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Scenario: Cloth For Catan
Hi there! Have you ever played the game of Catan? It’s a fun and strategic board game where players compete to build settlements and cities. There’s a resource in the game called cloth that can be quite useful, and today I want to talk to you about the importance of understanding how to use it to your advantage.
When I first started playing Catan, I didn’t fully understand the significance of cloth. It seemed like just another resource to collect, but I soon realized that it could be a game-changer. Cloth can be used to build valuable development cards, which can give you an edge over your opponents. It’s like having a secret weapon in your pocket.
But here’s the catch – cloth isn’t as easy to come by as other resources like brick or wood. You can’t simply collect it from a hex on the game board. Instead, you need to have a settlement or city adjacent to a sheep hex in order to produce cloth. This makes cloth a bit more elusive, but also more rewarding when you manage to acquire it.
So how do you decide if it’s worth pursuing cloth in the game? Well, it depends on the current state of the game and your strategy. If you’re focusing on building cities and need development cards to help you, then cloth is definitely worth considering. It can give you the upper hand and put you in a strong position to win.
On the other hand, if you’re lagging behind in the game and struggling to gather resources, pursuing cloth might not be the best move. It’s important to weigh the potential benefits of cloth against the effort it takes to obtain it. Sometimes, it’s better to focus on other resources that are more readily available.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to pursue cloth in Catan comes down to your strategy and the current state of the game. It’s just one of many factors to consider when making strategic choices. But if you do decide to go after cloth, it could be the key to your victory. So keep an eye out for those sheep hexes and don’t underestimate the power of cloth!
As I embarked on my journey westward, I stumbled upon a series of islands. These islands were inhabited by a group of people known as the “Forgotten Tribe”. Their remarkable talent for crafting exquisite cloth and creating resplendent garments immediately caught my eye.
Over the course of many centuries, these islanders had honed their skills in the art of weaving and producing beautiful cloth. In comparison, the clothing worn by the newcomers (which included me) was quite mediocre. As a result, a bustling trade for their remarkable cloth began to thrive.
Essential Elements
Harbors: In order to truly experience the wonders of this trade, you’ll need to gather 9 harbor tokens. These include 5 special 2:1 tokens (one for each resource) and 4 versatile 3:1 tokens.
Terrain & Tokens: Additionally, you’ll need to have the following:
I bet you’re wondering how the Catan board is set up. Well, let me break it down for you.
| Terrain | Hexes | Number Tokens |
| Sea | 18 | 2s |
| Desert | 2 | 3s |
| Gold field | 2 | 4s |
| Fields | 5 | 5s |
| Hills | 3 | 6s |
| Mountains | 4 | 8s |
| Pasture | 4 | 9s |
| Forest | 4 | 10s |
| Total: | 42 | 11s |
| 12s | 2 | |
| Total: | 28 |
Now, there are a few additional components you need – 50 Catan chits. Make sure you’ve got those handy too.
So, let’s talk about the setup.
Here’s what you need for the game:
– Take a look at the list of game components provided above. Make sure you have everything you need before you start.
– Now, let’s set up the game map. Follow the scenario diagram and place the different components in their designated spots.
– Don’t forget to place the harbor tokens on the board. These tokens should be shuffled and placed with their reverse sides facing up.
– Next, we’ll move on to the islands. Each of the 4 small islands should have two number tokens placed on their intersections. These tokens represent villages.
– Make sure to place 5 Catan chits next to each of the 8 villages.
– Finally, take the remaining 10 Catan chits and place them beside the board. These chits form a “general supply” and represent bolts of cloth in this scenario.
Getting Started
First things first, let’s talk about how to set up the game. You start by building your first two settlements on the two main islands, just like in regular Catan.
Remember: If you decide to build a settlement on the coast, you have the option to place a ship instead of a road next to it.
After the last player has placed their second settlement, it’s time for everyone, starting with that same player and going clockwise, to build their third settlement. When you place your third settlement, you’ll receive your starting resources.
Now, let’s talk about the “Forgotten Tribe.” They live on the four small islands in the middle of the map, and the number tokens represent their villages. Just remember, you can never build settlements on these four islands.
Trading Cloth
When I create a shipping route between one of my settlements or cities and a village of the “Forgotten Tribe,” something special happens – I establish trade relations with that village. It’s like making a new friend!
- Right away, I get 1 bolt of cloth from the village’s supply. And every time the number of that village is rolled, I get another bolt of cloth. It’s like a gift that keeps on giving!
- If 2 or more players have also connected to that village and the number of the village is rolled, each player gets 1 bolt of cloth from the village’s supply. We all reap the rewards of our connections!
- But here’s the thing – if there aren’t enough bolts of cloth in the village’s supply to give one to each connected player, don’t worry! Just take enough bolts from the general supply and make sure everyone gets their fair share. No one gets left out!
- If a village doesn’t have any Catan chits next to it when its number is rolled, nobody gets any Catan chits from that village. No need to take Catan chits from the general supply.
- Two bolts of cloth (Catan chits) are worth 1 victory point, but a single bolt of cloth is worth nothing.
Moving Ships
If one of your settlements/cities is connected to a village of the “Forgotten Tribe” by a shipping route, that shipping route is considered “closed”. This means you can’t move any ships that are part of that shipping route.
Pirate & Robber
For this scenario, we’ll play with both the robber and the pirate. The robber will start on the fields hex with the “12” number token. The robber isn’t allowed to move to the islands of the “Forgotten Tribe”.
The pirate will start on the sea hex marked with a pirate ship.
Before you can move the pirate, you need to establish a shipping route between one of your settlements or cities and a village of the “Forgotten Tribe”.
Once you move the pirate, you have two options: draw a resource card or take a Catan chit (bolt of cloth) from a player whose ship is adjacent to the new pirate hex.
Longest Trade Route
There are no victory points awarded for the “Longest Trade Route”.
End of the Game
The game comes to an end when a player achieves 14 victory points on their turn, or when 3 or fewer of the “Forgotten Tribe” villages still have at least one Catan chit. In the second scenario, the player with the most victory points wins. If there’s a tie, the player with more bolts of cloth comes out on top.