# The Settlers of Catan **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 27, 1999, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528 "1999-09-27T14:30:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 1999, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/21 "1999-09-28T05:33:00Z")
Personally, I didn’t find _Settlers_ to be anywhere near as good as its reputation. But if you are considering buying any Mayfair games, you might want to hurry. They went out of business back in 1997. They restarted the company last April and are still active, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they go under again. The adult gaming industry is notorious for companies failing. Their website is [http://www.coolgames.com/](http://www.coolgames.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/23 "2019-09-30T13:50:54Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/24 "2019-09-30T13:59:12Z")
I was just about to say, “Who the heck had never heard of Settlers of Catan? They are about 20 years behind!” Actually, they are almost exactly 20 years behind. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/25 "2019-09-30T14:57:22Z")
> [@Coldfire](#): > > 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 It’s a board game that originated in Germany. [Die Siedler von Catan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catan) Easy to learn and play, and I’ve enjoyed it over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Grim\_Render](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@Grim\_Render](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grim_Render)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/26 "2019-09-30T15:00:52Z")
Settlers is credited with sparking the board game revival of the 21st century, even though it was first published n 1995. It is the quintessential eurogame. In 2015 it was voted “Game of the Century” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/27 "2019-09-30T15:06:59Z")
Note that a spammer resurrected this thread from 1999 this morning. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/28 "2019-09-30T15:07:50Z")
**Moderator Note** This thread was raised by a spammer who has since been wished away to the cornfield. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/29 "2019-09-30T15:54:23Z")
Wow. A thread from 1999. Was it originally posted in pencil? ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/30 "2019-09-30T17:06:48Z")
I’ve played Settlers of Catan several times. A pleasant game and not difficult to learn. However in my opinion it has two minor flaws: - several times during the game the current player has to steal from another one. This can lead to minor annoyance and ‘revenge’ tactics - players can fall behind and have little or no hope of winning I much prefer -co-operative games, where all the players unite as a team versus the game itself. This means all players win … or all players lose. (Very helpful for family games!) I recommend Pandemic, which takes about 30-45 minutes and allows 2-4 players as well as Flash point (Fire rescue), which also takes 30-45 minutes with 2-6 players allowed. In both games players have separate roles and there are several levels of difficulty. I’ve played both games with adults and children (including an autistic lad) and have enjoyed them a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/31 "2019-09-30T17:08:08Z")
> [@Grim\_Render](#): > > Settlers is credited with sparking the board game revival of the 21st century, even though it was first published n 1995. It is the quintessential eurogame. In 2015 it was voted “Game of the Century” Which is kind of funny, because it’s a terrible game. “Okay, I rolled a six, which get me… nothing. Anyone want to trade for some wood? Still no? Okay, I guess I do nothing this turn. Again.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/32 "2019-09-30T17:09:11Z")
> [@Fugazi](#): > > Wow. A thread from 1999. Was it originally posted in pencil? No, they had pens back then. Fountain pens, but pens nonetheless. Although some of the early members were still using quills. Threads on ink making were popular. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/33 "2019-09-30T17:11:37Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > No, they had pens back then. Fountain pens, but pens nonetheless. Although some of the early members were still using quills. Threads on ink making were popular. At that time, I was making my own pens out of ore, wood, and sheep. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/34 "2019-09-30T17:14:41Z")
Or you could make them out of 12 brick if you don’t have any ports, but if you do that, the brick makes the pens really heavy. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/35 "2019-09-30T17:18:50Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > This thread was raised by a spammer who has since been wished away to the cornfield. Well… shit. Did not notice. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/36 "2019-09-30T18:11:00Z")
Haven’t tried this game yet, but man, have y’all noticed how f-in good all the players from South Korea are at _Starcraft_? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/37 "2019-09-30T18:23:35Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “Okay, I rolled a six, which get me… nothing. Anyone want to trade for some wood? Still no? Okay, I guess I do nothing this turn. Again.” [Blackbeard](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/235/blackbeard), from Avalon Hill in '91, has totally random turns. One could sit for quite a while until they get to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/38 "2019-09-30T18:35:20Z")
Recently played a new game that has reasonably Catan-like mechanics: [Space Base](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21794881&postcount=25) You are in charge of a space base, buying ships that give various rewards when 2d6 are rolled (even on other players’ turns). It lacks the variable map the tiles create, but replaces that with randomly-available ship rewards. It’s not too taxing mechanically but complex enough strategically to hold interest. Had some friends over for game night and it was a big enough hit everybody stayed late for a second game! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/39 "2019-09-30T18:47:32Z")
I’m not a big board game player, but have any of you played The Cones of Dunshire? I’ve heard it’s good, although I don’t think it was around when this thread originally existed. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/40 "2019-09-30T19:25:31Z")
**Moderator Action** Moving thread from MPSIMS to the Game Room (which did not exist when this thread was started). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528/41 "2019-09-30T22:56:31Z")
Some very old familiar names here. I’ve wondered how **kellibelli** is doing. I think we lost her when the boards went pay-to-post and she never came back. And I see that the board software ensures that ‘the moderator who shall not be named’ is not in fact named. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-settlers-of-catan/8528.md?page=3)