Seafarers of Catan - Scenarios

Scenarios

Unlike The Settlers of Catan and Cities & Knights of Catan, in which the only random element of setup is the placement of land tiles, number tokens, and harbors in an identically-shaped playing area, Seafarers of Catan has a number of different scenarios or maps from which to choose. Each map uses a different selection of tiles laid out in a specific pattern, which may not use all of the tiles. Other attributes also set each map apart, for example, restrictions on the placement of initial settlements, whether tiles are distributed randomly, the number of victory points needed to win, and special victory point awards, usually for building on islands across the sea.

Seafarers provides scenarios for four players (the older third edition had separate maps for three- and four-player versions of the scenarios), while the extension provides scenarios for six players (the older third edition also included separate maps for five- and six-player scenarios). The scenarios between the older editions of Seafarers and the newest are generally incompatible, knowing the different frames included with the game. (In particular, older editions of Settlers did not come with a frame for their board; a separate add-on was made available for players of the older-edition Settlers games, containing the newer edition frames, so as to make them compatible with the newer edition of Seafarers; the older edition of Seafarers included a square frame, and while both older and newer editions of the frames have the same width across, the newer edition is not square-shaped, and is longer down the middle of the board compared to the sides.)