Catan Connect
Catan Connect Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 3 game boards (A, B, C)
- 2 edge boards
- 168 game pieces (28 in each of 6 colors): 30 cities (5 per color), 30 settlements (5 per color), 108 roads (18 per color)
- 6 robbers
- 24 markers (4 per person)
- 150 resources: 30 each of lumber, wool, brick, ore, grain
- 27 development cards: 15 knights, 3 road building, 3 invention, 6 victory point
- Free app CATAN Assistant (more info on page 5)
Setup
Game Boards
There are 3 different game boards: A, B and C (marked in the lower right corner). Each board specifies the starting areas for 2 people (see the pink and green outlines). They are separated from each other by a desert. The starting positions of the 2 people are drawn on the board in their predetermined colors (see triangle, circle and rectangle).
The board shows: the starting area "Moon", the starting area "Sun", the starting space "Robber", trading posts, edge symbols, starting position "road", starting position "city", starting position "settlement", the supply "resources" (on both sides), the Sun, the Moon, the building costs overview, the special victory point tracks, the markers, the victory point track and the supply "development cards".
- Game with six: Lay the 3 game boards next to each other so that all Sun symbols are on one side of the table and all Moon symbols are on the opposite side. Make sure that, seen from the Sun side, the boards are laid from left to right in alphabetical order, i.e. in the pattern A-B-C.
- Game with four: Choose any 2 game boards and lay them next to each other. Here too it is important that all Sun symbols are on one side of the table and all Moon symbols on the opposite side. You do not have to keep the alphabetical order in a game with four.
- Game with eight or more: More information starts on page 10 (see "Variant for 8 or More People" below).
Edge Boards
Edge boards are boards that have no starting positions, so nobody sits directly at these boards. Place one at the beginning and one at the end of the row of game boards. Here too, make sure that Sun and Moon lie against each other on the correct sides.
Note: The edge boards are only used from a game with 6 people on (see "Building in a Game with Six" below).
Example: This is how you lay out the game boards for a game with six (Moon side on one side of the table, Sun side on the other; row of edge board, A, B, C, edge board).
Resources
Stack 5 resources of each type on the places provided for them on the Sun and Moon sides of the game boards. These are your supplies.
Development Cards
For each game board, set aside 5 knights, 1 road building, 1 invention and 2 victory points. Shuffle these 9 development cards face down for each board, divide them into 2 stacks and place them on the corresponding spaces of each game board.
Game Pieces
Each of you decides on a color you would like to play and sits at the matching game board on the corresponding side. You recognize the color by the colored outline of the victory point tracks. Place 2 settlements and 1 city on the printed starting positions (circle and triangle) on the game board. Also place 1 road on each of the rectangles shown next to them. Keep the remaining game pieces in front of you.
Starting Resources
Everybody now receives their first resource yields for the city in their color: for each landscape hex adjacent to this city, take 1 corresponding resource from the supply and lay it face up in front of you.
Markers
Each of you takes 4 markers. You use one of the markers to keep track of your score. To do so, you move it along the victory point track of your board side. Because of the buildings already placed, you start with 4 victory points. Place the remaining 3 markers in front of you. In the course of the game you can use them to mark special victory points you have achieved.
Variable Setup
Once you have gathered first experience with Connect, you can also place your pieces variably. Simply place 2 settlements and 1 city, each with 1 adjacent road, on any spaces in your starting area. Observe the distance rule as in CATAN – The Game.
Let's Go!
Now start the app CATAN Assistant and choose the game CATAN – Connect. Place your device so that everybody can see the display well. More information about the app is in the following section.
App CATAN Assistant
The game CATAN – Connect lives above all on speed through set short round times. We therefore recommend using the app CATAN Assistant. The integrated Connect feature offers a timer and an automatic dice generator and guides you through the game round by round. The feature thus ensures a smooth flow of play.
You can download the app to your smartphone or tablet via the QR code. Alternatively, this link takes you to the App Store: www.catan.de/wie-lerne-ich-catan. Open the app and choose the game CATAN – Connect. Tap the feature "Timer & Dice". You start the game by tapping the button "New Game".
First you can set the duration of the rounds. If you are playing Connect for the first time, we advise setting the rounds somewhat longer and playing with these times:
- Rounds 1 – 10: 35 seconds
- From round 11: 45 seconds
If you have already gathered some experience with Connect, we recommend this setting:
- Rounds 1 – 10: 30 seconds
- From round 11: 35 seconds
Here you can set the round times as you like. Afterwards the game can be started with the Play button.
Of course you can also set any other time. The duration of the rounds depends on the wishes and skill of your group.
In between, it is useful to pause the game so that everybody can get an overview of their victory points. To do so, tap the screen of your device and then the Pause button. If you want to continue playing, simply press the Play button again. It is best to appoint one person to operate the app during the game.
Note: If you want to play without the app, you need two dice and a timer. More information about playing without the app can be found at www.catan.de/connect.
Overview of Play
A round always proceeds as follows:
- Announcement of the active people (or: the Robber becomes active)
- Yield phase for EVERYONE
- Trading and building phase
- Everyone: Trade
- Active people (additionally): Build; buy and/or play development cards
- New round and change of the active people
Play in Detail
1. Announcement of the Active People
Sun or Moon is active. Each game board is marked with a Sun symbol and a Moon symbol. The people sitting on the Sun side of the game board are called Sun, those on the opposite side are called Moon. The app announces the active side each round. After that, Sun and Moon are active alternately every round, unless they are surprised by the Robber (see "A '7' is rolled" below).
Active means that roads, settlements and cities may be built. Additionally, any number of development cards may be bought and/or 1 development card bought in a previous round may be played. Trading is also possible.
2. Yield Phase for Everyone
As soon as the timer of the app is running, you all play at the same time! The app gives you the dice roll. It applies to all people at the table, regardless of whether you sit on the Sun side or the Moon side. The number rolled determines the landscape hexes that produce yields for you.
No "7" is rolled: everyone receives resource yields. Whoever owns a settlement or city at a landscape hex with the rolled number now takes the corresponding resources from the supply of the game board and lays them face up in front of themselves. At all times in the game, it must be visible to everyone how many and which resources you have in front of you. Should there ever not be enough resources in the supply on your board, you may also use the supplies from the other game boards. They are available to everyone!
A "7" is rolled: the Robber becomes active. In each starting area there is 1 robber, which never leaves it. Its starting space is the desert. During the first 10 rounds the robber is not moved. In the app, therefore, no "7" is rolled during this time. As soon as a "7" appears from round 11 on, the robber becomes active. This happens in an additional phase, i.e. not while Sun or Moon is active. The app then gives you 12 seconds to do the following:
- Check resources. Immediately check the number of your resources. Whoever has more than 7 resources must put half of them back into the supply. With odd numbers, round down.
- Move the robber. With the roll of a "7", the app directly shows another number. This number determines on which landscape hex in your own starting area you must place your robber. Move your robber accordingly. If your robber is already on a hex with the rolled number, it stays there. If the app shows that the robber moves to the desert, move your robber to the desert of your starting area. If your robber is already in the desert, leave it there.
Important: Unlike in CATAN – The Game, after moving the robber you may not steal a resource from another person.
3. Trading and Building Phase
After you have completed the yield phase for yourself, you can go straight into the trading and building phase without waiting for the others. Use the time, because the timer keeps running. Depending on whether you are on the active side or not, you can do the following:
Trade. All of you may trade with each other, and all at the same time! It does not matter whether you are on the active side or not. For this you always lay out your resources visibly for everyone throughout the whole game. Trading with the supply (4:1) is also possible. In addition, you can trade 3:1 or 2:1 at the trading posts in the deserts. The trading posts correspond to the harbors of CATAN – The Game.
Build. If you are on the active side, you may additionally all build at the same time. You may also switch back and forth between trading and building.
Building on Foreign Territory
You may also build in the adjacent areas that you can reach with your roads through the deserts. The special thing: for your first settlement in each foreign area you receive 2 additional victory points. So it pays to expand in both directions.
Example: Green continues the trade route on the adjacent game board on the right and can thereby build a settlement on foreign territory. For this settlement Green receives 2 additional victory points.
You mark the victory points with one of the markers on the corresponding space of your special victory point track. This helps you add up your victory points in the course of the game.
Example: Green marks the 2 additional victory points for building the first settlement on foreign territory. Since Green has reached the right area, the marker is placed on the space with the arrow pointing right.
Building in a Game with Four
In a game with four, the edge boards are not used. Whoever has their starting area on the outer edge of the game board can build beyond their edge onto the outer edge of the other game board. For better understanding, imagine that the island runs in a circle. Then the desert and landscape hexes would lie next to each other. The different edge symbols help you position the game pieces at the right place on the other game board.
Example: Pink builds a road to the symbol on the edge of the game board. To continue the trade route on the other game board, Pink must build the next road at the same symbol on the edge of the other game board.
Building in a Game with Six
In a game with six you need the edge boards. The same rules apply as for building on foreign territory. The printed gray game pieces on the edge boards stand for a further player color. You must therefore observe the distance rules. You do not need to pay attention to the pictured wooden boards in a game with six. They are only used in a game with 8 or more people (see "Market" below).
Example: Orange builds a settlement on the edge board. At this spot the distance rule to the gray settlements is observed.
Longest Trade Route
The contest for the Longest Trade Route is held separately on each game board, between the two people who have their starting area on that board. Whoever first has built 5 connected roads receives 2 additional victory points for the Longest Trade Route and marks them on the special victory point track with a marker.
As soon as the other person on this game board has a longer trade route, they receive the marker and with it mark the Longest Trade Route on their special victory point track.
Example: Orange marks the 2 additional victory points for the Longest Trade Route.
Buying and/or Playing Development Cards
If you are active, you may buy any number of development cards at any time. In addition, you may play 1 development card per round. However, you may not play it in the round in which you bought it. They are used as in a normal game of CATAN – The Game. The development card Monopoly does not exist.
Note: You may only buy the development cards that lie on your game board. In the unlikely case that all development cards on your board are used up, you may also buy development cards from the neighboring game boards.
Road Building. With the development card Road Building you build 2 roads for free.
Invention. With the development card Invention you may take 2 resources of your choice from the supply.
Victory Point. With the development card Victory Point you receive 1 victory point. If you are currently active, you can end the game directly with the help of one or more of these development cards if you reach at least 18 victory points. You keep every development card with a victory point face down in front of you until you can end the game with it.
Knight. When you play a knight, proceed as follows:
- Move the robber to the desert of your starting area. Then take from the supply 1 resource of the landscape hex on which the robber stood.
- If the robber is already in the desert, it stays there. Take 1 resource of your choice from the supply.
Important: You may only move the robber in your own starting area. After moving the robber you may not steal a resource from another person. Instead you take it from the supply as described above.
Largest Army. The contest for the Largest Army is also held separately on each game board, between the two people who have their starting area on that board. Whoever first has played 2 knights receives 2 additional victory points for the Largest Army and marks them on their special victory point track with a marker. As soon as the other person on this game board has played more knights, they receive the marker and with it mark the Largest Army on their special victory point track.
Example: Orange marks the 2 additional victory points for the Largest Army.
Note: Should it happen that a person has both the Largest Army and the Longest Trade Route, they take a marker from the supply of the person sitting opposite to mark it.
4. New Round and Change of the Active Side
When the timer has run out, the round ends immediately and you may not perform any further actions. The app then continues with the dice roll for the next round and names the new active side. This produces a regular alternation between Sun and Moon. This alternation can be interrupted by the robber. So always be on your guard!
End of the Game
The person who reaches at least 18 victory points during their active turn wins. The game is then over immediately, so they should draw attention to themselves right away. Pause the app and check the score. If the person miscounted, the game continues; to do so, tap the Play button on the screen. If everything is correct, the person has won. Congratulations! It is best to start over right away!
Special Case
It may happen that 2 or more people announce their victory at the same time. In this case, check who has the most victory points, since more than 18 points can be reached at victory. The person with the most victory points wins the game.
Tie
Should there be a tie between these people, the person with the most resources wins. In the unlikely event that there is still a tie, the number of individual types of resources is compared one after another, in the following order: (a) the most grain, (b) the most ore, (c) the most brick, (d) the most lumber and (e) the most wool. If after this comparison exactly the same number of resources lies with the people, they have all won.
Overview of Possible Victory Points
- Settlement: 1 victory point
- City: 2 victory points
- First settlement on foreign territory: additionally 2 victory points (including the settlement, 3 victory points in total)
- Development card Victory Point: 1 victory point
- Largest Army: 2 victory points
- Longest Trade Route: 2 victory points
Cleaning Up
So that setup for the next game goes quickly, it is best to fill the 9 zip bags this way:
- per player color 1 bag with 5 cities, 5 settlements, 18 roads, 1 robber, 4 markers
- per game board 1 bag with 10 resources of each type and the following number of development cards: 5 knights, 1 road building, 1 invention, 2 victory points
Variant for 8 or More People
You can also play the game with more than 6 people. To do so, simply combine several Connect games with each other. Note that the game can only be played with an even number of people. The set turn duration allows good time planning. A game of Connect lasts about 30 minutes, regardless of the number of people. The same rules always apply as described in this rulebook. Differences in the rules exist only in the use of the edge boards and in trading.
Setup
Prepare the game as for the game with six (see Setup above). Note:
Space Requirements. For a larger group you need correspondingly more space. You can work out the length of your table row yourself: the game boards are a little under 60 cm long. The edge boards are 26 cm. Also take into account that you have enough space in front of the game boards to lay out your game materials.
Market. From 8 people on, the printed markets on the edge boards are used. On both markets, lay out each resource 1x. You can take the resources for this from any stacks from the supplies. The rules for the market are found under "Trading with the Market" below.
Game Leader. Depending on how large your group is and how much experience you have with the game, it is helpful to appoint one person as game leader. The game leader can be an additional person or can play along. They should know the rules of CATAN – The Game and of Connect well.
Tips:
- The game leader can switch the sound in the app on or off. They can control the language and the sound separately. If they want to moderate the game themselves, they turn off the language via the symbol at the bottom left of the screen.
- After the 10th turn the app pauses automatically and points out that from now on the robber comes into play. The game leader can use this interruption to remind everybody of the rules for the use of the robbers. Once everything is clarified, the game leader can continue the game by tapping the Play button on the screen.
- The game leader should also insert further pauses in between so that everybody can check the current state of the victory points.
- As soon as someone announces a victory, the game leader must interrupt the game immediately. To do so they pause the app and check the victory points in a way everyone can follow.
Course of Play
Fundamentally, play proceeds as in the game with six (see "Play in Detail" above). Only in trading are there a few special features:
Trading. You may not trade with all people at the table. You can trade with the person on your game board and with the 4 people who sit at the game boards to the left and right of you. So everybody has 5 people in direct proximity with whom they can trade. (Diagram: board to the left, your board, board to the right; "You".)
Trading with the Market. If you sit at the beginning or end of the table row, there is an exception: since you only have 3 people to trade with, you may additionally trade with the market when you are active. For this you can exchange once per round 1 resource of your choice for 1 other resource from the market. Trading with the other 3 people is still possible at any time. In the course of the game the market will keep changing, since the person sitting opposite you may also trade with the market when they are active. Should there be 5 identical resources in the market at any time in the game, it is not refreshed with 5 different resources. The resources stay as they are until someone trades with the market again.
Important Rules and Differences from CATAN – The Game
- CATAN – Connect can only be played with an even number of people.
- The game ends at 18 victory points.
- The app specifies the length of the rounds and the dice rolls. It also announces the active side (Sun or Moon) each round.
- Everybody may always trade at the same time, regardless of whether they sit on the active side or not. Trading with the supply (4:1) and the trading posts (3:1 and 2:1) is also possible.
- All people who sit on the active side may build at the same time.
- For every first settlement on foreign territory there are 2 additional victory points.
- The Largest Army is obtained with just 2 knights played.
- The Longest Trade Route is obtained with 5 connected roads.
- Play is with openly laid-out resources.
- The game can be expanded as desired with further Connect games.
Use of the Robber
There is 1 robber per person. Everybody may only move the robber in their own starting area.
- "7" rolled. When a "7" is rolled, the app shows to which hex the robber must be moved. After moving the robber, nobody may steal a resource from another person or take one from the supply.
- Playing a knight. Whoever plays a knight moves their robber to the desert of their starting area. Then the person takes from the supply one resource of the hex on which the robber stood. If the robber is already in the desert, the person may take any 1 resource from the supply.