OT: Settlers of Catan

lcjjdnh · 02-16-2003, 06:09 PM

Looks like we're going to get a lot of snow where I lived so I think the family is going to be taking out Settlers of Catan tomorrow. Anyway I have a couple of questions for those who play.

1) Anyone have some general tips for the game? I realize the board bieng different each time limits some of the strategies but there must be a few good general things.

2)Does anyone know of a good way to keep the board from moving. It seems everytime time the board is lightly touched it moves?

3)On that note, apparently the expansion packs come with a board holder. Does anyone have any comments on Seafarers or Cities and Knights?

TredWel · 02-16-2003, 07:09 PM

1) There are a few good rules of thumb to follow:

- Get a port early, perhaps even in your first placements. Either a 3:1 generic or a 2:1 specialty. The flexibility will help you time and time again.

- Make sure you have a way to get rocks. They are the scarcest commodity on the board right there with brick), and you need three to build a city. A steady source of rocks are always good trade fodder, too.

- Focus on getting one of the two-point cards. If you're near wood and brick, focus on getting longest road. With plenty of wheat, sheep, or rocks, try to get largest army. I can't remember a game where the winner didn't own one of the two cards.

2) Can't say I've really been affected too much by moving the board. It's a small pain to have to replace to pieces that have gone slightly off-kilter, but not much of a problem. So we really haven't devised a way to keep the board in place.

3) Seafarers - It's a nice change of pace, but really doesn't add much to the game, IMO.

Cities & Knights - So much is added to the Settlers experience in this game that it's hardly recognizable as it's own game. I prefer it slightly over plain Settlers, but I know people who feel that it's too complicated.

Aylmar · 02-16-2003, 11:14 PM

I love to play Settlers with the Cities & Knights expansion. It's a great addition to the game, IMO. In my little group, we have both expansions and play with all of the various rules in place. It's a great time. You'll like the control that the board edges give you as well...

Oh yeah...and when TredWel says rocks, I'm pretty sure he means ore.

SirFozzie · 02-17-2003, 12:05 AM

Love that game, although It's so weird.. whenever we play, 2 and 12 are MORE likely to be rolled then 6-8.

Has anyone here ever played Carcassone, awesome game, and the expansion makes it better

TredWel · 02-17-2003, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aylmar

Oh yeah...and when TredWel says rocks, I'm pretty sure he means ore.

Rocks, ore, stone ... I've heard the commodities called many things during games of Settlers I've played. Same for bricks/clay, sheep/wool, wood/sticks/lumber, and grain/wheat. Nobody picks the same five terms.

Craptacular · 02-17-2003, 01:20 AM

The most important tip is to realize no matter how bleak things look, you almost always find a way to have a chance to win. Players usually pick on the leaders, so you have a better chance to catch up ... unless your friends just don't like you and keep screwing you over.

You're usually going to end up getting a lot of 1 or 2 of the 5 resources, so go with it. The point about the longest road and largest army is a good one; you often need at least one of those to win.

I think Seafarers is a fun game, especially if you use the scenario where you have one island at one end, gold in the other corner, and you explore unchartered water. A lot of times, you'll get cut off on the water, but that usually leaves you with free reign on the island.

QuikSand · 02-17-2003, 08:40 AM

My group has largely stopped playing Settlers as we are all but consumed by Carcassonne.

However, think the biggest advice in Settlers is to be flexible. It's tough to say "bricks are the key" or "ports are the key" - even though both are frequently true. The beauty of the new game board every time is that you get a different game from that... if your brick tiles are on a 5, 6 and a 9 - than bricks will be fairly abundant in your game. If they are on 3, 4, and 11 - then they will be fairly scarce. And if they are on 3, 4, and 8 - then you can expect the robber to sit on that 8 spot for much of the game (don't forget that as you place your initial tokens).

I like to just "play the hand I'm dealt" - and if that means cashing in development cards early in the game rather than building roads, that's fine by me.

Another thought.. if you're playing the original game - try playing to 12 point, rather than 10. It makes not just for a slightly longer game, but a much richer one.

02-16-2003, 07:09 PM	#2
TredWel High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Old Forge, PA	1) There are a few good rules of thumb to follow: - Get a port early, perhaps even in your first placements. Either a 3:1 generic or a 2:1 specialty. The flexibility will help you time and time again. - Make sure you have a way to get rocks. They are the scarcest commodity on the board right there with brick), and you need three to build a city. A steady source of rocks are always good trade fodder, too. - Focus on getting one of the two-point cards. If you're near wood and brick, focus on getting longest road. With plenty of wheat, sheep, or rocks, try to get largest army. I can't remember a game where the winner didn't own one of the two cards. 2) Can't say I've really been affected too much by moving the board. It's a small pain to have to replace to pieces that have gone slightly off-kilter, but not much of a problem. So we really haven't devised a way to keep the board in place. 3) Seafarers - It's a nice change of pace, but really doesn't add much to the game, IMO. Cities & Knights - So much is added to the Settlers experience in this game that it's hardly recognizable as it's own game. I prefer it slightly over plain Settlers, but I know people who feel that it's too complicated. __________________ There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people...religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. - Linus Van Pelt

02-16-2003, 11:14 PM	#3
Aylmar High School Varsity Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Los Angeles	I love to play Settlers with the Cities & Knights expansion. It's a great addition to the game, IMO. In my little group, we have both expansions and play with all of the various rules in place. It's a great time. You'll like the control that the board edges give you as well... Oh yeah...and when TredWel says rocks, I'm pretty sure he means ore. __________________ "At its best, football is still football, an amalgam of thought and violence, chess with broken bones and shredded ligaments." -- Dave Kindred

02-17-2003, 12:05 AM	#4
SirFozzie Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: The State of Insanity	Love that game, although It's so weird.. whenever we play, 2 and 12 are MORE likely to be rolled then 6-8. Has anyone here ever played Carcassone, awesome game, and the expansion makes it better __________________ Check out Foz's New Video Game Site, An 8-bit Mind in an 8GB world! http://an8bitmind.com

02-17-2003, 01:20 AM	#6
Craptacular College Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Mad City, WI	The most important tip is to realize no matter how bleak things look, you almost always find a way to have a chance to win. Players usually pick on the leaders, so you have a better chance to catch up ... unless your friends just don't like you and keep screwing you over. You're usually going to end up getting a lot of 1 or 2 of the 5 resources, so go with it. The point about the longest road and largest army is a good one; you often need at least one of those to win. I think Seafarers is a fun game, especially if you use the scenario where you have one island at one end, gold in the other corner, and you explore unchartered water. A lot of times, you'll get cut off on the water, but that usually leaves you with free reign on the island.

02-17-2003, 08:40 AM	#7
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	My group has largely stopped playing Settlers as we are all but consumed by Carcassonne. However, think the biggest advice in Settlers is to be flexible. It's tough to say "bricks are the key" or "ports are the key" - even though both are frequently true. The beauty of the new game board every time is that you get a different game from that... if your brick tiles are on a 5, 6 and a 9 - than bricks will be fairly abundant in your game. If they are on 3, 4, and 11 - then they will be fairly scarce. And if they are on 3, 4, and 8 - then you can expect the robber to sit on that 8 spot for much of the game (don't forget that as you place your initial tokens). I like to just "play the hand I'm dealt" - and if that means cashing in development cards early in the game rather than building roads, that's fine by me. Another thought.. if you're playing the original game - try playing to 12 point, rather than 10. It makes not just for a slightly longer game, but a much richer one.

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