How to play Catan: Traders & Barbarians

Catan: Traders & Barbarians is a compilation expansion by Klaus Teuber that requires the Catan base game to play. Rather than a single unified ruleset, the box is a curated collection of stand-alone scenarios and optional rules modules — from the title scenario's trade-good deliveries to fishing on lakeside hexes — giving your group a range of ways to revisit Catan with fresh objectives.

Before each session your group agrees which scenario or combination of modules to play. Most scenarios layer a new scoring path on top of base Catan's familiar roll-trade-build turn: for example, the flagship 'Traders & Barbarians' scenario has you hauling trade-good tokens across your road network to special buildings, racing rivals for delivery points while roaming barbarian figures threaten your routes. Each scenario defines its own victory conditions, so the game always feels purposeful and focused.

Each turn follows the familiar Catan sequence — roll for production, trade, then build — with the active scenario adding goals on top.

Every turn: - Roll for production: all players collect resources from adjacent hexes as in base Catan. Depending on the scenario, the roll may also trigger movement of barbarian figures or advance other scenario elements. - Trade: negotiate freely with other players, or trade with the bank or a harbor at standard rates. - Build and pursue scenario goals: place roads, settlements, and cities using the usual resource costs. In the title scenario, you also move trade-good tokens along your road network — carrying them from their source buildings toward delivery destinations to score scenario victory points. Keep an eye on barbarian figures; the scenario rules describe how to deal with them when they threaten your settlements.

Because this is a collection, the exact special actions available each turn depend on the scenario you chose. Refer to the scenario sheet for any additional steps, special cards, or event triggers that apply.

Victory conditions vary by scenario. Most combine base Catan's standard victory points with a scenario-specific scoring path — in the flagship 'Traders & Barbarians' scenario, completing deliveries of trade-good tokens to special buildings earns you points on top of your settlements and cities.

Strategically, identify the scenario's bonus scoring path early and build your road network to serve it — in the title scenario that means planning routes that efficiently connect source buildings to delivery destinations. Standard Catan fundamentals still apply: settle near high-probability numbers, diversify resources, and watch your hand size. Agreeing on the scenario before setup is half the strategy — some scenarios reward defensive play, others aggressive expansion, so knowing which win condition you're chasing shapes every decision.