Settlers of Catan

[evman150]

Anybody else play this game? One of my friends recently introduced it to the group and we all can't get enough of it.

It's so addictive and has seemingly tremendous replay value.

I've never played anything like it before. Hell, I haven't even played Risk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlers_of_catan

And to play online (the game is called "Xplorers"):

http://games.asobrain.com/

Any other Cataners out there?

[SeeGeeWhy]

Yeah, it is very fun. I am a big board game fan.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by evman150

Anybody else play this game? One of my friends recently introduced it to the group and we all can't get enough of it.

It's so addictive and has seemingly tremendous replay value.

I've never played anything like it before. Hell, I haven't even played Risk.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlers_of_catan

And to play online (the game is called "Xplorers"):

http://games.asobrain.com/

Any other Cataners out there?

My friends and I played Cataan for a while but graduated on to different games. If you like Cataan, try Puerto Rico, Alhambra, Caylus, or Carcasonne. There's lots of games out there like Cataan, but they only seem popular with a small portion of the population (board-game nerds).

[llama64]

Nerd alert.

Catan is great. I've got Starfarer's of Catan which is a different take on the same basic concept. I've never figured out a decent strategy for these games though. Everything is based too much on luck for any discernible strategy to actually work.

[Rathji]

My wife bought my Settlers for a pre-Christmas present. I have wanted it forever since the only place I could ever play it was at my Grandparents house ~3 hours away. Now we are constantly setting up Settlers nights with our friends who are willing.

s3d connector is a pretty good online version.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by llama64

Nerd alert.

Catan is great. I've got Starfarer's of Catan which is a different take on the same basic concept. I've never figured out a decent strategy for these games though. Everything is based too much on luck for any discernible strategy to actually work.

That's why we graduated to non-dice games. Puerto Rico & Caylus in particular are 'pure strategy' games, no dice-work or random aspects involved (like chess I suppose). We got tired of games being won or lost on dice rolls... may as well just spend 20 minutes playing dice than 2 hours playing a board game that gets resolved in the same fashion.

[troutman]

Settlers is just the tip of the ice berg - a gateway game to the world of "Euro" style boardgames. Other good starter games are Pirate's Cove, Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne. Then, try deeper games like Puerto Rico, El Grande, Power Grid, Memoir '44 etc.

Here is a Settlers strategy guide:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/197511

MOST of the people who win are winning because they have a good distribution of numbers – regardless of what their stated strategy is.

People will keep telling you that Settlers is about the resources, but I promise you, it is about the numbers. If I can’t convince you of that, you should probably stop reading right here. If you can suspend your disbelief long enough to continue, I think you’ll find some really great stuff in here.

The best strategy of all is to diversify – and I’m not talking about resources. You should try to get on as many different numbers as possible to ensure that whatever gets rolled, you get a resource. Above all else, it is of paramount importance to get a good spread of numbers. Grabbing 6, 8, 5, 9, 4, and 10, are a first priority. You may also eventually want to expand to 3 and 11 if there is a particularly valuable or rare commodity on those hexes.

Calgary is lucky to have a great game store, The Sentry Box:

www.sentrybox.com

The Calgary Boardgames Meetup Group:

http://boardgames.meetup.com/33/?gj=sj6

The top-rated games:

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/browser...=rank&rank=1#1

Maybe we should start a calgarypuck boardgame group - meet once a month?

[Hakan]

I bought Carcasonne as a gift to myself for Christmas. Great game. I like a little inclusion of luck to a game. I don't like entirely luck based games but luck always keeps things a little interesting and, in my opinion, enhances strategy.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Hakan

I bought Carcasonne as a gift to myself for Christmas. Great game. I like a little inclusion of luck to a game. I don't like entirely luck based games but luck always keeps things a little interesting and, in my opinion, enhances strategy.

The luck factor in Carcassonne is over-rated IMO. Really good players will usually win. They understand what kind if tiles are left in the bag, and how to snooker opponents. Sometimes, a lucky draw at the end of the game will swing the game, but that's okay with me.

To add more chaos, expansions like Dragon & Princess, The Tower, and Mayor & Abbey, increase the randomness.

Certainly one of my favorite games. Even visited Carcassonne on my last trip to France.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Settlers of Catan is awesome. My wife and I have Settlers and the "Cities and Knights" expansion, which adds a whole new strategic dimension, esp. in multiplayer games. We also have "Puerto Rico," a very good (if slightly politically incorrect) game.

[Agamemnon]

If anyone here likes Puerto Rico (pretty popular game) try Caylus... I find it's basically an advanced version of Puerto Rico.

[photon]

How fun are these games with just two people? I've always wanted to try some of them.

[Hakan]

Carcassonne is an excellent two player game. A two player game I really enjoy is the card game Citadels.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by photon

How fun are these games with just two people? I've always wanted to try some of them.

Not too many of these games are two players.

Besides Carcassonne, there is San Juan, Lost Cities, Race For The Galaxy. There is a Settlers card game.

Memoir '44 is especially designed for two players.

If you like NHL hockey, try Strat-O-Matic hockey.

[kootenayguy9]

Does anyone here play at Jsettlers.com????

If you do bring it on! I am looking for my 4000th Catan win on Case's Ladder.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by photon

How fun are these games with just two people? I've always wanted to try some of them.

Settlers can be played with two people. It's not too bad, though it's a little better with at least 3.

[troutman]

^^^^^

Yes, trading would be weird with two players.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by troutman

^^^^^

Yes, trading would be weird with two players.

We thought that at first, but it's not that different than with three. In both cases you need to pay attention to what resources your opponent picks up, and what things they need to build, etc. After that, you can talk a person into trading if it's for mutual benefit. Of course you can't trade to a weaker player to the disadvantage of a stronger player, so that's a strategy that isn't available.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

We also have "Puerto Rico," a very good (if slightly politically incorrect) game.

Common, what colour were they supposed to make the pieces for the slaves that harvest your cotton crops?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by photon

How fun are these games with just two people? I've always wanted to try some of them.

Caylus and Carcassone are probably two of the better 2 players ones I've tried. Alhambra is 2 player as well but more of a luck element.