Exploring and Storing Catan
Catan, formerly known as Settlers of Catan, is one of the most popular and beloved hobby games, played worldwide. The simple rules touch on a few different elements, from resource management to the “Gotcha!” of a well-timed robber placement. For many gamers, it is the first “hobby game” played when moving away from mass market board games.
Players set the board, either using the suggested layout or built randomly, with each non-desert tile getting a number. This number determines the die roll that activates that tile. A player with a settlement or city touching that hex will receive the appropriate resource cards. Players use resources to build new roads, new settlements or cities, and buy development cards. Also, players can trade resources with other players; getting advantageous deals is a core strategy.
Play continues until a player reaches 10 or more victory points. Players gain victory points through cities, settlements, and development cards. Players can gain points for having the most Knight cards or for having the longest chain of adjoining roads. The many expansions may change the basic victory conditions. For more information, read the official site.
There are many accessories to make playing the game easier and more convenient.
Bit Boxes can help keep pieces organized within the box, and make setup easier.
Bit Trays keep your tokens organized while making retrieval easy. These store as flat panels and fold into trays when playing.
Protecting your cards with board game card sleeves is recommended to keep the cards in new condition. Catan resource cards and development cards are 54mm by 80mm. “American Standard” Board Game Card Sleeves are BCW’s closest size for these cards.
If you want to keep your card piles extra organized, the Modular Sorting Trays is helpful. Individual card cells can be connected into rows or a grid to create the card trays that’s best for your needs. Each box contains 6 cells, one for each resource and development cards.
New player or old, you will find Catan still holds many fun evenings. Of course, when the basic game gets stale, one of the many stand-alone variant editions blend familiar rules with new twists to create new gameplay experiences. Between the expansions and editions, there is a version that appeals to any type of gamer.