Overview

Catan Histories: Merchants of Europe is a standalone Catan game set in medieval Europe where players are merchants establishing trade routes between major cities. Players build trading posts, hire merchants, and create trade routes to deliver goods across Europe. The game uses Catan-style resource collection and dice rolling but replaces settlement-building with a merchant trading network. Victory points are earned by establishing trade connections and delivering goods.

Components

• Fixed game board depicting medieval Europe
• Merchant figures in player colors
• Trading post pieces
• Trade route markers (wagons/ships)
• Resource cards
• Commodity cards (various European trade goods)
• Development cards
• Dice
• Victory point tokens

Setup

1. Place the Europe board centrally.
2. Each player takes merchant figures, trading posts, and trade route markers.
3. Place starting trading posts on designated cities.
4. Distribute starting resources.

Turn Structure

1. Roll Dice: Cities with matching numbers produce resources and/or commodities for adjacent trading posts.
2. Trade: Exchange resources with other players.
3. Build/Expand: Build trade routes, establish trading posts, hire merchants, or buy development cards.

Actions

• Build trade routes: Connect cities using wagons (land routes) or ships (sea routes).
• Establish trading posts: Place trading posts in new cities along your trade routes.
• Deliver goods: Move commodities along your trade network to fulfill orders for victory points.
• Hire merchants: Merchant figures provide special abilities and bonuses.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

First player to reach 13 victory points wins. Points come from trading posts, completed deliveries, special achievements, and development cards.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• This is a standalone game, not requiring the Catan base game.
• The map is fixed (depicting historical Europe).
• Different cities produce different commodities reflective of their historical trade significance.
• Trade routes can be established by land (wagons) or sea (ships).
• Merchant abilities vary and provide unique strategic options.

Player Reference

Win condition: First to 13 VP VP sources: Trading posts, deliveries, achievements, development cards