Conquer Catan: A Comprehensive Guide to Playing the Settlers of Catan

Settlers of Catan, often simply called Catan, is a board game that has captivated players worldwide for decades. Its blend of strategy, resource management, and a dash of luck makes it endlessly replayable and a staple of game nights. If you’re new to the world of Catan or looking to refine your understanding, this comprehensive guide will take you through everything you need to know to start building your settlements and dominating the island.

What is Catan?

At its core, Catan is a game where 3-4 players (with expansions allowing for more) compete to be the first to reach 10 victory points. Players achieve this by building settlements, cities, and longest roads, all while strategically trading resources and navigating the threat of the robber. The game is played on a modular hexagonal board, making each game unique. The beautiful design and intuitive gameplay have contributed to its enduring popularity.

Components of the Game

Before we dive into the gameplay, let’s familiarize ourselves with the components that make up Catan:

• Hexagonal Terrain Tiles: These tiles are the building blocks of the game board and depict different terrains: hills (brick), forests (lumber), mountains (ore), pastures (wool), and fields (grain), plus one desert tile.
• Number Tokens: Each terrain tile (except the desert) has a number token associated with it, ranging from 2 to 12. These represent the probability of that resource being generated.
• Resource Cards: These cards represent the five resources mentioned above (brick, lumber, ore, wool, and grain) that players use to build.
• Development Cards: These cards provide various benefits, such as a knight that moves the robber, victory points, or resource monopolies.
• Roads, Settlements, and Cities: These wooden pieces represent your presence on the island. Settlements are worth 1 victory point, and cities are worth 2.
• The Robber: A black pawn that blocks resource production on a tile.
• Dice: Two six-sided dice determine the resource production each round.
• Longest Road and Largest Army Cards: These bonus cards are awarded to the player with the longest continuous road (at least 5 sections) and the most knight development cards.

Setting Up the Game

Proper setup is crucial for a smooth Catan experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Assemble the Board: Take the hexagonal terrain tiles and arrange them in a random pattern to form the game board. A suggested setup for beginners is provided in the rulebook, or you can follow the lettered setup described in the rulebook as well.
2. Place Number Tokens: Place the number tokens face up on the terrain tiles. A suggested setup is to place the number tokens in a spiral pattern starting from the outside. The standard layout also avoids placing the 6 and 8 numbers next to each other (as these are the most likely to produce resources). The desert always gets placed at the center of the layout with no token on it.
3. Determine Starting Player: Roll the dice, and the player with the highest roll goes first. Play proceeds clockwise.
4. Initial Placement: Each player takes two settlements and two roads.
   • Starting with the first player, each player places a settlement on an intersection (where three terrain tiles meet) and one of their roads connected to it.
   • Then, going in reverse order (last player back to the first), each player places another settlement and a road in the same manner.
   • After your second settlement is placed, you collect resources based on the tiles adjacent to your *second* placed settlement, this is not done on the placement of your first settlement.
5. Prepare Remaining Components: Place the resource cards in organized piles, shuffle the development cards and place them face down, and place the robber on the desert tile.

Gameplay: A Turn-by-Turn Guide

Now that the board is set up, let’s delve into the core gameplay of Catan. Each player’s turn consists of the following phases:

1. Roll the Dice: The active player rolls both dice. The sum of the two dice determines which tiles will produce resources that round.
2. Resource Production:
   • If the number rolled matches the number token on a terrain tile, players with a settlement adjacent to that tile collect one resource card of the corresponding type. If they have a city instead, they collect two resources.
   • For instance, if a player has a city on a tile with the number 9 on it and a 9 is rolled, that player collects two resource cards of that specific terrain type.
   • Players are only able to collect resources adjacent to their own settlements and cities.
   • If a 7 is rolled, no resources are collected, instead, move on to the Robber phase.
3. The Robber Phase:
   • If a 7 is rolled, the active player must move the robber to any other terrain tile on the board.
   • That player then gets to take a resource card at random from a player who has a settlement or city adjacent to the robber’s new location.
   • Also, no players can collect resources on the tile where the robber is placed until the robber is moved again.
4. Trading Phase:
   • Players can trade resources with other players. They can also trade with the bank, the cost is generally 4 of any resource for 1 of any resource.
   • Trading with other players is not forced and often requires negotiation.
   • Some coastal harbor locations offer more favorable trading rates, often for two of one resource for one of another.
5. Building Phase:
   • Players can use their accumulated resources to build new structures.
   • Road: Costs 1 brick and 1 lumber. Roads can be built from a settlement or existing road connected to your line of roads, and not on the other side of other player’s roads.
   • Settlement: Costs 1 brick, 1 lumber, 1 wool, and 1 grain. Settlements can only be built on intersections not adjacent to any other settlement. They provide 1 victory point and collect resources.
   • City: Costs 3 ore and 2 grain. Upgrade a settlement to a city by taking a settlement off the board. Cities provide 2 victory points and double the number of resources collected on a tile.
   • Development Card: Costs 1 ore, 1 wool, and 1 grain. Development cards provide various advantages, such as a knight card, victory point card, or resource monopoly. Some cards are played immediately while others are held and used later.
6. End Turn: The active player’s turn ends, and play passes to the next player clockwise.

Strategic Tips for Catan

Catan is more than just dice rolls and resource collection; it’s a game of strategy and adaptation. Here are some strategic tips to improve your gameplay:

• Prioritize Good Starting Locations: Your initial settlement placement is crucial. Aim for intersections adjacent to multiple resource tiles, especially those with high number tokens (6 and 8). A mix of resources at start can be valuable.
• Secure Key Resources: Identify the resources you need most and position yourself to collect them. Pay attention to the tiles with 6’s and 8’s as those are the most often rolled numbers. If you can secure the 5’s, 9’s and other more common rolls, this can be beneficial as well.
• Balance Expansion with Resource Acquisition: Don’t expand too quickly without ensuring you have enough resources to continue building. Don’t forget the roads, they are an essential component for expansion, and a path to the Longest Road card.
• Be Mindful of the Robber: Avoid placing settlements adjacent to tiles with 7, as these are the tiles where the robber will always be moved, eventually. When the robber is moved onto your tiles, you cannot collect resources for that tile.
• Trade Strategically: Don’t be afraid to negotiate favorable trades. Sometimes a small sacrifice can lead to significant gains later in the game. If you notice another player having too much of a valuable resource, trading can help both players.
• Utilize Development Cards Wisely: Development cards can provide crucial advantages. Monopoly cards can quickly acquire essential resources, knight cards allow you to move the robber and block opponents, and victory point cards can help you cross the finish line.
• Watch Your Opponents: Pay attention to the resources your opponents are collecting and the development cards they hold. This information can help you anticipate their next moves and make adjustments to your own strategy.
• Aim for the Longest Road and Largest Army: These bonus cards can provide a significant advantage. If you see the opportunity, aggressively pursue one or both of these cards.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Adapt: No two games of Catan are alike. Be prepared to adjust your strategy based on the board layout and your opponents’ actions.

Winning the Game

The first player to reach 10 victory points wins the game. Victory points are awarded for the following:

• Settlements: 1 victory point each.
• Cities: 2 victory points each.
• Longest Road: 2 victory points.
• Largest Army: 2 victory points.
• Victory Point Development Cards: 1 victory point each.

Expansions and Variations

Catan has many expansions that add new dimensions to the game. Some popular ones include:

• Cities & Knights: Adds new gameplay elements, including knight units, city upgrades, and barbarian invasions.
• Seafarers: Introduces ships, sea travel, and new island scenarios.
• Traders & Barbarians: Incorporates various scenarios, such as caravans, trade tokens, and barbarian raids.

There are also numerous variations that can be incorporated into a base game, such as changing the placement of the number tokens or a variation on rules. It is also possible to play with 5-6 players using expansions.

Conclusion

Catan is a game that blends strategic thinking, negotiation, and resource management, making each play session unique and engaging. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran, mastering the basics and applying strategic tips can significantly improve your chances of dominating the island. So gather your friends, set up the board, and embark on your quest to become the ruler of Catan!