Instructions Die Siedler von Catan

Objective of the Game

In The Settlers of Catan, the goal is to be the first player to reach 10 victory points. These points are earned by building settlements, roads, and cities, as well as by collecting development and trade cards.

Game Setup

• The board consists of hexagonal terrain tiles, randomly assembled to form the island of Catan.
• Each tile produces a specific resource type: grain, ore, wood, brick, or wool.
• Each tile is assigned a number from 2 to 12, indicating its production probability.
• Players choose their color and initially place two settlements and two roads at intersections and edges of the game board.
• Each settlement is placed at intersections of different terrain tiles.

Sequence of Play

A game turn involves the following phases:

1. Resource Production by Dice Roll
2. The active player rolls two six-sided dice.
3. Each combination of dice numbers activates the corresponding terrain hexes that bear the same numbers.

4. All players who have settlements or cities on these hexes receive the respective resources.

5. Trading

6. Players may trade resources among each other or against ports in play.

7. You can trade with any player as many times as desired.

8. Building

9. Players can build structures, including roads, settlements, or cities, by paying the required resources:
   • Road: 1 brick, 1 wood
   • Settlement: 1 wood, 1 brick, 1 wool, 1 grain
   • City: upgrade a settlement, 3 ore, 2 grain
10. Development cards can also be purchased, offering extra advantages and victory points.

Special Rules

• The Robber: When a 7 is rolled, no resources are produced. Instead, the active player moves the robber and steals a resource card from an affected player. Players with more than 7 resource cards must discard half.
• Special Goals:
• Longest Road (five or more roads in a row) grants 2 victory points.
• Largest Army (three knight cards played) grants 2 victory points.

Strategic Considerations

• Choosing the right starting position is crucial. Ensure you have access to a variety of resources.
• Smart expansion of infrastructure (roads and settlements) not only scores more points but can also block opponents from expanding.
• Trading skills are advantageous: Conduct lucrative trades and observe opponents’ resource intake to deal wisely.

The Settlers of Catan is a versatile, strategic game that offers deep tactical complexity despite relatively simple rules.