And while theyre at school I might crack open Catan and have a go at learning the rules.
ION, Catan.
Your game of Catan lives or dies based on your initial starting set-up. When you’re learning you don’t have the experience to make this decision wisely, so there’s a ‘first game’ layout provided. I’d recommend sticking with this layout until you’re all completely comfortable with how the game works.
Don’t be scared of trading. This is the meat of the game, we spent ages shying away from this and trading with the bank, which isn’t cost-effective and makes a game last for ever. Remember though that only the person who’s go it is can initiate a trade, but that trading is free-form and open to negotiation. Eg,
1: “Has anyone got any wood to trade? I’m offering a sheep.”
2: “I’ll give you a wood for two sheep.”
1: “I can’t do that, sorry.”
3: “I’ve got a wood spare which you can have for a sheep, so long as you go and put the kettle on.”
… would be perfectly valid at our table. (-:
Also of note is that you don’t have to accept trade offers. Just because you have something in your hand doesn’t mean you have to give it away.