Can we talk about that friend who swears by house rules in every game?

My buddy Chris told me to always play Catan with the 'no trading resources on a 7 rolled' rule. He said it made the game more strategic and less chaotic. I tried it twice and both games dragged on for over 2 hours with everyone stuck. Now I'm wondering if house rules are actually ruining the balance or if I just got unlucky. Has anyone else had a friend's advice backfire like that on game night?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jamie1mo ago

Does the no trading on 7 rule actually speed anything up or is it just a way to punish whoever is ahead? I've seen groups use that rule to specifically target the leader because a 7 is the only way to break resource chains without trading. In my experience, blocking trades just makes people hoard and wait. It turns the game into a slower version of itself where luck with dice rolls matters way more than deal making. Catan is already a game about negotiation and scarcity, and taking away trades on the most common number just removes the whole point of having a trading phase.

troy_price1mo ago

You're getting pretty worked up over a house rule, man. It's just Catan, not a high stakes poker game. If the dice screw you, you lose, that's the game whether you can trade or not.

-1

max2231mo ago

Stick to the rules and you'll see me hoard bricks like I'm preparing for the apocalypse.