Can someone tell me what the Settlers of Catan game is about/like?

[Valerie(TX)]

I have three teenagers now (youngest ds turns 13 tomorrow -- :biggrinjester:, but :eek: How'd that happen?!?!?!) I'd like to explore some new family recreation ideas.

Thanks,

Valerie

[Ellie]

Sort of like Monopoly, but with settlers :-) They start from scratch, building their settlement--making tools, building roads and houses, planting crops, trading with each other for resources, and so on.

It's been a big hit at our church with the *adults* :D

[readwithem]

This might help you understand how it's played. We've had it for about two years now and it's BY FAR our family favorite game. Lots of strategy but also unpredictability :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlers_of_Catan

[Doran]

"It's wonderful -- just buy it!"

It's helpful, according to her, if you can laugh a lot while you're playing it. IOW, don't take yourselves too seriously.

Sounds like a chip off the ol' block, huh? :D This game is high on my list of things to buy asap.

Doran

[pixelroper]

especially for the age range of your children, you will have fun too. I recommend it all the time. The initial learning curve has put a few off at first. IMO its worth it. Also look here- http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/13.

Have fun!

[Mrs Mungo]

If you've played civilization on the computer then Settlers or Catan is a *little* like a competitive, board-game version. My sisters and I play each other when we're all home so i think it would be great for teens.

[Raders Fan]

Our family loves it. In fact, it's my favorite game to play with my boys. But I would have to disagree with another poster who said it's like Monopoly. In Monopoly, the game is always the same. With Settlers, the board changes every time you play, so each time you have to adapt to those changes. And hope that you figure out how to adapt better than your opponents do.

[Whisperlily]

Does it take a long time to play, like Risk? Could my 9 and 10 year olds learn how to play without too much difficulty?

[Mrs Mungo]

Does it take a long time to play, like Risk? Could my 9 and 10 year olds learn how to play without too much difficulty?

No, it's *much* faster than Risk. You may remember in one of the game threads I said I hated any game like Sorry! that takes *forever*.

[Melinda in VT]

We love Settlers (and the Cities & Knights expansion)! DH and I started playing with DS when he was 8.5 (because you need at least 3 players), but that was a tad on the young side. Now that he's 12, he's more likely to win (or at least be close) and so likes it better.

A game of Settlers usually takes us 45 minutes to an hour with three players.

Warning: This game can be highly addictive. When we first got it, we played 2-3 games a day.

[Whisperlily]

No, it's *much* faster than Risk. You may remember in one of the game threads I said I hated any game like Sorry! that takes *forever*.

Ooh, good! I like manageable games. ;) Monopoly and Risk get too many NO's because of the time-factor.

Now, where can I buy it? :) Do I have to order it online? We're due for a new board game.

[Mrs Mungo]

Ooh, good! I like manageable games. ;) Monopoly and Risk get too many NO's because of the time-factor.

Now, where can I buy it? :) Do I have to order it online? We're due for a new board game.

You can generally buy it at any gaming store. Gamers love it.

[pixelroper]

I think I found the best prices on amazon. There were even some great deals to get the expansion sets etc. Gaming stores will have it full price.

[nmoira]

We have Settlers, the 5-6 player expansion (a must) and Catan Histories: A Struggle for Rome. I prefer the latter, but it's significantly more complicated. IMHO, Settlers is the single best introduction to Eurogaming. I'd recommend picking up Carcasonne or Carcasonne: Hunters and Gatherers too (with the smaller expansions).

Our favourite sites for finding out about new games are:

FunAgain (http://www.funagain.com/control/main)
BoardGameGeek (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/)

[pixelroper]

I've found this to be good for 8 and up. Settlers of Catan too much for my dd(8). She isn't big on games. A gaming dc might be able to do Settlers.

[Jodi-FL]

My sister introduced us to it, and we gave it to my oldest daughter for her birthday (she turned 17 in Feb.) We need 2 expansion packs for everyone who is old enough in our house to play, so we painted the second set differently than all the other colors. I like it because it *is* different every time, it seems like I learn something new each time (have to stay on my toes with creativity to beat my 14yo son) and it doesn't take long.

The only problem we have with it here is that the 2 and just turned 5 yo want to play too, and they are wwaayyy too young.

enjoy! I got ours at amazon too. but I got the 4th edition, because that's what my sister had, and it was cheaper!

[Valerie(TX)]

nt

[KarenNC]

We even had a theme song for this game:
"We built this city.....We built this city on rocks and wheat" (with apologies to Jefferson Starship:))

[tlcmom]

I did that to learn how to play the board game, and have gotten absolutely nothing done since then. It is very addictive. I almost enjoy it more than the board version. In fact, I am spending a lot less time on this board since I am wasting so much time playing the game.:001_smile: