How to Play The Settlers of Catan: The Great River

Objective of the Game

The Great River of Catan is a supplement that expands the base game of Settlers of Catan. It introduces a 3-hex tile featuring a river that runs from the island's center to the coast. The primary goal remains to be the first player to reach a certain number of victory points, but with new strategic considerations related to river production, flooding, and building bridges and settlements around the river.

Preparation (Setup)

To set up The Great River of Catan, follow these steps:

• The Great River of Catan tile replaces one mountain tile, one hill tile, and one field tile from the base game.
• The Great River of Catan tile consists of three adjacent hexes: hex x (central highlands, a mountain hex producing ore), hex y (foothills, producing brick), and hex z (flood plain, producing grain).
• Place number tokens in each of the three hexes (hex x, hex y, and hex z) as per normal rules for mountain and hill hexes.
• If using the Seafarers expansion, settlements/cities may be built at C1.

Fluxo do Jogo

The game proceeds with players taking turns, which involve rolling dice, producing resources, and performing actions. The Great River introduces specific rules for production and events:

• Hexes x and y produce exactly as any other hex.
• Hex z produces (if not flooded) whenever the dice roll is equal to its token value, and whenever a 6 or an 8 are rolled. If the token on hex z is a 6 or an 8, it still produces only once for that dice roll, not twice.
• If hex z is flooded, it does not produce, regardless of the dice roll.
• If hex z is not flooded and a '7' is rolled, the hex floods. This can be marked with a VP token or an unused sea hex.
• If hex z is currently flooded and a '7' is rolled, the flood abates, and the hex is now not flooded.
• Hex z is the only hex that ever floods. Floods only appear through a dice roll of '7' and are only removed through a dice roll of '7'. Floods cannot be moved by soldiers or any other card.
• Whenever a '7' is rolled, resolve the change in flood status before moving the burglar.

Ações e Como Jogar

Players can perform various actions during their turn, including building roads, bridges, settlements, and cities, with specific rules applying to the Great River tile:

Roads and Bridges

• Most hex sides on the Great River tile are treated as normal for road building.
• The mouth of the River Catan (A1-C1 and C1-B1) is uncrossable; no road may be built here.
• A2-B2 and A3-B3 are potential crossing points for the river, but require a bridge to carry a road across.
• To build a bridge, the resource cost is 1 timber + 1 brick + 1 stone (normal road cost + 1 stone).
• When a bridge is placed, it requires two lengths of road to be placed side by side on the map.
• A bridge counts as 1.5 lengths of road for determining longest road.
• If one player builds both possible bridges, they automatically win any ties for longest road.
• If the Road building progress card is played, it can provide the 1 brick + 1 timber requirement for a bridge from one of the 'free' lengths of road, but the player must still provide the 1 stone and have sufficient lengths of road available to place.
• A4-B4 is above the headwaters of the river and is treated as a normal hex side for road building.
• If the Seafarers expansion is used, ships (but not roads) may be built along hex-sides A1-C1 and C1-B1.

Settlements and Cities

• The normal limitation on building at adjacent intersections (the distance rule) does not fully apply around the banks of the Great River.
• Settlements/cities may be built at both A-1 and B-1. No settlement/city may be built at C-1.
• Settlements/cities may be built at both A-2 and B-2.
• Settlements/cities may be built at both A-3 and B-3.
• Settlements/cities may NOT be built at both A-4 and B-4; if the intersection at A-4 has already been built on, then no building is possible at B-4, as normal (and vice versa).
• Other than the above, the normal rules prohibiting construction on adjacent intersections apply.

The Burglar

• The burglar may never be moved onto Hex z while it is flooded.
• The burglar may be moved into hex z (by a dice roll of '7') if the flood has been abated by that dice roll.
• The burglar may also be moved into hex z by the play of a soldier card, if the hex is not flooded at that time.
• If the burglar is in hex z when it floods, he drowns and is removed from the board. The player rolling the '7' does not place him.
• The burglar remains off the board until the next '7' is rolled, when the player rolling the '7' must place him in the burglar's starting position in the desert hex.
• Thereafter, the burglar may be moved through the roll of '7' or play of soldier cards, as normal.
• The burglar can NOT be returned to the board by the play of a soldier card, only through the roll of '7'.

Fim de Jogo e Pontuação

Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção.

Dicas para Vencer

1. Prioritize Bridge Building for Longest Road: Since a bridge counts as 1.5 lengths of road, building bridges can be a very efficient way to secure or take the longest road tile. If you build both possible bridges, you automatically win any ties for longest road, which is a significant advantage.
2. Manage Flood Risk with Hex Z: Be aware of the production potential and risks associated with hex z. While it produces on its token value and on 6s and 8s, it can flood and cease production. Plan your settlements and resource needs accordingly, and consider the impact of '7' rolls on both production and the burglar's position.