The biggest change in the base game is that the name has switched from "Settlers of Catan" to just "Catan". They've also updated the art citation. Many of the scenario maps are different. It seems they used the maps from the German printing of seafarers when making 5th edition. The big change is that there are now separate maps for 3 players vs 4 players on the first four scenarios.
Additionally, the layouts of "The Fog Islands" has been completely changed. For a look at historical Catan scenarios, see this compilation. Between third and fourth edition of base Catan, they added a rule allowing you to move the robber to the desert, and renamed the "Soldier" card to a "Knight", presumably for terminology consistency with Cities and Knights.
Between third and fourth edition of Seafarers, they changed the game border from rectangular to hexagonal, meaning all of the scenario maps got changed then as well. Also, see What are the differences between the four editions of The Settlers of Catan base game?
One clarification of the rules regards moving ships. In the 4th edition Seafarers Rulebook, there was a poor translation which made some people think that you could not ever move the ship that is closest to a homeport i.
Catan's product manager, Sebastian Rapp, clarified that this was a miscommunication. The wording in the 5th edition Seafarers rulebook has been updated with a new diagram to clarify the rule: A ship MAY be moved such that a settlement exists without a ship or a road attached. The setup for the non-randomized beginner game has changed. The desert moved from the edge to the center of the map.
They also suggest, if only as a teaching aid, that you consider a turn to have three sequential parts: resources, trade, then build. From page The separation of the trade and build phases was introduced to make the sequence easier to learn for beginners. We recommend experienced players ignore this separation. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. It only takes a minute to sign up. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.
I haven't played Settlers of Catan yet, but I've been considering asking my gaming group if they want to try it. As I understand it, Settlers of Catan is now in its fourth major version. If I do get a Catan box, should I just get the current fourth edition, or is there some reason to look for used copies of earlier editions? The new fourth edition has a few minor changes in appearance, and the biggest change is a new set of border pieces that surround the hexagon tiles to keep them together.
The most important thing to know is that they do not mix and match very well: if you have the 3rd edition of Settlers, you should buy the 3rd edition of the expansions. If you have the 4th edition of the base game, you should buy the 4th edition expansions. So if you're just getting into it, I would suggest buying the new edition, since the corresponding expansions will be easier to find. The card that lets you disable an opponents city has been removed in the 4th edition.
I'm not sure what additions it was in, but one of my friends complained quite loudly when he realized they had removed the card. I would get the 4th edition, since it's easier to find, and the expansions will be easier to get. Most of the changes have been minor and make game play easier. My only complaint about the quality of the 4th edition is that I wish the frame pieces were sturdier. There was a huge and stupid rule addition with the later editions, where if you run out of resource cards during a production phase, no one gets anything.
In the old rules , Mayfair there was no rule on it, so our group always played where you parcel out that resource starting at the die roller, and going clockwise.
I also own the German version. In this version there is no harbor tiles and the harbors are part of the sea frame pieces you can't change their location thou. I own the German version Die Siedler von Catan , and it has different plastic pieces for roads, etc. The board pieces are a slightly different size, as well as the resource cards.
Therefore, if you plan on getting the expansions, make sure that you stick with the US versions. I would recommend the 5th edition if you're getting started, as another person here commented - it will be much easier to find expansions.
For earlier editions you're essentially buying collector's items and in some cases could pay much more for the expansions than a brand new 5e. The 3e hexes are slightly bigger Safari Count Posts: Merit: Quote from: Hounk on February 19, , AM.
Copy Bunny into your signature to help him on his way to world domination. I think, the US publisher never changed to plastic. Quote from: Hounk on February 19, , PM. I suspect it will be.
And despite all the information Kosmos has been putting out, Mayfair has just been reprinting it, not recognizing errors in its statements. New tiles in old frames will be noticeable and will slide around some. Meanwhile, old Mayfair tiles in new frames simply won't work. The 3rd edition version became quite valuable a few years after the 4th edition came out. I suspect the same will happen again here. Sidenote: I don't like the new Catan box sizes. They match, I believe, the Pandemic box size though slightly thicker, I assume rather than the square Euro-box size.
I prefer the squares. They're easier to shelve at least for me. Quote from: whaleyland on February 19, , PM. Quote from: Safari on February 19, , PM. Mayfair has done all wood from 1st edition to 4th edition. The 5th edition will finally match it with the German version. Kosmos has used plastic since the 3rd edition, I think. I believe they switched mid-way during its print run. Kosmos never had wood or plastic components in their smaller expansions, only cardboard.
I've kept up with the smaller expansions like Frenemies, Oil Wells, Helpers, and the geography maps though I've missed a number of the Europe maps like Corsica and Majorca, both of which I really want! I haven't grabbed any of the stand-alone games except Rivals for Catan and its expansions. Struggle for Catan was not that fun so I sold it. Maybe I'll pick it up in a few years. Quote from: Carcking on February 19, , PM.
Khonnor Duke Posts: Merit: I actually prefer the new Plastic versions. The artwork on the tiles are prettier imo and the sea-frame to hold the tiles in place are nice. The plastic player pieces are very detailed. I had the Original edition of the base game and Cities and Knights. But bought their plastic editions again in Germany in Sold the German editions and old wooden editions and repurchased the new editions in Dutch as well.
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