CATAN (1995)

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About the Game

Catan is a promising island, always attracting daring explorers seeking fortune and glory. You will embark on an exciting journey of discovery to establish your dominion over this rich land. So what do you need to do to achieve that goal? Build roads and settlements in strategic locations to earn the most resources and quickly upgrade them to the city to become the most powerful force.

However, success in Catan is not determined solely by your own efforts. The element that makes the game interesting and attractive lies in the wise negotiations and smart trades with other players so that you get important resources such as wood, wheat, brick, sheep, and ores. Catan’s dynamism and interactivity make negotiations more lively while strategic alliances can be formed, and surprises are always hidden behind the development cards.

Catan is one of the most popular board game in the world | Source: Catan Studio

How to Play Catan

Here is a basic guide to playing Catan so you can get a brief understanding of the game:

Set up the game:

Arrange the island map by randomly placing resource tiles on the board. Surrounding the island are the sea and the ports for exchanging. Place the bandit on the desert square.

Choose where to start:

Each player is given 2 settlements (house shaped) and 2 roads. Place your house at the intersection of resource tiles. You get starting resources based on the number of hex tiles your 2nd house is adjacent to.

Collect resources:

At the beginning of a player’s turn, roll 2 dice to get the resource corresponding to the number that appears on the resource hex tiles where the player has his houses/cities adjacent. When rolling out 7, move bandits and steal resources from other players.

Expand and build:

Use the resources you’ve gathered to build more houses and roads, increasing your influence across the island. You can also negotiate and trade resources with other players to get the ones you need.

Development and scoring:

Earn points by building houses and upgrading them to cities. Building the longest path and having the biggest army (earned through development cards) also gives you extra points. When a player accumulates 10 points, they claim their total and win.

Some Catan expansions

Besides the original version, Catan also has many expansions that bring new experiences to the game. These expansions introduce new mechanics, gameplay, and additional components that add depth and strategy to the world of Catan. Here are some notable expansions:

Seafarers:

This expansion takes the player away from Catan and explores the neighboring islands. The game adds ships, new terrain types, and levels involving new island settlements and pirate raids.

Cities & Knights:

The Cities & Knights version adds complexity and computation to Catan. Players face new challenges as they must defend Catan from barbaric Barbarian invasions, building and developing the city’s many fortresses.

Explorers & Pirates – Explorers & Pirates:

Explorers & Pirates takes players on a great adventure off the coast of Catan. This expansion offers a campaign-style Catan gameplay experience commonly found in video games. Players will perform tasks of the Council of Catan such as fighting pirates, trading rare spices or bringing fishing boats back to the island.