Anyone who plays this can play with one thing in mind: no one can be conquered or eliminated. Each player is a Settler in the fictional island of Catan. Each players has to build cities, roads, and towns across a large game map of Catan. The goal to win is to earn 10 victory points. From this aspect, the game appears simple, but actually it is an intense strategic game.
The game map is made of nearly a dozen hexagon tiles, each with a different region type (desert, forest, mountains, fields, mud, and pastures). Surronding the island is ocean, with certain ports on certain corners of the island. These regions are placed in a circular pattern in a random fashion. Each game is played with a different combination (so no two games are the same!).
A total of 5 players place towns on the corners of these hexagons. Each region has a number tile placed on it, ranging from 2 to 12. Two dice are rolled, and whatever number is rolled, resources from the respective regions are earned. Based on chance, resources are gathered and either saved or used to build and develop settlements.
For example, if player 2 rolls a total of 6 (3 and 3), then that player can collect resources of wheat and wool. But player 4 has no settlements adjacent to "6" hexagons. Thus Player 4 recieves no resources for the turn.
Turns consist of a certain number of stages: 1) dice roll 2) collect resources 3) trade 4) build or develop and 5) turn to next player.
1) DICE ROLL: Each player at the start of their turn rolls the two dice. See above for rules.
2) COLLECT RESOURCES: Every player collect resources based on settlment position. If player 3 rolls, all players collect (if eligable).
3) TRADE: Only the player who rolled the dice is allowed to begin trading. Trading consists of swapping resources. No limits are on trading (3 wood can be given for 1 wheat, or 5 brick for 5 ore).
4) BUILD or DEVELOP: Resources are used to buy settlements or roads. Development cards can be purschased for a certain combination of resources.
5) END TURN: the next player rolls the dice and the process begins again.
The final goal of the game is to win 10 VICTORY POINTS. Points are earned through building and development. One town equals one point. The upgrade of a town, a city, is worth two points. Special trophies, such as longest road, earn two points. Development cards may contain special buildings for a civilization, such as a library, which is worth one point. The first to reach 10 at any point in the game wins.
Each player begins with two settlements (so everyone starts with 2 victory points!). Each player rolls the dice and the highest number rolled places a settlement and road on the board. Then the next highest player places their settlement on the map. Settlements must be built within two spaces from each other on the hexagon points.
Roads can be built anywhere, but must be adjacent to one of your roads already. This is where strategy comes in, because resource numbers (such as 2 or 12) are rarely rolled compared to common numbers (6 or 8). Experienced players will think far ahead and place their towns on strategic inlets.
This game lasts approxmately two hours, but it will surely be two hours of amazing fun. This game is complex, but is a joy to any one who plays. Personally, my close friends and I always play this game and have always thought it is a great way for clean fun and special memories.
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