LikeTheGroundhog here. In case anyone was curious, in the many games I did on this board blue managed to win most of the time, which surprised me a little given how strong orange looks. But orange ends up getting blocked a lot because they share key tiles with red, who does not have knights to help defend those tiles. Red gets stolen from a lot early on because he monopolizes bricks, and unfortunately has to split his road network up in two parts if he wants any wheat. White's set-up is slow and not very strong, but because the settlements are close together he can actually compete for road using the sheep port pretty well, which in the real game is what happened. Blue won the real game, as well as most of my simulated games.

Me, having never played a game of Settlements of Catan and not knowing the rules: "ah yes, a rookie mistake"

you’re blessed by the algorithm god

This is one of the weirdest videos I have seen yet. First I did not know there was competitive Catan (but of course there is - stupid me). Second from my amateur kitchentable playing Catan I would have never imagined wheat being so important. Third I would have never imagined you could go that deep in this game - impressive.

I cant believe i just watched 16 minutes of an explanation about the most optimal starting locations in a catan game

"Am I really going to watch a 16-minute video analyzing a game of Catan?" - I ask as I hit play.

This is my first exposure to the game Catan other than hearing the name. I dont even know why I clicked on this video

I feel like I took a masterclass on playing Catan!

"As the famous saying goes..." 😁 Great vid. Definitely up'd my Catan strategy.

My child in 20 years: Where were you when the coronavirus plagued humanity? Me: Social distancing at home (like before the virus) while watching in-depth analyses of competitive Catan on KZfaq

I've played a lot of casual catan, but never at a level where we're really considering to this degree. Honestly it's just fascinating seeing this level of thought going into it

It seems the youtube recommendation gods have set us on this path again...

Hah, that's smart about red pointing his road down! I never even thought about that as a way to threaten white and prevent him from taking the 9/11/3. Smart move. Awesome video as always, thanks for making it!

Algorithm has blessed me with a sick strategy game to get into with my friends. Great content too. Gotta binge it all!

I've never played Catan but after this video I know I'm a master of the game now.

Excellent video, you make watching Catan exciting!

Beautiful video! I generally hate the analysis of most of the Catan commentators because I feel they don't point out many of the mistakes or be a little too soft on the players or tell very obvious things and not subtleties. For example...getting a little bit of all resources is valued more than having a good OWS or strong roads. I also hate it when they cannot see how they could point their road towards a settlement which they would want and not having that is not really a problem because they will soon get it. But this analysis was different. I love this one! One of the best Catan videos I have seen!

Once in a blue moon the KZfaq Algorithm strikes gold. Thank you, KZfaq

That Run and Go end really caught me off guard, I was still perplex with the amount of detail I still had to absorb from your explanation and you fricking hit me with a song I've listened to around 200 times (probably more). So a completely gratuitous "f u" for that and great video, love from Portugal

Didn't think this channel could get better and then you have Twenty-one PIlots in your outro!!

DylLighted -- The algorithm recommended me your videos. I have never played Catan. I've already watched 2 of them to completion and I'm going to watch more. Will I ever play Catan? Who knows, but your content is quality.

Super interesting video, thanks for sharing!

Thats a nice coincidence, this lad is playing catan tomorrow with his family, thanks for the in depth look!

I’m so glad the algorithm recommended me to you!

I just played a Game of Catan, then went in my room and now thjs video us in my YT recommondations. Very strange...

Fascinating insights! My wife and I play Catan at home a lot, but not at this level (...yet :D). Thanks for a great video!

Fascinating! I haven’t played in years. I do love the game. Can’t wait to play again when my boys are old enough.

The KZfaq algorithm knows me better than i know myself it seems. Well played sir. Great video.

amazing explanations

It appears the recommendation gods have blessed you with views on this video. Well deserved, the analysis was great and, even as someone who has only played a couple game of Catan, I understood everything you were saying.

Just started playing Catan, and im hooked!!!

I have no idea why this video appeared on my feed, but I now feel better in life knowing that their is a competitive Catan scene.

I would like to also point out that while red's prediction may make sense on paper, you always have to think about the human component. By placing such bold spots and taking control of all brick, it likely messed with the strategy the other players had thought about. In a nutshell you could say; if you mess with our opponent's, they will also mess with you. PS: As a strategy nut myself, hinging my entire play on the predictablity of humans was never my stil. But I don't doubt that some people like it that way.

Man that is probably the worst feeling to be blocked almost immediately from the beginning. (Red getting blocked by White)

Two years since I last played Catan but I feel ready to kick some ass!

I love this game, I haven’t played in a long time, such great memories. I remember we would call the wheat weed and we would be like anyone got some weed?

Wow what a great recommendation by KZfaq! I love the video! No wheat = Defeat!

I like your breakdown. I didn't even know there were catan championships.

This is very cool. I've played Catan casually for years and never really thought of it in quite such an in depth manner. Its cool to see the high level decision making that the pros do, and understand exactly why they make the choices they make.

TL;DR: How am I here? I love it! Ok seriously. I have only ever played this game on a real board where the last time was about 10 years ago, never played it online (never even searched for it in fact) and now I'm sitting here at 4:30 AM, frustrated that the video is already over. I would've loved to see the whole game play out, especially because your analysis is so insanely deep and interesting to watch...

If there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's a knowledgeable breakdown of strategy in nerd games. I'm already the villain at family board game nights, and you've helped solidify that position, haha.

I used to play this game while in a military camp. Board games were some of the few types of entertainment we were allowed to have, so I played quite a bit of ti for a year.

I had no idea there were any kinds of tournaments for this game!

I 100% thought this was a meme video but I'm honestly kinda glad it wasn't

It's not the video I needed, but the video I deserved

This video was amazing and so insightful. One question, you recommended pointed the road towards weak spots to avoid competition, but then at the end you end it's good to point roads aggressively to intimidate or scare the other players away. Can you clarify when to use each tactic?

I've enjoyed some of your content so ty. Why is this only in 480p? I find it a bit hard to take it in.

Like the song at the end

I saw the board on red's turn to place and I figured I'd take 3,5,11 for wheat and brick and supplement it with 8,11,10 for a decent wood, thus wouldn't need to rely on trades, point a road to 5,11 to pretty much ensure iron and this will also likely force someone to pick 8,5 desert, ensuring the top of the board is a lot less contested. Honestly being blinded by hogging clay and the 8 spot just doesn't cut it.

12:33 9, 5, 4 is 11 points of production not 12. Great vid!

What a great video.

After perusing your channel, I had to subscribe. High Quality content and analysis. Have you thought about doing a few 5-10 minute videos detailing one aspect of the game? "How to use the robber" "How to place your set ups" It may be a handy reference tool Nevertheless, elite content

Top video Dyl 😃 Nearly completely agree with your analysis here. I think there is a chance white might have gone on the 9-3-11 anyway, for their second placement, not the 4-5-9. White knows that if Red gets the 9-11-3 and 8-3-10 then the game will probably be over before the OWS players get started, and red has the wood brick potential to pull that off.

How do you decide the initial terrain positions and numbers on the corresponding terrain?

youtube has a bug on this video for me that is kind of amazing, after not moving my mouse for a few seconds, it switches to showing the board from a sharp angle, making it difficult to see. its not just trippy, i dont understand how it even makes the alternative footage, even given the different angle its not the same

Orange should have taken Ore port instead as last placement. He then has 2 ore as a sub for lack of brick. also lets him get quicker to the 2nd town on 10. As well blocking red. Also, he doesnt really need more wood, since the 8 brings him plenty, and it will be only clog up his hand with weird amount of wood since it will be likely for him to go for a 5 card city quickly.

Oh boy, the algorithm is sending me down another rabbit hole

Yo this video is dope

This game breaks families

Holy shit I’ve been playing this game for almost a decade and only now realized that there are only 3 bricks and ores, vs 4 of everything else 😨

i have no idea how i got here but great video!

I didn't know the basegame could go so deep! At home we usually play the casual big scenario games with cities and knights and the boats. Is there any competitive scene with expansions or do the games get to long and/or random for that?

What about going on the 10- 11 right off the bat for White and cutting off Red when they put their road downwards so they could still get the optimal Sheep at 8-3-10. I've done this before with varied success, is this even something to consider?

I think the 4/5/8 was a stronger third pick. You lock up the 3 good spots surrounding it with one move. Then, worst case 4th picks the 8/10/11 and 3/6/11 so you still end up with a very viable layout. If 4rh leaves the 8/10/11 you get a very strong port game, since white won't beat you to the sheep port (free road), and no one should be competing for the 9/5 port I don't think. Now, the 4/8/9 was still like a really solid pick, and I think the 4/5/10 is only marginally better. But screwing the rest over seems worth it. Also, red could have considered the 3/5/11 with the 5/8/11 maybe but eh probably not. Anyway, blue placing the 4/5/9 is the only real variation I think could happen here! And yes, good call, I thought reds road was a real all or nothing play. So what do we learn folks? Always point road, to desert or coast! Very nice vid btw!

I have a question. One thing that you often say in your videos is to place your roads towards the lowest producing spots because having those extra roads at the beginning of the game is critical to furthering development quickly. However, towards the end, you say it's important to use your roads to threaten other players into placing where you want them to place, so that you have the most optimal placement. I recognize that on this board, red would have the opportunity to get both the 9/3/11 as well as the 8/10/3, so it makes sense to point his road down. But in other games, if it leads to having 1 useless road, how do you balance choosing which way to play? Do you only play defensively if the other placement (like the 9/3/11) is very critical for you to get?

What I learned. Weed = Happy player

10:26 Red Wedding

Curious - I've never heard anyone call it "ore" until today, and I play Settlers regularly with friends and family alike. However, after re-reading the game rules, it appears that it's always been called ore. Funny how things work like that

3 years too late but would Joe not be able to place his second settlement on the 10,11 wood brick and cut red off regardless? seems like a killer setup for him

Accessibility request: if you do something like this in the future, could you use a board with higher contrast? wood and ore are good, but brick, sheep and wheat all sort of blur together and it's hard for me to follow your points as a result. Thanks!

So who won?

I believe white may still put it on the 9-11-3 because red barely has wheat and it’s hard to trade wheat with anyone since the robber may be hammered in the 5 brick. Also the 4 is still a useless road even if you show it’s not because it’s not necessary to go on the 8-10-3 since white may take it by 4:1 his wheat since he has lots of it and also the 10-11 since they are low numbers and already have these

Unless there is a formal notation rule that you are already following, could you announce the coordinates in a more consistent way? For example, always start from the top and go clockwise? When you say six-three-eleven I really don’t know which one are you talking about.

while i understand where red was going with the 5 placement and the strategy may look good on the surface, but they are only playing three numbers the entire game. i don't know how this played out but i assume there were many rolls where he didn't get any resources. blue seems positioned the strongest, would probably win in most cases. he's also got 6 numbers producing for him and is on the best wheat, ore, and sheep tiles.

It seems like Red lost because White made a stupid mistake You can't control everything

The last couple of games I went for the rare resource, I got blocked and robbed early. My game was over after like 10 dice rolls, LOL

>Using development cards dunno, sounds like these guys are nerds

How deep does the Catan Metagame go? I own Base, Seafarers, CK and TB.

Wow! so smart!

I think its funny that this logic assumes you’re playing with smart people. Competing for a spot by placing a road towards it won’t let the people I usually play with fall for it, they don’t look ahead as much.

Do you have the actual Gameplay too?

I love Settlers, and this analysis is incredible and spot on. The only issue for me is that there is simply too much luck in a game like Settlers and people skills involved (i.e. playing the humans vs. the board). That's why I've always preferred chess. There is still luck, mind you, and there is still "playing the player" rather than the board, but there is overall less luck. Still, this video is incredible and opened me up to so many ideas in the game that I perhaps intuitively knew, but now see the proof in the pudding.

How do you calculate how producing certain spot is, rapidly? what formula do you use? or what logic? I use 2/12 being worth 1 point, 3/11 2 points, ... , 6/8 5 points.

Take a shot every time Dylan says " strong development card game"

Reiner made a bigger mistake by not pointing his road toward the 2:1 ore

Who won that round?

How do you calculate production points?

I think the best reason for White's 2nd settlement is that Red would be almost unbeatable if no one played that 3/9/11. White was the only one who could do so and still have a chance at winning. If you only consider the best plays for White or if White gets points for finishing second, that was a terrible placement. I think white improved his odds of finishing first (by preventing a red runaway) and increased his odds of finishing last. For this reason, White may have had to make this play even if Red made the road placement you suggest. Red's brick/wood is so superior he should have been maximally aggressive with roads. He made such a great risky settlement placement, but wasn't willing to take a much smaller risk with his road. He could have wasted a road and still won races to multiple spots. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if, in the real game, Red still beat white to the 8/3/10 AND cut off blue in the race for that crucial 3/5 wheat/brick spot. Without Red's cooperation, white can only get roads from development cards or 4 -1 port trades. But Red might prefer trading White brick for wheat because that 8/3/10 isn't THAT useful for Red. Which is another reason White may have guessed the aggressive road placement toward the 8/3/10 would only be a feint. So I'm not so sure Red's road placement could have kept White off the 3/9/11 . White either had to make that play regardless to prevent a clear Red victory, or he should have maximized his own value by playing that 9/4/5 spot and getting the sheep port. But Red should have built that road toward the interior anyway. As you say, Red should consider the worst case, and that would put him in a better position to recover(even if he didn't want the 8/3/10 he isn't far from the 4/10 Wheat/Wood/Sheep Port. I'd take him in a race against white especially if white tries to get the 8/3/10 first. Remember Red doesn't have to trade white a brick. He can get wheat from Orange).

Why is there no robber?

Who won?

Up next, heads or tails world championship.

the footage was low quality so that you recreated but record in 480p?

My hand is indeed filled with useless wood. I'm not in game, though.

Even the 1st time watching this, white not taking the triple shared wheat makes little sense. It's almost as good production, easy to connect & ruins red who unchecked would be in the clear lead. Road down isn't something I probably wouldn't have bet on w/o explanation & just take the 9 wheat, but this makes sense.

Where's the rest of the game );

12:38 surely that spot has 11 and not 12 pts of production, right?

who won by the way?

Reiner plays catanVR

Thanks for these videos, I'm aiming to beat some of my friends soon... we've played probably 12 games or so and I've only won 1 :p #nowheatequalsdefeat

Why is KZfaq recommending me this? I never even played this game 😅