Big W with 20% off on Settlers of Catan board game to keep you busy post afl grand final with family/friends
Available at selected stores for click and collect (check availability) or for delivery from $7.90
It only has a complexity rating of 2.31/5 on BGG. Time to find new people more like it.
I should try comparing to 5/5 complexity games… wonder what they'd be like
I'd say Catan is easy to learn/play, but difficult to master. The challenge lies in being able to identify strong strategic opportunities/risks, and then capitalising on them yourself, or blocking your opponents from gaining instead. No one is going to be able to play like this on their first go, but they'll easily be able to collect resources and expand with new settlements. The best way to learn/teach is by simply playing. I'm sure there's plenty of YouTube videos explaining the rules in a quick and straightforward format, so potentially opt for showing your friends one of those instead of trying to explain it yourself. Reinforce the 'objective' being to either go for a 'longest road' or 'largest army' play, as building all the way up to 10 points is difficult and unlikely to get the win. Then help each other out with starting settlement placements, discussing strong spots, ports, etc., and away you go. Also I'd suggest advising everyone that they should be placing the 'robber' on whoever is most likely in the lead, otherwise the leader will only get further and further in the lead. It's more fun when it's neck and neck.
Thanks for your detailed response! I should look up how the robber works, wasn't familiar with that aspect
Sounds like you need to buy a copy of Uno
You expect me to COUNT?!?
It's really not that hard - I taught my 12 year old niece last week and she picked it up very quickly. There are a lot of rules to read through so it's probably less dry if someone explains it whilst playing.
It's a long game, a lot trading/transactions among player
Needs more player with the similar interest.
You can start with Little Town Board Game:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/241266/little-town
More simple but still cunning in some way (do not get fooled by the cute graphics)
Thanks I think you've hit the nail on the head - it's long and needs people with similar interests. I can't imagine the people I play with sticking through it I guess, rather than it being too complicated
You could give a try Machi Koro board game, it's a stripped down Catan from Japanese Board game
Easier to setup, shorter playtime and pack a punch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6y02IGRE-U
Have fun
Monopoly deal is pretty fun - relatively shorter and easy to understand
It's a good entry to games and is also cheap - $4 at woolies and amazon
(…just a suggestion if you think catan will be too hard)
Catan shouldn't be too complicated, but its definitely too long for what it is.
Irish Gauge is one of my favourites to pull out for beginners. Has a few familiar concepts for people who have played Catan or Monopoly, quite strategic and interactive with just enough randomness to take the edge off, and plays inside an hour.
There's a 'Catan Junior' which is a variant of the game designed for younger players.
7 Nimit is a good one or codenames. Both easier to explain than Catan, and entertaining for groups.
catan is a very easy game to learn, and there isn't much to learn at all, dont worry catan is no gloomhaven
Note: It's 20% off toys at Big W so most board games are discounted.
Thanks for the heads up! I think Catan is pushing over to the "too complicated" side for people I play with. Anyone have any advice about whether it can be played more easily?