Cities And Knights Catan Rules

Cities and Knights of Catan: A Comprehensive Guide to the Rules

Catan, or The Settlers of Catan, is a globally popular board game renowned for its strategic depth and replayability. Cities and Knights expands upon the original, introducing new mechanics, challenges, and a significantly deeper strategic layer. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the rules of Cities and Knights of Catan, ensuring you're ready to conquer the island! We'll cover everything from setup to victory conditions, explaining the nuances of each element to enhance your understanding and gameplay.

I. Game Overview and Setup

Cities and Knights of Catan builds upon the core mechanics of the original Catan, adding new elements such as knights, cities, development cards, and barbarian attacks. The goal remains the same: be the first player to reach a predetermined number of victory points (VP). However, the path to victory is significantly more intricate and challenging.

Setup:

1. Board Construction: Assemble the hexagonal tiles randomly, ensuring a variety of terrain types (wheat, sheep, wood, brick, ore, desert). Place the robber on the desert tile. Place number tokens (2-12, excluding 7) randomly on the non-desert tiles, avoiding consecutive numbers on adjacent tiles.
2. Resource Distribution: Each player receives a starting set of resources based on their initial settlements' placement.
3. Development Card Distribution: Each player receives one development card face down from the face-down development card deck.
4. Knight Placement: Each player starts with two knights.
5. Barbarian Track: The barbarian track is set to the starting position.

II. Gameplay Basics: Turns and Actions

A player's turn consists of three phases:

1. Production Phase: Collect resources based on the number rolled and the settlements and cities you control adjacent to the corresponding resource tiles. If a 7 is rolled, the robber is moved and resources are stolen.
2. Action Phase: A player may perform one of the following actions:
   • Build: Settlements, roads, cities, or develop a card. Building costs are displayed on the rulebook's reference sheet, and the game tracks resource requirements.
   • Play a Development Card: This includes Knight, Victory Point, and Road Building cards, each with their unique effects.
   • Trade: Trade resources with other players, the bank (at a 4:1 ratio), or via the harbor improvements.
3. Discard Phase (if applicable): If a 7 is rolled and a player has 7 or more resource cards, they must discard half, rounded down.

III. New Game Mechanics in Cities and Knights

Several key elements differentiate Cities and Knights from the original Catan. Understanding these is crucial for mastering the game:

A. Development Cards: Expanding Strategic Depth

Development cards provide an added layer of strategic options:

• Knight: Placing a knight on a tile pushes back the barbarians. Knights are also used to win progressive points on the barbarian track.
• Victory Point: Provides one victory point immediately upon playing.
• Road Building: Allows the player to build two roads during the action phase.
• Progress Cards: These cards unlock new possibilities and create strategic advantages. These cards are typically obtained only through development cards and can impact trading, resource gathering, and victory point attainment.

B. Barbarian Attacks: Managing Threats

The barbarian track represents the increasing threat of barbarian invasions. Each time a knight is not placed on the tile, the barbarian attacks advance on the track. When the barbarian tracker reaches the final space, the game ends. Players that manage the Barbarian track effectively will greatly increase their odds of winning the game.

C. Cities: Boosting Resource Production

Once a settlement is upgraded to a city, it doubles the resource production from adjacent tiles. This significant resource boost can accelerate development and provide a substantial competitive advantage.

D. Progressive Points: The Barbarian Track

The barbarian track is not merely a threat; it's also a source of victory points. Each player can place their knight to push back the barbarians and earn progressive points. This creates a strategic balancing act – prioritizing knight placement for defense against barbarain attacks to increase victory points, while maintaining the ability to also expand infrastructure to increase resource acquisition and VP points.

E. Harbor Improvements: Enhanced Trading

Harbor improvements provide specialized trading options, improving your resource management capabilities.

F. The Metropolis and Large Ports: Achieving Greatness

The Metropolis grants additional victory points upon completion, while the large ports provide a very significant advantage in trading.

IV. Victory Conditions

The game ends when one of the following occurs:

• A player reaches 13 victory points. This is the standard win condition.
• The barbarian track reaches the end. In this scenario, the player with the most victory points wins.

V. Detailed Explanation of Key Game Elements

Let's delve deeper into the individual components:

A. Settlements and Cities

• Settlements: Initial building structures that provide resource collection. You begin with two.
• Cities: Upgraded settlements, doubling resource production. Upgrading a settlement to a city requires 2 wheat and 3 ore.

B. Roads

Roads connect settlements and cities, enabling expansion across the board. Building a road requires one wood and one brick.

C. Knights

Knights are played onto the barbarian track to push back the barbarians. They are critical for defense and securing victory points. Playing a knight requires one wheat, one ore, and one sheep.

D. Development Cards

The engine of the game, they offer a huge array of strategic options, from knights and road building to victory points, and ultimately the progression cards.

E. Resource Management

Effective resource management is paramount. This involves:

• Strategic Placement: Carefully choosing the locations of your settlements and cities to maximize resource production.
• Trading: Negotiating trades with other players to obtain needed resources.
• Development Cards: Utilizing development cards to improve resource generation or obtain victory points.

VI. Strategic Considerations

Mastering Cities and Knights requires strategic thinking. Consider these factors:

• Resource Balancing: Aim for a diverse range of resources to avoid being vulnerable to a lack of certain materials.
• Development Card Timing: Carefully decide when to play development cards to maximize their impact.
• Barbarian Defense: Manage the barbarian track effectively to avoid a premature game end.
• Trade Negotiations: Skilled negotiation can dramatically improve your resource supply and overall game strategy.

VII. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I play a Knight card on any tile?

A: No, you can only play a knight card on a tile adjacent to at least one of your roads or cities.

Q: What happens if the barbarian track reaches the end?

A: The player with the most victory points wins. If there is a tie, those players who are tied for the lead in victory points will win the game jointly.

Q: How many victory points do I need to win?

A: Usually 13, unless the barbarian track is completed before a player reaches 13 VP.

Q: Can I trade resources with the bank?

A: Yes, but at a 4:1 ratio (four resources for one of a different type). Harbors offer more favorable trading opportunities.

Q: What are the different types of progress cards?

A: Progress cards in Cities and Knights add a large amount of options and variety in the game. Because the contents and specifics of the progress card deck are random, there is not a fixed list of progress cards, but it's very important to note their impact on the game, as certain cards can change the way the game is played for each player.

Q: Can I build a city immediately after placing a settlement?

A: No, you must wait one turn before upgrading a settlement to a city.

VIII. Conclusion

Cities and Knights of Catan presents a compelling and challenging expansion to the original Catan game. By understanding the core mechanics, development cards, barbarian threats, and strategic nuances, you'll be well-equipped to conquer the island and emerge victorious. Remember, resource management, strategic card play, and well-timed knight placements are key to achieving dominance. So gather your resources, strategize your moves, and prepare for an epic battle for Catan! Remember to consult the official rulebook for any ambiguities or specific scenarios not covered here. Happy gaming!