Catan Strategy: Gameplay & Live Commentary (20151228)

Live commentary for you guys. Enjoy!

[@Sande24]

White took a bit bad starting locations, not enough wheat to make it useful. He could only win with luck in the beginning of the game. Or good trades. If I were you I would have taken that 2-9-10 since it gives a road. And 8-5-10 gives you double of the same number. More risky with the dice rolls. It also gave orange some more room to expand. Blue made a pointless 2nd settlement placement, making him lose the game. After this, I think either orange or red(you) wins. I guess the risk paid off, you got so many 8s and 10s in a row. Building the road to sheep port rather than the grain one (although it had a higher number) was a good idea. And the blue was always trading with you to give you what you needed. These trades were obviously more beneficial for you rather than him. Orange just was not lucky with these rolls. After this you took the lead. But you still had 4 different numbers by 13 mins. Should have expanded to more different numbers just in case. That's why 2-9-10 wold have been a better idea IMO. You could have expanded to 2-5 to get sheep. Blue seems to be on your side this game too. And the other 2 players gave you a city. Really bad trades for them especially considering that you are so far ahead already. If you look at the stats, look at the details too. it shows some statistics about used/usable resources and how much each player has produced. Gives a better idea of how strong someone is. Can't trust the VPs alone. The stats show you were super lucky with the 8 too. Maybe it would be a good idea to show both stats pages after the game too. I am pretty sure you were far ahead in the available resources stat. Having a roadbuilding and so many cards you could have just built a settlement on any location but instead you went for a city. I don't think it was the best idea. On the other hand, maybe it would be easier in that situation to build a settlement later. And even after that move, white didn't steal from you :D And then you had a lot of cards and they traded with you. Rule #10 - never trade with someone who has 8+ cards. It is really more beneficial if that player has to do trades with the bank.

[@NeonateGaming]

+Sande24 Thanks again for the detailed analysis! I still prefer the 5/8/10 to the 2/9/10. For me, the 4 point differential and ore/wheat/sheep right off the bat (with an eye towards taking Largest Army) outweighs the negative of duplicated numbers, but yes, I can't disagree I got lucky with the 8s. With regard to trading, I always offer trades on my turn. I can't help it if people accept "bad" trades ;-). I've never played in the Catan world championships, but I have heard Americans tend to trade more than Europeans - I wonder if you can comment on that?

[@Sande24]

+Neonate Gaming I think it's an online gaming difference too. Easier to offer trades. Usually you know what resources people would actually want to trade and what not so I don't offer bad trades just to get the game moving faster. And when trading online it is really hard to comment on the trades and stop from the other 2 players from making an obviously bad trade. Lots of people trade just to get what they want without thinking who benefits more. As an "European player" I find people offering obviously random trades (knowing that no-one has these resources or the other player obviously needs the one resource he just got) as either being bad players who don't read the cards or don't know how the opponents think. But yes. People from different cultures play differently and you have to deal with it and play accordingly.

[@NeonateGaming]

+Sande24 Totally agree - I offer more trades online than in real life, and dissuading bad trades is harder online. I have always wanted to "count cards" and know everyone's exact holdings. Obviously that's a bit hard to do while trading and thinking strategically, but I would love to develop/learn a mnemonic for doing so.

[@mobus1603]

Yeah, Nate goes up against some pretty terrible players in his vids. They make really bad initial settlements and trade him everything that he needs. I'd like to see him go against players who actually know what they're doing. It's not that Nate is a bad player, though, but I haven't seen a real test of his skills, TBH

[@Corhayy]

Keep up the good work! Watched all your vids now and I'm hooked into catan.

[@NeonateGaming]

+Corhayy Thanks for the encouragement and best of luck in your home games!

[@MissJoy16]

These videos are so relaxing and enjoyable. Thank you!

[@NeonateGaming]

+MissJoy16 Thank you - that's the first time anyone has told me my videos were relaxing! Besides Catan, I also love ASMR - perhaps I need to combine the two :-)

[@MissJoy16]

+Neonate Gaming I was actually going to say they occasionally give me unintentional asmr tingles, but I hesitated. You're already a natural and I hope to see some combo later on!

[@samuelcornelcicai7772]

Thank you for your videos, they really helped me to be the best Catan player among my friends, cheers!

[@NeonateGaming]

+Samuel Cornel Cicai Thank you sir - I'm so glad they've helped!

[@rhysgriffiths9675]

Love your videos! I want more!

[@NeonateGaming]

+Rhys Griffiths Thank you, sir! Will deliver!

[@jeremyc6636]

Love these vids, super addicting to watch haha

[@NeonateGaming]

+Jeremy C Thanks man - I got your fix!

[@YAHGOA]

I think it's funny that most of the games were actually prerecorded, considering they all seemed so live to me. In retrospect I'm pretty impressed with your acting, as I watched all your videos to this point and was totally convinced they were all live. I like em all. I also root for you in the videos.. I'll be like comon FOUR!!!!! :) I like that it's entertaining and I feel all smart after. The other funny part is that in rooting for you I end up with a sense of smug satisfaction after the victories...

[@NeonateGaming]

+YAHGOA Thanks for rooting for me! I'll try to do more live videos!

[@BakedGoods]

I really enjoy your videos! Keep it up!

[@NeonateGaming]

+Doop Snogg Thank you so much! I will!

[@slobizm]

you sir are awesome! learned a lot from watching a few videos, please keep up the good work!!!!!

[@NeonateGaming]

+slobizm No - YOU sir are awesome. Thanks for the kind words!

[@slobizm]

+Neonate Gaming I actually played just last night with your strategy in mind, and won the game! That was just amazing, after loosing to my girlfriend for sometime now, she got wasted. So thank you for spicing up my love life as well. All the best

[@ashamael]

As per usual, I thoroughly enjoyed the vid! And the 2nd one in a row with excellent audio settings! I *definitely* agree with your 8/5/10 placement over the 2/9/10 placement. Glossing over the 12v8 aspect, with only 3 pips of ore with either placement, you're going to be more dependent on ports to get your ore late game. You were able to 3:1 so many times with the double up on Sheep as well as Wheat from your first placement. You probably wouldn't have gotten near as many trade opportunities with the 2/9: 9 pips vs 5 pips, and those 9 pips of the 8/5 are all the same resource, which is definitely better when using ports, whereas of the 5 pips, 4 are one resource & 1 is another. Neither of those are very reliable for maritime trading. Not to mention, if you had gone 2/9/10, you would've started off without any sheep, and with 2 others picking behind you, you might not have been able to secure a sheep spot until mid game, putting you well behind the Army race (not to mention you need a sheep to build a settlement in the first place). As it was, you were able to secure three development cards early which kind of makes you a monster without actually looking like one. I love getting the free road as much as the next guy, but I believe one of your rules is 'when in doubt, buying a development card is almost never the wrong move.' If that isn't one of your rules, I apologize. It's one of mine, at least, and so I'll take that sheep over that wood, particularly in the 4 player game where expansion is less of a priority since there isn't as much room to expand. You simply can't depend on a 2 or a 12 to give you much over the course of a game. Regarding the whole luck factor: Yeah, it plays a part. Any game where chance is a core component means luck will be involved. However, part of the beauty of this game and why I fell in love with it in the first place is that you have the opportunity to reduce the part luck plays in the game by your initial placement & expansions. Lots of production (high pip vertices) over lots of possible outcomes (good number distribution or matched resources on matched numbers) with smart port play = reducing lady luck's influence over the outcome of your game. Once you master that, you just need to master another three or four things, but luck isn't really influencing any of those!

[@NeonateGaming]

+ashamael Thanks again for the kind words and your in depth analysis - we could almost co-commentate ;-) Totally agree about reducing the luck factor - over time, better plays lead to more wins!

[@bw4500]

+ashamael Ashamael please start producing Catan content ! The Catan universe could do with more high quality strategy and gameplay videos like Neonate's. Would love to hear more of your thoughts on Catan

[@ashamael]

I had never considered it. I don't play online as much anymore... mostly just play IRL, which actually makes it tougher because they always gang up on me & are much harder to fool into believing I'm not the biggest threat at any given time. But thank you for the encouragement!

[@n0rDopA]

Great video once again, really like the live commentary!

[@NeonateGaming]

+n0rDopA Thank you and I'll notch another vote for live commentary!

[@mobus1603]

I don't care whether you do live commentary or put it in after the fact, but I wish we could see more videos where you're truly challenged, because nobody wins Catan all the time, and I don't learn as much seeing you primarily go up against poor players. I want to see your losses as much as I want to see the wins, because I'd learn a lot more watching both. Seeing a few losses here and there wouldn't cause viewers to think any less of you ;)

[@Terrible_Gamer23]

Thank you for uploading your videos and giving us advice. Today I won 3/6 games as a new player (knowing that i would play today), against players with previous experience.

[@NeonateGaming]

+heroclix That's an outstanding win percentage - stunning as a new player! Congrats!

[@ShortbussReject]

At 27min you could have won by playing your knight instead of your road building. You just needed to trade in 6 sheep for a road and build a settlement for VP 10.

[@NeonateGaming]

+Conor Weeks You're absolutely right! Good call.

[@nemanjamilutinovic7202]

I was just about to post that, just checked if there is another same comment, good one buddy.. and yeah im watching it 2-3 years later ( ._.)

[@magnuslh84]

Very entertaining and educational (for the game). I used to play a lot with friends, but I often got into the lead too early, and the others ganged up on me. I think that buying DCs may actually conceal your strength more easily. Then you can keep the third knight hidden for a long while, and only use it at the outmost need, or when you want to claim the victory. I also believe that spreading your numbers out is wise.

[@NeonateGaming]

+magnuslh84 Thanks again - and I totally agree, buying development cards when you start getting ahead is very important. It's very hard to win when it's 3 on 1 so you want to delay that as long as possible!

[@magnuslh84]

+Neonate Gaming How are you doing? Haven't seen any videos from you lately.. will you post stuff from CatanUniverse? Btw, I'd like to post videos too in the future, seems a like a lot of fun, and it could be helpful to other people!!!

[@NeonateGaming]

+magnuslh84 Thanks for checking in. I just finished a big project at work, so I know what I'll be doing this weekend (working on a new video). I actually made a video commenting on Catan Universe while playing against the bots, but I just wasn't happy with the video and never uploaded it...

[@magnuslh84]

Neonate Gaming Very nice to hear that! I just played a game with my friends (board). We had to finish it before the end, so I and one of the others finished at 9 pts.. had a lot of bad luck with the robber, losing 24 cards due to 7s, as well as getting stolen from 5-6 times.. still I was able to tie with my friend at 9 pts... actually, I was trying to use some of your strategies!!

[@tianzewu5188]

Love this game and love your videos. Would be great if you can upload more frequently. I mean 1 hour per week is not too much, and you are playing it live. Thx!

[@NeonateGaming]

+Tianze Wu (Kobe) Thank you for the kind words and the nudge - it's on me to deliver!

[@runemattiasseidenfaden3195]

Someone may already have mentioned this (didn't bother looking through the archive of comments) But at 26:45, you win on the spot, even without trading for wood Just turn your knight, go to 9 pts, trade 3:1 so your 6 sheep and 3 wheat become 2 wood and 1 brick, you end up with 2 wood 2 brick 2 sheep 1 wheat - more than enough to build a road and a settlement

[@NeonateGaming]

A couple folks mentioned this earlier, but that doesn't mean you're not absolutely right! Thanks for watching so closely!

[@teamplayer2helper]

Hi! Just found your channel, and I just want to say it's great! Hopefully you upload more (No pressure, getting these great videos for free, and got loads of videos to see.) and do you have a list with all the rules? If yes, can you upload it or is it your top-secret (probably not, since you show rules, but still)

[@NeonateGaming]

+Shagglefire Thank you for the kind words and the gentle nudge! I just finished a big project at work, so I'll have time this weekend to work on a new video! I haven't finished my rules yet. I'm writing them down as I go, but when I do, I will definitely publish them. In the meantime, you have to suffer through my videos ;-). Thanks again!

[@qc-sunbro3066]

Nice videi, my second of you. I'll watch the others! Is it the steam version ? I dont have this visual ...!

[@NeonateGaming]

+FrenchCanadian Sunbro Thank you for the kind words! It's playcatan.com which is being discontinued/replaced by catanuniverse.com

[@kyuliawan]

Great vid! What do you think of Catan Universe so far?

[@NeonateGaming]

+Kevin Yuliawan Music Thank you. Catan Universe looks amazing. The trading needs a little work, but I am hopeful it will get fixed.

[@xProuty_]

What website are you playing this game on? Love the content btw

[@NeonateGaming]

+Dcprouty7 Thank you! Currently it's playcatan.com. After January 7, it'll be catanuniverse.com

[@conorleyden]

Enjoy your videos! I'm new to the game, so was wondering how you got 11 points. 2x cities = 4 points, plus three settlements is 7 points, two victory points equals 9. How did you get the last two? You only had one knight so you couldn't have got largest army right? Apologies if its a stupid question!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for watching! I played 3 knights over the course of the game for Largest Army. The number of played knights is displayed in the bottom left of the screen next to the total number of points.

[@farhajanwar7706]

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[@avivlab]

I have a question: why didn't you go first for the 3:1 port near your 8-wheat? It makes more sense to me because: a. The 8 gives more production than the 5 (though not a lot more, 5/36 compared to 4/36). b. Wheat is more important for you (so 5/36 wheat is much better than 4/36 sheep). c. The rest of the board has a pretty nice sheep income but not so much wheat, so it will be easier for you to trade away the wheat if you get too many. d. Since you're gonna upgrade the 5-8-10 to a city first (for ore), you're really gonna bolster your sheep production. It's also better to spread your power across more tiles so that it's harder to stop you (rather than attracting the robber to the 5-sheep which will block 12 points of production). I guess there are reasons to go for the port near the 5-sheep, since you already produce 2 resources when an "8" is rolled, and you don't want to attract the robber to the 8-wheat (since the 4-wheat alone isn't that good, while if your 5-sheep is blocked you still have a good sheep production). However, since you are going for army and plan on buying development cards, you will have some control over the robber. Maybe I answered my question in the previous paragraph, but I would still like to hear your answer.

[@NeonateGaming]

Great analysis! In general, when I have the choice, I build a port near my less important and sometimes less productive resource. This is completely counter-intuitive, except for one reason - the robber. Building a port at the 8 wheat will attract the robber there for perhaps the whole game. However, your points (c) and (d) are spot on, and make this a close call.

[@elephantricity]

Where can I get a full list of your 'rules'

[@undecidedtwig]

Do you have your 20+ rules written down in a list? or we just get to see them during the vids. ;) and i vote to keep them live more true to experience + we see some losses.

[@NeonateGaming]

+undecidedtwig Thanks for the question - I'm still working on the complete set of "rules". I'm writing them down as I go along, but I will publish them when they're done. I'll do the next game live and try harder to lose ;-)

[@vidan004]

+Neonate Gaming I was about to ask the same question. Thanks for the videos and insightful rules, they're very helpful! I've won 7 out of the last 9 games I've played against friends at home.

[@NeonateGaming]

+curtis v Thanks! That's the best compliment - that the videos are actually helpful!

[@erikdanielsen8871]

hi nate, any chance you have a full list of your rules?

[@NeonateGaming]

The rules are a work in progress and I hate to post unfinished work. However, I'll probably post an incomplete list because you and others are requesting and because I feel guilty my video output has been so low!

[@neutralzone77_2.0]

can someone please explain me the point system? he keeps saying i have 23 points. please and thanks

[@NeonateGaming]

I do a better job explaining this in my more recent videos. To answer your question, in the physical board game, the number tiles have pips beneath them that represent the frequency that number will be rolled (e.g. 6 and 8 have 5 pips under each representing a 5/36th probability of rolling that number). If you add up all the pips of an intersection, that is the productive value of that intersection. For example a 5/8/10, would be worth 12 points. 5 = 4 pips, 8 = 5 pips, 10 = 3 pips. 12 pips = 12/36 cards per turn, or 1 card every 3 turns. If you upgrade that intersection to a city, you would get 2 cards every 3 turns. I recommend memorizing the pips of each number to quickly recognize the best producing spots on the board. It also helps when you play craps! Thanks for watching!

[@keithrockpro]

I understand that you don't want to be a target for the robber, but don't the additional resources accrued from building cities early on more than offset your losses?

[@NeonateGaming]

In my experience, it is very difficult to take an early lead, maintain that lead, and win the game.

[@keithrockpro]

Okay, thanks :) Thanks for making these videos. I managed to win my first game of catan by watching a bunch of them before playing. My friends were rather surprised.

[@NeonateGaming]

Sweet! Congrats!

[@RCPlanes59]

Agreed about the experience with early leads. I'm certainly no master but in the few dozen games I've played I've never had the lead first and won. Math is important but so is psychology; with an early lead you become a target and the other players have an incentive to prevent you from leading at all costs.

[@BazzInsane]

I'm sorry, I just started playing and tried to Google the term "monos", and couldn't find anything... What does it mean?

[@NeonateGaming]

+BazzInsane Beware of Monopolies - sorry, I couldn't fit the whole word!

[@BazzInsane]

Thanks!! Btw, it is very nice, specially for beginners, like me, all the key words, rules, sums that you write in white letters!! Also, I like your commentary: you say not only what it is happening, but what are you thinking it could happen, what you would do, making corrections, predictions, etc. All that really makes your videos entertaining and helpful! Thanks and keep it up!(: Greetings from Mexico

[@NeonateGaming]

+BazzInsane Thank you for the kind words - they keep me going! Muchas gracias!

[@daggaboom]

Do you have any cities and knights..or other expansion videos?

[@NeonateGaming]

Sorry, I don't! I actually have never played Cities & Knights, though I've heard that ones the best!

[@daggaboom]

Neonate Gaming Absolutely, regular Catan feels like training wheels after a few of those games. Pretty much doubles options and malicious potential.

[@ryu-ken]

What do u mean by 3=2 pts, 6=5 pts, and so on...im new to catan trying to learn the game

[@NeonateGaming]

+Ryu Ken In the physical board game, the number tiles have pips beneath them that represent the frequency that number will be rolled (e.g. 6 and 8 have 5 pips under each representing a 5/36th probability of rolling that number). If you add up all the pips of an intersection, that is the productive value of that intersection. For example a 5/8/10, would be worth 12 points. 5 = 4 pips, 8 = 5 pips, 10 = 3 pips. 12 pips = 12/36 cards per turn, or 1 card every 3 turns. If you upgrade that intersection to a city, you would get 2 cards every 3 turns. I recommend memorizing the pips of each number to quickly recognize the best producing spots on the board. It also helps when you play craps! Thanks for watching! Hadouken!

[@ryu-ken]

oh i see. so basically the odds to get the numbers...nice

[@infinityscarefuldriver7377]

I’m new to this game, but I don’t understand the “points” you’re talking about... and I thought you could only buy 1 development card at a time? Am I wrong about that?

[@NeonateGaming]

I do a better job explaining the "points" in my more recent videos. To answer your question, in the physical board game, the number tiles have pips beneath them that represent the frequency that number will be rolled (e.g. 6 and 8 have 5 pips under each representing a 5/36th probability of rolling that number). If you add up all the pips of an intersection, that is the productive value of that intersection. For example a 5/8/10, would be worth 12 points. 5 = 4 pips, 8 = 5 pips, 10 = 3 pips. 12 pips = 12/36 cards per turn, or 1 card every 3 turns. If you upgrade that intersection to a city, you would get 2 cards every 3 turns. I recommend memorizing the pips of each number to quickly recognize the best producing spots on the board. It also helps when you play craps! As for development cards, you can buy many, but can only play one per turn (victory points don't need to be "played" to count). Thanks for watching!

[@Theriverfrontway]

I dont Undertsand the free road rule? Rule #13

[@NeonateGaming]

+Jake Bryden Sorry, the rule isn't well written because I was trying to be brief. The longer version would be, "Rule #13: When Picking Your Second Settlement, Give Additional Value to Intersections with Wood and Brick, Which Give You a Free Road Which Can Be Used to Cut Off an Opponent"

[@rileyread406]

What are the ports

[@elephantricity]

If you have a settlement/city on a port, you get improved trade deals with the bank. For example 3:1 instead of 4:1, or specific ports have a 2:1 if you have 2x of the required resource to trade.

[@pugo7925]

Do you play Catan on mobile too?

[@NeonateGaming]

I haven't. Is it more or less the same as the desktop version?

[@pugo7925]

Neonate Gaming it is more similar to Catan strategy than universe and I think it is more comfortable than the desktop version, except the trading which is a bit limited there

[@chrishamby86]

How can we play Catan World? It seems we can only play Catan Universe which is closed beta only?

[@NeonateGaming]

+chris hamby Yes, Catan Universe is supposed to open January 7th.

[@chrishamby86]

Thanks! Love the videos. My wife and I started playing catan this Christmas

[@NeonateGaming]

+chris hamby Thank you so much. The "real" Rule #1 is Let Your Wife Win at Catan ;-)

[@chrishamby86]

+Neonate Gaming no need to let her win, she does half the time anyway!

[@chrishamby86]

+Neonate Gaming have you checked out catan universe? I've played, but only against the computer thus far.

[@nicktoons21]

What does rule 32 mean?

[@NeonateGaming]

Sorry, I abbreviated for space. Rule #32 Beware of Monopolies - especially towards the end of the game.