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Settlers of Catan and game balance

The Settlers of Catan is an incredibly popular Eurogame (that is, European-style board game, which means less and less every year) that many credit for inspiring the current generation of more complex board games. The game consists of a (usually) randomly generated board made up of hexagons that each contain a resource. Players place settlements on the board at the vertexes of these hexagons and gain resources each time the number associated with a particular hexagon is rolled. Unlike some other games, this means that players actually gain things even when it is not their turn. Resource cards are used to build roads and more settlements, which earn players point and ultimately bring about the end of the game.

Some people consider this game a newer, better version of Monopoly. Basically, as you expand and create new settlements, you are acquiring new property. These new settlements also help you gain more resources, which are certainly a form of wealth. Also similar to Monopoly, the game seems to only reward the already wealthy. You did notice that about Monopoly, right? Read the rest of this entry