The Settlers of Catan, sometimes shortened to just Catan, is a multiplayer boardgame designed by Klaus Teuber and first published in 1995 in Germany by Franckh-Kosmos Verlag (Kosmos) as Die Siedler von Catan. Players assume the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop holdings while trading and acquiring resources. Players are rewarded points as their settlements grow; the first to reach a set number of points, typically 10, is the winner. The game and its many expansions are also published by Mayfair Games, Filosofia,Capcom, 999 Games, Κάισσα, and Devir.
The Settlers of Catan was one of the first German-style board games to achieve popularity outside of Europe. As of 2015, more than 22 million copies in 30 languages were sold. The game has been translated into 30 languages. It is popular in the United States where it has been called "the board game of our time" by The Washington Post. A 2012 American documentary film titled Going Cardboard (featuring Klaus Teuber) is about this game's impact on American gaming communities and what came of it. The game involves large amounts of strategy, while still being fairly simple to learn, making it perfect for those who wish to enter the world of strategic board games.
<p>Klaus Teuber
Game Rules
& almanac
Catan 2015 Base Rules.indd 1
12/15/14 3:42 PM
2
Dear Settlers,
To make it as easy as possible for you to start playing Catan®, we use an award-winning rules system, which consists
of 3 parts. First, if you do not know how to play Catan, please read the Game Overview on page 16 (the back cover).
Next, read the Game Rules on pages 2-6 (red borders) and start to play the game. If you have questions during the
game, consult the Catan Almanac on pages 6-15 (gold borders).
Now you are ready for your first adventure on Catan. Have fun settling this new land together!
— Klaus Teuber
You can find further information at:
catan.com mayfairgames.com klausteuber.com
Game Rules
These 4-page rules (pages 2-5) contain all the important
information that you need to play!
If you need more information during the game, you can look
up keywords (marked Y) in the “Almanac,” which follows
these rules.
Game ComponenTs
•	19	terrain	hexes	(tiles)
•	6	sea	frame	pieces
•	9	harbor	pieces
•	18	circular	number	tokens
•	95	resource	cards	(bearing	the	symbols	for	the	brick,	
grain,	lumber,	ore,	and	wool	resources)
•	25	development	cards	(14	knight	cards,	
6	progress	cards,	5	victory	point	cards)
•	4	“Building	Costs”	cards
•	2	special	cards:	“Longest	Road”	&	“Largest	Army”
•	16	cities	(4	of	each	color,	shaped	like	churches)
•	20	settlements	(5	of	each	color,	shaped	like	houses)
•	60	roads	(15	of	each	color,	shaped	like	bars)
•	2	dice	(1	yellow,	1	red)
•	1	robber
•	1	“Game	Rules	&	Almanac”	booklet
ConsTruCTinG The island
The	frame	pieces	hold	the	board	together	and	prevent	
the	pieces	from	moving	after	the	board	is	in	place.	Before	
building	the	island,	assemble	the	frame	by	matching	the	
numbers	at	the	ends	of	the	frame	pieces	together	(i.e.,	1-1,	
2-2, etc.).
You	can	then	construct	the	island	of	Catan	using	the	19	
terrain	hexes	as	shown	on	page	3.
Starting Set-up for Beginners
You can play the game Catan	on	a	variable	game	board.	
For	your	first	game,	however,	we	suggest	that	you