The Expanded Basic Game is played with the cards of the Basic Game and the cards of one of the 7 currently existing Theme Sets. If you want to obtain information on the individual cards of the Theme Sets, here is where you can find detailed descriptions for each card.

New Card Stacks

The cards of the Basic Game are distributed over 4 Expansion Card stacks. 2 separate stacks are formed with the cards of the respective Theme Sets. Some sets contain Center Theme Cards that are exhibited separately below the Center Cards (Settlement, City, and Road).

Rule Changes

In principle, the game is played according to the rules of the Basic Game. There are only few exceptions:

1. Some Theme Sets contain cards with buildings that can be placed in the opposing principality.

2. It is allowed to remove (tear down) buildings or units from one’s own principality. Cards that have been removed from the principality go to the deposit stack.

3. However, it is not allowed to remove cards belonging to the opponent from one’s own principality.

4. The Expanded Basic Game ends when a player has reached 13 Victory Points.

In the following, short descriptions regarding the individual sets are given that should be sufficient for you to try your first game. Those who want further information will find detailed descriptions for each set on the website of the Catan Online World.

Knights & Merchants

This Theme Set contains new Knight units and cards, to strengthen the trading power. It is a simple set and very suitable for players who want to make their first attempt at an Expanded Basic Game.

Science & Progress

The Center Theme Card of this set is University. Many Action Cards can only be played, or buildings built if a University has previously been established. The two “University” cards are exhibited below the Center Cards. Each player can place only one University in his/her principality.

Politics & Intrigue

The Center Cards of this set are Churches and Town Halls. Many Action Cards or buildings can only be played if a Church or city has been built before. The two “Church” cards and the two “Town Hall” cards are exhibited below the Center Cards as Center Theme Cards. Each player can build only one Church and one Town Hall in his/her principality. Also new is the “Metropolis,” which creates new expansion sites for units in the cities.

Trade & Change

The Center Theme Card of this set is Counting House. Many Action Cards can only be played, or buildings built, if a Counting House has previously been established. The two “Counting House” cards are exhibited below the Center Cards as Center Theme Cards. Each player can place only one Counting House in his/her principality.

Wizards & Dragons

This set contains a new Center Card: Citadel. Below the Center Cards “Settlement,” “Road,” and “City,” there is a stack with 5 Citadels. A settlement can also be expanded to a Citadel, as an alternative to a city. A player who has a Citadel can put up Wizards in his/her principality. Wizards convert the resources of neighboring regions into Magic Power. With Magic Power, spells can be pronounced that provoke an accelerated development of the principality or affect events.

Barbarians & Traders

The Center Cards of this new set are Harbor and Triumphal Arch. Many Action Cards or buildings can only be built if a Harbor has been built before. After building the Triumphal Arch, victories over the barbarian hordes or campaigns against the barbarians result in Victory Points that are collected via the Triumphal Arch. The two “Harbor” cards and the two “Triumphal Arch” cards are exhibited below the Center Cards as Center Theme Cards. Each player can build only one Harbor and one Triumphal Arch in his/her principality.

Artists & Benefactors

The Center Cards of this set are House of the Patron, Aqueduct, and Public Feeling. Especially the new attribute of Public Feeling brings many new possibilities to the game. Improve the mood of your people through a “Feeding of the Poor” (action) or the acquisition of various works of art. Your people will thank you for it. That way, you become immune to Civil War, build roads and settlements more favorably and even reactivate already discarded cards. In his/her principality, each player can only build one House of the Patron and one Aqueduct. Each player starts with one Public Feeling.

-->    Card Overview (pdf) (currently only available in German)