Although I would be one of the first to admit that I am no fan of Catan ( I haven't even sat down to a game yet), I have developed a thick and fast appreciation of Wil Wheaton's Tabletop, as I am sure you are all becoming more than aware of with my recent posts.
As much as I am really digging the videos on this great channel, this one did leave me a little flat. It certainly wasn't for the best efforts of the guests though. Catan just doesn't seem to be all that interesting. An opinion that I know that other people also share.
There has to be a reason Catan is so popular though. I just don't see it!
So what do you guys think? Catan, yay or nah?
For me, Catamaran has 3 things I absolutely hats in a board game:
ReplyDelete1. Too much luck...between the die rolls for resources to the deck of cards...too much luck and not enough real strategic thinking.
2. Forced trading....I like to play a game where my decisions will determine primarily if I win or lose....having to trade with others as a major game mechanic is flawed.
3. Gang up on the leader....1 player about to win? The other 3 stop trading and plot against....again not my cuppa
I have to agree Jerry. For something that often gets pitched as a strategy game, there is very little actual forethought and strategy involved. The only strategy that I saw seemed to revolve around the setup... And that was only so you'd have something worth trading later on.
ReplyDeleteI can also see all of the other players foreclosing on someone they think is on the brink of winning too, meaning that they'd have no option but to hope for good dice rolls to build 4:1's they could trade in to help them build stuff. Again, I'd have to agree that's too much emphasis on the dice.
Hell, you may as well be playing Snakes and Ladders if all you want is a game of luck and nothing more right?
Damnable kindle keyboard....
ReplyDeleteNo problem Jerry, I got the jist. :0).
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