Settler's of Catan, Island Setup

[Reinboom]

This in reference to the Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Expansion (base game) for 4th edition (the 2007 release, Mayfair Games/Stateside).

The box mentions only 11 (2 forest, 2 pasture, 2 mountain, 2 field, 2 hills, and 1 desert) tiles are added. For most of the diagrams for 3rd edition boards with their expansion they expanded the island a full ring while it seems to extend the island an entire ring you would need 18 new tile pieces.

Is the 4th edition expansion set up differently and if so, how?

[Erloas]

Well all I can really say is that I have the 2007 version as well as the 5-6 player expansion. I have 30 tiles and the game needs 30 tiles. I don't think I have any other expansions, so how many ever they give you is obviously enough.

The normal version takes 19 tiles, so 11 is all you need.

[Reinboom]

Well all I can really say is that I have the 2007 version as well as the 5-6 player expansion. I have 30 tiles and the game needs 30 tiles. I don't think I have any other expansions, so how many ever they give you is obviously enough.

The normal version takes 19 tiles, so 11 is all you need.

Not quite what I was asking.
How are those 30 tiles set up? With 30 tiles, it's obviously no longer just a ring added on.

[UglyPanda]

The extra 11 tiles form four sides of a ring.

[Erloas]

Oh, you were asking how the extra 11 tiles are used if they don't increase the size of the starting border?

They include 4 border pieces that mix into the original border pieces to increase its size and hold all 30 tiles.

I went and found the expansion box (it was being used for something else since they all fit in the orignal box) and it says that it includes 2 frame pieces with harbors and 2 all-sea frame pieces, and various other things.

[Reinboom]

The extra 11 tiles form four sides of a ring.

So, an oblong shape? Looking at the board shape, I can only account for 10 pieces. Well, I'll see what I can do with that. Thank you. :smallsmile:


Oh, you were asking how the extra 11 tiles are used if they don't increase the size of the starting border?

They include 4 border pieces that mix into the original border pieces to increase its size and hold all 30 tiles.

I went and found the expansion box (it was being used for something else since they all fit in the orignal box) and it says that it includes 2 frame pieces with harbors and 2 all-sea frame pieces, and various other things.

Still... not quite what I was asking for.
I mean the actual shape. Not what consists of it. (I have the box... sort of).

[Erloas]

Umm... the shape is still a hexagon, its just not a perfect one anymore. I think it really only fits together in one way. The rules tell you between which of the orignal edge pieces that you install the extra ones, but I don't see the rules right now to say where that is.
So long as you get the 4 extra edge pieces in and it all goes together right all the tiles should drop in fine.

[Deathslayer7]

i think what she is asking is what should the shape of the board look like when she adds in the 11 tiles. Normall it is a hexagon, but when you add those tiles in, it should still be a hexagon, just an extended version of it.

Note: it is not also a pewrfect hexagon either.

[skywalker]

Just put down... I guess 6 tiles as a column, and then put down equal columns on either side till you run out of tiles. Don't worry about the frames or anything, it's just for show.

It doesn't "add an entire ring," just expands the island once. Which you don't need to add an entire ring to do.

[Reinboom]

That answers my primary questions.
This is what I'm currently looking at for as far as sets available:
2 4e boxes of Settlers of Catan
2 4e boxes of Settlers of Catan 5-6 Player Expansion (yet to be purchased)
1 box of Traders and Barbarians (I preferred the extras in this over the other two expansions)
1 box of Traders and Barbarians 5-6 Player Expansion (yet to be purchased)


I'm aiming at making a rather large and complicated island that doesn't inherently shunt anyone out of the game early on.

Currently, the custom rules of our group:

7 = Discard down to 5, not half
Person with leading victory points, or tied for lead, can't move the thief away from the desert/must move it to the desert.
If you start your first settlement on a port, you get the trading resource of that port (nothing for a 3:1).
You can discard a Development card rather than playing it for 1 of any resource. You must still wait a round to do so.
Using the deck over dice.


Also, 6 Settlements, 6 Cities, and 24 roads per person. (Noting, we usually play with 3 players)

We're aiming at a massive expansionist and long game while trying to keep everyone viable until the end.

Any recommendations?

[Charity]

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic370456_md.jpg
5-6 player setup
http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic413704_md.jpg
An 8 player setup

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic285997_md.jpg
Treasure lake

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic285996_md.jpg
Dull square

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic284583_md.jpg
Hawaii

http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic251702_md.jpg

You can set em up however you like, remember the bigger the board the less competition there is for land so don't make it too big.
The other thing to note is that settlers tends to favour the person in the lead, so if someone gets ahead they will likely stay there especially in a longer game.
If you want something new in your settlers
Seafarers offers more interesting maps, and Knights and cities offers more involved rules and more varied play... but I would recomend pure randomness to balance your game board.