Are you a fan of the classic game The Settlers of Catan? If so, you’ll be thrilled to know that there’s now a travel edition of this beloved Klaus Teuber game, brought to you by Kosmos and Mayfair Games. This portable version allows you to take the fun and excitement of Catan with you wherever you go. Let’s dive into the components and design of this unique travel edition!
The Components
When it comes to travel editions, the quality of the components is crucial, especially for a game like Catan. Let’s take a closer look at what the travel edition includes:
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The Board: The heart of the travel edition is its specially designed board. Made of hard, sturdy plastic, this compact board measures about eight inches on each side. It features 19 hexagonal slots for terrain tiles, with a raised number in the middle to mark the random number for each terrain. Additionally, there are nine triangle slots along the edges to hold the harbors. The board also has three circular holes along each hexside, which perfectly fit the pegs of the playing pieces.
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Playing Pieces: The travel edition includes three types of playing pieces – roads, cities, and settlements, all available in four player colors: red, blue, white, and orange. Made of hard plastic, these pieces have a peg at the bottom to ensure stability on the board. The road is a rectangular cube, the settlement is a cube with a triangular roof, and the city is an “ell” shape with a triangular roof. While the pieces may appear simple, they are designed to stay securely in place even when the game is played in a moving vehicle.
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Cards: The travel edition features resource cards and development cards, both printed in a miniature size on firm cardstock with rounded corners. The resource cards display the terrain type and the resource produced, making it easy to identify and use them. The development cards have readable text explaining their purpose and even manage to incorporate artwork, adding a touch of visual appeal.
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Cardboard References: These cards are printed on thick, sturdy cardboard in full color. The building cost cards indicate the resources required to build each playing piece and identify related victory points. The victory point cards provide a comprehensive list of rules regarding victory points and their value. With clear iconography and informative visuals, these cardboard references are essential for keeping the game cohesive.
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Dice: The game includes a pair of standard white dice with black pips. While nothing extraordinary, these little plastic dice are well-manufactured and serve their purpose.
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Rules: The 14-page rulebook is well-structured, featuring a short introduction, the game rules, and an almanac. It offers clear explanations, accompanied by examples and helpful pictures. The almanac serves as a handy in-game reference, ensuring that players can easily find the information they need.
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Box & Tray: The compact box measures 8 inches on all sides and a couple of inches thick, making it perfectly sized for travel. The tray inside the box is a standout feature of the travel edition. Each type of card has its own slot in the tray, with a convenient “finger space” next to each slot, allowing easy retrieval of one or more cards. The tray also includes slots for each of the four player colors, making it effortless to access and store the playing pieces. The central slot holds the dice, reference cards, and the various board pieces needed for setup. This thoughtful design keeps everything neatly organized and easily accessible during gameplay, even in tight spaces.
Overall, The Settlers of Catan Travel Edition showcases exceptional attention to detail, providing a fantastic gaming experience on the go. This edition not only shrinks the components but also presents a design suitable for compact environments and moving vehicles. For its outstanding style and practicality, I give it a perfect score of 5 out of 5.
The Game Design
Since the Travel Edition plays exactly like its parent game, The Settlers of Catan, I will skip discussing the gameplay mechanics here. If you’re curious about the gameplay, do check out my original review. Suffice to say, Settlers is a highly enjoyable light strategy game with enduring popularity. However, one disappointment is the lack of rules for two-player play in this Travel Edition. Nevertheless, the overall substance of the game remains excellent, earning it a rating of 4 out of 5.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of The Settlers of Catan and wish to play the game while on the move – in cars, on trains, on airplanes, or even in remote cabins – the Travel Edition is the perfect choice for you. Its well-designed components, thoughtful packaging, and portability make it an excellent product. Take your love for Catan on the road with the The Settlers of Catan Travel Edition!
