The Settlers of Catan Tip Sheet
Here are some basic principles to help you to determine the most efficient way to settle Catan.The first and foremost strategy principle is: Resource production is everything, and (contrary to what your first perception of Catan may be) resource diversity is secondary, possibly even a minor element.
When selecting your starting location or which in what direction to expand, your first concern is to chose 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 method for more sophisticated players isn’t that much different.
A lot of players think that having access to all five resources is the way to go. But if you have less than stellar resource probabilities, it isn’t going to work for you. What you should focus on is having number variety, not resource variety. By number variety, what I want you to think in terms of is having production on the widest variety 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 really doesn’t matter what the resources are. It’s rare to have the ability to find placement that provides that, so I normally settle for 3 out of 4 of the previously mentioned highest producing numbers. Having a variety of the top numbers almost guarantees stable 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 excess resources can always be traded and converted into what you want somehow. There’s no such thing as a valueless resource.
The secondary priority after number variety is to optimize the production through ports. I seek positions with two high producing hexes of the same resource near its matching port. Don’t start on the port or else the lack of resource production early in the game will wreak havoc. Instead, give it priority to build to the port later.Having a port helps make you self-sufficient. Being self-sufficient is far better than having to trade to acquire what you need. Other players will only trade if the deal helps them in some way, making trades win-win. I’d much rather just me win instead of being in a win-win, so I look to the ports to assist me to become self-sufficient. After you have obtained diversity in production numbers, it’s time to see what resources you happen to have. There are two main 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. Being the owner of the longest road will be a big 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 options are between focusing on a new settlement or upgrading a city, then upgrade into a city. Usually, spots where you already have a settlement are better than spots without settlements; else you would have not placed your settlements there. It is more beneficial 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 only 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 better 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 my hope that these tidbits were helpful to you. I wish that all your Catan settling be prosperous. And remember to game with honor!
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