Catan (formerly Settlers of Catan), the most popular and iconic of the Eurogames that have swept the world since the 1990s, has sold more than 35 million copies in 40 different languages. For the first time ever, Catan’s mechanics and strategies are detailed in basic language and straightforward illustrations, for everyone from first-time gamers to tournament players.

Section I introduces the rules to the game, including those that are commonly disputed among players. Section II covers the mechanics of the game and discusses concepts like the Gaussian curve, production, power hexes vs. power intersections, inherent value vs. trade value, actual cost vs. opportunity cost, and total production value (TPV). Section III, the largest, is dedicated to advanced considerations to improve players’ games. These include tactics and strategy; the three pillars of Catan (points, potential and power); assessing one’s position during gameplay; hoarding; burst-building; roads; settlements, cities, and their placement; harbors and trading, with helpful tips about player-to-player and maritime trades and a ranking of the 2:1 harbors; use of development cards; early game strategy; and middle- and endgame theory. Section IV offers helpful, commonsense tips for players, including how to remain calm, talk at the table, and to play hardcore Catan. Section V discusses expansions, scenarios and alternate rules; supercards; and the fatal flaw of 2-player Catan.

Philip Lee worked with children with special needs in the U.S. and U.K. for 23 years before turning to writing. A teacher of chess and other strategy games, he holds degrees in history and education.

Philip Lee
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 149
Bibliographic Info: 71 illustrations, glossary, notes
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9513-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5248-1
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction 1

Why a Strategy Guide for a Game Based on the Luck of the Dice? 1

I. The Rules 3

Resource Cards 3  •  Board Setup: Hexes, Number Tiles, and Dots 4  •  

Game Pieces: Roads, Settlements, and Cities 6  •  Resource Generation 7  •  The Robber 8  •  The Limit 9  •  The Distance Rule 9  •  Development Cards 10  •  Longest Road and Largest Army 10  •  Setup Phase 12  •  Turn Sequence 13  •  Winning the Game 16  •  Commonly Disputed Rules 17

II. The Mechanics of the Game 19

The Gaussian Curve 19  •  Production 20  •  Number Spectra 22  •  Power Hexes and Power Intersections 22  •  Inherent Value vs. Trade Value 23  •  Actual Cost vs. Opportunity Cost 23  •  Total Production Value (TPV) 24  •  The TPV Formula 24  •  Harbor Formulas 26

III. Advanced Considerations 27

Strategy vs. Tactics 27  •  The Three Pillars of Catan 29  •  Who’s Ahead? 30  •  The Design of Catan 31  •  Hoarding 32  •  Burst-Building 33  •  Roads 36  •  Settlements 51  •  Cities 55  •  Harbors and Trading 59  •  Development Cards 72  •  Game Phases 95  •  Opening Theory 95  •  Middlegame Theory 118  •  Endgame Theory 124

IV. Common-Sense Catan 126

Burn This Book 126  •  Be in the Game! 126  •  The Power of Calm 127  •  Table Talk 127  •  Hardcore Catan 128

V. Wrapup 129

Last Words 129  •  Expansions, Scenarios, and Alternate Rules 129  •  Supercards 130  •  The Fatal Flaw of ­Two-Player Catan 132  •  Tell Me I’m Wrong! 132

Glossary: The Language of Catan 135

Chapter Notes 141