Catan Strategy: Gameplay & Live Commentary (20160514)

In this game, I go on tilt (and I'm not proud).
FAQ
Q: What site is this?
A: Prior to its closure on May 31, 2018, PlayCatan. Afterwards, Catan Universe.
Q: How do you calculate the “points” of an intersection?
A: 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!
Q: Where can I find a complete set of your “rules”?
A: Inspired by the movie Zombieland, I created these rules for Catan. They are a work in progress, but a way for me to say thank you to all the folks who have encouraged me along the way. Good luck!
Placements
Rule #1 Ore Wins
Rule #2 Production, Production, Production
Rule #3 No Wheat = Defeat
Rule #4.1 Get All Five Resources, if Possible
Rule #4.2 However, Ore/Wheat/Sheep Is Still Very Strong
Rule #5 Think About Ports
Rule #6.1 Good Ratio of Wood:Brick is 1:1
Rule #6.2 Good Ratio of Ore:Wheat:Sheep is 5:3:2
Rule #7 Point Roads to Coasts or Desert
Rule #8 Don’t Be Greedy (7-8pt Spots Will Be Contested)
Rule #9 Think About Third Settlement
Placements Cont’d.
Rule #10 When First, Check the Edges
Rule #11 When Third, Take Rare Resources
Rule #12 When Second, Predict Last Placement
Rule #13 Free Road? Yes, Please
Rule #14 Same Numbers Mean Feast or Famine
Trading
Rule #15 Trade Before Building
Rule #16 Trade Freely on Your Turn
Rule #17 Trade Freely for Resources You Don’t Produce
Gameplay
Rule #20 Track Who’s Going for Largest Army & Longest Road
Rule #21 Get to a Port
Rule #22 Largest Army is Better Than Longest Road
Rule #23 Table Talk Works
Rule #24 When Ahead, Buy Dev. Cards
Rule #25 Don’t Make Yourself a Target
Rule #26 Know Your Win Condition(s)
Rule #27 When Behind, Build Cities
Rule #28 Avoid Confrontations
Rule #29 Wood/Brick Player Should Take Risks
Development Cards
Rule #30 Use Knights Before Rolling (Except When Holding 7 Cards)
Rule #31 Save Monos for the End
Rule #32 Beware of Monos
Rule #34 Road Building? Plan Ahead
Rule #35 Use Invention for Rare Resources
Rule #36 Don’t Take Army Too Early
Rule #41 Track Dev. Cards Remaining
Robber
Rule #50 Block/Rob the Leader
Rule #51 Unfair Robber? Play Tit for Tat
Rule #52 Block Resources You Produce
Rule #53 Racing Someone? Rob Him & Block What He Needs to Win the Race

[@mjc8556]

Wow cant believe I found this. I was orange in this game haha. Consider yourself lucky I pulled all those knights and not any vps ;P. Anyways, well played, you really know your stuff. Kudos

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you. Great playing with you. It was a really close game and could have gone either to you or Red! Hope to play you again someday!

[@crazycorey1313]

totally addicted to your videos... Glad you're posting again!! I need the advice to settle my friends

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks - good luck!

[@pablocastilla1176]

Wow, I'm so glad I found your videos! I started to be a bit better at catan, but with your help I'm actually viable when playing with my family. In specific, I had a lot of trouble with initial settlement placement. Thanks so much, can't wait until your next vid!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you - I'm glad the videos have been helpful! Good luck!

[@fireandlce]

Wow! What a comeback! I was figuratively biting my nails near the end there. Great job!

[@NeonateGaming]

Lol - thanks!

[@ravihammond]

I love your videos. Watching them and learning from you has allowed me to become much better at catan. I now win local tournaments and beat my friends often :)

[@NeonateGaming]

Awesome! Maybe one day we'll play each other at Worlds! :-)

[@dRex002]

yussss! he's back!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for your patience!

[@conorf1995]

I was cheering for you to build 2 settlements at the end when you went for development cards! Good to see an upload again, I enjoy the live comm thought process

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you sir. In retrospect, I should have built a settlement rather than buy 2 development cards. I would have been left with two ores and two wheats with great chances to upgrade on my next turn. I was a bit afraid red would win before I got another turn.

[@conorf1995]

I also thought Red was likely to win before your next turn, scary. Unless I'm mistaken you couldn't have upgraded again as you already had 4 cities

[@NeonateGaming]

You're absolutely right. I correct my correction - I needed that VP.

[@dantheman5745]

Extraordinarily helpful. Thanks for making these.

[@elephantricity]

long time no video.. Glad he is back. First video you have posted where you win without getting army or road.

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for your patience and support. Lol, I definitely didn't plan to win that way!

[@badplus0176]

Really wish you were still making these. Your vids have really helped my game. I’m posting in the off chance you see this and consider putting out more content.

[@kyledeutch1223]

idk how bussy you are but I really enjoy your videos they are extremely informational I went 0wins and 16 losses before I watched your videos then I won 2 in a row lost another and then won 1 every 3 games or so tank you very much. I'm giving this a thumbs up

[@NeonateGaming]

Awesome - congrats!

[@joshuacrawford7092]

Really enjoy your commentaries! I hope your back for good man!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you - I'll try to post more often!

[@agarcrow]

Hello Neonate, I love your videos and they helped me a lot. I now win almost every game I play with my family or friends. I hope you start posting videos more regularly. I have a little suggestion: you could add as friend some of your subscribers in PlayCatan and play with them!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you so much. I'm glad the videos have been helpful. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I plan to post again soon. Apparently, PlayCatan is being shut down for good, so perhaps I'll see you on Catan Universe!

[@badplus0176]

If you consider putting out more content, I’d like to see C&K gameplay. My friends insist on playing that expansion. Also, thanks to you I’ve won a few games

[@NeonateGaming]

I heard C&K is the best expansion, but my group of friends and I never got past the basic set!

[@cranson8r]

Hey Neonate. I don’t know if you still monitor these vids, but I’m a new player and your description of being new and excited about exponential growth was spot on. Loved this video to see you lose your cool.

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks! I lose my cool too often, and not just in Catan lol. Glad you found the game and are taking the "red pill" to go down the Catan rabbit hole!

[@Mrjimak0s]

Neonate is back, wow thanks god !!!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you!

[@dukes1993724]

Have you considered golf commentary? Lol, fantastic stuff as always Nate, looking forward to your answer on the table reputation question with great anticipation

[@NeonateGaming]

Lol thanks! I've been thinking a lot about table image...

[@Catanimal720]

Nice win...Super glad to see you"re back. Only thing I might've done differently is to place your initial settlements in opposite order, since you produced more brick than wood. Also wheat might've been more useful early on than ore. It could've helped you expand to the 6-3 ore a bit faster.. You seemed to have more brick than wood early on and it may have somewhat hindered you... But then again I think blue was rushing you (big surprise) on the initial settlements, so I understand... Definitely think the 6-4-11 and the 8-4-3 were the best initial spots anyways... Also your decision to buy 2 dev cards instead of building a settlement at the 11/12 was correct I think, since a VP would really help you win without longest road. The monopoly you got didn't hurt either since it could've helped you build a settlement on your last turn, although in the end you didn't even need it. Even when you"re tilting and questioning yourself, seems like you"re making the right plays... Hope you post more vids... Great insight in all of them...

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for your thoughtful analysis and I agree, placing the 3/4/8 first would've been better! Catan is so much like poker. You have to take in a lot of information and make decisions in a short amount of time. Better decisions give slight edges which over the long-run lead to more wins.

[@ashamael]

welcome back, man. Missed your vids. I haven't played online in so long... but still play a lot with friends & family. I think you missed several opportunities to win while being distracted by blue. I chuckled a bit when he was out of the game & bitching (so - the whole game). That's one thing about playing online that I don't like as much - the trading system. People aren't as open to trading, and trading is one of the biggest components of the game. I think it might level the playing field out a bit, as people who aren't as good at trading can depend more on the luck of the dice, while those of us who make our own luck are crippled by their hesitation. Great point about newer players prioritizing Brick. I've tried to convince a couple of people I play with how unimportant it really is (I mean, if you can get it, get it, but it's just so far down the list), but they keep doing it despite watching me dominate with ore/wheat over & over. Some have gotten the clue, though, so hopefully these last couple will!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks Ashamael. Yeah, I have mixed feelings about online trading. On one hand, I think I'm better at it than IRL. I can make many offers very quickly and in a somewhat detached way. On the other hand, when people don't respond to trade offers online, you're not sure if they aren't paying attention, or if they want something else, or if they don't want to trade at all.

[@mattlowder]

the great return! upload!!! huzzah

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks again! I'll upload more often. I'll upload more often. I'll upload more often! :-)

[@jonjak]

I love your videos and I have learned a lot of it. But one question is still difficult for me to solve: when is the right time to build cities or is it better to buy dev cards first? Thanks for your help. And I and I think many others wish that you continue your work uploading such great instructive videos for catanplayers.

[@NeonateGaming]

Generally, I would build cities unless it would make me the clear leader/target. Otherwise, I would buy dev cards. Thank you for the very kind words and I hope to post new videos soon!

[@joeroddy]

51 comments in a week.. my god dude you are a sensation.

[@NeonateGaming]

Lol

[@Big_Dai]

3:14 I wonder if it would have been a good idea to take that wheat port from Red, as well as that 3-6-11 or 6-5-11 for 2 wheat hexes. Allowing to move up for wood and trading for anything else. Though you still won.. which surprised me.

[@NeonateGaming]

Are you suggesting I take the 9/12 wheat port?

[@Nicodork84]

How can i begin to play this online game? I've found "Catan Universe" on Steam but it looks terrible. Yours videos are so helpful, thanks a lot!

[@elephantricity]

Please make more Catan videos! You've been gone so long!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time! I plan to post new videos soon!

[@Myk3Ech0e5]

My man! You are back and shutting down noobs. Have you ever thought about live streaming on Twitch at all? I think it'd be sweet!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks! I would consider live streaming if there is enough interest. This is still a pretty small channel... :-)

[@mbigras]

I'd watch 👍👍

[@ryanodagawa]

I've seen a couple of Catan videos and there's one thing I don't understand and I wonder if someone can explain to me... When you place your numbers you say the numbers are worth a certain amount of points. Do the points have anything to do with the final 10 points you're aiming for, or something else? To me, it seems like it doesn't have to do with that. What is the relevancy of these points if it doesn't have to do with the final 10 points you're aiming for?

[@NeonateGaming]

When placing settlements I’m taking about the productive power of the spot. Take a look at the video description FAQ for more detail. Good luck!

[@ryanodagawa]

I see. Thanks!

[@magnuslh84]

nice video - great to see you back and winning! sad to see players like blue, not even greeting you after the game, but well, I guess the internet is filled with those guys...

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks! Have you been playing much?

[@magnuslh84]

Some, yes.. online, but lately not much.. I'll try to play with some friends too, but unfortunately, most of my friends aren't that much into boardgames... I've got a good record on playcatan though, so I'll have to be very careful when playing with friends on the tabletop.. can't race ahead.. :)

[@magnuslh84]

after playing some on playcatan, I've realized that very often, the easiest way to win is to simply build cities and settlements (usually 4 cities + 2 settlements). Everybody focuses on either roads or knights, and because of that, walking straight forward with ordinary expansion gives you a cheaper way to victory...

[@NeonateGaming]

I've never kept track, but I would estimate 80%-90% of my wins involve taking army and/or road. Building 10 points straight up is very difficult partly because you can't be deceptive.

[@mobus1603]

When you built a road @ 18:00, why didn't you go for the 4 brick, 11 wool spot? Worried red could get there first? Wanted to concentrate on the 3:1 port?

[@NeonateGaming]

I know building that road appears pointless. I was "laying the groundwork" for taking long road at the top of the island where there was more room. Unfortunately, that never happened. I underestimated red's ability to build roads with his 9s on wood and brick.

[@mobus1603]

I didn't see it as pointless, just not optimal IMO

[@daggaboom]

I agree with you in that luck saved the day. Your decision to go to the 3;1 port and not satisfy your lack of sheep and get a cheap deal on your brick is for me your iffy decision of the game. I might have placed settlements a bit different but I don't know. So I guess my thinking about your thinking is that you weigh table/strength image above that last resource and cheap port? You woulda smoked largest army easily by my reconing. On any given 8 you get a sheep/anything you want. Speaking of anything you want, go get the C&K expansion. I look forward to you tearing up my strategy.

[@NeonateGaming]

I definitely got lucky. That said, I thought the 3:1 port really helped me win!

[@SwagDawg]

at the very end you definitely could've taken road if you wanted to by monopolying wood... that'd have been awesome

[@iuliadianamarian3977]

I actually yelped when I saw that you're back. Rewatching old videos gets boring after a while. Hopefully we'll hear from you again some time. You could even do livestreams if editing takes too much time!

[@NeonateGaming]

Lol, thanks for the yelp and your support!! I held onto this video far too long by letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. I'll try to edit less and upload more!

[@adonisblanco7692]

what website do you use to play this game on ur pc? or is it a game that u buy?

[@magnuslh84]

play catan com but you need an account

[@garenkirk3770]

Do you have a video dedicated to listing in order and discussing your rules?

[@garenkirk3770]

No, I didn't know there was a discussion page. I first played Catan a couple weeks ago with my wife's family and struggled with the rules and a good strategy. I found your channel and started watching your games and listening to your play by play. I found it extremely helpful and can't wait for the next time we get together to play.

[@NeonateGaming]

Awesome, good luck! I should mention the real Rule #1 is Let Your Wife Win Sometimes ;-)

[@garenkirk3770]

If only she played. 😁

[@Sniper4c4]

More! please also how can we play old settlers of catan online?

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for the encouragement! Unfortunately, playcatan isn't accepting new registrations. You'd have to "persuade" someone to give you their account...

[@seanflynn6997]

Where do you play your games? I am eager to play as well.

[@NeonateGaming]

www.playcatan.com however the site is not accepting new registrations :-(

[@NutStr8]

Will you be doing some CatanUniverse? It's not that bad anymore and you can play Base Game for free!

[@NeonateGaming]

Yes. My next video will be on Catan Universe. I can't promise I will be able to finish the game (lol)...

[@neilmarcusrichardson]

Sorry to be dumb, but do you have your full list of rules somewhere?

[@NeonateGaming]

No worries - the video description should have the full list of rules. Good luck!

[@neilmarcusrichardson]

Neonate Gaming Good to know you’re still alive! I just watched the Barcelona 2017 final and they seem to transgress a lot of your rules, especially the one about not placing your starting roads towards the centre. They inevitably get cut off. It’s the sort of final I think you would have won quite comfortably, but maybe I’m being a bit quick to assess.

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks! Yes, I agree. In the finals, blue and red's roads seem to be errors, especially their second ones.

[@shywhaleface]

Do you plan on uploading any more videos in the near future?

[@NeonateGaming]

Sorry for the long delay and thanks for your patience. I'm moving so I've been swamped. Next few weeks - I'm going to make it happen!

[@CiaranFi]

Come back :(

[@NeonateGaming]

I'm sorry it has been so long. I'm going to make it happen!

[@decarbonatedsprite8382]

Why have you stopped making these. I know that the website has closed, but can you play Catan Universe or something

[@NeonateGaming]

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while! I will soon!

[@SGProductions87]

Tilt? A poker player by an chance, are you? SPOILER INCOMING I wasn't expecting you to pull of that result. That was really something.

[@NeonateGaming]

Yup, I love poker. Used to grind in casinos. Tournament-level Catan has many similarities! Saw a couple of your poker videos. Nice work!

[@tobias3593]

There will be no next video;(

[@badplus0176]

IdioticBoyZ 77 Neonate responded to a message I wrote. He said he would come out with more videos in a bit. 😀 But yeah I know how you feel

[@NeonateGaming]

Today, I deliver!

[@tobias3593]

Neonate Gaming LETS GOOOOOOO THANK YOU❤️❤️❤️😄😄😄🔥🔥🔥👌👌👌

[@patrickmoloney672]

Why don't you play on Catan Universe?

[@daggaboom]

Also where do you think the others(red specifically) coulda done better/their mistakes?

[@NeonateGaming]

Great question! If I were red, I would have built my second settlement at the 3/6/11. Then, I would have gone for the wheat port for my third settlement. Upgrading the 5/9/11 was a powerful move. Similarly, I would have upgraded my second settlement. Getting two wheats on 3s, 5s, 6s, and 10s would be enough production. This path is probably more efficient/faster then the path he chose.

[@yansmirnov3780]

THX FOR THE VIDEO (and hello from russia man)/ more videos moooooooooore)))))

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you! I hope to visit Russia some day!

[@pablocastilla1176]

Could you give me an example of when you would use a development card before you roll?

[@NeonateGaming]

Although all development cards can be played before rolling, only knights are typically played to move the robber off one of your tiles. But, avoid playing the knight with 7 cards!

[@benjamindiano-brown8416]

what would u have done if u were in blues position for opening moves?

[@NeonateGaming]

Did you see my last video practicing initial settlement placements? I use this board layout. May I refer you there for my thoughts. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnrWhHWIl86KfZo

[@benjamindiano-brown8416]

OK thanks

[@daggaboom]

Hi Neo, are you still competing?

[@NeonateGaming]

Yes, but I lost in the semis of a Nationals qualifer earlier this year. Maybe next year! Do you compete?

[@JohnSmithEx]

Happy for your new video! I have watched and enjoyed all your previous videos. I think that in this game you made too many repeating trade offers for non existent or rare resources (sheep), offering resources everybody had. And you spend too much time deciding what to trade and what to build. That was not enjoyable for your opponents. I mean ... winning is important, but equally important is having a nice time for everyone playing the game!

[@NeonateGaming]

Thank you for the kind words. This game was challenging for me because the other players didn't respond to trades.

[@gregkirby5538]

gawd this board sucks