The Settlers of Catan

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I am considering purchasing The Settlers of Catan (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/soc/0483-00.htm), but needed to know whether or not it's too difficult to learn how to play? :(

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Also, I understand that both The Seafarers of Catan (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/soc/0486-00.htm) and The Cities & Knights of Catan (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/soc/0494-00.htm) are expansions of the basic game both ruleswise and storywise (it's necessary to have the basic game to play either or both of the expansions). However, although The Starfarers of Catan (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/soc/3000-00.htm) and Starship Catan (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/soc/3010-00.htm) are separate games unto themselves, do they take place in the same universe as The Settlers of Catan, just many centuries later? :confused:


-G

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp And is the two-player The Settlers of Catan Card Game (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/soc/0485-00.htm) worth purchasing as well? :confused:

-G

[Mattbro]

I think I've played the board game - is that what you mean? It's four players though, I think, and it's actually a pretty cool game if we're thinking of the same thing - you have to build roads and communities out of wood, loom, ore, etc.?

EDIT: Oh, maybe I was thinking of a different game.

[Topo]

I am a proud owner of the Settlers of Catan. It is worth the $35 price.

The game can actually be played with from 2 to 4 players. An expansion set is required to play with 5 or 6 players.

I haven't played the card game or Knights & Settlers (or whatever that expansion was called). I have seen them played. They seem to merely expand on the thing. I would recommend just buying Settlers and seeing if you like it. (You probably will).

The basic premise of the game is that you build cities, connected by roads. Those cities are located near resources which you earn based on dice rolls so that you can build more cities. (You can also build armies to steal resources from others.)

The board is composed of hexagonal tiles which are set up randomly each time so that the board is different every game.

The game involves a lot of strategy. I find that the two person game ends too quickly at 10 points, so we always play to 12. If you are playing with more than 2 players, there also starts to be diplomacy involved in trading resources and such.

I recommend this game to anybody I know that plays games. An average game takes half an hour or so with 2 players (after they learn the rules and aren't consulting the rule book all the time). It takes more time with more players.

Buy the game. As long as your friend want to play with you, you will enjoy it immensely.

[marimacc]

I have spent many a fun hour with Topo playing Settlers, and I enjoy it thoroughly. It's not really a terribly complicated game to learn. The concept of "shuffling" the game board every time you play really keeps the game interesting. I agree it works equally well with 2 or 3 players, although 3 players does invlove more card trading, and maybe alliance forming. I find 4 players to be a bit tight on the Board, but we bought the 5-6 player expansion and had 5 people playing that with no problem.

In short, it is an expensive game, but well worth it, since we play this game 10 times more than other games we payed less for. I do plan on buying the cities and knights game as soon as possible.

And also of course, I enjoy playing it because I like kicking Topo's hinder.

[marimacc]

I have not played Starfarers of Catan. However, I have seen it played, and while it does have cool spaceships, I was told it would take maybe two hours to play, that's a bit too much of an investment for me!

[Topo]

Originally posted by marimacc
And also of course, I enjoy playing it because I like licking Topo's hinder.
I fixed your post.

Whoever gets the most sheep is always accused of being a sheepshagger.

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Thanks for the info on the games! :)


-G

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp And don't forget to check out the recently-released prequel to the Catan saga... Entdecker (http://www.mayfairgames.com/catalog/catpages/general/0499-00.htm).


-G

[Topo]

I will check it out. Let me know when/if you actually purchase the games and how it goes. I think you will like them.

[Goodsport]

Originally posted by Topo
I will check it out. Let me know when/if you actually purchase the games and how it goes. I think you will like them.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Thanks. I'll most likely get at least The Settlers of Catan (and its 5-6 player expansion) and the The Settlers of Catan Card Game (and its expansion) before the week is out, and will hopefully try them out this weekend. :)


-G

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Well, I ended up buying The Settlers of Catan and the 5-6 player expansion to it (the basic game is initially for 3-4 players... with the expansion, it can accomodate up to six players). I may buy more stuff in the series in the coming weeks, but I guess I should start off by learning how to play Settlers first, right? ;)

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I'll hopefully get to try it out this weekend! :)


-G

[spejic]

I didn't know what you were talking about when you first posts, but our office recently played the game and it was fun.

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Everyone I've spoken to who's played the game seems to like it. :)


-G

[Topo]

I just played a game last night. Still fun. I really hope you get to play.

We find that a two player game ends too fast so we go to 12 points for 2 player games rather than 10.

[Goodsport]

Originally posted by Topo
I just played a game last night. Still fun. I really hope you get to play.

We find that a two player game ends too fast so we go to 12 points for 2 player games rather than 10.

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I hope so too, hopefully this weekend (I was to play it last weekend, but last minute plans put a halt to that :( ).

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp You can play The Settlers of Catan with 2 player? I thought that it was made only for 3-4 players (or up to six players with the expansion)... although The Settlers of Catan Card Game was made for 2 players? :confused:


-G

[Topo]

Yes. You can play it with only two players. It doesn't work as well, but it is still very fun if you only have two people who want to play.

Like I said, we make winning 12 points with 2 players because 10 point games tend to go too quickly before the game has really settled.