# Catan: Event Cards

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2005
- **BGG Rating**: 6.5
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 3-6 (Best with: 3, 4)
- **Duration**: 90 min
- **Weight**: 1.85 / 5
- **Designers**: Klaus Teuber
- **Artists**: Tanja Donner
- **Publishers**: Catan GmbH, Devir, KOSMOS, Mayfair Games
- **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Negotiation
- **Mechanics**: Hand Management, Memory, Modular Board, Network and Route Building, Trading

## Verdict
If you love Catan and want a fresh roll mechanic, Event Cards add spice without hassle.Replaces dice smoothlyIntroduces unique eventsEasy to integrateLow complexityRare events may be overlookedRelies on card memoryDoesn't change core mechanicsRECOMMENDED

## Description
Catan: Event Cards is a deck of 36 cards that replaces the traditional dice in Catan, adding a bit more control and a dash of unpredictability to the classic colonization game. Each card represents one of the possible two‑dice combinations, ensuring that result distribution follows real probabilities. For players using the Cities & Knights expansion, the deck also includes single‑die roll cards. A quirky twist: the "New Year" card sits on top of the bottom five cards; when it is drawn, the deck is shuffled immediately, preventing those five cards from being used in that cycle. Of the 36 cards, sixteen trigger no special event. The six cards showing a 7 activate the classic "Robber Attack," while the remaining numbers can spark unique events – some appear only once, others twice – totaling ten distinct events. The set works as a light expansion, easy to learn and slot into the base game without altering the core negotiation, route building, and resource management that fans love. Besides replacing dice, it introduces a small memory element as players may try to recall which cards have already been played. Perfect for 3‑6 players, a game still runs about 90 minutes, and the complexity stays low with a BGG weight of 1.85. If you already enjoy Catan and want a fresh way to roll, the Event Cards spice things up without overcomplicating the experience.

## FAQ
### How many players can use the Event Cards?
The expansion works for 3 to 6 players, just like the base game.

### How much extra time does the expansion add?
Usually only a few minutes; the game still runs about 90 minutes.

### Do I need Cities & Knights to use the Event Cards?
No, they work on their own, but they include single‑die cards useful for Cities & Knights.

### What does the New Year card do?
When drawn, the deck is shuffled immediately, preventing the five cards beneath it from being used.

### Do the event cards change Catan’s core rules?
No, they only add occasional effects; the core negotiation and route‑building stay untouched.

### Is it hard to remember which events have already occurred?
It’s a light memory challenge since some events appear only once; paying attention helps.