Catan The Dice Game

The Basics
Description: Like all the other games of the "Settlers of Catan" series, this game is about building settlements, roads, cities and hiring knights. This time, there is no board on which to place little figures: Every player has his own score card called the building sheet, which depicts a mini Catan (compare with Die Siedler von Catan: Paper & Pencil). You build by drawing the settlements and roads on your score card.

To build you still require resources. These are collected by a Yahtzee-like mechanism that involves throwing six special dice (depicting the different resource symbols) up to three times. After each roll, the player can select which dice to keep and which to roll again. In the end, he may build using the thusly determined resources, and is awarded victory points for any finished buildings, which are recorded on the score card.

The game lasts fifteen turns or about 15-30 minutes, after which the player with the most victory points wins.

Note that the game has been designed for 1-4 players, meaning there is a solitaire version of the game, as well.

How to Play

• Play Catan (Official Guide)
• Geek (Rulebook)
  

Where to Play Online

• Play Catan (Free - Registration Required)
• Geek (Free - PC Version)
  

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Player Mat (Downloads a Pdf)
• Player Mat (Downloads a Pdf)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: It plays like Yahtzee
  
• My Tips: Coming Soon

Views

• Opinion: A solid dice game, solitaire play is preferred, but two players is fine.
• Online: Works fine online (I prefer the Geek PC version)
  
• Work: Very easy can be 3-4 games at lunch time.
• Home: Great game for the family, couple or solo.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: Works fine with 1-4 players, best with 2.
• Gateway Suitability: Easy to learn, and teach. A great gateway game, could even be used to push Catan games afterwards.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy likes this.
• Re-playability: Frequent it does see table and online action.
• Real Life Setup: None, just start rolling the dice.
• Real Life Time/Length: 15 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/27710

Settlers of Catan, The

The Basics
Description: You are a pioneer on the island of Catan, your goal is to grow your settlement by producing and trading resources like grain, ore, and wood. Expand your settlements with roads and cities and be the first player to earn 10 victory points and win the game. Random maps are created each time you play so each game provides a new and exciting challenge.

The goal is to be the first player to reach 10 points. Points are gained done by building towns, cities, roads, creating the longest road, or largest army.

How to Play

• Professor Easy (Interactive Video)
  
• Mr. Bass (Web Page)
  
• You Tube (Video)
  
• Online Rules: Still looking for online rulebook
  

Where to Play Online: (I recommend AsoBrain)

• AsoBrain (Free - Registration Required)
• Play Catan (Free - Registration Required)
• Brett Spiel Welt (Free - Registration Required)
• Other: You can also download it at Yahoo Games, MSN Games or XBox Live.

Cheat Sheets (From the Geek):

• Rules (Word Document)
• One Pager (Pdf)
• Good Stuff (pdf)
• War Version (Word Document)
  

My Tips: (Coming Soon)

Views

• Opinion: I really enjoy Catan (it hits the light to medium game). It is what gamers call an elegant game system. (more to come).
• Online: Very smooth play online.
  
• Work: Not much space is needed, can be played during lunch time.
  
• Home: I got so many copies, home, work, online.
  

Other Info

• Plays best with: 3-4 players, 5-6 player expansion slows down the game way to much for me.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn and play. This is what got me hooked into boardgames.
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked it, compared it to Monopoly.
• Re-playability: With a modular board, and easy play, the game has high replay value.
• Real Life Setup: 5 to 10 minutes
• Real Life Time/Length: 30-45 Minutes
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/13