Settlers of Catan

So I'm looking into the game, and I discover there are many supplements and expansions, and I'm wondering which are worth getting. And since I know some of you have been doing the geek thing for longer than I, I've come to you all for help. So I have a bunch of questions;
Which expansions are compatible with the original game? Seafarers and Cities and Knights I'm guessing. Can I use the tiles and rules from the all the expansions in the same game as the original? Which expansions aren't worth getting? Is the even card pack any good? Has anyone used the River of Catan? It looks fun, is it? Anything else I should know?

If you've got an xBox 360 go for the online version. Free updates, lots of players, and fun as hell to play.

If you want to get into the table-top version I'd pick up a mass 4th edition group from eBay. (such as: http://cgi.ebay.com/Settlers-of-Catan-6-pack-Games-Expansions-4th-Edition_W0QQitemZ330204350700QQihZ014QQcategoryZ2530QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem )

As far as picking them up separately I'd get the box set 1st and then, if you decide you hardcore like the game, take a look at what expansion does/provides.

Oh no, I really like the game. But I haven't played any of the expansion yet. And I didn't know there was a Settlers of Catan 360 version. I'll have to check that out. Thanks for that and the eBay link.

Not a problem. (If you were a real man you'd by the $350 Settlers of Catan Special Edition Chest.) lol

Buy the Special Edition Chest? Hah! That's for wusses- I plan on carving the playing pieces out of the bones of my fallen enemies... it'll take a while.

in the store I go to, everyone really loves settlers of catan; I could inform about if for you if you want

A little bit different, Carcassonne is another good one.

http://www.boardgamecentral.com/games/carcassonne.html

I've played all the Settlers of Catan games......Cities and Knights expansion is DEFINITELY the best.  The others are just....OK.  Cities and Knights adds a lot of additional strategy to the game.

Another excellent game is Puerto Rico (the additional downloadable buildings add a lot to the game too).

www.boardgamegeek.com is a great site for board games.....

Cities and Knights defenitely is a must-buy if you like the basic game!
Seafarers is nice too, but mostly if you play with a lot of people.
I haven't played the other ones yet..
Oh and happy birthday Reg06 

Kobarf

Thanks Kobarf.


I'll probably be getting Settlers for X-Box, and quite probably the real version of it (with Seafarer's as well as Cities and Knights). Those other games look interesting, but I just don't have the time. Carcassonne is also available for the X-Box (I believe) so there's a chance I'll check that out.

I've played all the Settlers of Catan games......Cities and Knights expansion is DEFINITELY the best.  The others are just....OK.  Cities and Knights adds a lot of additional strategy to the game.

Another excellent game is Puerto Rico (the additional downloadable buildings add a lot to the game too).

www.boardgamegeek.com is a great site for board games.....

I totaly agree here, we play loads of boardgames and the above stated is indeed the best. Be sure to buy the 6-players extra set because it's way more fun that way.

Puerto Rico is on atleast a par with Settlers of Cathan, great game and can go so many ways that no two games are ever the same. You have a cardgame of Puerto Rico btw which is really worth it...

I love settlers.  I'd recommend all the expansions - the 5 & 6 player expansions can make it nice if you have more people in your group to add to the game.  Seafarers is interesting, but Cities and Knights is more strategy.  Then do them all - 6 play Seafarers with Cities & Knights  - a longer game but a lot of fun!

In addition there are several other versions that are stand-alone, but also great games.  Settlers of the Stone-Age is a lot of fun, even if the map isn't customizable.  Starfarers of Catan is Settlers - IN SPACE!!!!  I just played Conquest for Rome a few weeks ago, also very different and a lot of fun.  If you can get them, Cheops & Alexander, or Troy and The Great Wall are very interesting spinoff's - with completely different goals (I like the Great Wall the best myself, and Troy the least).

Then there is the Settlers card game - settlers for 2 players, as well as Starship Catan - Starfarers for two players.

Then there is Candamir, Elesund and Entdecker.  Klaus Teuber just has so many great games.  Check out www.catan.com - they have several interactive tutorials on their games.

Settlers of Catan is right up there w/ Munchkin.

Munchkin, Battle of the Bands, Chez Geek. All great card games.

Munchkin, Battle of the Bands, Chez Geek. All great card games.

Try Ninja Burger. Good, simple, fun as all hell mini-RPG. You WILL eat this Ninja Burger and you WILL like it.

I agree with Kobarf - if you like Settlers, Cities and Knights is a must.

I have tried with the River, it's interesting (assuming it's the free one that came with Gams Monthly, which is the one I have) but probably best left for later. It's easy enough to proxy with exising tiles (as you remove three normal ones to make room)

Starfarers of Catan is fun, subtlety different. Probably a bit simpler too, but the space travel is fun.

Carcassonne is an excellent game, I highly recommend it if you're into board games. I have it and most of the expansions (I think I'm missing The River 2 and King and Scout plus some magazine exclusives) and it's very enjoyable.

In terms of Card games, I can recommend Fluxx, Gloom, Bang!, Give me the Brain and The Great Dalmuti.

You know, I played my share of settlers games and I played carcassonne once.
My problem with these games ( and actually all board games, when you play for fun on a Saturday night) is that after a short while one or two players just don't play along anymore.
They have bad luck with the dice, so you don't get no stuff, or you made a mistake in the beginning.

Then two people are playing the game and two are just surviving.
That's not always good fun.

You know, I played my share of settlers games and I played carcassonne once.
My problem with these games ( and actually all board games, when you play for fun on a Saturday night) is that after a short while one or two players just don't play along anymore.
They have bad luck with the dice, so you don't get no stuff, or you made a mistake in the beginning.

Then two people are playing the game and two are just surviving.
That's not always good fun.

I run into that problem with alot of games (my first game of Settlers actually as well, and the "survivor" played king maker and I got the win because of it), which makes me hesitant to plunk down a bunch of money on yet another game. So I'll be keeping my eye on eBay.