Can we talk about how I used to organize my game nights versus how I do now after a 3-hour argument about the rules for Settlers of Catan?

I used to just throw the box on the table and let chaos reign, but after that marathon debate, I now spend a full hour before anyone arrives, with color-coded player aids and a printed FAQ from BoardGameGeek, which my friend Mark calls 'pre-game anxiety theater.'

3 comments

3 Comments

ryanpatel24d ago

I read a blog post once that called this the "Catan Effect." The writer said a single bad rule fight can turn a relaxed host into a full time referee. My own group had a 45 minute standoff over road building in Carcassonne. Now I keep the rulebook open to that page on my phone before we even start. It feels silly, but it saves the evening. Mark might call it theater, but he's also the first one to ask for the FAQ sheet.

the_rowan24d ago

Is that really anxiety or just being smart? The FAQ sheet is just good prep.

piperr5817d ago

That Carcassonne story hits home. We had a near identical fight over farmers that ended with someone flipping the board. Now I just point to the rulebook picture before we place the first tile.