Siedler von Catan (Settlers of Catan) - Online Guide
Starting The Game
With /join 3-4 players can join the game. With /start the game begins. Alternatively, you can use the Game Tool!
Object of the Game
Since Settlers of Catan is such a well known game, this is no complete set of game rules here, only information on how to use the BSW interface. Knowledge of the rules is assumed. A good on-line version of the rules can be found here.
Different Menus/Windows
Building Menu

In the building menu all the possible options are indicated by icons. The number of each item you have left is shown under each respective icon. If you hover over one of the icons it shows you the material needed to build. (The example shown is the help info for a town).
In the building phase, simply click on the icon to build (provided you have the material).
Status Menu

Here one sees the value of the dice, the blue “next” arrow and the players current victory points.
If you click on a score circle, you can see additional information: the number of resource and development cards held and the number of knight cards played. The person who currently holds the “longest road” and “largest army” is also shown. You can also see a statistical distribution by clicking on the dice.
The oval window shows which stage of the round you are in.

Wait for another player to finish their turn.

Place a town - Beginning of the game

Place a road - Beginning of the game.

This is the exchange phase. You can trade with opponents or at the bank (4:1) or at a port (3:1 or 2:1).

Your opponent is in the exchange phase. You can barter with him.

You are in the building phase.

The robber has struck. You have more than 7 cards in your hand. You must dispose of half of your resource cards (rounded down). Simply click on the resources to discard.

The robber MUST be moved. Click oj your desired target (hex).

After moving the robber, one may steal one resource card from an opponent's town or city which borders on this hex. Click on the town or city you wish to steal from.
Goods Exchange Menu

In the exchange interface, the current player makes an offer. To make an offer select the top left panel OFFER and then select the goods you wish to offer. Then select the top right panel SEARCH and select the goods you would like to receive. Click the SEND button when you wish to complete the trade. The other players will now see your offer against your colour in the lower panels.
In this example the current player is trading wood and wants some wheat.
Other players who don't want it can click "NO". (To the right of their exchange panel). The current player then receives the players colour with a red cross on it.
NEU: Das aktuelle Tauschangebot wird in den Ecken des Spielfelds angezeigt. Ein Handel kann man dort ablehnen durch ein kurzes anklicken (antippen). Den Handel dann endgültig annehmen mit einem LANGEN klick (antippen und gedrückt halten).

If a player agrees to the offer, he simply clicks on the offered goods.
NEU: Möchte man auf das Angebot eingehen muss man dies durch einen LANGEN Klick (Antippen und etwas gedrückt halten) auslösen.

The current player would then get the acceptance marker – a square of the colour of the person accepting.
In this example the blue player agreed.
To agree to this the current player clicks on the colored square and the material is exchanged.
You can exchange at a port according to the number on that port (3:1 or 2:1) or with the bank (4:1). This is done similar to the barter method. The main difference is that the game will automatically transact for you if you have the correct goods and port. For example, if you have a 2:1 wheat port, then add 2 wheat to the OFFER side and 1 good of the type you want on the SEARCH side. Then click the SEND button and the transaction will be completed.
Cards Menu

The Cards Menu shows all your current cards. The goods you have are shown in the upper row, whilst the development cards are shown on the bottom row. The number in the circle indicates how many of each you currently have.
If you wish to play one of your development cards,simply click on it. Remember, development cards just bought cannot be used until the next round.
Soldier Card
To use this card, click on the icon, then place the robber in the field you wish and click on one of the adjacent settlements to claim a good.
Victory Point Card
Victory point cards are never played, and remain unknown to fellow players until the end of the game. It is therefore never added to your current score. The server knows how many points you really have!
Monopoly Card
When playing a monopoly card you can steal ALL goods of ONE type. To do this click on the monopoly card, select the good type of your choice in the SEARCH window and then click on the SEND.
Year of Plenty Card
This card allows you to select any two goods for free. After clicking the card, select any 2 goods (they can be the same) in the SEARCH window. then click on SEND.
Streetbuilder Card
When you click on this card simply click on 2 roads you wish to build.
Flow of the game

At the beginning of the game the starting player clicks on an intersection of 3 hexes to place a town. Next he clicks on a road adjoining this town. The next player does likewise. This is repeated until all players have placed a town and street. This whole process is repeated in reverse order so that the starting player places the last town and road.
If the blue arrow is highlighted then it is your turn. The first phase is the exchange phase. Once you have made (or not made as may be the case) all the transactions you wish/can then click ONCE on the blue arrow. This will take you to the building phase. Here you can build towns, roads and cities or buy development cards. Once you have bought everything you want click on the blue arrow to terminate your turn. The next player will take their turn.
End of the Game
The game ends once someone reaches 10 Victory Points.
Game Options
turnier (tournament)
This game option lets you start with 1 own and 1 road, followed subsequently by 1 city and 1 road. The initial cards are taken from the placement of the city.
ritter
Any intersection guarded by the robber may not be built on. Rules
Hexes: clay (produces bricks), forest (lumber), mine (ore), farm (wheat), pasture (wool)
Rules for building roads and villages:
Roads: are built on the edges between two hexes.
Villages: are built on the intersections of three hexes. A village cannot be placed on an intersection adjacent to another village.
Corollary: the three intersections adjacent to each village will always be empty.
Cities: replace existing villages.
Turn Sequence:
(1) Player rolls the dice. Each hex marked with the number rolled produces one resource card for each adjacent village and two resource cards for each adjacent city. If a 7 is rolled, the robber is moved.
(2) Player may trade resources (or other things) with any other player, a harbor or the “bank”.
Trades: with a 3:1 harbor, a player may trade three of any one resource for one of her choice. With a 2:1 harbor, a player may trade any two of the required resource for one of her choice. At any time, a player may trade four of one resource for one of her choice.
(3) Player may build as many times as desired, at the following costs: Road: 1 bricks, 1 lumber
Village: 1 bricks, 1 lumber, 1 wheat, 1 wool
City: 3 ore, 2 wheat
Development card: 1 ore, 1 wheat, 1 wool
The Robber: If a player rolls a seven, the following three actions are taken:
(1) Any player with more than seven cards must discard half of their cards, rounding down.
(2) The player moves the robber to any hex other than the wasteland. While the robber is on a hex, that hex does NOT produce resources, even if its number is rolled.
(3) The player steals one resource card from a player with a village adjacent to the robber hex.
Development Cards: there are 25 development cards:
14 Soldiers, which allow the player to move the robber and steal a card (see The Robber)
6 Resource Cards (2 Road Building, 2 Monopoly, 2 Year of Plenty)
5 Victory Point Cards
Development cards should be kept secret until played.
Longest Trade Route, Largest Armed Force: A player gets these cards (which are placed face up) upon building a road of five segments (not counting branches) or playing three Soldier cards, respectively. Each card is worth two victory points. Each card may be taken by another player upon building a longer road or playing more soldier cards (ties go to existing holder).
Winning: A player wins upon having ten points. Instantly. Points are scored as follows:
Each village = 1 point
Each city = 2 points
Each Victory Point development card = 1 point
Longest Trade Route or Largest Armed Force = 2 points (each)