CATAN: Cities & Knights (1998)

Catan: Cities & Knights

Catan: Cities & Knights (German: Städte und Ritter), formerly The Cities and Knights of Catan, is an expansion to the board game The Settlers of Catan. It was released in 1998 and adds concepts from the card game and its first expansion to Catan, including knights who must be used to defend Catan from invading barbarians, and improvements that can be bought for cities that give benefits to players. Three commodities (paper, coin, and cloth) can be produced, in addition to the original resources.

Why is Catan: Cities & Knights Popular?

Catan: Cities & Knights is popular because it adds complexity to the original game, The Settlers of Catan, and provides players with new challenges and strategies to explore. The game is significant because it has won awards and become the first German board game to sell outside of Europe.

Game Components of CATAN: Cities & Knights

Game Board: The standard _Catan_ board with additional city and knight placements.

Knights: Three types of knights (basic, strong, and mighty) that protect against barbarian attacks.

City Walls: Protect cities from barbarian pillaging.

Progress Cards: Coinage, Paper, and Cloth cards that provide bonuses and improvements.

Event Die: Introduces events such as barbarian attacks and progress card draws.

City Improvements: Structures like markets, town halls, and abbeys that enhance city capabilities.

Barbarian Fleet: A mechanic that simulates barbarian attacks on Catan.

How To Setup CATAN: Cities & Knights

Setting up _CATAN: Cities & Knights_ involves several steps:

First, set up the base _Catan_ board as usual.

Add the city walls and knight tokens to their respective spaces.

Shuffle and place the Progress Cards within reach of all players.

Determine the starting player and distribute the initial resources and cards.

Place the barbarian fleet token on its starting space on the sea tile.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Resource Collection: Players collect resources (brick, wood, sheep, wheat, and ore) based on the dice rolls.

Knight Placement: Players place and activate knights to defend against barbarian attacks.

City Improvements: Building structures to gain Progress Cards and enhance city capabilities.

Barbarian Attacks: The event die can trigger barbarian advances; players must collectively defend Catan using their knights.

Progress Cards: Earned through city improvements, these cards offer various bonuses.

Game Objective

Defend Catan: Collaborate to defend against barbarian attacks by deploying knights.

Build Metropolises: Compete to build the three great metropolises, each worth two additional victory points.

Accumulate Victory Points: The player with the most victory points, including those from cities, roads, and metropolises, wins the game.

Player Experience

Playing _CATAN: Cities & Knights_ introduces a new layer of complexity and strategy to the base game. The addition of knights and barbarian attacks creates a sense of urgency and cooperation among players. The game becomes more confrontational, with players prioritizing knight upgrades and activations to slow down their opponents’ progress. Trade and communication remain crucial, but they are often influenced by past grievances and the need to defend against barbarians.

Pros

Enhanced Strategy: New mechanics like knights and city improvements add depth to the game.

Cooperative Elements: Players must work together to defend against barbarian attacks.

Increased Replayability: The additional elements and events ensure each game is unique.

Visual and Thematic Appeal: The game’s theme and components bring the world of Catan to life.

Cons

Complexity: The added mechanics can make the game more complex and overwhelming for new players.

Barbarian Mechanics: The constant threat of barbarian attacks can be frustrating, especially if players fail to defend Catan.

Resource Management: Managing resources to activate knights and build improvements can be challenging.

Personal Thoughts on CATAN: Cities & Knights

_CATAN: Cities & Knights_ is ideal for experienced _Catan_ players looking to add a new layer of strategy and excitement to their games. It is particularly suited for those who enjoy a mix of competition and cooperation, as the defense against barbarians requires collective effort. However, new players might find the additional mechanics overwhelming, so it’s recommended to start with the base game before diving into this expansion. Overall, _CATAN: Cities & Knights_ is a vibrant and engaging expansion that enhances the _Catan_ experience significantly.

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