How to Play Catan: Seafarers – 5-6 Player Extension

Game Objective

The unknown islands of Catan lie before you. Some dot the horizon, while others are shrouded in shifting mists. Together, they offer the promise of abundant harvests and limitless riches to the first explorers to reach their shores. The objective is to outwit and outmaneuver other princes to become the master of the Islands of Catan.

Catan: Seafarers 5-6 Player Extension allows you to play the exciting game of seafaring, exploration, trade, and development with up to six players. The game features nine new and exciting scenarios, with more varied islands and a fiercer demand for resources.

Preparation (Setup)

To play the scenarios in Catan: Seafarers 5-6 Player Extension, you will need the components from a copy of Catan, Catan: Seafarers, and Catan 5-6 Player Extension.

Extension Components

• 30 wooden ships (15 in each of two colors)
• 7 sea hexes
• 2 gold field hexes
• 1 desert hex
• 2 frame pieces
• 2 harbor tokens
• 35 Catan chits
• 9 new scenarios
• Extension rules and scenarios

Before you begin your first game, you must remove the pieces from the pre-cut frames.

Assembling the Board

Each scenario in this book includes a scenario diagram that shows how the board should be constructed.

1. Assemble the frame as shown in the image and the individual scenario diagrams. It is easiest to assemble the frame by inserting the Catan frame pieces from above, snapping them into the Seafarers frame pieces.
2. After building the frame, place the terrain hexes (hexes). Arrange these hexes exactly as shown in the scenario diagram.
3. After placing the hexes, arrange the round chits with the production numbers. These are also placed as shown in the scenario diagram.
4. After building the board, randomly place the harbor tokens. Take the harbor tokens listed in the scenario description and shuffle them face down into a pile. Select the harbor tokens randomly, one at a time, and place them on the board where the scenario diagram indicates.

Game Flow

With 5 or 6 players, the turn sequence is different from that described in Catan and Catan: Seafarers. The turn sequence is as follows:

1. Dice Roll – You must roll for resource production.
2. Trade/Build Phase – You can trade resources with other players. You can also build roads, settlements, and cities and/or buy development cards. These are interchangeable actions. For example, you can build, trade, buy a card, trade, and build more.
3. End of Turn – Once you have finished your turn, pass the dice to the next player.
4. Special Building Phase – Your opponents can build as described below.

During the special building phase, all other players, in turn, will have the opportunity to build and/or buy development cards. Players are NOT ALLOWED to make any trades with other players, nor can they use maritime trade, during the special building phase. Additionally, you cannot move ships during the special building phase.

Complete rules for the special building phase and other rules relating to 5 and 6 player games can be found in Catan 5-6 Player Extension.

Actions and How to Play

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

End of Game and Scoring

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Tips for Winning

Refer to the manual for details on this section.