
Can the extra players extension work with Seafearers or Cities and Knights?
If I have the Settlers of Catan 5-6 player extension (for the base game), does that mean I can use the Seafarers or Cities and Knights expansions with 5-6 players?
11
votes
7answers
896 views
Where can I find good tile layouts for Settlers of Catan?
I just bought a copy of Settlers, and noticed that there was a suggested starting layout that is included in the Almanac. I noticed it was mentioned online as well:
"new editions of the game also ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Is there a 10 player expansion for Settlers of Catan? Where can I get it?
Somebody told me that he has an extension for Settlers of Catan that allows play with up to ten players. Who made it?
Is it still sold?
6
votes
1answer
477 views
Where can I purchase extra wood pieces for Settlers of Catan?
I have two full sets of Settlers of Catan plus one 5-6 player expansion pack. Originally the second set was bought to replace the older one, which was missing a few pieces and cards. However, the ...
15
votes
2answers
2k views
Can you build a road on the other side of another player's settlement?
Player A: Wants to expand to resource-rich area of board. they builds two roads and plans to build a settlement, and continue their road to the resource-rich area.
Player B: Also wants same location ...
11
votes
8answers
823 views
Short-version of Settlers of Catan
What are some rule changes that shorten the game, and what drawbacks do those changes have?
Please limit your answers to rules changes with which you have first-hand experience!
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Roll a 7, move robber AND play knight and move the robber again in the same turn
Lately while playing Catan I've been in situation of rolling a 7 and having a knight development card in my hand.
Is it legal for me to move the robber due to the 7 and then play a knight and move ...
13
votes
4answers
568 views
Avoiding stealing a resource when moving the robber in Catan
Is it allowed to move the robber, but not take a random resource from another player? Avoiding stealing a resource may sound odd. One reason you might want to: you need to play a soldier card to move ...
28
votes
8answers
1k views
Who is the rightful winner of this game of Settlers of Catan?
If player A reaches 10 victory points on his turn but forgets to count, and immediately after his turn, the following player, player B, also reaches 10 victory points and claims victory, does player A ...
9
votes
1answer
419 views
Catan and Seafarers 5-6 player expansion
I have both standard Catan and Catan Seafarer, thinking about buying the player extension to expand both games to 5-6 players. If I only buy the Seafarer's player extension, can I also use it onto my ...
11
votes
1answer
480 views
When is the Richest Settler evaluated?
I've run into what I believe might be an edge case for the rules of the Traders and Barbarians expansion to The Settlers of Catan. I'm hoping someone might be able to clarify (preferably with ...
7
votes
4answers
382 views
Are there good two player rules for resource trading in Settlers of Catan?
I've tried playing two-player Settlers, where each player controls one set of pieces, and each time a player builds they need to play a piece of the same type for one of the two uncontrolled colors ...
11
votes
2answers
499 views
Can a 4-length road ever be Longest Road in Settlers of Catan?
Suppose I have an 8-length road and Longest Road, but later someone splits my road in half with a settlement, leaving me two 4-length roads.
Assuming no one else has a longer road than me, do I lose ...
16
votes
3answers
333 views
Is drawing resources required?
Players draw resources, commodities (Cities and Knights), and fish tokens (Fishermen of Catan) during the course of various Catan games. It is almost always advantageous to draw your earned "goods" ...
7
votes
2answers
284 views
How many cards should be collected using the Mining Progress card?
The Cities and Knights expansion to Settlers of Catan has two cards that have caused us a bit of disagreement.
Take the Mining Progress card for example. It says "...collect two ore for each ...
9
votes
1answer
139 views
Is there an official Catan FAQ that is a supplement to the included rules book?
I was wondering if Mayfair Games or Klus himself created an official FAQ for the base (or all versions) of the Settlers of Catan.
8
votes
1answer
354 views
Maritime Trading both ways?
I recently played with a friend who said you can use the maritime harbor to trade 2:1 in both directions. I said this wasn't true, but couldn't disprove him in the rule book. The rules say:
The ...
8
votes
1answer
253 views
In Seafarers of Catan, are there any special rules for ships or harbors in lakes?
We just played our first Seafarer's scenario (New World random setup) that contained a lake - a water hex surrounded by 6 land hexes. Our Seafarer rules booklet (1999) did not discuss any special ...
14
votes
4answers
376 views
What is optimal end play in Settlers?
Part of what makes Settlers of Catan both balanced and exciting are two sets of slow-the-leader rules: The robber and trade embargoes. While this means you have a chance to win even after a slow start ...
39
votes
14answers
1k views
Is pretending to want to trade before playing a monopoly card objectionable?
In Settlers of Catan, I sometimes try to ask people if they want to trade a certain resource, tricking them into revealing the approximate amount of that resource in everyone's hand. After this I play ...
15
votes
3answers
539 views
Can I show my resource cards to other players in Settlers of Catan?
I was playing a game of Settlers of Catan the other day and one of my fellow players rolled a seven. One of the other players was trying to convince the person who rolled seven to put the robber on ...
29
votes
9answers
1k views
Which resources are better at the start of a Catan game?
Is it better to start with Wheat and Ore in order to rapidly upgrade settlements into cities, or is it better to start with Wood and Brick to build roads?
4
votes
2answers
432 views
What is the best method to make new Settlers like tiles
I am trying to make some new Settlers tiles and would like to know what is the best method to make Settlers like tiles that are roughly the same size and thickness to standard settlers tiles with a ...
8
votes
3answers
218 views
Are there any alternative rules for Settles of Catan to rely less on luck?
Are there any rules to reduce the luck component is Settlers of Catan?
I know there is one stated here, but I didn't understand this. How does this work? Are there any others?
8
votes
4answers
883 views
How to easily differentiate Catan expansion pieces?
The only thing holding me back from playing Settlers with BOTH the Traders and Barbarians set and the Seafarers set at once is the thought of sorting the pieces out at the end and getting everything ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Fixing warped board pieces
The pieces are usually kept in the box and not even used that much. However, I took them out the other day to play and all the hex pieces were warped. How can I fix this?
5
votes
2answers
548 views
In Settlers of Catan, what seat position is the best for odds of recieving any resource?
If you use the standard rules, where the number tokens are laid out on the board in a pattern (small letters are below the pips), which seating position has the greatest odds of receiving the most ...
12
votes
3answers
379 views
Counting cards in Settlers of Catan?
Since most moves in Settlers of Catan are public knowledge, one could count cards and keep track of the opponents' hands at all time. However, it seems that there are a few obstacles to doing this.
...
0
votes
2answers
160 views
Are there common themes in “settlement” games?
I'm referring to games like Agricola, Puerto Rico, and Settlers of Catan. But a few themes seem to pop up in each game.
One is the importance of brick/stone/wood for building. Without improvements, ...
5
votes
2answers
533 views
How to determine the edition of The Settlers of Catan?
I know that there are four editions of The Settlers of Catan so far. But how do you tell which edition it is when buying? Is it written somewhere on the box? The titles for the products in online ...
9
votes
2answers
263 views
In Settlers of Catan, what are ways to “hide” your strength until the end?
For instance, is accumulating cards less visible/threatening than accumulating resources, settlements or roads?
Conversely, is building "basic strength" (e.g. settlements and cities) less provocative ...
6
votes
3answers
438 views
Is “Longest Road” an overrated strategy in Settlers of Catan?
At one level, "longest road," is an "obvious" way to win the game.
At another level, could it be too obvious? That is, a player clearly pursuing this strategy might stir too much fear in opponents, ...
6
votes
2answers
270 views
In Settlers of Catan (like Diplomacy), is the secret to winning avoiding “peaking too soon?”
In a two person game, one should try to make the "best moves." (If your opponent doesn't, you'll crush him unless the dice or other luck factors go very much against you.) That's not always true in a ...
8
votes
2answers
598 views
Largest Army in Settlers of Catan: Cities and Knights
We were playing Cities and Knights at the weekend and halfway through the game realised that no one had earned the largest army card. The reason behind this was that no one knew what it was earned ...
7
votes
1answer
202 views
Where can I find a printer friendly version of the settlers of catan rulebook?
My copy of Settlers of Catan has been missing the rule book for a while. The Catan official site has the rule book available for download, but since it contains a lot of block backgrounds, it's not ...
18
votes
7answers
799 views
What can I do to avoid being stuck being able to do nothing in Settlers of Catan?
My friends and I play a fair amount of Settlers of Catan (normally with 3-4 players). Sometimes I do well and sometimes I do badly; however, the most infuriating games are those where I'm unable to ...
