Instructions Catan – Junior

Objective:

In "Catan – Junior," the goal is to be the first player to build seven pirate hideouts by collecting and strategically using resources.

Components:

• Game Board: The board shows Catan's island world, featuring fields like Gold Island, Planks, Sheep, Swords, and Pineapples.
• Resource Cards: There are five types of resources: planks, sheep, swords, pineapples, and gold.
• Pirate Hideouts and Ships: Each player has a set of colorful pirate hideouts and ships.
• Die: One six-sided die.

Setup:

• Each player chooses a color and receives the corresponding ships and pirate hideouts.
• Each player places their ships' ends on the designated starting locations on the board.
• Each player receives one resource card of each type, with gold being obtained during gameplay.

Gameplay:

The game is played in clockwise order. Each turn consists of the following steps:

1. Roll the Dice: The player rolls the die to see which fields produce resources. Players with ships or hideouts adjacent to these islands receive the corresponding resource cards.

2. If the die shows "Gold Island," all players with ships at this island receive one gold card each.

3. Trade: Players may trade with the market or each other. You can exchange 2 identical cards for 1 card of your choice from the market.

4. Build: Players can use resource cards to build new ships or pirate hideouts.

5. Ship: 1 Sheep + 1 Wood
6. Pirate Hideout: 1 Sword + 1 Wood + 1 Sheep + 1 Pineapple
7. Gold can substitute any resource.

Building a Structure:

• Ships expand a player's trade routes, while pirate hideouts count toward victory.
• Ships must extend from a player's existing pirate hideout or ship.

The Flying Dutchman:

Once a player has five pirate hideouts, they may move the Flying Dutchman, blocking a location for pirate hideouts until a player collects four identical resources to relocate it.

Winning the Game:

The game ends when a player builds their seventh pirate hideout, thus claimed the victory in Catan - Junior.

Strategic Tips:

• Resource Management: Timing and resource allocation are crucial for success.
• Quick Success: Rapid expansion combined with a strong trading strategy is key.
• Using Gold: Gold's flexibility makes it invaluable for building and trading.

This game is well-suited for children as it introduces basic strategic thinking principles without being overly complex.