I hate Catan but let me tell you why...... Check out my discussion and review of Terraforming Mas • Terraforming Mars Review Our discussion and review of Hadrian's Wall! • Hadrian's Wall Review
i remember seeing ads for this game as a kid. For some reason i always wanted to play it but either did not have the game, the place to play or, friends to do so. Now, when i have all of the above, when i wanted to play it, everyone i know who plays board game says that they dont like it or even hate it. Yeah i understand the flaws. But its kind of sad :/.
I'm sorry that's been your experience! I'd definitely play Settlers with you. It's still a great game, and while I never typically recommend it, and internally groan when some asks about it, that doesn't mean that I won't play if others ask. I'm sorry that your friends and peers haven't realized that this hobby isn't just about playing their favorite game but also the experience of playing games, new or old, favorite or not, with people. I played Settlers a few months ago with friends and, while I groaned a bit at their request, I thoroughly enjoyed it. They LOVE the game and we had a blast. Some of us need to realize that, while we may have played the game for 20 years or so, that other haven't. And while there may be 'better' games out there (that have beed developed off games like Settlers of Catan), that doesn't mean these 'classics' are bad or that they're worse than the new ones. Settlers is still great and i hope you get to play it. If you're in North Carolina, hit us up.
Have come back to Catan after 20 years and still love it. Most games get old but Catan holds up more for me more than most new games. Catan definitely has luck but there is buckets of strategy also and its very unlikely a new player can beat a good experienced player💙👍
I played Catan twice in my life, not as an introduction to the hobby, but to check what it is. Just the base game. One if those playthroughs I was not able to do anything because of bad dice rolls.if somebody invited me to play this game i would agree, but I would not recommend it myself.
I think another thing to point out is that this game snowballs way too easily. If all players have equal placements at the start, but one person happens to get lucky with the first few rolls, they can get so far ahead that it’s near impossible for anyone else to catch up. Then everyone else has to sit there for an hour plus watching that person rake in all the resources while they struggle to get a few. This is especially bad if the robber is moved beside the losing player(s) early on and 7s happen to not be rolled for a while. I don’t mind luck games as long as: 1. They play in a short amount of time (20min max), and 2. They don’t snowball. I truly do hate this game, and I would never use it to introduce someone to the hobby. Also worth pointing out: I had never played Catan until after I was fully into board gaming and had been for years. So it holds no nostalgia for me.
You make a good point about nostalgia. You also make a good point about luck. I think it can be a great gateway for someone who didn't know hobby gaming--they're likely used to luck. But, you get why I don't want to play it ever again. It's happened time and time again that someone did defeated that they don't want to keep playing.
This is how I felt the first time I played this. It snowballed, and I had made a bad choice early, and after like 2 turns I was so far behind I knew I could not win
So true. Initial placement is the biggest tell of if I'll win a game. Am I going port strategy? Longest road? Blocking off the island? Strong medium-valued resources? Diversity or monopoly on resources? Development cards and largest army? Once I've made this decision, the game feels like I'm just enacting the plan and awaiting the outcome.
I hate this game because i get second place sooo often. I'm always the first person to get nine points. I don't try to be, I get lucky and place good settlements down at the start, but then, everyone decides I shouldn't win. Once someone else gets to 9, it's too late, everyone put the robber on my much needed ore, while the other guy gets the win. It's especially bad when i go through the game at 9 points for 7 turns, waiting for the dice to just roll in my favor, but get no luck while everyone else makes sure it stays that way.
Firstly, I'll confess that the version I am playing is the recently released (at time of writing) new _CATAN - Console Edition_ and not the tabletop version (actually, I don't play physical tabletop games because I don't have the room and, more importantly, am not a social person). I'm also brand new to Catan, though I am getting into digital tabletop games, both adaptations and originals. Until Catan, I have enjoyed the learning period of the games I've played whether I won or lost. Not so with Catan. Whether against the AI or other players, on all my sessions so far I have come away feeling lousy. It does that to you. Whether it's some of the arbituary rules the game has (e.g. finicky limitations and restrictions on where roads and settlements can be placed, or if you accumulate a certain amount of resources and then have to discard a disproportionate amount of them simply _because_ , regardless if it's no fault of your own that you aquired them to begin with or even plan to make use of them on your turn) to the excessive use of dice rolling _for practically everything_ , to the fact the game doesn't accommodate the ability for players left behind to rally and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The less said about how the game doesn't consider the consequences for a player being hemmed in and having no way to recover the better. Don't care what anyone says, a good game should make allowances for a recovery or sorts. All these things, and a few more besides, really have left a sour taste in my mouth. I feel it's quite a mean spirited game too. For me, a game like this makes for a better RTS or God-sim video game than a tabletop game (I think the Amiga game _Settlers_ was a major influence in this games' creation even if it never seems to get mentioned). Personally, I'm left wondering why this game is so damn popular. It's awful for new players as far as I'm concerned.
I think you have some good thoughts about this game. Catan is very luck based and quite punishing depending on who is playing and how the robber is moved. But, i think some of that is what makes it so popular as a gateway. Some of the luck and play mirrors so many mass market classics, like monopoly. Catan does a good job of helping people see what strategy can be in games with placement and resource management. For an experienced player, it falls flat. Especially in some situations. And when house rules come into play, it can bring a range of emotions. I've found that to be anger and frustration at others. It's a game where ganging up on one can be game-fun ending. I'd be curious to see if your experience is the same when playing a physical game vs online. Thanks for your thoughts!
This is like players who leave a negative Steam review for games they have over 1,000 hours in. :P I played this once and decided I didn't like it. I still have two copies in my collection though (both thrifted) because of its reputation.
You are not wrong! I won't leave a bad review for Catan because it is a great game, but that doesn't mean I want to pull it off my shelf to play. However, I won't necessarily say no to playing it, either, if that's what someone really wants to play. Catan has laid the pavement for so many to get into this hobby, and hopefully was a stepping stone to enjoying lots of other games. (I also will never cull the copies and expansions in my collection. #gatheringdust) What is your Catan-replacement suggestion?
I'm not familiar with PbtA games, but I'm going to take your word for it 😂 Thanks for the positive words on the video. It's a great game, but it has it's flaws. But those 2d6 can be brutal... oh so brutal. 🤣
The biggest problem with Catan imho is that the decisions are made in the first 20% of the game. The rest is most of the time pure luck or already decided. If the game runs at 45 minutes, is fine. If it drags for 90 minutes, its awfully painful.
The end of your comment is why I will not play 5 or 6 players again. It's terrible when it goes so long. I can often see when a game is over early. Nowadays, though, I'm playing with newer or less experienced players and just make that the time to have fun and help them along with hints or trades. With Catan, I have more fun helping others learn strategy and why certain plays work well for certain board statuses than I do at winning.
See, I'm not sure I agree. When my friends and I play, we've had games that turn around and the person who was losing slightly in the first half then wins. Idk maybe we're just bad at it lol.
What’s a good alternative to Catan? I’m looking to get into a really fun game with my 17 year old son. Ive all of a sudden wanted to really get into table top game nerdery. Sadly most of the time the instructions are like reading someones thesis. We couldn’t even figure out Pandemic. 😢 How is Plunder? Looks great. Or Splendor?
Might try some of these also search how to play then type the game you want to learn. Top 10 Gateway Board Games th-cam.com/video/peQ06rLCRjw/w-d-xo.html
i just got taught Catan for the first time and I really didn't enjoy it mostly due to the exact problems you mention in the video. I feel bad cos so many people rave about Catan but I don't like it. But I've played many other board games. Maybe it's just not for me.
Thanks for sharing. It's a great game, although it is a bit outdated compared to so many newer games. I think many people forget that no game works for everyone. Catan is one of many examples. Fortunately, for those who have over played it or for who it didn't click, we have so many other options! What kinds (theme, mechanic, etc) of games do you most favor?
I haven't played it, but I've heard good things about My Little Scythe. Ticket to Ride is great. A light weight deck builder with a theme I love is summer camp. Marvel United could work, although they rate it at 14+. Catan Jr is a favorite of my friend's kids and family.
there is a setup for new players, we used that for the first few rounds......for the dice, i think it is kind of fine since number wise, the longer you play, the distribution is just pretty fair...but ye, things could happen.. :D
I think any game where there's the potential for you to be able to do nothing on your turn is fundamentally broken. Also, the rule book layout kinda sucks. I don't want to have to flip through two or three different sections to try to figure out exactly how to set up or play the game. I played a game last night after not touching the game for probably ~8 years, and it was shocking how bad the rule book was compared to other highly rated games I've played since then.
The game is just meh. At the time it was initially published it certianly was influential and helped move the hobby forward but the system has not aged well and there are much better options out there.
I think your opinion is shared with many in the hobby. I do think it's fresh still for those who are new to hobby gaming, but the base game alone does feel very bland and outdated to those of us who have been playing diverse games. The beauty of Settlers is limited mechanics. That's fantastic for teaching and learning something outside of classic roll and move games, but lackluster for experienced gamers. Good point, Justin. Unlike the t-shirt suggestion 🤣
It's complicated. Settlers is a staple in my collection, as it is for many others. I have a few friends who absolutely love this game, and I will play it (and enjoy it) with them. But, overall, I wouldn't be sad if I never play it again. 20 years ago, I would have never thought I'd feel that way, but over the years of play and exposure to many other board games, I've cooled on Settlers. When I pair my waning interest in the game with the many experiences of playing with people who house-rule the play in an attempt to make Settlers a game that is counter to it's rules and original design (to fit their interests in battle, war games, all-vs-one competition elimination strategies, or other tactics), regular replay with the same group who plays the same strategies each game, and losing the fun of playing after competing in multiple Settlers of Catan competitions, I've grown to groan when someone recommends it. In fact, I down-right refuse to play it with some people due to past experiences (where many have this experience with Monopoly or Risk, I have it with Settlers). There are only a few situations in which I will recommend playing, and with only a few people that I'll agree to play. "Setters of Catan"--or "Settlers" as I know it, or "Catan" as it's more commonly known in the U.S. now--has become synonymous with "Monopoly" or the like for me--where it brings up more negative experiences and thoughts than positive ones. BUT, I recognize it for what it has done for the hobby and for bringing me into the hobby when I was in college. I loved playing the game. I love that I've been able to play it around the world, both in person and online. I've invested time and money into the game. I have and will continue to have a place on my shelves for the game to live. It's likely been 3 years since I've pulled it off the shelf other than to talk about it in a video, but I don't want to cull it.... All that rambling to say, when I sit and think about the past two decades or so of playing the game, I will consider it a staple and one I'm thankful for. So, I'd use "Love It" to describe it. But, without pausing and reflecting, I'd more likely use "Hate It" to describe it for reasons like those I've listed above. Complicated...
@@BadatBoardgames I hear ya and I fully understand, man. My wife loves the game and bought it for me this past Christmas. It's an all right game, but I'm largely unimpressed with it, and after just a couple plays, I saw the parallels with Monopoly, chief among them: - Pretty easy to tell who would come out victorious after just a few rounds - Players going first (i.e., placing their settlements first) have a huge advantage, while players who weren't able to grab choice locations at the start are more or less ass out of luck for the rest of the game - The whole bartering/trading mechanic, which I've never liked (because it introduces a major socialization/people skills component into an otherwise mathematical design) - Huge reliance out random outcomes on every player's turn, for the entire game I'm waiting for my wife's enthusiasm for Settlers of Catan to cool off so my family and I can go back to regularly playing Forbidden Island, which is basically a single-player challenge thinly disguised as a cooperative multiplayer board game. 😝
I agree mostly here, but I'll be honest, my favorite start position is to place my road and settlement last, getting two turns in a row and, while maybe not getting the statistically best locations, getting synergy with my placements, be it two locations inland or one good location and a port. Otherwise, yes, luck and trading are not my preference. For many in the hobby, Settlers can come across outdated. It is, but it's not going anywhere. I do love me some forbidden island. The others, not as much, but something able the island I like. A good introductory and medium-light co-op.
It is wonderfully easy to teach and guide in new to the hobby people. You are 100% on point. And, on point with the other half of your comment, too 🤣 Most of my friends have been good with it, but some are too competitive to make it fun anymore.
This game is best when played blitz style, like how people play online but even faster Just use a timer and house rule 1 minute for initial placement 30 seconds for each turn after that It's not about each play being great, it's about getting a lot of reps in and enjoying the chaos so that when you get robbed of like 15 resources in one game you just lol instead of getting tilted
You're right, William. No one likes getting robbed. It really can become no fun if one person is always targeted. I try to never single one person out and instead spread the love. Haha
@@BadatBoardgames its a like a gangsta movie. everyone helps each other to beat the winner( you take road from him or you get army). and in the end they stab each other for the win. not a good moral game.
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i remember seeing ads for this game as a kid. For some reason i always wanted to play it but either did not have the game, the place to play or, friends to do so.
Now, when i have all of the above, when i wanted to play it, everyone i know who plays board game says that they dont like it or even hate it. Yeah i understand the flaws. But its kind of sad :/.
I'm sorry that's been your experience! I'd definitely play Settlers with you. It's still a great game, and while I never typically recommend it, and internally groan when some asks about it, that doesn't mean that I won't play if others ask. I'm sorry that your friends and peers haven't realized that this hobby isn't just about playing their favorite game but also the experience of playing games, new or old, favorite or not, with people. I played Settlers a few months ago with friends and, while I groaned a bit at their request, I thoroughly enjoyed it. They LOVE the game and we had a blast. Some of us need to realize that, while we may have played the game for 20 years or so, that other haven't. And while there may be 'better' games out there (that have beed developed off games like Settlers of Catan), that doesn't mean these 'classics' are bad or that they're worse than the new ones. Settlers is still great and i hope you get to play it. If you're in North Carolina, hit us up.
Have come back to Catan after 20 years and still love it. Most games get old but Catan holds up more for me more than most new games. Catan definitely has luck but there is buckets of strategy also and its very unlikely a new player can beat a good experienced player💙👍
Sorry for the late reply Thank You for watching and commenting! Yes it is good I just burnt out on it lol 😂
I played Catan twice in my life, not as an introduction to the hobby, but to check what it is. Just the base game. One if those playthroughs I was not able to do anything because of bad dice rolls.if somebody invited me to play this game i would agree, but I would not recommend it myself.
I think another thing to point out is that this game snowballs way too easily. If all players have equal placements at the start, but one person happens to get lucky with the first few rolls, they can get so far ahead that it’s near impossible for anyone else to catch up. Then everyone else has to sit there for an hour plus watching that person rake in all the resources while they struggle to get a few. This is especially bad if the robber is moved beside the losing player(s) early on and 7s happen to not be rolled for a while. I don’t mind luck games as long as: 1. They play in a short amount of time (20min max), and 2. They don’t snowball. I truly do hate this game, and I would never use it to introduce someone to the hobby. Also worth pointing out: I had never played Catan until after I was fully into board gaming and had been for years. So it holds no nostalgia for me.
You make a good point about nostalgia. You also make a good point about luck. I think it can be a great gateway for someone who didn't know hobby gaming--they're likely used to luck. But, you get why I don't want to play it ever again. It's happened time and time again that someone did defeated that they don't want to keep playing.
This is how I felt the first time I played this. It snowballed, and I had made a bad choice early, and after like 2 turns I was so far behind I knew I could not win
I hate Catan. All the interesting decision making is front loaded
So true. Initial placement is the biggest tell of if I'll win a game. Am I going port strategy? Longest road? Blocking off the island? Strong medium-valued resources? Diversity or monopoly on resources? Development cards and largest army? Once I've made this decision, the game feels like I'm just enacting the plan and awaiting the outcome.
I hate this game because i get second place sooo often. I'm always the first person to get nine points. I don't try to be, I get lucky and place good settlements down at the start, but then, everyone decides I shouldn't win. Once someone else gets to 9, it's too late, everyone put the robber on my much needed ore, while the other guy gets the win. It's especially bad when i go through the game at 9 points for 7 turns, waiting for the dice to just roll in my favor, but get no luck while everyone else makes sure it stays that way.
Yes! You get it, too! Great game, right, but then, it isn't, especially in times like this.
Firstly, I'll confess that the version I am playing is the recently released (at time of writing) new _CATAN - Console Edition_ and not the tabletop version (actually, I don't play physical tabletop games because I don't have the room and, more importantly, am not a social person). I'm also brand new to Catan, though I am getting into digital tabletop games, both adaptations and originals.
Until Catan, I have enjoyed the learning period of the games I've played whether I won or lost. Not so with Catan. Whether against the AI or other players, on all my sessions so far I have come away feeling lousy. It does that to you.
Whether it's some of the arbituary rules the game has (e.g. finicky limitations and restrictions on where roads and settlements can be placed, or if you accumulate a certain amount of resources and then have to discard a disproportionate amount of them simply _because_ , regardless if it's no fault of your own that you aquired them to begin with or even plan to make use of them on your turn) to the excessive use of dice rolling _for practically everything_ , to the fact the game doesn't accommodate the ability for players left behind to rally and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The less said about how the game doesn't consider the consequences for a player being hemmed in and having no way to recover the better. Don't care what anyone says, a good game should make allowances for a recovery or sorts.
All these things, and a few more besides, really have left a sour taste in my mouth. I feel it's quite a mean spirited game too. For me, a game like this makes for a better RTS or God-sim video game than a tabletop game (I think the Amiga game _Settlers_ was a major influence in this games' creation even if it never seems to get mentioned).
Personally, I'm left wondering why this game is so damn popular. It's awful for new players as far as I'm concerned.
I think you have some good thoughts about this game. Catan is very luck based and quite punishing depending on who is playing and how the robber is moved. But, i think some of that is what makes it so popular as a gateway. Some of the luck and play mirrors so many mass market classics, like monopoly. Catan does a good job of helping people see what strategy can be in games with placement and resource management.
For an experienced player, it falls flat. Especially in some situations. And when house rules come into play, it can bring a range of emotions. I've found that to be anger and frustration at others. It's a game where ganging up on one can be game-fun ending.
I'd be curious to see if your experience is the same when playing a physical game vs online.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Can I just have the game list that beats catan
This is like players who leave a negative Steam review for games they have over 1,000 hours in. :P
I played this once and decided I didn't like it. I still have two copies in my collection though (both thrifted) because of its reputation.
You are not wrong! I won't leave a bad review for Catan because it is a great game, but that doesn't mean I want to pull it off my shelf to play. However, I won't necessarily say no to playing it, either, if that's what someone really wants to play. Catan has laid the pavement for so many to get into this hobby, and hopefully was a stepping stone to enjoying lots of other games. (I also will never cull the copies and expansions in my collection. #gatheringdust) What is your Catan-replacement suggestion?
never played it and the algorithm is already making me hate it
Don't write it off, yet. But remember, it's almost 30 years old. What kinds of games do you like?
Very well said! Those punishing 7's on 2d6 is probably why I also hate PBTA Games too lol.
I'm not familiar with PbtA games, but I'm going to take your word for it 😂 Thanks for the positive words on the video. It's a great game, but it has it's flaws. But those 2d6 can be brutal... oh so brutal. 🤣
The biggest problem with Catan imho is that the decisions are made in the first 20% of the game. The rest is most of the time pure luck or already decided. If the game runs at 45 minutes, is fine. If it drags for 90 minutes, its awfully painful.
The end of your comment is why I will not play 5 or 6 players again. It's terrible when it goes so long. I can often see when a game is over early. Nowadays, though, I'm playing with newer or less experienced players and just make that the time to have fun and help them along with hints or trades. With Catan, I have more fun helping others learn strategy and why certain plays work well for certain board statuses than I do at winning.
See, I'm not sure I agree.
When my friends and I play, we've had games that turn around and the person who was losing slightly in the first half then wins.
Idk maybe we're just bad at it lol.
5 players 4.5 hours….an almost stalemate
What’s a good alternative to Catan? I’m looking to get into a really fun game with my 17 year old son. Ive all of a sudden wanted to really get into table top game nerdery. Sadly most of the time the instructions are like reading someones thesis. We couldn’t even figure out Pandemic. 😢 How is Plunder? Looks great. Or Splendor?
Might try some of these also search how to play then type the game you want to learn. Top 10 Gateway Board Games
th-cam.com/video/peQ06rLCRjw/w-d-xo.html
Splender is a good game. Also think about what your son is into. Theme can help get into a game.
i just got taught Catan for the first time and I really didn't enjoy it mostly due to the exact problems you mention in the video. I feel bad cos so many people rave about Catan but I don't like it. But I've played many other board games. Maybe it's just not for me.
Thanks for sharing. It's a great game, although it is a bit outdated compared to so many newer games. I think many people forget that no game works for everyone. Catan is one of many examples. Fortunately, for those who have over played it or for who it didn't click, we have so many other options! What kinds (theme, mechanic, etc) of games do you most favor?
Hello! I would like some recommendations of games to play with my 8 and 10 year old boys please?
Camel Up, gubs, battle sheep, blockus, throw throw burrito, poetry for of neanderthals come to
Mind
Aldo Ling of Tokyo or King of New York
I haven't played it, but I've heard good things about My Little Scythe. Ticket to Ride is great. A light weight deck builder with a theme I love is summer camp. Marvel United could work, although they rate it at 14+. Catan Jr is a favorite of my friend's kids and family.
there is a setup for new players, we used that for the first few rounds......for the dice, i think it is kind of fine since number wise, the longer you play, the distribution is just pretty fair...but ye, things could happen.. :D
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. and yes, as you say, things could happen...
I think any game where there's the potential for you to be able to do nothing on your turn is fundamentally broken. Also, the rule book layout kinda sucks. I don't want to have to flip through two or three different sections to try to figure out exactly how to set up or play the game. I played a game last night after not touching the game for probably ~8 years, and it was shocking how bad the rule book was compared to other highly rated games I've played since then.
I didn't even consider the rule book. But that can take away so much from any game. I hear ya! Good observations.
The game is just meh. At the time it was initially published it certianly was influential and helped move the hobby forward but the system has not aged well and there are much better options out there.
I think your opinion is shared with many in the hobby. I do think it's fresh still for those who are new to hobby gaming, but the base game alone does feel very bland and outdated to those of us who have been playing diverse games. The beauty of Settlers is limited mechanics. That's fantastic for teaching and learning something outside of classic roll and move games, but lackluster for experienced gamers. Good point, Justin. Unlike the t-shirt suggestion 🤣
0:15 ... 4:54
Which is it?
It's complicated. Settlers is a staple in my collection, as it is for many others. I have a few friends who absolutely love this game, and I will play it (and enjoy it) with them. But, overall, I wouldn't be sad if I never play it again. 20 years ago, I would have never thought I'd feel that way, but over the years of play and exposure to many other board games, I've cooled on Settlers. When I pair my waning interest in the game with the many experiences of playing with people who house-rule the play in an attempt to make Settlers a game that is counter to it's rules and original design (to fit their interests in battle, war games, all-vs-one competition elimination strategies, or other tactics), regular replay with the same group who plays the same strategies each game, and losing the fun of playing after competing in multiple Settlers of Catan competitions, I've grown to groan when someone recommends it. In fact, I down-right refuse to play it with some people due to past experiences (where many have this experience with Monopoly or Risk, I have it with Settlers). There are only a few situations in which I will recommend playing, and with only a few people that I'll agree to play. "Setters of Catan"--or "Settlers" as I know it, or "Catan" as it's more commonly known in the U.S. now--has become synonymous with "Monopoly" or the like for me--where it brings up more negative experiences and thoughts than positive ones. BUT, I recognize it for what it has done for the hobby and for bringing me into the hobby when I was in college. I loved playing the game. I love that I've been able to play it around the world, both in person and online. I've invested time and money into the game. I have and will continue to have a place on my shelves for the game to live. It's likely been 3 years since I've pulled it off the shelf other than to talk about it in a video, but I don't want to cull it.... All that rambling to say, when I sit and think about the past two decades or so of playing the game, I will consider it a staple and one I'm thankful for. So, I'd use "Love It" to describe it. But, without pausing and reflecting, I'd more likely use "Hate It" to describe it for reasons like those I've listed above. Complicated...
@@BadatBoardgames I hear ya and I fully understand, man. My wife loves the game and bought it for me this past Christmas. It's an all right game, but I'm largely unimpressed with it, and after just a couple plays, I saw the parallels with Monopoly, chief among them:
- Pretty easy to tell who would come out victorious after just a few rounds
- Players going first (i.e., placing their settlements first) have a huge advantage, while players who weren't able to grab choice locations at the start are more or less ass out of luck for the rest of the game
- The whole bartering/trading mechanic, which I've never liked (because it introduces a major socialization/people skills component into an otherwise mathematical design)
- Huge reliance out random outcomes on every player's turn, for the entire game
I'm waiting for my wife's enthusiasm for Settlers of Catan to cool off so my family and I can go back to regularly playing Forbidden Island, which is basically a single-player challenge thinly disguised as a cooperative multiplayer board game. 😝
I agree mostly here, but I'll be honest, my favorite start position is to place my road and settlement last, getting two turns in a row and, while maybe not getting the statistically best locations, getting synergy with my placements, be it two locations inland or one good location and a port. Otherwise, yes, luck and trading are not my preference. For many in the hobby, Settlers can come across outdated. It is, but it's not going anywhere. I do love me some forbidden island. The others, not as much, but something able the island I like. A good introductory and medium-light co-op.
I agree. I’ve always thought it as an entry level game that is easy to teach. But, I’ve always found it to bring out the worst in your friends.
It is wonderfully easy to teach and guide in new to the hobby people. You are 100% on point. And, on point with the other half of your comment, too 🤣 Most of my friends have been good with it, but some are too competitive to make it fun anymore.
Sounds like your friends (and maybe you) just suck. Personal problem, not a game problem.
This game is best when played blitz style, like how people play online but even faster
Just use a timer and house rule
1 minute for initial placement
30 seconds for each turn after that
It's not about each play being great, it's about getting a lot of reps in and enjoying the chaos so that when you get robbed of like 15 resources in one game you just lol instead of getting tilted
I'm not going to lie, I like this. I might dust off my copy just to give it a go!
getting robbed brings the worst in your friends no one likes to get robbed catan. pronounce the c differently and maybe that's why
You're right, William. No one likes getting robbed. It really can become no fun if one person is always targeted. I try to never single one person out and instead spread the love. Haha
@@BadatBoardgames its a like a gangsta movie. everyone helps each other to beat the winner( you take road from him or you get army). and in the end they stab each other for the win. not a good moral game.