After a long day of work and study, it’s important to unwind and de-stress. But if you’re looking for a way to relax while still engaging your brain, look no further than the board game Catan! In this guide, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to get started with this fun and strategic game.
1 Introduction to Board Game Catan
Catan Board Game Set
Catan is a strategy board game that challenges players to build settlements, cities, and roads while trading and acquiring resources. It’s a game of tactics and negotiation, as players barter and trade with one another to get the resources they need to expand their civilizations. With its interactive gameplay, Catan creates a lively and social atmosphere that fosters communication, negotiation, and a bit of friendly competition.
For more information: Basic Rules and Expansions
2 Learn the Rules of Catan in 5 Minutes
Illustration of Catan Players
For more information: Rules Summary
3 How to Play Catan
Catan Game Simulation
Playing Catan is simple. All you need is a group of players and a complete Catan game set, which includes:
- 19 land tiles
- 6 sea frames
- 9 ports
- 18 round number tokens
- 95 Resource Cards (including stone, wheat, wood, sheep, and brick)
- 25 Development Cards (including 14 Soldier Cards, 6 Project Cards, and 5 Victory Point Cards)
- 4 Building Cost Cards
- 2 “Longest Road” and “Largest Army” cards
- 16 Cities (4 of each color)
- 20 Settlements (5 of each color)
- 60 roads (15 of each color)
- 2 dice (1 yellow, 1 red)
- 1 Robber
- 1 Rulebook and summary sheet
Once you have your game set, it’s time to set up the board. There are two types of board setups: one for new players and one for experienced players. After setting up the board, one player should explain the rules, and then you can start playing according to the steps outlined in Section 1.
For more information: Detailed Rules
4 Game Setup
Catan Game Setup Illustration
Each player chooses a color and takes 5 settlements, 4 cities, and 15 roads of that color. To start, players place 2 settlements and 2 roads on the game board, keeping the remaining pieces in front of them. Next, each player takes the Building Cost card corresponding to their chosen color.
Place the “Longest Road” and “Largest Army” cards next to the game board, along with the two dice. Separate the Resource Cards into 5 stacks and place them next to the board. Shuffle the Development Cards and place them face down next to the board.
5 Cards
Catan Game Cards
Catan features several types of cards, each with its own function and importance in the game. There are 95 Resource Cards, 25 Development Cards, 4 Building Cost Cards, and 2 special cards (“Longest Road” and “Largest Army”). Understanding how to use these cards effectively is key to winning the game.
6 Detailed Rules
Catan Game Components
Resource Production
To produce resources, players roll two dice and sum the numbers. The total corresponds to the resource-producing land tiles. Players receive one resource for each settlement they own and two resources for each city. If there are not enough resources to distribute in a turn, no one receives any resources.
Trading
After resource production, players can trade resources with each other to accumulate the resources they need. There are two types of trades in the game:
Internal Trade
- During your turn, you can negotiate and trade with other players to get the resources you need.
Port Trade
- In this type of trade, you can exchange resources at any time during your turn, but the exchange rate is 4:1. You must give 4 cards of the same resource to get 1 card of the resource you want.
- If you have a settlement or city adjacent to a port, you can trade at the port’s rate.
Building
- In this phase, you can employ different strategies to win the game by expanding your roads, upgrading settlements to cities, or purchasing Development Cards.
- To build, you must pay the required resources as indicated on the Building Cost card, and keep your Development Cards secret.
Road Building Requirements
- New roads must connect to existing roads or settlements. Only build one road per path.
- The player who builds the longest continuous road (5 or more roads) receives the “Longest Road” card. If another player builds a longer road, they take the card.
- The player holding the “Longest Road” card earns 2 points.
Settlement Building Requirements
- Build only one settlement at an intersection when all three intersections are unoccupied. Each settlement must be connected to at least one of your roads.
- When a resource-producing land tile is revealed, you receive one resource card for each adjacent settlement you own.
- Each settlement is worth 1 point.
City Building Requirements
- To build a city, upgrade a settlement. Cities produce twice as many resources as settlements. You will receive 2 resource cards for each resource-producing land tile adjacent to your city.
- Each city is worth 2 points.
Development Card Purchase Requirements
- When purchasing a Development Card, draw from the top of the deck and keep it secret.
Special Cases
- During the game, you may encounter special cases, such as rolling a 7 or encountering a robber. In these cases, carefully read the instructions on the cards and follow the rules for these special situations.
7 Where to Play Catan Online
When playing Catan, it’s important to understand the functions of the different cards and how they can be used to develop winning strategies. Pay close attention to the rules for building settlements and cities, and be mindful of potential errors during trades to avoid losing points.
A good tip for playing Catan is to focus on occupying the 6, 8, 5, 9, 4, and 10 positions, as these allow you to collect resources immediately. Additionally, be strategic and clever when trading and using Development Cards.
Now you know the basics of playing Catan! We wish you many enjoyable gaming experiences.
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