Settlers of Catan

Optional

If there is time for one more class, you can hold a tournament and play one of the three competitive games . Or learn to play one of the gateways to tabletop games from the early 2000's: Settlers of Catan.

Game Mechanics

Settlers of Catan includes some standard game mechanics, including network and route building, modular board and income.

Each student is trying to expand their initial settlements on a small island with limited resources. They must build their income as well as their assets

Critical Thinking

Analysis (study the board and pieces)

• Being able to recognize the distinct resources on the island.

• Recognizing what numbers are located on specific tiles.

Synthesis (understand the rules and how to play)

• Understanding how probability will affect your ability to gather and spend resources.

• Using the trading system to obtain resources you could never produce but need to build.

Evaluation (learn how to win)

• Placing and building your settlements in a way that favors creating the Longest Road.

• Understanding the value of development cards towards being able to build the Largest Army or obtain extra victory points.

Geography and History

• The board on which the students played is a closed economic system.

Some topics you can explore with your son/daughter:

• Why are some resources more prevalent on the board than others?

• What do the development cards represent?

• What is the most important resource throughout the entire game, not just the beginning or end?

Resources and Links

• Board Game Geek - Settlers of Catan came out in 1995 but is still considered one of a handful of gateway games, ones that expose the larger tabletop gaming avocation to a new player.

• Pictures - Because Catan has been around for so long, the fan base is large and creative. The number of images related to food, custom boards, 3D boards, clocks or holders, or quilts is impressive!