Oil Springs Game Rules: A New Discovery on Catan

Wow! We just struck gold! Or should I say, oil! Imagine this, folks: oil has been found on the island of Catan. Isn’t that something?

Now, the clever engineers here on Catan have figured out how to make the most of this precious resource. They’ve come up with all sorts of nifty ways to boost production by using oil. They can convert it into other useful resources and even upgrade cities into metropolises. Talk about innovation!

But hold your horses, because there’s a catch. Yes, you guessed it-right along with all these amazing benefits, using oil comes at a cost. Unfortunately, it produces pollution and harmful emissions that mess with our climate. To make matters worse, these emissions could cause coastal flooding and be a complete disaster. Yikes!

So, now the people of Catan face a tough choice. Do we limit our oil usage to protect the common good and avoid calamity? Or do we put it all on the line and go for victory, even if it means risking ruin?

What You’ll Need

To play the Oil Springs game, you’ll need all the components from The Settlers of Catan (SOC) game. Make sure you have everything ready to go-it’s time to dive into this thrilling new challenge!

Catan: Oil Springs comes with a variety of components, but not all of them are used in a 3-4 player game:

– You’ll find 21 oil tokens, but only use 15 for 3-4 players.

– There are also 21 hidden oil tokens on the backs of the oil tokens.

– You’ll need 6 metropolis tokens, but only use 4 for 3-4 players.

– There are 4 oil spring tiles, but you’ll only use 3 for 3-4 players.

– Don’t forget about the Champion of the Environment token.

– You’ll also find 7 Victory Point tokens.

– Lastly, there’s the Disaster Track with its marker, starting at “0”.

Let’s get started with the setup.

Place the Oil Spring tiles on the desert hex, the 9 forest hex, and the northeast 10 pasture hex. The Robber starts off-board.

Put the Disaster Track marker on the “0” of the Disaster Track.

Now, let’s go over the game rules.

For the most part, follow The Settlers of Catan Rules.

When it comes to resource production, here’s what you need to know:

When I think of buildings on oil springs, I imagine a bustling city, fueled by the black gold that lies beneath the surface. It’s fascinating to ponder how this precious resource can shape the growth of a settlement, from a small village to a thriving metropolis.

Unlike other resources, such as wood or brick, oil is distributed in a unique way. When someone rolls the dice, the oil is handed out one at a time, starting with the roller and then passing it clockwise around the table. This continues until all players have received their share or until the supply runs dry.

It’s worth noting that the robber can also have a role to play in this oil-rich landscape. They have the power to block an oil spring, hampering the production and distribution of this valuable resource. The stolen player has a tough choice to make – they can either surrender a random resource card or give up a precious oil, directly chosen by the person doing the robbing. And when fate deals a 7, each oil counts as one card. So, if you find yourself needing to discard, you have the option to part with oil, returning it to the supply.

So, how can you make use of this precious oil?

Well, there are two ways to tap into its power:

1. When it’s my turn, I can trade 1 oil for 2 resources of my choice, as long as they’re not oil. I can’t use maritime trade to get oil, but I can use Year of Plenty and Monopoly cards.
2. If I have 1 brick, 1 grain, 1 ore, and 2 oil, I can upgrade one of my cities to a metropolis. I just need to place a Metropolis token under it. A metropolis produces 3 resources instead of 2, and it’s worth 3 victory points. Plus, it’s safe from coastal flooding.

I can use multiple oil per turn for these two options. When I use oil to build, it goes back to the supply. But there’s a downside: oil causes pollution. Every time I use 5 oil, a disaster happens.

Hey, guess what? I’ve got some exciting news for you today! You can use the Disaster Track marker on the Disaster Track to keep track of the progression. It’s like a little token that moves from 0 to 5, showing you how things are going.

Let’s Talk about Sequestering Oil

Or, you can choose a different path during your turn. Instead of using 1 oil, you can decide to prioritize the environment and sustainability. You’ll be sacrificing some growth, but you’ll gain increased environmental security and the prestige of being a sustainability leader.

If you choose this option, simply flip one of your oil cards upside down in front of you. This action “sequesters” the oil, permanently removing it from the game. For every 3 oil cards you sequester, you’ll earn 1 Victory Point.

Keep in mind that the first player to sequester 3 oil cards becomes the “Champion of the Environment” and earns the Champion token, which is worth 1 Victory Point. However, if another player manages to sequester more oil cards than the current Champion, they immediately take the Champion token for themselves.

When I use oil in the game (but not the oil that I keep or return because of a robbery), it has a negative impact on the environment. This negative impact, which we call the “disaster phase,” happens after I finish my turn but before the next player takes theirs.

Here’s an important thing to remember: I can only use oil during my turn until a disaster happens. If the marker on the Disaster Track is on the number 4, I can only use one oil during that turn. Sequestering oil, meaning keeping it aside, doesn’t count as “usage” and doesn’t affect this limit.

If the marker is on the number 1, then I can use up to four oil during my turn. At the end of my turn, if a disaster has been triggered, I have to deal with it, and then reset the marker back to zero.

What Happens During the Disaster Phase?

Every time the marker on the disaster track reaches “5” (that means after the 5th, 10th, 15th, and so on instance of oil being used), I roll two dice to decide where disaster will hit.

If I roll a “7”

If a seven comes up, a natural disaster caused by climate change leads to flooding along the coasts. Settlements next to a sea tile are removed from the game board (and returned to the player who owns them), and cities are downsized to settlements.

Roads are not affected by the flood. A metropolis, with its advanced seawalls and design, is also not impacted.

Remember: I can rebuild destroyed settlements later, either in their original place or somewhere else. It’s important to note that other players can also build a settlement there now (if it’s possible).

If I don’t roll a “7”

If I roll any number other than 7, that means there has been industrial pollution which affects a hex with that number. All the details about this can be found in the text box on the right. But, if there’s only one hex with the rolled number, then that hex is the one that gets affected.

If there are multiple hexes that share the same number, I randomly choose one of them to be affected. However, if the number rolled is no longer on any hex because of previous disasters, then nothing happens.

If the hex that gets affected doesn’t have an oil spring, I have to remove the production number token from that hex. This means that the hex won’t produce any resources anymore. I then take the removed number token and place it on one of the open circles on the Disaster Track. If all the spaces on the track are filled up, the game comes to an end.

But here’s the real kicker – if the affected hex does have an Oil Spring tile, I have to remove 3 oil from the general supply of the game. These oil are gone forever, and I can’t use them anymore.

Hey there! Did you know that Oil Spring tiles are different from hexes? They have a unique characteristic that sets them apart – they can keep being affected by pollution throughout the entire game.

Now, here’s something important to keep in mind. If all the oil in the general supply runs out and there’s only oil left in the players’ hands, things change. To deal with this, players have to discard one oil at a time. It starts with the player who caused the disaster, and then continues clockwise around the board. It’s a way to keep the game balanced and fair.

So, now let’s talk about how the game ends:

There are actually two ways to bring this scenario to a close:

• The first player who manages to score 12 or more victory points after they finish their turn is declared the winner of the game. It’s important to note that this includes resolving the Disaster Phase, if it applies. So keep an eye on those victory points and take strategic action!

If you remove the fifth number token from one of the hexes in Catan, the island is flooded and everyone has to leave, ending the game. Nobody really wins in this situation, but the player who has the Champion of the Environment token is given a special title. They are recognized for their work in fighting climate change and are given the most beautiful land on a nearby island to start over.