Catan (Refresh 2015)

Step into the vibrant world of CATAN, where strategy and negotiation drive you to become the leading force on the dynamic island of Catan! In this engaging board game, players compete to build settlements, cities, and roads, all while gathering essential resources to forge their empires.

Each turn begins with the roll of the dice, determining which resources the island generously produces. Collect and spend cards representing sheep, wheat, wood, brick, and ore—the building blocks of your civilization. Every terrain type, except the barren desert, has unique resource outputs: hills yield brick, forests provide wood, mountains deliver ore, fields grow wheat, and pastures raise sheep.

Setting up the game is a thrilling experience in itself! Players randomly place large hexagonal tiles, showcasing the five resource-rich terrains (alongside the desert), creating a honeycomb shape surrounded by water tiles featuring trade ports. Number disks, corresponding to the rolls of two six-sided dice, are then placed on each terrain tile, ready to dictate resource availability.

At the start of the game, each player receives two settlements (think cozy houses) and roads (resembling sticks) to strategically position at the intersections and borders of the terrain tiles. Collect resources by placing settlements next to the right tiles and watch your hand of resource cards grow. Don’t forget! A robber pawn takes residency on the desert tile, waiting for its moment to disrupt the flow of resources.

Every turn is packed with excitement! Roll the dice to collect resources, develop cities (which are like upgrading to luxurious hotels), or trade at ports. Players can also barter resource cards amongst each other, or opt to play development cards for strategic advantages. If the dice roll lands on a 7, the active player maneuvers the robber to block resources on a chosen terrain tile and steals a card from a neighboring player.

Victory points are your ultimate goal! Accumulate points by constructing settlements and cities, achieving the longest road, fielding the largest army through development cards, or gathering special cards that grant additional points. The first player to reach 10 points—some of which might remain hidden—shouts victory and claims the crown of CATAN!

Gather your friends and family, and get ready for a captivating journey filled with strategic depth, thrilling trades, and competitive flair. Do you have what it takes to conquer CATAN?