[Board Games] Settlers of Catan

[Holy Bovine]

I own the basic set, seafarers, 5-6 expansions for both and Cities and Knights. Of all of that only Cities & Knights get no play time. I've tried it a few times and the games dragged on for hours. I'm used to Settlers taking 2 hours at the most - usually done in 90 minutes or less. 4+ hours for one game with the C&K expansion is unacceptable. I doubt I will ever play C&K again.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I've played the original a number of times and enjoyed it every time. I'd be happy to play the expansions if I knew anyone that had them!

 

[JiffyPopTart]

The only "expansion" I suggest using is the little deck of event cards. They double for the die rolling as well and because there are 36 cards (one for each possible die roll) it takes a lot of the luck out of the game.

Nothing makes me want to burn Settlers more than going 6 or 7 turns in a row and not getting a single resource. The event cards deck pretty much eliminates that possibility.

The actual events on the cards are fairly minor and do not upset the balance of the game too much.

DS

 

[Dr. Talos]

I own the basic set, seafarers, 5-6 expansions for both and Cities and Knights. Of all of that only Cities & Knights get no play time. I've tried it a few times and the games dragged on for hours. I'm used to Settlers taking 2 hours at the most - usually done in 90 minutes or less. 4+ hours for one game with the C&K expansion is unacceptable. I doubt I will ever play C&K again.

My group plays C&K about twice a month with 5-6 players. A game normally runs right at 2 hours with the odd one going 2.5. Give it another try or add a timer

 

[weem]

Love Catan - an amazing game. I have played many many games - some with one or the other expansion, but TONS with both.

Cities and Knights is killer, and if I had to go without one it would be seafarers, but that's more about how awesome C/K is, not a matter of SF being bad (cause it's not at all).

I saw someone mention Puerto Rico which I have read a lot about - I think I need to get this one soon.

So yea, get Catan and start having a ton of fun

 

[MerricB]

The only "expansion" I suggest using is the little deck of event cards. They double for the die rolling as well and because there are 36 cards (one for each possible die roll) it takes a lot of the luck out of the game.

I tend to use the cards and ignore the events.

As an additional note, these are included as one of the miniexpansions in the "Traders & Barbarians" expansion.

Cheers!

 

[blargney the second]

As an additional note, these are included as one of the miniexpansions in the "Traders & Barbarians" expansion.

I wish I'd known that this afternoon... still, it's good to know!

 

[JiffyPopTart]

If you didn't want to use the events, i would suggest getting a couple decks of common playing cards and assembling a deck of "die rolls" to use. You could probably pull this off using the spare change you find in your couch.

DS

 

[blargney the second]

We tried out Traders & Barbarians last night, specifically the caravan scenario and the event cards. The camels were totally fun, and we all loved them. I hadn't anticipated the way the cards would promote card counting, but I could certainly get used to it. I think the other players didn't like them at all, but they like to use house rules to increase the randomness of the game.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I haven't played Settlers for years. I was thinking of getting hold of it and playing it with my kids, but I'm concerned that it might still be a little old for them.

Has anyone played it with children? of which ages?

Cheers