Comments on: Settlers of Catan: the only other board game I can stand http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 22:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: oddible http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064704 oddible Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064704 I don't think thesunneversets was out of line at all, I mean Mark did title his post "the only other board game I can stand" which kinda implies that he knows board games well enough to say rather than the more accurate statement of "hey I just found an entire new class of board games and I like the first couple I tried!". Quite funny, and glad Mark found these games finally!!! Hope he finds many more! And to think that Settlers only has a 7.4 rating on www.boardgamegeek.com!!! and the ratings go as high as 8.1! Just got San Juan myself, published by the folks who made Puerto Rico, also designed by Andreas Seyfarth. Loving it! I don’t think thesunneversets was out of line at all, I mean Mark did title his post “the only other board game I can stand” which kinda implies that he knows board games well enough to say rather than the more accurate statement of “hey I just found an entire new class of board games and I like the first couple I tried!”. Quite funny, and glad Mark found these games finally!!! Hope he finds many more!

And to think that Settlers only has a 7.4 rating on http://www.boardgamegeek.com!!! and the ratings go as high as 8.1!

Just got San Juan myself, published by the folks who made Puerto Rico, also designed by Andreas Seyfarth. Loving it!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064963 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064963 I figured after 79 comments, I'd stick up for Monopoly. My family has a couple giant closets full of various board games, and this is still a favorite. If the purpose of a board game is to give something fun for family and friends to do together, then this one's a winner. I figured after 79 comments, I’d stick up for Monopoly. My family has a couple giant closets full of various board games, and this is still a favorite. If the purpose of a board game is to give something fun for family and friends to do together, then this one’s a winner.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064965 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064965 On dice rolling: get a small see through plastic collectable card case. Trim and line the bottom with upside down mouse pad. Put the dice inside. Shake the box and then put it on the table. You get some tactile "using your hands" to shake the dice but there are no cocked dice, no jostled chits or minifigs, and the rubberized mouse pad bottom ensures that the dice shake well On dice rolling: get a small see through plastic collectable card case. Trim and line the bottom with upside down mouse pad. Put the dice inside. Shake the box and then put it on the table. You get some tactile “using your hands” to shake the dice but there are no cocked dice, no jostled chits or minifigs, and the rubberized mouse pad bottom ensures that the dice shake well

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064968 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064968 A favorite game from my childhood (the 70's) was called "Dealer's Choice", where players were used car salesmen. You had to buy and sell cars (depicted on cards) based on their values from a list hidden in your hand. Every player's car values are different, so you try to sell your worthless cars for big money, and keep your valuable cars. The player with the highest net worth at the end wins. Sounds dumb, but there is a lot of wheeling and dealing, offers bid and rejected, and multi-player bidding wars. Still available used on eBay for very reasonable prices. A favorite game from my childhood (the 70′s) was called “Dealer’s Choice”, where players were used car salesmen. You had to buy and sell cars (depicted on cards) based on their values from a list hidden in your hand. Every player’s car values are different, so you try to sell your worthless cars for big money, and keep your valuable cars. The player with the highest net worth at the end wins. Sounds dumb, but there is a lot of wheeling and dealing, offers bid and rejected, and multi-player bidding wars. Still available used on eBay for very reasonable prices.

]]> By: evanprodromou http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064714 evanprodromou Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064714 @Mark: open invitation to play Illuminati with me & mine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati_%28game%29 It is the best game ever, and if you don't have fun, I'll eat a bug. @Mark: open invitation to play Illuminati with me & mine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati_%28game%29

It is the best game ever, and if you don’t have fun, I’ll eat a bug.

]]> By: Scurra http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064971 Scurra Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064971 As others have noted, there's a weird sense of deja vu going on here, given the previous posting about Carcassonne. But I have to agree with thesunneversets too. I didn't think he was being particularly snotty; I think the novelty was finding a geeky hobby that some BB contributors weren't already into, so it made a change being able to joke about BB being behind the curve for once! And yes, drop by any modern gaming group and you'll encounter an enormous number of "post-Catan" games from the last 15 years, most of which are at least as good - although Catan still deserves praise for being the breakout game. And, after all, it's amusing that one of the core classics of what has become known as the Eurogame genre was created forty years ago by an American (yes, Acquire broke all the rules first.) If I was feeling cheeky, I'd link to my own first contribution to the genre but since it sold out its first small print run there wouldn't be a lot of point. But maybe one day when Mark is a fully-fledged gamer geek he may play it and then I will feel happy. As others have noted, there’s a weird sense of deja vu going on here, given the previous posting about Carcassonne.

But I have to agree with thesunneversets too. I didn’t think he was being particularly snotty; I think the novelty was finding a geeky hobby that some BB contributors weren’t already into, so it made a change being able to joke about BB being behind the curve for once!

And yes, drop by any modern gaming group and you’ll encounter an enormous number of “post-Catan” games from the last 15 years, most of which are at least as good – although Catan still deserves praise for being the breakout game. And, after all, it’s amusing that one of the core classics of what has become known as the Eurogame genre was created forty years ago by an American (yes, Acquire broke all the rules first.) If I was feeling cheeky, I’d link to my own first contribution to the genre but since it sold out its first small print run there wouldn’t be a lot of point. But maybe one day when Mark is a fully-fledged gamer geek he may play it and then I will feel happy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064716 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064716 Yeah, we always just roll inside the box lid. Can also be turned into a drinking game for older players (or maybe that's just how we do it...) Catan to the max! Yeah, we always just roll inside the box lid. Can also be turned into a drinking game for older players (or maybe that’s just how we do it…) Catan to the max!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064719 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064719 I tried the two player version recently and found it to be hilariously unbalanced. Need to try it again to see if it was just a fluke. I tried the two player version recently and found it to be hilariously unbalanced. Need to try it again to see if it was just a fluke.

]]> By: Jebdm http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064720 Jebdm Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064720 I wish more games would include a Trouble-style dice roller. I wish more games would include a Trouble-style dice roller.

]]> By: MrJM http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064721 MrJM Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064721 Settlers and Carcassonne are both quite good, but this comment is a bit ridiculous. Being as it is the equivalent of someone saying "I heard of this thing a long time ago but now this intelligent and popular blogger has heard of it and I no longer feel like a precious snowflake and no one is telling me how cool I am for knowing about this first!" Settlers and Carcassonne are both quite good, but this comment is a bit ridiculous. Being as it is the equivalent of someone saying “I heard of this thing a long time ago but now this intelligent and popular blogger has heard of it and I no longer feel like a precious snowflake and no one is telling me how cool I am for knowing about this first!”

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064978 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064978 Also, check out thingiverse. There are quite a few "things" on there for Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne. Also, check out thingiverse. There are quite a few “things” on there for Settlers of Catan and Carcassonne.

]]> By: rprivetera http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1065236 rprivetera Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1065236 While I sort of agree that the hate poster was snarky, yeah, catan is old. I'm glad to see you like it, but for a cutting edge geek community that's like saying "I hate most search engines but just discovered teh googels! Discuss!" Hate aside, I've gotten back into gaming 25 years after being a teenage d&d player with some other people/couples/parents (ouch, getting old). Most of the games we play are co-op, which is a big trend in gaming. Co-op games reduce the inter-table hate and bickering and competitiveness which is usually what kills casual gamers. I highly recommend you check out Castle Ravenloft (or the similar D&D titles based on it) or similar games. Can be played in a couple of hours, gives you the dungeon crawler experience without having graph paper and rush posters lying around, and it's a co-op. While I sort of agree that the hate poster was snarky, yeah, catan is old. I’m glad to see you like it, but for a cutting edge geek community that’s like saying “I hate most search engines but just discovered teh googels! Discuss!”

Hate aside, I’ve gotten back into gaming 25 years after being a teenage d&d player with some other people/couples/parents (ouch, getting old). Most of the games we play are co-op, which is a big trend in gaming. Co-op games reduce the inter-table hate and bickering and competitiveness which is usually what kills casual gamers.

I highly recommend you check out Castle Ravenloft (or the similar D&D titles based on it) or similar games. Can be played in a couple of hours, gives you the dungeon crawler experience without having graph paper and rush posters lying around, and it’s a co-op.

]]> By: jim.cowling http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1065493 jim.cowling Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1065493 Yeah, sunneversets is right, and there really wasn't a lot of bile there. He was pretty gently mocking Mark's frankly surprising obliviousness. Hell, it's been in Toys R Us for more than ten years and sold over six million copies in the US alone. Mark, you should give Small World a try. A version is available for iPad so you can get a feel for it first. I'm really happy that you've discovered and are having fun with Eurogames. Yeah, sunneversets is right, and there really wasn’t a lot of bile there. He was pretty gently mocking Mark’s frankly surprising obliviousness. Hell, it’s been in Toys R Us for more than ten years and sold over six million copies in the US alone.

Mark, you should give Small World a try. A version is available for iPad so you can get a feel for it first.

I’m really happy that you’ve discovered and are having fun with Eurogames.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064476 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064476 Turn the lid of the box upside down and roll into that, if you prefer the tactile sensation of real dice. Won't disturb the game pieces that way or have to argue about whether a die that falls off the table still counts (it does, Dave, if you're reading this). Turn the lid of the box upside down and roll into that, if you prefer the tactile sensation of real dice. Won’t disturb the game pieces that way or have to argue about whether a die that falls off the table still counts (it does, Dave, if you’re reading this).

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064732 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064732 Anon @ #41 said: "I've got wood for sheep" When I introduced the game to my sister and nieces, I find myself carefully using "timber" because it sounded just plain wrong to keep saying "I've got wood!" @evanprodromou: I invented the Orbital Mind Control Lasers card! Anon @ #41 said: “I’ve got wood for sheep”

When I introduced the game to my sister and nieces, I find myself carefully using “timber” because it sounded just plain wrong to keep saying “I’ve got wood!”

@evanprodromou: I invented the Orbital Mind Control Lasers card!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1065757 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1065757 The game "Dominant Species" is an amazing euro board game that hasn't been out for all that long. While I still enjoy a good game of Catan or Carc, this new one just blows the lid off. The game “Dominant Species” is an amazing euro board game that hasn’t been out for all that long. While I still enjoy a good game of Catan or Carc, this new one just blows the lid off.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064734 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064734 Anon #53, you should photograph your set when you are finished and submit a report to Boing Boing! Anon #53, you should photograph your set when you are finished and submit a report to Boing Boing!

]]> By: shiftdelete http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064990 shiftdelete Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064990 You took the thoughts right out of my brain. I totally agree. Seeing a person discover Settlers in 2011 is like someone asking if you've heard that great new band called "Green Day". 1995 time warp! I do like reading the Bible, however. :) I do support more people getting into REAL boardgaming.. and look forward to the day when none of our children will EVER play the garbage that was forced upon the public by the likes of Hasbro & Milton Bradley. Classic American Boardgames are the new Chemtrails. :) You took the thoughts right out of my brain. I totally agree. Seeing a person discover Settlers in 2011 is like someone asking if you’ve heard that great new band called “Green Day”. 1995 time warp! I do like reading the Bible, however. :)

I do support more people getting into REAL boardgaming.. and look forward to the day when none of our children will EVER play the garbage that was forced upon the public by the likes of Hasbro & Milton Bradley.

Classic American Boardgames are the new Chemtrails. :)

]]> By: Derek Quenneville http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064479 Derek Quenneville Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064479 You might also like Puerto Rico: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3076/puerto-rico You might also like Puerto Rico: http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3076/puerto-rico

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064481 jere7my Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064481 The Settlers box comes with a nice, deep lid, which is ideal for rolling dice in. The Settlers box comes with a nice, deep lid, which is ideal for rolling dice in.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064993 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064993 If you want a travel version of Catan, get the magnetic Japanese one published by Capcom! Certainly more travel friendly than the Mayfair games version If you want a travel version of Catan, get the magnetic Japanese one published by Capcom! Certainly more travel friendly than the Mayfair games version

]]> By: Laslo Paniflex http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064483 Laslo Paniflex Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064483 You might also like Bohnanza. You might also like Bohnanza.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1072676 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1072676 It seems like you don't like board games because you've been playing bad ones. I can't blame you, much. You have dig a bit to find out about good board games, but there are plenty out there. Dominion is one of the more popular ones, and I've recently gotten pretty addicted to Pandemic, for example. There is such a great deal of variety in board games that I'm sure you'll be able to find many others you'll enjoy with a little bit of looking. It seems like you don’t like board games because you’ve been playing bad ones. I can’t blame you, much. You have dig a bit to find out about good board games, but there are plenty out there. Dominion is one of the more popular ones, and I’ve recently gotten pretty addicted to Pandemic, for example. There is such a great deal of variety in board games that I’m sure you’ll be able to find many others you’ll enjoy with a little bit of looking.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064485 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064485 Try "Ticket to Ride" next, Mark! Catan fans with the Maker gene have made some really cool art projects to enhance the board and pieces. Like hand-painted map pieces made of sculpy. Also, cakes and cookies decorated to look like the board! There are <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/561098/the-settlers-of-catan">lots of pictures</A> of these on Board Game Geek. Try “Ticket to Ride” next, Mark!

Catan fans with the Maker gene have made some really cool art projects to enhance the board and pieces. Like hand-painted map pieces made of sculpy.

Also, cakes and cookies decorated to look like the board!

There are lots of pictures of these on Board Game Geek.

]]> By: Tarliman http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064486 Tarliman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064486 Thanks to games like Settlers of Catan, my family now has a regular board game night, with friends and other families dropping by. Catan and Carcassone are favorites, as are Munchkin, Apples To Apples, and the various incarnations of Fluxx, with Zombie and Monty Python Fluxx being the leaders there. Yes, anybody who in their childhood got turned off by Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers needs to check out the Eurogames and American card games that have been coming out in the past twenty years. Thanks to games like Settlers of Catan, my family now has a regular board game night, with friends and other families dropping by. Catan and Carcassone are favorites, as are Munchkin, Apples To Apples, and the various incarnations of Fluxx, with Zombie and Monty Python Fluxx being the leaders there. Yes, anybody who in their childhood got turned off by Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers needs to check out the Eurogames and American card games that have been coming out in the past twenty years.

]]> By: sjbrown http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064487 sjbrown Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064487 Disturbing the pieces on the board and the pieces of the board is my main complaint as well. Which is why I started this project: http://boardcrafting.com Disturbing the pieces on the board and the pieces of the board is my main complaint as well. Which is why I started this project:

http://boardcrafting.com

]]> By: merreborn http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064488 merreborn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064488 Welcome to the world of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German-style_board_game">Eurogames</a>. You'll probably also like Puerto Rico, Ticket to Ride, Dominion, and Pandemic. Welcome to the world of Eurogames. You’ll probably also like Puerto Rico, Ticket to Ride, Dominion, and Pandemic.

]]> By: spool32 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064490 spool32 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064490 +1 for this game... it's surprisingly fun! +1 for this game… it’s surprisingly fun!

]]> By: ashabot http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064747 ashabot Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064747 Settlers of Catan is just the beginning. There are many many wonderful boardgames like that and better. Yes. Better. Check out http://boardgamegeek.com/ and http://funagain.com. Settlers of Catan is just the beginning. There are many many wonderful boardgames like that and better. Yes. Better. Check out http://boardgamegeek.com/ and http://funagain.com.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/23/settlers-of-catan-th.html#comment-1064492 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1064492 Dude, i'm calling it, you're into a world of fun. Soon we'll see Mark blogging about a new favourite game every week. He's re-discovering boardgames! Mark, you can stand MANY board games, check out smallworld it's nice for adults and kids Dude, i’m calling it, you’re into a world of fun. Soon we’ll see Mark blogging about a new favourite game every week. He’s re-discovering boardgames! Mark, you can stand MANY board games, check out smallworld it’s nice for adults and kids

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