Vol 4 No 3 | Oct-Dec 2024

The Game

Story by Nita Bajoria | Art by Samidha G.

Settlers of Catan

Catan, originally named The Settlers of Catan, is a popular multiplayer board game created by German game designer Klaus Teuber, first produced in 1995. Teuber, who was a dental technician when he came up with the game, transitioned to a full-time game designer after the success of Catan. He drew inspiration from his childhood experiences with model soldiers and his love for geography, history, and chemistry. In the ghe game, whose concept was influenced by the history of Viking settlers in Iceland, Catan is a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean.
https://www.catan.com/

Game play

The game’s innovation lies in the use of hexagonal tiles to represent resources such as wood, ore, brick, wool, and wheat, and it is credited with introducing a more social gameplay style involving bargaining and bartering among players. Catan is recognised for its impact in revolutionising modern board games, emphasizing strategic thinking and player interaction.

International competitions

Every year, passionate Catan enthusiasts come together for the highly-anticipated Catan Championship programmes, where players from around the globe engage in national tournaments to earn the prestigious title of being their country’s National Champion. The National Champions then face off at the Catan World Championship every two years. Additionally, in the years between the World Championships, National Champions have the opportunity to participate in international events. The latest event to captivate players and fans alike was the 2024 Americas Championship, held in Bogotá, Colombia, from March 7th to 11th, 2024.
https://catanevents.com/players/champ/#About

Even a book!

In 2003 German author Rebecca Gablé published the historical fiction novel ‘The Settlers of Catan’, based on the board game. Set in 850 AD, the novel delves into the fictional story of how the Norse seafaring community found the island of Catan.