Game Rules
These 4-page rules (pages 2-5) contain all the important information that you need to play! If you need more information during the game, you can look up keywords (marked*) in the "Almanac," which follows these rules.
Game Components
- 19 terrain hexes (tiles)
- 6 sea frame pieces
- 9 harbor pieces
- 18 circular number tokens
- 95 resource cards (bearing the symbols for the brick, grain, lumber, ore, and wool resources)
- 25 development cards (14 knight cards, 6 progress cards, 5 victory point cards)
- 4 "Building Costs" cards
- 2 special cards: "Longest Road" & "Largest Army"
- 16 cities (4 of each color, shaped like churches)
- 20 settlements (5 of each color, shaped like houses)
- 60 roads (15 of each color, shaped like bars)
- 2 dice (1 yellow, 1 red)
- 1 robber
- 1 "Game Rules & Almanac" booklet
Constructing The Island
The frame pieces hold the board together and prevent the pieces from moving after the board is in place. Before building the island, assemble the frame by matching the numbers at the ends of the frame pieces together (i.e., 1-1, 2-2, etc.).
You can then construct the Island of Catan using the 19 terrain hexes as shown on page 3.
Starting Set-up for Beginners
You can play the game Catan on a variable game board. For your first game, however, we suggest that you use the "Starting Set-up for Beginners*." (See Illus. A on page 3.) This set-up is well-balanced for all players.
Before your first game, you must remove the die-cut components from the cardboard holders. Carefully punch out and separate the pieces. When punching the tiles out of the die-cut sheets, always push the tiles through from the front, "cut" side (pushing from the back may cause the tiles to rip).
Lay out the map as specified in Illustration A (or on the back of this booklet).
First, assemble the frame as shown. Second, create Catan by placing the 19 terrain hexes on the table—again as shown. Third, place the circular number tokens on top of the designated terrain hexes. Finally, place your settlements and roads.