The Settlers of Catan Guide
One of the great things about Settlers of Catan and its dynamic setup is that each time you play it, it’s different. Every session is a different puzzle to solve to determine the best method to take advantage of the resources of Catan.
Here are some basic strategies to assist you to determine the most efficient way to settle Catan.The first and foremost strategy principle is: Resource production is all that matters, and (contrary to what your initial perception of Catan may be) resource diversity is not that important, possibly even trivial.
When selecting your starting location or which in what way to expand, your primary priority is to select a location which will generate the most resources. Advice to newcomers should be how to place their starting settlements, and to look for the intersection that has the most dots. It works for newbies, and the strategy for more sophisticated players isn’t that much different.
A lot of players believe that having access to all five resources is what they should do. But if you have suboptimal resource probabilities, it’s not going to help. What you really need to focus on is having number variety, not resource variety. By number variety, what I mean is having production on the widest range of possible die rolls. Of course, focus on the highest probability numbers first.
In my starting placement, the dream scenario is to have production on a 6, 8, 9, and 5. It doesn’t matter what the resources are. It’s rare to be able to find placement that gives you that, so I normally settle for 3 out of 4 of the aforementioned highest producing numbers. Having a variety of the top numbers ensure consistent resource production, regardless if the dice trend goes one way or the other. It shouldn’t concern you if all of those hexes are sheep, I’d rather have good numbers over quality. The surplus resources can always be traded and turned into what you want somehow. There’s no such thing as a valueless resource.
The secondary priority after number variety is to optimize my production through ports. I look for positions with two high producing hexes of the same resource near its matching port. Do not start on the port or else the lack of resource production early in the game will cripple you. Instead, make it a priority to build to the port later.Having a port helps make you independent. Being independent is far better than having to trade to get what you require. Other players will only trade if the deal helps them in some way, making trades win-win. I’d much rather have me win instead of being in a win-win, so I look to the ports to help become self-sufficient. Once you have obtained diversity in production numbers, then it’s time to take a look at what resources you might have in your possession. There are two primary strategies that flow depending on what resources you are strong in:
Settlements and roads: If you’re strong in wood and brick, this will make settlement production easy and road production natural. Having the longest road will be a key part of your winning strategy.
Cities and development cards: If you’re stronger in ore and grain, this is the way to go. All things being equal, if your choice is between focusing on a new settlement or upgrading a city, then upgrade into a city. Generally, spots where you already have a settlement are better than spots without settlements; otherwise you would have not placed your settlements there. It is better to double up on good production than to expand into mediocre production. Ultimately, be willing to adapt and go where the resources lead you. Set a goal in every turn to build something. Each turn try and get something on the board. Even if it is just a road, it’s at least something. It’s better to get a good thing on the board now than the best thing on the board on a later turn.
When trading, whether you are trying to get a city or a settlement, do whatever is required to get what you want during your turn, even if it is an unfavorable trade for you. It is more beneficial to have an expensive settlement now than a cheap settlement later. If you miss the chance to build on a ten, then nothing but tens will be rolled and you’ll have missed your opportunity.
It is myI hope that these tips are helpful to you. I wish thatMay all your Catan settling be prosperous. And remember to game with honor!
I’m the webmaster of The Settlers of Catan website.
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