Ever played it?
I was introduced to it this weekend…love it, love it, love it!
Anyone else?
Not only have I never played it, I’ve never heard of it.
Are you sure it wasn’t “The Kettlers of Satan”? The game about the tinsmiths making kitchen utensils for the devil?
“non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem”
– William of Ockham
haha.
No really, it was awesome!..it originated in Germany I believe, and was ‘game of the year’ several times, and came to north america, where it recieved similar acclaim.
Kelli,
Why don’t you exlpain the name briefly, I’m close to Germany and might know it under another name ?
Cold “Pinched Bum” Fire 
“You know how complex women are”
- Neil Peart, Rush (1993)
Picture a cluster of hexagonal disks, made into an island…each disk produces an ‘industry’ necessary for civilization, sheep, rock, clay, wood, wheet, and you get build settlements and roads to develope the island of ‘Catan’. Each hexagonal industry disk has a small numbered disk on top, and when you roll the dice, and that number comes up, if your settlement is touching the industry with the right numbered disk on it, you collect a card representing the industry.
You use industry cards to build roads, settlements, citys, and to trade for what you need.
You play to ten points, and you get points for each settlement , city, longest road etc.
Ring any bells?
I have this game, and I love it!
It’s simple enough that you can pick up the rules rather quickly, and complex enough that a game can last for hours. The board changes every time, so there aren’t any advantages to having played before.
It’s put out by Mayfair Games, at least in the US.
lovelee
Hmmmm, sorry, no bells.
It does sound a lot like those “Civilization”-like computer games where you have to build towns and support them etc. - games I despise.
Computer games should be about Racing or Shooting. Plain simple.
Anyway, if I ever come across that Settlers thing, I’ll give it a go.
Coldfire
“You know how complex women are”
- Neil Peart, Rush (1993)
lovelee…yeah, that’s the BEST PART!, its so simple, but its almost all strategy and its different every time…I am so hooked!
see, I am not crazy…and I didnt imagine it
"Aint’cha gonna eat me Wolfie?
"Aint got the time, Grandma!"
Kelli, somebody gave this game to my kids for Christmas last year, and we all love it! My kids are 9, about to be 11 (next Sunday!) and 14. The three of them and I have sat for manny hours and played this game – it’s easy enough for the 9 year old to play, yet there’s enough strategy to keep me interested, too.
Look in your local game store – there are now related games and expander sets.
-Melin
How many players?
“non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem”
– William of Ockham
min 3, max 4, I believe…My brother had to special order it in from Ontario (far away) for my sis-in-laws birthday…cost him about $80 with all the shipping etc…but I will look anyway!
Melin, great to see your name again!
I can pick it up at the local gaming store for about $40… if anyone is interested, email me and I can do the money-order swap deal (just like Ebay!). 
lovelee
thanks, but by the time I pay the difference on the $$ and the shipping, it will probably be the same.
I might make my own version…settlers of kelli island.
So is Settlers of Catan something like a Command and Conquer/Sim City type game? (I just LOVE those games.)
“I’m not dumb. I just have a command of thoroughly useless information.”-- Calvin and Hobbes
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Not alot diff than sim city (I love that one too!) but you are competing with other players, and where you build determinews what industries you produce.
For example, 8 and 6 are common roles, and if there are wheat producing lots with those numbers on them, you build on them to produce wheat, you can trade wheat for whatever you need, etc.
the best plan is to find a spot on the board touching 3 different industries with common numbers on them. Its awesome. I wonder how long until someone makes an online version?
Once I get my hands on a copy of the game, I could code a basic, ugly, multi-player, single-computer version in no time. If you want art, or AI players, or internet connectivity, it would take a few weeks to six months (depending on the rules complexity).
Legal permission to distribute the game would take much, much longer.
Laugh hard; it’s a long way to the bank.
The max number of players is 4 – unless you get the expansion set, which brings you up to 6 (I have it, but we haven’t played the expansion yet). They also have Seafarers of Cataan, in which you can set up shipping lanes (like roads, but for the sea) and go to other small islands. I believe they are putting out another set called Knights and Cities or something, but I have no idea what that will entail.
What a coincedence; I just finished playing Rails:Australia at my buddy’s place.
You build railroad track across a given map (like Australia, duh.), and run your trains from city to city, hauling trade goods like livestock, metals, tourists, ect. You draw card that tell you what a given city wants, and you lay your tracks appropriately.
The really cool thig about the game is it used a laminated plastic playing board, and you draw your tracks with crayons. Wheeee!
You say “cheesy” like that’s a BAD thing.
Sealemon88, Mayfair puts out a number of variations to the ‘Railroad Baron’ type games. Just played Iron Dragon this weekend, was enjoyable enough. Is same game, except in a fantasy setting.
>>Being Chaotic Evil means never having to say your sorry…unless the other guy is bigger than you.<<
—The dragon observes
Yeah, I’ve played a few of the maps, but yesterday was the first time I played in Austrailia. Man that map is a pain! lol Running rails through the Outback was very interesting…
kelli: If you can find them, you might want to try some of these games:
Outpost: This game from TimJim combines the stratagy of production with the bluffing of poker. Build your factories, bid on upgrades to your space colony (Scientists, Orbital labs, robots) and try to accumulate 75 colony points before anybody else. Just remember to bring a calculator or pencil and paper to keep track of all your money.
History of the World: By Avalon Hill. Each player played “god” with civilizations through the ages, starting with the Babalonians. Move out and conquer territories; visit blessing on your people and disaters on your enemies. It’s simular to Civilization, with more combat and no trading. Fairly easy to learn.
Fast Food Francheise: This is a cool game! It’s basically Monopoly, except the board evolves as you play. Land on an empty market, and buy a fast food chain. You can force your way into other markets buy paying extra money, so there is more strategy than in Monopoly; but it’s still a beer and pretzels game.
You say “cheesy” like that’s a BAD thing.