A 2v2 Alternative to Catan
Catan is a beloved board game and my favorite, known for its blend of strategy, negotiation, and resource management. Through experimentation and playtesting, I have discovered a 2v2 team format that adds a new layer of excitement and collaboration to the game. Here's my journey and findings from the first playthrough.
First Try
First of all, 20 points is way too much. It feels almost impossible to reach. I noticed that I didn't elevate the points given by Longest Road, Largest Army, and Victory Points found on the development cards, even though I made them harder to obtain. I need to find out if it is better to make these achievements more valuable to make it easier to reach 20 points or to lower the points a team should reach.
One of the teams managed to obtain 10 points very quickly, but reaching 15 was really fun. Trying to reach 20 was just exhausting and long.
There were some questions from players during the game. In my mind, the rules were clear that the game was the same, just that at some point you had to connect your roads to your partner's. However, players thought they could place a road next to their or their partner's settlements and that a player had to build a settlement after a road of their color. That's not what I meant, but it did open the discussion to the idea. I don't particularly like it, so I won't give it much thought.
For the second round, I will play until 15 or 16 points and give the Largest Army and Longest Road 3 points each instead of 2. Also, it is important that even if the sum counts, the development cards stay in front of the player who used them, not collected as a team. For the team to win, both players need to contribute at least 7 points each. If a player earns a Victory Point development card, it should count towards that player's minimum 7 points.
Setup
- Standard Setup: Each player picks a color. Players place their initial 2 settlements and roads in the usual order after each player rolls the dice.
- Random Team Assignment: After the initial settlements are placed, randomly assign players into two teams. This ensures no player can benefit from knowing their teammate beforehand. Use a random method such as drawing lots or rolling dice to determine teams.
- Seat Rearrangement: Rearrange seats so that no team member plays consecutively. This can be done as follows: If the players are seated A, B, C, and D, A and C are one team, and B and D are the other.
Gameplay
- Knowledge Sharing: Partners can openly share information about their resource cards and development cards.
- Trading: Partners can trade with each other but are limited to two cards per turn. Trades can be either 1:1 or 2:1. No direct gifting of cards is allowed; all exchanges must be trades.
- Building and Road Rules: Partners can connect their roads to build the longest road together. Players cannot build settlements on their partner's roads. Partners share the benefit of a 3:1 port but not the 2:1 ports.
- Special Achievements: To claim the Largest Army, a team needs a combined total of 5 knights. To claim the Longest Road, a team needs to connect 9 roads, with each player contributing at least 3 roads of their own color.
Victory Conditions
To win the game, a team must collectively achieve a total of 20 points. Each player can contribute a maximum of 13 points towards the team's total. Players can continue to grow and develop their positions even if their points don't count towards the win, maintaining the ability and strategy to keep acquiring more resources.
Seating Arrangements: Pros and Cons
Seating Teams Next to Each Other
Pros:
- Easy Communication: Partners can easily discuss strategies, share knowledge about their cards, and coordinate their moves without speaking too loudly.
- Faster Gameplay: Proximity allows for quicker decision-making and reduces the time spent communicating across the table.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Being seated next to each other fosters a sense of teamwork and collaboration, as partners can visibly see each other’s progress and plans.
- Improved Morale: Partners can provide immediate encouragement and support, boosting team morale.
- Better Synchronization: Allows for real-time adjustments and synchronizations in strategy, leading to more cohesive gameplay.
Cons:
- Potential Bias: Opponents might perceive or worry about potential covert signaling or non-verbal cues between partners.
- Consecutive Turns: If not properly managed, there’s a risk that one team might end up playing consecutive turns, disrupting the game's balance.
- Distraction: Close proximity might lead to distractions, where partners focus more on discussions than on the game.
- Reduced Challenge: The ease of communication might reduce the strategic challenge, making the game less competitive.
- Uneven Playing Field: Opponents might feel disadvantaged if they suspect partners are communicating too effectively.
Seating Teams Across from Each Other
Pros:
- Fair Play: Ensures that turns alternate between teams, maintaining the game’s balance and fairness.
- Equal Visibility: All players have an equal view of the game board, making it easier to monitor opponents' progress and strategies.
- Reduced Bias: Minimizes concerns about non-verbal communication or covert signaling between partners.
- Enhanced Strategic Depth: Encourages partners to develop non-verbal signals and better teamwork, improving their overall strategy.
- Balanced Competition: Helps to ensure that no single team can dominate the game due to immediate consecutive turns, keeping the competition fair and engaging.
Cons:
- Communication Challenges: Partners may find it harder to communicate without speaking loudly, which could reveal their strategies to opponents.
- Slower Gameplay: Discussions and decision-making might take longer due to the distance between partners.
- Increased Coordination Effort: Partners need to work harder to coordinate their strategies and ensure they are on the same page.
- Potential Miscommunication: The increased distance can lead to misunderstandings or missed signals, impacting gameplay negatively.
- Higher Complexity: Requires more effort to manage and coordinate the game, which could be daunting for new players or those unfamiliar with team-based formats.
Recommended Seating Arrangement
Given the pros and cons, the best seating arrangement for a balanced and fair game is seating teams across from each other.
To be tested
Further playtesting is required to evaluate the optimal seating arrangement and to assess whether the points for Longest Road, Largest Army, and Victory Points need adjustments.
Conclusion
By introducing a 2v2 team format, Catan players can enjoy a fresh and engaging way to experience the game. With strategic trading, collaborative building, and a balanced seating arrangement, this variant offers a unique twist that promotes teamwork and adds new challenges. Enjoy building, trading, and strategizing with your partner in this exciting team-based version of Catan!
"If you enjoy one topic or game, sometimes more complexity can make it even more enjoyable"