CATAN®  Scenario and Variant Setup Guide

Standing on the coast, you look out across the boundless sea. Having tamed the wilds of your homeland, your heart yearns for greater adventures, greater conquests. Your people are ready to follow you, even into the unexpected dangers of the unknown. Nearby, seasoned dock workers are putting the finishing touches on your first great seaworthy ship. Soon you will leave the settlements behind to join the ranks of explorers and conquerors. Soon you will become one of the Seafarers of Catan!

After a long voyage, the settlers have reached Catan and built their first settlements. Harbors are built and new, seaworthy ships are being developed. Daring Catanians sail across the ocean. Before long, rumors appear that many smaller islands are out there at sea, not too far away—it is even said that gold has been found on some of them. Gold is highly appreciated in Catan. Ships are fitted out, and soon Catanian ships set sail to find the gold of the islands.

The tribes of Catan quickly develop into experienced seafarers. One day they reach the islands to the west, the "Small Islands" group. Here too, fertile fields, lush pastures, and productive mines lure the intrepid Catanians. New settlements are quickly built. But soon the Catanians’ curiosity spurs them on: what will they find on the other islands? Since every tribe wants to see all four islands, an exciting race for the few settlement sites begins!

Other Catanian seafarers discover a new land they call “Fog Island.” Near the island stretches a mysterious sea, mostly covered by a thick fog. Fearless seafarers who have ventured into the ocean in the fog tell about fertile islands and a legendary land of gold. Thirsty for adventure, the Catanians load their ships with supplies and seeds and set out on a voyage to the mysterious ocean in the fog.

Far away, to the west of Catan, a new island is discovered. The Catanians named it the “Desert Island,” because a desert belt splits the island into two parts. Soon after building the first settlements in the larger part of the island, scouts discover fertile land on the other side of the desert belt. At the same time, ships discover smaller islands, with gold deposits and abundant ore deposits.

Now, who will be the first to build new settlements, and where? The most daring settlers head off through the merciless desert. Others try to be the first ones to reach the smaller islands, to build settlements there, and to expand them into prospering cities.

Far in the South, Catanian settlers reach a long, narrow island. Soon the first settlements emerge. When exploring the surrounding waters, the Catanians come across small, inhabited islands. During the first encounters it turns out that the strangers are speaking a similar language and know the same legends. It soon becomes clear that these people actually are descendants of a group of people whose ship got lost; a ship from a fleet that hundreds of years ago reached Catan for the first time. The reunion with the Catanian brothers causes great joy, and they don’t hold back on neighborly help and gifts.

On their voyage westwards, the Catanians encountered further islands inhabited by members of the “Forgotten Tribe.” The magnificent cloth and resplendent garments of these people quickly attract the Catanian's attention. During the course of the centuries, the islanders acquired great skills in producing cloth. Since the clothing of the newcomers was not nearly as high in quality, a busy barter trade for the beautiful cloth soon begins.

In the Northwest, pirates have invaded the island kingdom of the Catanians. The battle-hardened buccaneers quickly sink the peaceful Catanians' merchant ships and capture the settlements on the western isles. After expanding the captured settlements into fortresses, the pirates continue with their raids. Now they are threatening the eastern island. Time and again, they attack the coastal settlements with their fleet and rob valuable resources from the Catanians. The Catanians decide to build a navy to stop the audacious acts of the pirates and drive them back into the open sea.

After the Catanians defeat the pirates for good, a period of prosperity and peace begins on the islands of Catan. So the tribes decide to embellish the northern archipelago. Discovered last, it is graced with magnificent buildings in praise of Catan. Soon, this turns into a competition. Who will be the first in completing a Wonder of Catan?

Have a desire for new adventures? No problem! Just go ahead and play—leave it to chance! Build your own scenario! Our following brief instruction will do. Or do you prefer a methodical approach? Then go and develop your own scenarios, and take friends or family along for new adventures in Catan!

For your first game we suggest that you use this option.
This set-up is well-balanced for all players.

With these options the board changes randomly each game.
It is more fun to play with a variable game board.

Dark clouds gather over the once peaceful landscape. Wild barbarians, lured by Catan's wealth and power, maneuver to attack. Their massive warships loom against the orange horizon. You must be strong! Barbarians attack the weakest targets, and the victim of their onslaught will be the player who contributes the least to the defense of Catan. Don't take any chances!

Field your knights and compete to build the three great metropolises of Catan. Each of these magnificent centers are even more valuable than cities and are safe from the barbarians. You must invest in city improvements, which you acquire using commodities of trade: Coin, Paper, and Cloth. If you improve your culture, muster your knights, and enrich your cities, you will be the master of the great realm of Catan!

After the settlers have built their first settlements, created agricultural crop land, and multiplied their flocks of sheep on the fertile pastures of Catan, they lean back in their chairs, satisfied. Totally satisfied? No, not totally. It’s true that lamb and bread are delicious food—but every day the same dish makes some settlers wish their menu would show a little more diversity. Thus, it is only a matter of time until a couple of settlers equip themselves with fishing rods and nets, and try their luck on the shores of Catan or the recently discovered lake. Meaning that the peaceful days for the fish of Catan are definitely over…

While some settlers have totally committed themselves to fishing, others are settling near the rivers of Catan. These rivers are proving to be the true lifelines of the island. The river trade is flourishing particularly well—as reflected in profits of sheer gold!

No wonder that soon roads are appearing along the rivers, and mighty bridges are crossing the water. Everyone wants to be the wealthiest settler of the island. But it often happens that, while one gets rich, many others get poor. How will you fare?

Recently, Catan has been enjoying steadily growing wealth, thanks to its industrious settlers, fishermen, and merchants. But not all of the settlers are satisfied. For some, Catan has become too busy and agitated. To get away from the hustle and bustle, they drive the robber from the desert and settle at a small oasis. Now they have some peace and quiet, while enjoying the clean and dry desert air—but soon the diet is lacking variety, and the wool necessary to make new clothes becomes scarce…

Catan’s wealth doesn’t go unnoticed. Fearsome barbarians, eager for booty, are landing on the coasts of Catan, spreading fear and terror. The fun is over—the peaceful times are history! One never knows where the barbarians will strike. There are only a few initial raiders, but their numbers increase rapidly. At first they only ruin resource production. But as their strength grows, they threaten to besiege settlements and cities—with devastating consequences.

But Catanians stand by each other. They respond by training Knights to send into battle—but will they be strong enough?

The barbarians have been driven off, and peace is returning. The destruction the barbarians left in their wake is being repaired as fast as possible. The castle where the Council of Catan holds session suffered particularly severe damage, but the restoration efforts are making real progress. Now, the craftsmen need to finish the stained glass windows and the new marble statues. Marble must be transported from the quarry, sand must be brought to the glassworks, glass must be delivered to the Castle, and tools are needed as well.

The roads of Catan are bustling with traffic. Of course you are involved; the Council pays for transport in solid gold. Only some scattered barbarians are getting in the way—they’re waiting. For you!