Place the Normal Hexes into the Boardgame Frame
Before you read this article, you will need to know the following terms and definitions:
| Game(-s): | Noun. Singular or Plural. A standalone version of Settlers of Catan, which can be played right out of the box without making additional purchases. There is only one standalone (base) game of Catan. |
| Expansion(-s): | Noun. Singular or Plural. An Catan game that cannot be played by itself. It must be used in conjunction with a standalone (base) game. The 5 & 6-player expansions are a good example of this. |
| Scenario(-s): | Noun. Singular or Plural. A small set of playing pieces and instructions that can be added to normal Catan gameplay. It cannot be played by itself--it must be used in conjunction with a standalone (base) game. The "Oil Springs" scenario is a good example of this. |
| Variant(-s): | Noun. Singular or Plural. A set of instructions for using the pieces from a Catan game or expansion in a new way. Most variants are fan-generated and require printing and cutting out new pieces. |
But seriously, here is a deeper explanation of how to put the hexes into the frame:
Now, create the world of Catan by positioning the hexes inside the frame, matching the picture below.
- 12 Forest Hexes
- 12 Quarry Hexes
- 12 Mountain Hexes
- 12 Field Hexes
- 12 Pasture Hexes
- 6 Desert Hexes
- 2 Oasis Hexes
- 1 North Pole Trade Hex
- 2 Pasture Trade Hexes
- 2 Quarry Trade Hexes
- 2 Forest Trade Hexes
- 2 Castle Hexes
- 15 Sea Hexes
- 5 River Hexes
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- 6 Gold Hexes
- 2 Fish Lake Hexes
When determining the placement of these pieces, we used the following rules of thumb:
- Each of the Trade hexes should be separated as evenly and as equidistant as possible.
- The main islands should be connected by Straits (the location for the Great Bridges). There should only be two main islands separated by a strait, not three, so not every main island will be connected with each other main island. Place Victory Point Chits at the Strait to indicate where the Great Bridge may be built.
- Each of the main islands should have an equal number of each type of resource, in roughly the same locations as on the other main islands.
- The main islands should have no more than one gold hex each, and none of the gold hexes should have favorable or unfavorable numbers (6s, 8s, 2s or 12s).
- The Wasteland for the Great Wall should be in a remote place, and not get in anyone's way and should not have any unfavorable (2s, 12s) numbers adjacent.
- Each main island should have one equal rivers; the other island should have one long river.
- Each main island should have one fish lake hex.
- Each main island should have at least 1 favorable number (6 or 8).
- There should be no type of terrain hex which has more than 2 favorable numbers on it. (There should not be 3 brick hexes with 6s or 8s)
- No single main island should have more than 3 favorable numbers.
- There should be no adjacent favorable numbers, nor any adjacent unfavorable numbers anywhere on the map.
- There must be at least 1 desert on the map that does not make up part of the Wasteland.
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