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Before you read this article, you will need to know the following terms and definitions:
| Win(-ning, -ner): | Noun. Singular. Refers to the condition in which a player accumulates a sufficient number of Victory Points to end a game and be declared the champion. |
| 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. |
- If you are the first player to reach a number of victory points equal to or greater than the “Victory Point Requirement” after the end of your turn (which includes resolving the Disaster Phase if applicable), you win the game!
- If you somehow find that you have met the winning Victory Point Requirement during another player’s turn, you must wait until your next turn to claim victory.
The player who wins a game of Catan is the first player who obtains a specified number of Victory Points, as determined by the number of Victory Point Chits, Victory Point Cards, and Victory Point markers owned by a player. (see Victory Point Chits below).
The number of Victory Points necessary to win is dependent upon the following three things:
- How long the players wish to play.
- How many players are participating.
- How many expansions and variants are included.
You may calculate the winning Victory Point Requirement in the following way:
- Start with a Victory Point Requirement of 12 (for the Base Set)
- If using Oil hexes, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Wonders, add 2 Victory Points.
- If using the “Hex Discovery” mechanism, add 2 Victory Points.
- If using Spice hexes from Legend of the Sea Robbers, add 2 Victory Points.
- If using “Defender of Catan” cards, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using the ___, add __ Victory Point.
- If using the Strongest Military Award, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using the Longest Trade Route Award, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using the Harbormaster Award, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Richest/Poor Settler Awards, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Fishing Tiles, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Camels, add 2 Victory Points.
- If using Barbarians, add 2 Victory Points.
- If using Strong Knights on Horseback, add 2 Victory Points.
- If using the Barbarian Attack Development Card deck, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using flipcharts, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Wagons, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Trade Hexes, add 3 Victory Points.
- If using Castaway Tokens, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Sea Chest Tokens, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Gold Field Tokens, add 1 Victory Point.
- If using Bog Iron Ore Tokens, add 1 Victory Point.
Therefore, if you use as many game components as possible (all of the ones described in this instruction manual), the winning Victory Point Requirement will be (at least 35) 42!
Don’t forget that the Old Boot tile and the Richest Settler Award increase the number of Victory Points needed for a player to win by one (1) each.
Example: Beth has built 2 communities and upgraded 2 communities to 2 villages. Because of this, he has acquired 4 Victory Point Chits. In addition, he has acquired the Longest Trade Route Award special card (worth 2 VPs), as well as 2 Orange Border Victory Point cards from the Original Development Card Deck (worth 2 VPs). She reveals her 2 Victory Point cards, giving her the 10 Victory Points necessary to win. She surprises her opponents and claim victory!
Players acquire Victory Points for the following:
- Build 1 settlement = 1 VP
- Upgrade 1 settlement to 1 town = 1 VP
- Upgrade 1 town to 1 city = 1 VP
- Upgrade 1 city to 1 metropolis = 1 VP
- Purchase Yellow, Green, or Blue 5th-Level Building improvement = 1 VP
- Receive the “Longest Trade Route” special card = 2 VPs
- Receive the “Strongest Military” special card = 2 VPs
- Receive the “Harbormaster” special card = 2 VPs
- Receive the “Longest Turn” special card =
- Receive the “Fish for Catan” special card = 1 VP
- Receive the “Gold for Catan” special card = 1 VP
- Receive the “Greatest Explorer” special card = 1 VP
- Receive the “Spice for Catan” special card = 1 VP
- Flank building with two Caravan Camels = 1 VP
- Play 1 Victory Point Development card = 1 VP
- Play 1 “Defender of Catan” card = 1 VP
- Construct a building on a foreign island = 1 VP
- Receive the “Hero of the Environment” token for sequestering oil = 1 VP
- Complete various stage of a Wonder = 1-5 VPs.
- Redeem 3 matching Spice Resource Cards, or 1 of each kind = 1 VP
- Capture 2 Barbarians = 1 VP
- Deliver 1 Baggage Train Trade Token = 1 VP
- Rescue 3 Castaways = 1-2 VPs
- Pass Victory Point marker on “Gold for Catan” track = 1 VP
A player can only redeem Favor Tokens for Victory Points on his turn. A player can only reveal a card that is worth a Victory Point on his turn.
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