Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe (2011) Board Game

Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe is a standalone game in the Catan Histories series, which offers players a unique take on the classic Catan gameplay by focusing on the historical setting of medieval Europe. Designed by Klaus Teuber, this game allows players to take on the roles of merchants traveling across Europe, establishing trade routes, and competing for resources and power.

Game Components of Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe

Game Board: A double-sided board depicting Europe, with one side for the full game and the other for a shorter version.

Wooden Pieces: 185 pieces, including 120 trade routes, 48 trading posts, 8 caravans, and 8 merchants, all in four colors.

Cards: 120 cards, comprising 19 for each of the 5 resource types and 25 development cards.

Tokens: 40 commodity tokens, 68 coins, and various number tokens.

Dice: 2 dice for determining resource production.

How To Setup Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe

Setup involves placing the game board, distributing resources, and each player starting with three trading posts in designated cities. Players also receive a set of merchants and initial resources. The board features various terrain types (forest, pasture, fields, mountains, and saltworks) that produce different resources. Players place their trading posts on purple city-sites during the initial setup.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Resource Collection: Players collect resources (lumber, wool, grain, ore, and salt) based on the terrain hexes their trading posts are on.

Merchant Recruitment: Recruit merchants to establish new trading posts in other cities.

Trade Route Establishment: Build trade routes and equip caravans to deliver commodities safely.

Commodity Delivery: Deliver commodities to foreign cities to score points.

Gold Coins: Earn gold coins when resources are not collected, which can be used to compensate for missing resources.

Robber: Use the robber to block opponents’ resource production and steal their resources.

Game Objective: The first player to deliver all their commodities to foreign cities wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe feels similar to the original Settlers of Catan, but with a distinct focus on trade and commodity delivery. The game is less about trading between players and more about strategic resource management and expanding your trading empire. The absence of surprise victories from development cards makes the game more predictable, but the need to manage multiple resources and trading routes keeps it engaging. However, the full game can be lengthy, almost doubling the playtime compared to the shorter version.

Pros

Engaging Theme: Set in late medieval Europe, adding a historical and thematic depth.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning of resource collection, trading post placement, and commodity delivery.

Predictable Gameplay: No surprise victories from hidden development cards.

High-Quality Components: Wooden pieces and a sturdy, good-looking game board.

Cons

Lengthy Gameplay: The full game can be quite long, stretching playtime significantly.

Limited Trading: Trading between players is less attractive due to the uniform need for all resources.

Less Interactive: Misses the bartering and negotiation element present in other Settlers of Catan games.

Personal Thoughts on Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe

This game is ideal for fans of the Settlers of Catan series looking for a new challenge with a historical twist. While it may not live up to the original Settlers of Catan in terms of player interaction and trading dynamics, it offers a unique and engaging experience focused on building and managing a trading empire. It is particularly suitable for those who enjoy strategic resource management and the satisfaction of delivering commodities across a medieval European landscape. If you’re a Catan completionist or simply looking for a game with a strong thematic focus, Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe is definitely worth considering.

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