Rather than expand the entire game as the previous two titles did, Traders & Barbarians introduces the use of five new modules – some of which can be combined together. You might want to start crafting some thick skin. It can also make the game a little meaner. The progress cards are replaced by a new set that are acquired automatically – if you have invested in refined goods.Ĭities & Knights takes overlooked or banal facets of the base game and makes them exciting and intriguing. The largest army bonus is replaced by victory points for knights that fight off barbarians. Without deviating too terribly from the base game’s core system, it creates new strategic layers and original competition. This is, without a doubt, the best expansion created for Catan. If you don’t, they could sack one of your cities turning it into a settlement. You have to secure the aid of knights to fight them off. Meanwhile, barbarians are invading slowly but surely. Those refined goods can then be turned in to increase your progress which gives you better access to cards. Instead of double producing, Cities can now make refined goods of Coin, Cloth, and Paper. Cities & Knights adds a ton of new stuff. Cities and Knightsīut if you do want to enlarge the ruleset, this is it. This is the simplest addition to Catan as it merely increases the playing space without significantly enlarging the ruleset. Like roads, the shipping lanes can block other players out and you can get some cutthroat maneuvers. Even so, you can get in each others’ way just the same. You have a bigger board and more ways to travel. Seafarers takes everything you love about Catan and simply enlarges it. Building the first settlement on a new island gives you a bonus victory point.
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To get from one island to the other, you build ships along ocean hexes that are treated much the same way as roads. You can have several smaller islands or perhaps one big one with some satellite offshoots. The board is no longer all one big island but instead multiple lands.
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Seafarers takes the roads of the base game onto the ocean. But it has also spawned four major expansions that you can add to the game you already know and love. There are numerous scenarios and you can find a ton of standalone games using the Catan system. But when you’re ready to grow out from Catan, there is no shortage of extensions. The theme isn’t war or fantasy (or fantasy war), but instead about settling a remote island.Ĭatan will last you dozens of plays – especially if it was one of your first introductions to hobby gaming. The rules are simple to explain – removing or reducing one of the biggest barriers to entry into board gaming.
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Catanis rightly credited with being instrumental in ushering in the eurogame to American audiences.