Settlers of Catan. You know the game—a board, some pieces, colorful cards, and enough dice rolling to make you question your luck with life itself. If you are like me, the first time you played it, you probably had no clue what you were doing. So when newbies show up at my table, wide-eyed and blinking at their resource cards, I remember that beginner fog all too well. Catan is simple to learn but maddening to master, especially when you play with people who have never tried it before.
Playing Settlers of Catan with beginners is a whole different beast than playing with regulars who know how to calculate the odds of rolling a seven or eye your longest road like it’s the last slice of pizza. Beginners come with fresh excitement, but also confusion, frustration, and more than a few “Wait, what?” moments. Honestly, it can feel a bit like herding cats. But here is the thing: it is some of the most fun you will have. Watching someone’s face light up when they finally get a strategy, or figuring out that swapping sheep for brick is the golden ticket—those moments are pure magic.
So, what happens when you bring newbies to the table? How do you keep the game flowing, the laughs coming, and the tears of frustration to a minimum? I have put in some serious game time with beginners. Some were newcomers who had never laid eyes on a game board, others had tried once and wanted to get better. Here are the tips and tricks I have learned along the way, based on real experience, mistakes, and a few hard-earned wins.
Start With the Basics, But Don’t Treat Them Like Kids
This one might sound obvious, but it took me a while to realize that beginners want to be respected, not talked down to. Settlers is easy to explain in a few sentences, but the details can get overwhelming fast. Instead of dumping every single rule on them at once, start with the core idea: collect resources, build roads and settlements, and try to get to 10 points first.
Keep your language simple. Instead of saying “resource monopoly,” say something like, “It is like collecting stuff you need to build things.” Use examples they can picture: “If you have wood and brick, you build a road, which helps you get to new spots for settlements.”
Do not rush. Let them fold the rules into their brain one chunk at a time. I usually find it helps to pause between plays and ask, “Do you want me to explain why I am doing this?” This invites questions and makes it less intimidating. Plus, nobody likes feeling like they just missed the bus while everyone else zooms ahead.
Walk Through the Setup Together
Set up is a perfect teaching moment. Explaining where to place settlements and roads is easier when you do it with them. Something simple like, “Try to place your settlement next to hexes that make different resources,” makes a big difference. I always ask, “Which numbers do you think will roll the most?” to make them think about probability without sounding like a math lecture.
Help Them Make Smart First Moves—But Let Them Learn
Here is the delicate dance: you want to guide beginners toward solid strategies, but not take over their game. If you swoop in and say, “Put your settlement here, here, and here,” you rob them of the thrill of figuring things out for themselves. Instead, nudge with questions.
- “What do you want to build first?”
- “Where could you get brick and wood?”
- “Do you want to be close to the coast or more in the center?”
When you nudge them to think instead of just telling them, you help them build confidence. Of course, it is tempting to give direct advice, especially when they pick random spots or leave their roads stranded. But patience pays off when you see them connect the dots later.
Explain the Importance of Numbers
Catan is a game about numbers, plain and simple. Some numbers come up a lot—like 6 and 8—and some rarely appear, like 2 and 12. Many beginners do not get the connection between numbers and probability. You can show this with simple tools, like the dots on the hexes.
Say, “Look, the more dots, the better chance the number rolls.” It makes decisions easier and helps avoid the frustration of setting up next to low-probability spots. When one of my friends placed his first settlement near an 11 and a 12, I gently asked if he wanted to consider some other places that might get a resource more often. That little tip made his game a lot more interesting.
Teach Resource Trading Like a Lifesaver
If Settlers has a heart, trading is it. Beginners often hesitate to trade, either because they do not want to give away resources or they do not understand how to barter. Remind them trading is a two-way street and that everyone at the table wants to get something nice out of it.
Model good trades early on. For example, offer something like, “I will give you brick if you give me wheat,” but explain why it makes sense for both of you. When beginners see trading as a way to get out of resource jams, it clicks. Plus, trades often spark fun interactions and storytelling. You start to hear, “I really need sheep to build a settlement,” or “I will trade you three wood for one brick!”
Teach Maritime Trading
Do not forget the ports! Sometimes, beginners fixate on trading only with other players, but the ports can be game-changers, especially when you have a big pile of one resource. Explain that maritime trading lets you swap more evenly, like trading two or three of the same resource for one of any other resource.
When one of my beginner buddies learned about a 2:1 sheep port, he got super excited. He dumped half his sheep to build two settlements in a row. It was a lightbulb moment for him, the kind of thing that makes people love this game.
Handling the Robber: More Than Just a Nuisance
The robber can be a buzzkill for new players. Suddenly, their resources are frozen, and they do not know how to respond. I try to soften the blow by explaining the robber not as a villain but part of the game’s tension and fun. It keeps the game lively and unpredictable, which is both frustrating and exciting.
Tips? First, encourage players not to take it personally when targeted. It is just how the dice fall sometimes. Second, gently remind everyone to use the robber wisely—not just to squish one person over and over. Sometimes, I even joke, “The robber does not have favorites, just bad luck,” to lighten the mood.
Celebrate the Small Wins
This is one of my favorite parts of playing with beginners. When they finally build their first city, or snag the longest road, celebrate it like you just saw a unicorn. That little slap on the back or cheer can boost their excitement and make them hungry for the next round.
So many times, I have seen new players get discouraged if they fall behind early. Reminding them to enjoy the small victories keeps the game positive. Whether it is stealing a card from the robber or finally pulling off a trade that helps them build, those moments fuel motivation and good vibes.
Keep the Game Moving, But Let the Laughter Flow
New players might take longer turns, which can test the patience of everyone else. My best advice? Be patient, and keep the conversation going. Ask questions, share stories, make little jokes. When people are relaxed, the game flows better. It is not about rushing to win; it is about enjoying the ride.
I have learned that the best Catan nights happen when you go easy on rules nitpicking and heavy strategy talk. Let the game be a reason to laugh, talk nonsense, and watch friendships grow over trading wood for brick.
Final Thoughts on Playing With Beginners
Settlers of Catan is more than a board game. It is a social dance where strategy meets storytelling, luck shakes hands with skill, and new friendships take root. Playing with beginners means you get a front-row seat to all the moments that make the game so special—the groans when a seven is rolled, the triumphant cheers when someone pulls off a genius trade, and the quiet fun of building something from nothing.
So next time you sit down with a bunch of new players, remember: patience, simple explanations, gentle nudges, and a whole lot of cheer go a long way. Teach them about numbers, help them trade, and laugh when the robber ruins their day. Because when it all adds up, you are not just playing Settlers of Catan—you are making memories, one resource card at a time.