Catan - I don't understand or know how to play it, but best thing since UNO on XBLA

[RelentlessRolento]

http://www.catanlive.com/images/catan/catanscreen02.jpg


http://www.catanlive.com/images/catan/catanheader.gif


Official Site w/ Info (http://www.catanlive.com/catan.shtml)

http://www.catanlive.com/images/catan/achievement10.gif--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.catanlive.com/images/catan/achievement08.gif

Music From the Game

http://www.catanlive.com/downloads/anewisland.mp3

http://www.catanlive.com/downloads/firstsettlement.mp3

http://www.catanlive.com/downloads/thelongestroad.mp3

http://www.catanlive.com/downloads/thelargestarmy.mp3

Being a fan of simplistic games with longevity through unlimited possabilities, Catan looks nice and I look forward to learning to play it.

[Apossum]

Sounds very fun. Can't wait to learn it as well :)

[Strell]

It is a badass game.

Basically each hex is a resource. You put two settlements in between the hexes. Each hex has a number - 2 through 12, assigned randomly. There are forests (wood), mountains (rock), meadow (sheep), clay (brick), and field (sheep). There is also a desert that produces nothing where the bandit lives (more on that later).

On a player's turn, you roll two di. Their total determines which hexes yield a resource on that turn. So if you rolled a 3 and a 3, you get a 6. Any hex labeled with 6 produces. If your settlement is near it, you get a resource. Generally, anything with a 6 or 8 will produce the most, since those are statistically the greatest to be rolled.

You then use these to build things, such as roads or cities (an upgraded settlement). You can also use them to buy development cards, which can give you special outcomes. One might let you build two pieces of road instantly. Another might give you a soldier for your army. Another might give you a victory point.

The goal of the game is to get 10 victory points. For each settlement, you get a point. If you have the longest single road (of at least 5 segments), you get two points (this can be lost to other players if they build a longer road). If you upgrade your settlement to a city, you get 2 points and that city gets double resources. If you have the biggest army (of at least three soldiers) you get two points.

So having two settlements, a city, and the longest road would be 1 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 6.

If you get a development card and it's a soldier, you get to move the bandit to any hex you want. While he's there, resources stop being produced. This is a good way to cripple your opponents. Also, when you move him, you get to take a resource card randomly from that opponent.

That's really all there is to it.

Why is it so awesome? Because it's random. The locations are randomly placed, as well as the hex numbers. A typical game might take 45 minutes to an hour or so depending on what happens.

There's more to the game than that, but this is a quick crash course. I only just discovered it last Christmas and it is VERY fun. I am trying to get a copy myself so I can teach my friends and play it. I might even do the online version through MS Zone.

Needless to say, it is an incredibly addictive game. Simple, but can get very engaging.

Edit: In that screenshot, I'd wager blue stands the greatest chance to win. He has the potential to build a massive road, and his settlements give him access to all 5 resources. Red and Grey both lack one of the resources. Orange just has crappy positions, except he is rolling on two bricks, which can be very handy down the line when you want to start trading with others.

[Damian]

We used to play this all the time, it's too hard to get groups together often now so Live and an AI will be great.

[RelentlessRolento]

updated OP with music from the game... must be coming out very soon ???

[javeryh]

Strell knows all.

[amicus]

i love this game. i own all the expansions too.

[RelentlessRolento]

i love this game. i own all the expansions too.


wonder if the expansions will show up on live... probably yes if this is a hit.

[RedvsBlue]

SWEET, this'll be a day-1 download for me for SURE!

[rywateska]

Looks to be a good buy. How much do you think it'll cost?

[RelentlessRolento]

Looks to be a good buy. How much do you think it'll cost?


my guess is 800, but don't be surprised it'll be 1200, though I doubt that.

[mr ryles]

I'm guessing this used to be an old PC game or something. Being some of you have experience with it.

[RedvsBlue]

I'm guessing this used to be an old PC game or something. Being some of you have experience with it.

Nope, its a tabletop board game.

[mr ryles]

looks fun, even though it sounds confusing I'm some hands on experience would help things out.

[thrustbucket]

I'm big into Euro-board games and I have to say that I've always felt Settlers of Catan was extremely over-rated. Not a bad game, but there is much better (Too much dice = luck = pisses me off). Caracasonne was announced the same time Settlers of Catan was (for XBLA), and I like Caracassonne a lot more as it requires much more skill.

BTW, these both were due out before Christmas when they were announced originally in fall. Does anyone have any pics of Caracasonne?

[peloquin17]

i love this game. i own all the expansions too.
me too. i love the game.

its like monopoly and risk had a night of crazy drunken monkey sex and this was the offspring.

[arnoldrimmer]

I've been waiting for this game since I heard about it. I can't wait to play it since I can't find enough people to play the board game with me. I hope the AI is good because I'm guessing it won't take long until its hard to find a game online.

[amicus]

http://games.asobrain.com/

you can play it free online here. they call it xplorers. they have all the expansions. and theres lots of people on. easy to find a game.

[DCriminal]

I had no idea that Brian Reynolds was working on this game until I went to the official website earlier today. Holy crap! I can't wait for this game.

Like thrustbucket, I am also looking forward to Caracasonne.

[Strell]

http://games.asobrain.com/

you can play it free online here. they call it xplorers. they have all the expansions. and theres lots of people on. easy to find a game.

This might be the greatest thing that has ever happened ...... in the Xbox forums.

Thank you sir.

[amicus]

Caracasonne is on that site too. i posted above.

[doubledown]

Interesting....it got good reviews in the new OXM, so it must be hitting soon.

[jeffreyjrose]

As I don't have a 360 yet, I'm not in the know. Has this game hit Live yet? If so, any fun???

[Damian]

As I don't have a 360 yet, I'm not in the know. Has this game hit Live yet? If so, any fun???
Nope. No idea when.

[terribledeli]

Its scheduled for May 2007 based on the official site

http://www.catanlive.com/

"Settlers of Catan, the legendary board game from the mind of Klaus Teuber, is coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Developed by Brian Reynolds and Big Huge Games, Catan is slated for release in May 2007."

Whether that date holds up remains to be seen.

[RelentlessRolento]

Its scheduled for May 2007 based on the official site

http://www.catanlive.com/

"Settlers of Catan, the legendary board game from the mind of Klaus Teuber, is coming to Xbox Live Arcade. Developed by Brian Reynolds and Big Huge Games, Catan is slated for release in May 2007."

Whether that date holds up remains to be seen.


finally! next is hopefully puerto rico.

[thrustbucket]

finally! next is hopefully puerto rico.

I would make love to my 360 in public if we got Puerto Rico. I would seriously pay $50 if it were done right.

I am more anxious for Caracassonne than I am Settlers.

[RelentlessRolento]

I would make love to my 360 in public if we got Puerto Rico. I would seriously pay $50 if it were done right.

I am more anxious for Caracassonne than I am Settlers.


Well Puerto Rico is highly rumored to be coming to XBLA.

[Stormy151]

I'm looking forward to trying this game. My only hope is that its easier to get a quickmatch going than Uno. It takes me 10-12 tries to get into a game because I'm always getting booted. Maybe if I showed pornos on my Live cam... :lol:

[RelentlessRolento]

I know it won't happen right away, but Live Cam support would be very nice.

[PyroGamer]

Some friends of mine are into this game. Never played it myself.

I hope it supports the vision cam.

[lordwow]

This actually looks really neat.

I am all for Card & Board games on the 360.

[hufferstl]

I love Settlers. When I finally break down and pick up a 360, this will be a first day purchase. Hopefully there is a price drop this christmas.

[BustaUppa]

By pure coincidence, I got my first exposure to Catan (the board game) this past weekend. I really enjoyed it! I'm gonna try to get a bunch of my friends into this... Live matches will be sweet!