Catan
A Guide to Strategy
Published on 25. July 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
120 pages
978-1-4766-9513-6 (ISBN)
Description
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.
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
ca. 75 photos, glossary, notes, index
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
228 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4766-9513-6 (9781476695136)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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.
Content
Table of Contents
Introduction
Why a Strategy Guide for a Game Based on the Luck of the Dice?¿1
I.¿The Rules
Resource Cards¿3 delete¿ deleteBoard Setup: Hexes, Number Tiles, and Dots¿4 delete¿ delete
Game Pieces: Roads, Settlements, and Cities¿6 delete¿ deleteResource Generation¿7 delete¿ deleteThe Robber¿8 delete¿ deleteThe Limit¿9 delete¿ deleteThe Distance Rule¿9 delete¿ deleteDevelopment Cards¿10 delete¿ deleteLongest Road and Largest Army¿10 delete¿ deleteSetup Phase¿12 delete¿ deleteTurn Sequence¿13 delete¿ deleteWinning the Game¿16 delete¿ deleteCommonly Disputed Rules¿17
II.¿The Mechanics of the Game
The Gaussian Curve¿19 delete¿ deleteProduction¿20 delete¿ deleteNumber Specträ22 delete¿ deletePower Hexes and Power Intersections¿22 delete¿ deleteInherent Value vs. Trade Value¿23 delete¿ deleteActual Cost vs. Opportunity Cost¿23 delete¿ deleteTotal Production Value (TPV)¿24 delete¿ deleteThe TPV Formulä24 delete¿ deleteHarbor Formulas¿26
III.¿Advanced Considerations
Strategy vs. Tactics¿27 delete¿ deleteThe Three Pillars of Catan¿29 delete¿ deleteWho's Ahead?¿30 delete¿ deleteThe Design of Catan¿31 delete¿ deleteHoarding¿32 delete¿ deleteBurst-Building¿33 delete¿ deleteRoads¿36 delete¿ deleteSettlements¿51 delete¿ deleteCities¿55 delete¿ deleteHarbors and Trading¿59 delete¿ deleteDevelopment Cards¿72 delete¿ deleteGame Phases¿95 delete¿ deleteOpening Theory¿95 delete¿ deleteMiddlegame Theory¿118 delete¿ deleteEndgame Theory¿124
IV.¿Common-Sense Catan
Burn This Book¿126 delete¿ deleteBe in the Game!¿126 delete¿ deleteThe Power of Calm¿127 delete¿ deleteTable Talk¿127 delete¿ deleteHardcore Catan¿128
V.¿Wrapup
Last Words¿129 delete¿ deleteExpansions, Scenarios, and Alternate Rules¿129 delete¿ deleteSupercards¿130 delete¿ deleteThe Fatal Flaw of Two-Player Catan¿132 delete¿ deleteTell Me I'm Wrong!¿132
Glossary: The Language of Catan
Chapter Notes
Introduction
Why a Strategy Guide for a Game Based on the Luck of the Dice?¿1
I.¿The Rules
Resource Cards¿3 delete¿ deleteBoard Setup: Hexes, Number Tiles, and Dots¿4 delete¿ delete
Game Pieces: Roads, Settlements, and Cities¿6 delete¿ deleteResource Generation¿7 delete¿ deleteThe Robber¿8 delete¿ deleteThe Limit¿9 delete¿ deleteThe Distance Rule¿9 delete¿ deleteDevelopment Cards¿10 delete¿ deleteLongest Road and Largest Army¿10 delete¿ deleteSetup Phase¿12 delete¿ deleteTurn Sequence¿13 delete¿ deleteWinning the Game¿16 delete¿ deleteCommonly Disputed Rules¿17
II.¿The Mechanics of the Game
The Gaussian Curve¿19 delete¿ deleteProduction¿20 delete¿ deleteNumber Specträ22 delete¿ deletePower Hexes and Power Intersections¿22 delete¿ deleteInherent Value vs. Trade Value¿23 delete¿ deleteActual Cost vs. Opportunity Cost¿23 delete¿ deleteTotal Production Value (TPV)¿24 delete¿ deleteThe TPV Formulä24 delete¿ deleteHarbor Formulas¿26
III.¿Advanced Considerations
Strategy vs. Tactics¿27 delete¿ deleteThe Three Pillars of Catan¿29 delete¿ deleteWho's Ahead?¿30 delete¿ deleteThe Design of Catan¿31 delete¿ deleteHoarding¿32 delete¿ deleteBurst-Building¿33 delete¿ deleteRoads¿36 delete¿ deleteSettlements¿51 delete¿ deleteCities¿55 delete¿ deleteHarbors and Trading¿59 delete¿ deleteDevelopment Cards¿72 delete¿ deleteGame Phases¿95 delete¿ deleteOpening Theory¿95 delete¿ deleteMiddlegame Theory¿118 delete¿ deleteEndgame Theory¿124
IV.¿Common-Sense Catan
Burn This Book¿126 delete¿ deleteBe in the Game!¿126 delete¿ deleteThe Power of Calm¿127 delete¿ deleteTable Talk¿127 delete¿ deleteHardcore Catan¿128
V.¿Wrapup
Last Words¿129 delete¿ deleteExpansions, Scenarios, and Alternate Rules¿129 delete¿ deleteSupercards¿130 delete¿ deleteThe Fatal Flaw of Two-Player Catan¿132 delete¿ deleteTell Me I'm Wrong!¿132
Glossary: The Language of Catan
Chapter Notes