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Settlers of Catan
Mayfair
Games
Rating: 1 2 3 4
5
Game: The Settlers of
Catan (also can be found with the German title Die Siedler von Catan)
Score: 4.0
Publisher: US Distributor Mayfair Games
Number of players 2-4 (up to 6 with an expansion)
Number of Expansions 3 and 1 Sequel
Synopsis:
Settlers of Catan is the
best game to come from overseas to date. It has a huge cult
following and a universal appeal to all ages, races and genders.
This is a board game you can also get your significant other to play with
you and possibly beat you at so beware. The objective is to reach a
set amount of points (usually 10) by various methods. There is a
great amount of strategy as well as sheer luck involved so even a beginner
can beat a seasoned veteran with good dice rolls. You want to
collect various resources in order to build more settlements and city’s
while building roads to expand your area of influence..
Game Play:
The board is a fluid hex tile base board rather than the static “Risk” type map. After the Random setup everyone rolls to see who places first. The initial setup each player places one settlement. The last person to place their initial gets to place the first secondary. There is a good deal of strategy involved with the initial placement and this can often make or break the game. After everyone has placed his or her settlements you get a resource from each resource hex that is connected to your second placement. You then play from their building roads and cities and collecting various resources in order to buy cities or resource cards. You can also trade or steal resources from other players depending on your playing style. Each player rolls the dice and everyone receives a resource when they have a settlement or City adjacent to that resource Hex upon each player’s Die Roll. If a player rolls a 7 then they may place the Thief token upon a resource hex, and stealing a resource from an adjacent players Settlement or City. Play continues until 1 player reaches 10 points.
Resources:
There are 4 Types of resources in Settlers; Wood, Sheep, Ore, Wheat and Brick. You need Various Combinations of these to Buy Development cards, Roads, Settlements, and Cities.
Types of Playing
Pieces:
Roads: Roads are worth no points individually but you get 2 points for having the longest continuous Road.
Settlements: Each settlement gives you 1 point plus 1 of each type of resource that is rolled.
Cities: Each City gives you 2 points plus 2 of each type of resource that is rolled.
Thief: The thief is a neutral piece that is moved by any player that rolls a 7 or plays a soldier card that player then places the thief to any hex they wish.
Types of Game Hexes:
Water: Water is a border piece that surrounds the resource Hex’s.
Port: There are 2 types of ports specific resource trading and generic trading. A player controlling a specific resource can trade 2 of that resource for any 1 of another. A player that controls a generic trading port can trade 3 of any resource for any 1 of another.
Desert: Starting place for thief otherwise this hex is nothing more than an obstacle.
Resources: Players may
build roads around these and build around them to gain the resource.
Types
of Development Cards:
Soldier Cards: Soldier cards may be used to move the Thief and then kept to create the Largest Army which gives the player with the most used Army cards gets 2 points and the title Largest Army.
Road Building: This card allows a player to build 2 roads.
Monopoly: This card allows a player to take all of 1 resource from all players.
Windfall: When played a player gains 2 resources of any type.
Point Cards: These
cards all give the player 1 point towards victory but offer no other game
play advantages.
Final Thoughts:
This game while fairly easy to learn and play is not easy to win. Games can be won or lost due to bad placement or dice rolls so no matter how good you are if you have a bad dice rolling night you can lose. This game can be played with 2 players but it is more fun the more people that play with you. There are also many different variations that can be found online and in periodicals so try them out and find what you like but if you haven’t played this game then you are missing out on a truly fun experience. This is one of those rare games that comes across only once in a while that appeals to nearly everyone. I know better than most that a lot of games are predominantly testosterone driven guy fests where you hang the “He-Man Woman Haters Club” sign on the door, and hang out with your friends. Don’t do that with this one. Bring your wife, your girlfriend and even your children in on this one and you will have a great night of fun and frustration.
Written by Steve Bigam
(Posted 12-04-01)