Starfarers of Catan

Your game turn:
1. Roll for resource production for all of the players.
2. Take a resource card from the reserve pile if you have less than 9 victory points.
3. Trade and build in whatever order you wish.
4. Determine your base speed (Roll your mother ship)
      - If you get a black ball (50%) you have an encounter
      - Then move all ships (ball result (3 if you had an encounter) + no of speed boosters)

This game seems to scale better for both 3 or 4 players, than it's predecessor Settlers of Catan. It's a bit more luck-driven, but the variation with the encounters makes it interesting, as well as the exploration to find a good place to build your colonies. But don't forget that trading outpost are also important in this game. If you have played Settlers of Catan, you quickly grasp the idea of the rules, although there are big differences.

The components are gorgeous, but a bit fragile. One of the motherships broke att the first game, although it could be glued without problems. Personally I think it hade been better with markers on a player mat to keep track ofthe number of cannons, boosters, freight rings and fame rings, but I has to admit it gives the theme a better atmosphere, although it also make the game very expensive.