Settlers of Catan Board Game Zone

settlers of catan two player settlers of catan two player

Settlers of Catan has been the flagship of German-style Designer Games for many reasons, some of the key being its elegant simplicity and its depth strategy. Your choice of influence strategies of initial and final configuration of the game. The separation of the strategies described in this series is a bit artificial, but it is useful to understand the concepts underlying them. In practice, players can use a combination of these strategies during the game. In this article, the fourth in this series will discuss the strategies of monopolies and cartels.

Monopolies and cartels of the strategies are strategies to win, or exclusive control (monopoly) or shared control (cartel) of a particular resource, usually ore or brick as they have the smallest number of hexagons in basic game (three against four of the others).

First, the version of monopoly, to win more or less exclusive control. Usually attempt to treat control all spells good (usually one) of an action for yourself. It rarely works. The main problem with this strategy is that the thief is almost always in the hexagonal with a monopoly. As the only person in this particular hex, the robber will stay there until you get (or seven-rolled), unlike shared hexagons. Moreover, unlike shared hexes, each player believes you except that hexagonal territory of being a thief just investment, all because they want a chance to recover the monopolized resource from your hand.

A potentially better way to treat monopoly strategy is to let the other players about the best hex of that resource, and go for the other two less marginal (for ore and brick). Then, try to place the thief on the hexagon with good through play This has the advantage of being able to place your initial settlements away from the rest of the crowd. You will need a lot of gentlemen, to get the thief you, and the best hexagonal. This would be combined with the Card Builder strategy (for gentlemen), especially if you try to monopolize the ore or wheat.

If someone in your group has the nerve to try a monopoly, which appeared very soon, probably in the initial configuration. You can use to your advantage to remember that ports are much more valuable property and using the monopoly player as a lightning rod for attacking other players instead of you (and attract the attention of people outside their own designs.)

Cartel alternatives. Basically this is a strategy to share control of a particular resource, to reduce the problem of robber in a monopoly, but to ensure you're the dominant player in this agreement. In this variation, it is only necessary to control the most resources. For example, if you control at least two of the three places of settlement in a hex scarce. The other player to work so hard to keep the thief away, but collects only half. This is more common in a good ore hex. Another way this can be done is to have access to the hexagonal bulk for a product that has a port. Others Players who can not keep a thief in each, and probably also keep the hex first. Sheep and wheat are most typical of this type of agreement, because there are products that people usually target for the original placement. Note that this is very similar to the common strategy of resources.

As Variant Monopoly, you'll have a lot of the Knights to keep the thief away, preferably on your opponents spells more productive, or in an action for your opponent has a port (so you can not easy to trade in its resources). Thus, if you have total control you can make good trades. Depending on your group can do operations 3:01 when people are desperate, and even turn these down if you win, and force them to do Bank of 4:01.

For more information about the game, please visit the author href = "http://www.settlers-of-catan.com/"> Settlers of Catan fansite. This series based on the Settlers of Catan Strategy and Tactics Guide, which is http://settlersofcatan.blogspot.com

Dan Kozarchuk is a self admitted board game junkie who has an obsession with designer board games, particularly the Settlers of Catan.

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