Catan Strategy: Gameplay & Commentary (20150925)

In this game, I play third and play a port strategy.

[@Sande24]

Picking as 3rd - you should also think about what is left for the 4th player - if you leave hime 2 really good positions, it can make him get a good lead. You could plan it in a way that you know what locations he is about to take so you can also get what you want. It is sometimes doable playing as 2nd too, depending on the map. Really hard as 1st, though. Again your opponents seemed to pick really weird locations. Even at the beginning it seems like you're going to win this if you get to expand fast. Trading sheep for orange at the beginning seemed like a bad idea. Should have waited for white to maybe respond and give you the trade because he was not as well off as orange. He wanted that sheep anyway so it was ok. You say you try to trade but you keep that trade offer up for less than 2 seconds... Offering ore trades on this map? You should see that there is a higher probability to get wheat, which is what you also need. You had enough resoruces for a road and settlement to place on either 3-10 or 6. Why did you build 2 roads instead? Could have increased your production more. That 10-5 was not that necessary IMO. Also you could have blocked ornage out of that 3-11 location. And again you get a win with someone making bad trades in the end-game :D

[@NeonateGaming]

+Sande24 Thank you again for watching and commenting! #1 Totally agree. It's important to try to predict the fourth player's picks. #2 Somewhat disagree. Perhaps I could have been more patient, but the brick in my hand was a hot potato, so I was happy to trade 1:1 on my turn. #3 I edit out parts of the video where nothing happens/no one responds, so it may seem my trades aren't up for very long. #4 Agree. #5 Great point! I hadn't consider building a settlement, and I should have given it more thought. The 3/10 may have been worth doing to hurt orange. I was focused on building a city at the 3/4/8, and I was only too happy let orange keep the spotlight/lead. Thanks again - I enjoy hearing your views!

[@Sande24]

+Neonate Gaming #3 probably explains #2 too. Good videos to comment on :)

[@paw1ak_248]

@@Sande24 1 question at The start why did you build a road and settelment at the 2 and sheep port you could have got the port without building A road and claimed The 2,6 but u took The 2 + wasted a road

[@Sande24]

@@paw1ak_248 It was Neonate who was playing not me. I guess he wanted to get more sheep locations from the beginning. And if he placed directly on the port, other player would get the 3-6-9 location. If he placed there in the beginning, another player would place on 2-6 and take the port.

[@paw1ak_248]

@@Sande24 im sorry put the wrong @ i also meant he put the starting settlement and road in the right place but if he Played a settlement on The 2,6 right after instead of wasting The Road and putting it on The 2

[@ashamael]

just stumbled upon these vids. I really enjoy them, but could you please turn down the game sounds more? If your voice is at zero dbs, the game sounds (aka natural sound) should be at around -30. This will go a long way towards making watching your videos a more pleasurable & learning experience. Thanks! Earned a sub!

[@NeonateGaming]

+ashamael Thank you for the kind words and for your feedback. I'll definitely turn down the game sounds on the next video!

[@lailpa]

I recently found your channel and I really appreciate your videos. Thank you! Very entertaining and educational (-;

[@NeonateGaming]

+peter Thanks for the kind words!

[@TheJonbonesjones]

I wish you uploaded a lot more often.

[@NeonateGaming]

+TheJonbonesjones Thanks again for your interest and support! I'm totally buried with work/family right now. I am aiming to post 2x/month, but at least 1x!

[@magnuslh84]

1) Surprised that you chose to miss the ore. I'm not sure if anybody would take the 2-6-sheep port from you. It didn't look like a strong spot at all for anybody else. If you did that, your port would be a 2-6, not just a 2. You also lost the ore to blue. 2) But nicely played at the end! Thanks to a generous trade by blue!!!

[@NeonateGaming]

+magnuslh84 Thanks! With two players behind me, both who didn't have sheep, I couldn't rule out someone building on the 2/6. Better to lose 1 point of production (albeit ore), than lose the whole game. Often times this type of "maximin" decision is the way to go in Catan.

[@clevefisher5726]

@@NeonateGaming minimize risk is the name of the game

[@yigityargic2814]

You said Rule #1: Ore wins. Then didn't get any. But I understand, ore was scarce on the map. What's more interesting is you say Rule #3: No wheat = defeat. Then you didn't get any wheat and won the game. That's more surprising to me. I guess the basic explanation is that the port strategy is an alternative play style with different rules (as you mentioned in the end). But really, all your rules made it look like orange (or perhaps blue) had the best chance of winning, rather than you. For your opponents, I guess the lesson is: If your opponent is using the port strategy, avoid trading with them.

[@NeonateGaming]

Yes - the rules are guidelines which are sometimes broken. Port strategies are generally difficult to pull off but it can be done. Good luck!

[@ArjanGroe]

Why not the wheat monopoly strategy from the start and then take wheat port relatively certain? The 5,6,11 is higher producing, and, no wheat = defeat... ?? Really curious to see how this one works out, it's a relatively short game by the looks of it, I'm surprised...

[@NeonateGaming]

I think an important way to improve your win percentage is to play a "minmax" strategy. Don't maximize your best outcomes, but rather maximize your worst outcomes. Never play in a way that leaves yourself with no "outs". If I took the 5/6/11 and someone (e.g. blue) took the 8/10, my game is over. That's also why I chose the 2/6/9 rather than the 3/6/9.

[@undecidedtwig]

Crazy win man

[@NeonateGaming]

+undecidedtwig Thanks man - thanks for watching!

[@undecidedtwig]

+Neonate Gaming what's your plan with the change to Catan universe?

[@NeonateGaming]

+undecidedtwig I'm looking forward to the new format and making new videos on it!

[@pairot01]

You had half an island all to yourself, isn't it a good idea to go for long road?

[@NeonateGaming]

Other players had better wood and brick production...

[@pairot01]

@@NeonateGaming yeah but you had trade advantage with a monopoly of sheep and the sheep port, at one point every time a sheep tile produced you got at least 2 cards. There's no need for being rude.

[@JohnSmithEx]

@@pairot01 I can't see how Neonate was rude in his latest comment. Merry Christmas btw!

[@_Shikabane_]

Why is it on Catan Universe, cities require 4 ore instead of 3?

[@NeonateGaming]

I don't think that's true...

[@_Shikabane_]

@@NeonateGaming it is true, play Catan universe for some reason you need 4 ore for cities and I have no idea why