So it's still a question of possible sent and quickly build on a pitch using a variety of resources that are obtained during the game, its settlements and roads in order to achieve a certain number of points first. In addition to concentrating on your progress here is always paying attention to what the other players do. Through skillful acting of resources with the other players also can own progress be accelerated, however, is sometimes the non-cooperation an appropriate means. Thus, although there are situations where it is better not to work and can hinder the players to some extent also by the construction gewieftes building, but clearly outweighs the cooperation as an appropriate means to move forward.
A particular advantage of the game lies in the long-term motivation because of the possibility of ever new scenarios. The game is a succinct but completely adequate and quick-to-understand basic instructions. This is also a basic arrangement of the landscape maps is denoted by the resources to introduce the novice to the world of Catan. These cards can be rearranged according to taste, but in every game, either by chance or by certain notions. In addition, each resource card is provided with a chip; on this there is a number and the players get the respective resource when this number is rolled. This figure chips can be freely assigned. Thus can be created on two levels an ever new starting scenario. (In addition, there is to purchase some enhancements that increase the field of play and the rules. Then at least the Seafarers expansion is for more experienced users in my opinion duty.)
There are also in Catan a robber who diced Seven goes into action every time. This figure can be the player who has thrown the seven, displaced and blocked temporarily for a specific resource box. In addition, it prevents the massive bunkers of resources, as during his appearance every player who has eight or more resource cards in hand, must return half of the cards in the bank (so to speak, an irregularly recurring wealth tax)
This robber also plays the lead role in the play it smart app extension. Parallel can be an app to Apple devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod) run, which extends the functionality of the robber. The entire app is for owners of these play it smart variant of the settlers free. For the market proportionately much more common Android devices there is not the app thus far by the way. If you play with the app, you can let them take over the cubes (cubes inclusive distribution graph ...) and at a seven robbers extension is automatically set in motion. But you can also throw the dice and move the normal App Raider by clicking in action. The animated robber speaks then - in our case, from the iPad with the players and puts himself in the game. He can, for example, offer a trade or the selection of players, is where stolen restrict. In addition, you can the app-robbers at every construction of a settlement or city activate, here he is to act a bit as a corrective of the current disparities among the players, ensuring for example that the player gets a few extra resources with the fewest points.
I consider these robbers app for a nice addition, but you do not definitely must have in every game. I'll use it in between times, but basically I Würfele like myself and grab all the electronic aids Just looking to the side when we do board games. That's just a lot more relaxed.
Also in this edition, The Settlers of Catan is a highly recommended title for all board game lovers. For me personally, one of the games (in addition to titles like Carcassonne or Trivial Pursuit), which should in any household that likes to challenging board games, missing.
Update: The app is available for Android devices. "Catan robbers play it smart" can be installed from the Play Store and works flawlessly on my Galaxy Tab S.
