[OT] The Settlers of Catan

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp I am considering purchasing The Settlers of Catan, 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 and The Cities & Knights of Catan 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 and Starship Catan are separate games unto themselves, do they take place in the same universe as The Settlers of Catan, just many centuries later?


-G

 

[Piratecat]

Settlers is my favorite game: easy to learn, fun to play, a different board every time, and lots of viable strategies. In my opinion, it's the best of its brethren as well.

Get it. It really does rock, and you'll have no problem learning the rules.

 

[Celebrim]

The rules are quite simple. They can be learned in about 20 minutes. The game itself can be played by 4 experienced players in an hour or less, though less experienced players (and people who dither) will generally take an hour and a half to two hours. The game is only slightly longer with 5 or 6 players.

The expansions allow you to do more things with the basic rules (for instance build ships). It is not necessary to understand how they relate to the 'timeline' or 'story', since the story only gives a framework to the gameplay. The game can exist quite independently of any story.

In my opinion, the expansions don't add as much to the game compared to what the having the game adds to being able to play it (if that makes any sence to you). Thus, don't invest in the expansions until after you've played the game four or five dozen times and still enjoy it. The basic game is itself the best designed and most replayable scenario.

Once you play TSoC to its logical conclusion, try experimenting with some other German board games. There was a real renaissance in board game design in Germany over the past decade or so that was largely ignored by the US public.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Salutations,

I bought this recently for my group.

I read the rules and was able to teach my super-casual players how to play and we all had a good time.

If they can pick it up, then most people should have no problem.

FD

 

[EricNoah]

My 60 year old mother in law learned it easily and plays (and often kicks our butts). It really is a boardgame, though, I wasn't even aware that there was a "backstory." I think of it as a less violent version of Risk. Uh, with sheep.

 

[Goodsport]

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Thanks for the info, everyone!

&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp By the way, is the two-player The Settlers of Catan Card Game worth purchasing as well?

-G

 

[Rune]

I just played two games of it tonight, right before running our D&D session. It's great! Fast, fun, easy, and fun!

The first game took about an hour, the second about two.

One of the players (out of three) had never played before.

What's my point? There's barely any learning curve at all.

 

[Maldur]

Its a great game!

Other german Board/card games that are really nice:
Bonanza ( and its supplement), Space beans ( same theme, different game as Bonanza), Carcason, That weird palaquin racing game I just forgot the name of.

Ill add more as I come up with them

 

[Bran Blackbyrd]

I don't know about the card game, but there are probably reviews of it online.

I enjoy the game quite a bit. It's not hard to learn and it's a lot of fun.

In one game I was seriously hurting for resources and asked one of the other players for two ore (oar) and he asked why. I said it was so I could paddle my way back out of **** creek.

 

[Gizzard]

If you are looking for something extra to buy - buy two copies of the original! You need two sets to play the variations that involve 5-8 people. (You still need a couple cans of spray-paint to change the colors of the second set of playing pieces, or you need to buy two different editions of the original set.) In any case, Settlers is so simple and fun that it ends up being brought out for new players all the time. And soon enough, you have more than 4 people who want to play. ;-)