# Catan: 5-6 Player Expansion

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 1996
- **BGG Rating**: 7.0
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 5-6 (Best with: 5)
- **Duration**: 120 min
- **Weight**: 2.31 / 5
- **Designers**: Klaus Teuber
- **Artists**: Andreas Klober, Andreas Resch, Eric Hibbeler, Harald Lieske, Klaus Teuber, Marion Pott, Michael Menzel, Michaela Kienle, Pete Fenlon, Quentin Regnes, Stephen Graham Walsh, Tanja Donner, Volkan Baga
- **Publishers**: KOSMOS, 999 Games, Albi, Brädspel.se, Brain Games, Catan GmbH, Catan Studio, danspil, Devir, Enigma (Bergsala Enigma), Filosofia Éditions, Galakta, Giochi Uniti, GP Games, Grow Jogos e Brinquedos, HaKubia, Hobby World, Ideal Board Games, Igroljub, IntelliGames.BG, Ísöld ehf., Kaissa Chess & Games, Korea Boardgames, Laser plus, Lautapelit.fi, Mayfair Games, MIPL, NeoTroy Games, Piatnik, Rozum, SuperHeated Neurons, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Tilsit
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Negotiation
- **Mechanics**: Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Modular Board, Network and Route Building, Trading

## Verdict
A must-have for those with large gaming groups who want to turn Catan into a massive social event.Boosts interaction and negotiationExpanded map prevents extreme crowdingPaired turns rule speeds up gameplayGame duration increases significantlyThe board becomes much more congestedRECOMMENDED

## Description
Ever had a game night where the crew is too big for a standard game of Catan? That's exactly where this expansion comes in. It allows you to bump the player count up to 5 or 6, turning the race for territory into a high-stakes diplomatic battle where space becomes the most valuable resource of all.

Adding more players isn't just about adding more pieces; it requires a tweak to the game's flow to prevent it from dragging on forever. Traditionally, the expansion introduces the 'Special Building Phase.' At the end of each player's turn, a window opens where any player can build, regardless of whose turn it was. It creates a tense atmosphere where you have to decide if you'll spend your resources now or risk someone else snatching that prime spot on the coast.

More recently, Catan introduced an updated approach known as 'Paired Turns.' Instead of the separate building phase, two players are active simultaneously during each turn. This system, borrowed from Catan: Starfarers, significantly speeds up the game and keeps everyone engaged, reducing the downtime that usually plagues larger groups. This is the modern way to play and is highly recommended for a smoother experience.

Of course, the box includes everything you need to get the extra settlers started: additional roads, settlements, cities, and more terrain hexes to enlarge the map. This ensures there's enough room for everyone to fight over wheat and ore without the board feeling too cramped. It's the essential upgrade for anyone who wants to bring more friends into the world of Catan without sacrificing the core strategic experience.

## How to Play
Goal of the Game
In the 5-6 player expansion for Catan: The Game, the goal remains the same as the original version: be the first player to reach 10 victory points. Points are earned by building settlements, cities, roads, buying development cards, and achieving specific objectives. The island is now larger and the competition for resources is more intense, making the game even more challenging.

Setup
To set up the game with 5-6 players:

  Use the 10 Sea Tokens (6 from the base game + 4 from the expansion) to form the edges of the board.
  Shuffle the terrain hexes and form the board in rows: 6 hexes in the center, 5 on each side, then 4, and finally 3, as illustrated in the manual.
  Place the expansion number tokens in a counter-clockwise spiral, starting from a corner, following alphabetical order. Deserts do not receive tokens.
  Position the ports at the indicated junctions: "3-1", "5-1", and two "any".
  Place the robber on one of the deserts.
  Each player receives pieces in their color (brown or green) and starting materials according to the basic rules.

Important: Use only the expansion number tokens, even with base game hexes.

Gameplay Flow
The game follows the basic Catan flow, with one crucial addition:

  The active player performs their 3 normal actions: rolling the dice for resource production, trading, and building.
  Special building phase: After the active player's turn, all other players may build (in clockwise order, starting with the next player). During this phase, you are only allowed to build settlements, roads, cities, or buy development cards. Trading is prohibited.
  The turn passes to the next player to the left.


Actions and How to Play
The available actions are the same as the base game, with emphasis on the new building phase:

  Resource production: Rolling the dice to determine which terrains produce resources.
  Trading: Exchanging cards with other players or using ports (only during the active turn).
  Building: During your turn or the special phase, spend resources to build structures or buy cards.

Restriction: During the special building phase, trading is strictly prohibited.

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends immediately when a player reaches 10 victory points at the start of their turn. Points are counted as follows:

  Settlement: 1 point
  City: 2 points
  Development cards (some grant points)
  Longest road and largest army (2 points each, if applicable).


Tips for Winning

  Take advantage of the special building phase to expand even when it is not your turn, especially if you are near a port or a valuable resource.
  With more players, the competition for resources is greater. Prioritize development cards to obtain flexible advantages.
  Position your initial buildings strategically, as the larger board requires more route planning and resource access.

## FAQ
### Do I need the base game to use this expansion?
Yes! This is an expansion only. You must own the base Catan game to add more players.

### Does the game take much longer with 6 players?
Yes, sessions tend to be longer. This is why the 'Paired Turns' rule is highly recommended to keep the game from feeling sluggish.

### Does the board get too crowded?
The expansion includes extra hexes to enlarge the map, but with 6 players, the fight for space is much more aggressive than in the base game.

### What are the main rule changes?
The main change is the building phase, using either the Special Building Phase or Paired Turns to ensure players aren't waiting too long.

### Is this compatible with other expansions?
Yes, there are specific extensions available to integrate the 5-6 player count with 'Seafarers' and 'Cities & Knights'.

### Is it hard to learn for those who already play Catan?
Not at all! If you know the base game, the adaptation is almost instant, as only the building dynamics change.

## Price Comparison
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