episode_0035

There is a certain board game.

It was produced in 1995, but before I was reincarnated… … So, it was a monster game that continued to be number one in board game sales and number one in awards until the early 2020s.

A game that has attracted countless people to the world of strategy board games, and is a fantastic combination of luck, strategy, cooperation, betrayal, and competition.

There may be some who don’t like it, but once you get into it, it’s hard to get out of it.

The board game had such a huge influence on the world that the history of board games can be divided into before and after this game.

“This is Catan.”

“Ka… … Tan?”

“This is a board game where you build a civilization on a virtual island called Catan. A game where you have no choice but to use limited resources strategically and compete extremely against your opponents on a small piece of land.”

“Just by listening… … .”

“Wouldn’t it be fastest to see it in person?”

It would be nice to include the 3rd prince, but Catan is not complete, and it only shows that it is a game like this.

I sat in a circle with Sally, Adela, and Water Tiger, who had briefly informed me of the rules in advance.

“The game board is like this. It is a hexagon-shaped plate, and at the same time, it is in the shape of a huge island. Inside this, we fill these small hexagonal plates like a honeycomb.”

“The island… … That’s it. Each of the small hexagons has a picture drawn on it.”

“That’s right. There are five pictures, including a forest, a mine, a rocky mountain, a ranch, and a field with ripe wheat. Then place the numbers one by one on these drawing boards.”

From the smallest 2 to the largest 12.

All you need to do is place a separately created number token on every paint board and you are ready.

“To put it simply, players roll 2 dice each turn. And if the sum of the dice numbers is equal to the number of lands adjacent to your village, you get the resources corresponding to those lands.”

“Um… … ?”

For example, let’s say you roll a dice and get 3 and 5, which adds up to 8.

Players can then take the resources of the land where the number token of 8 is raised.

The forest is wood, the mine is brick, the rocky mountain is iron, the pasture is sheep, and the field is wheat. However, it is not something you can take as you wish.

You can start by building a village on the border between hexagonal drawing boards, that is, where three types of drawing boards meet. If the number of three types of drawing boards that border the village naturally appears, you can bring resources.

“Here, it doesn’t matter if the dice were rolled by another player. Anyway, all you have to do is show the numbers on the adjacent paint board.”

“Then… … Naturally, 7 would be the most advantageous. Next will be 6 and 8.”

What the 3rd prince said is correct. As long as you roll two dice, the most common sums will be 7, 6, and 8.

However, there is no token for the number 7 on this game board.

“There are 6 and 8. It is highlighted in red to indicate that it is a good number. However, when a 7 is rolled, in the center of the island… … Move thieves.”

“A thief. The drawing board you are stepping on is also a desert.”

“It is a worthless land where no resources can be obtained.”

That is why it is also a place where thieves stay.

The player who rolls the dice and gets a sum of 7 can move the thief to the drawing board of his choice.

And you can’t get any resources from the paint board that the thief entered. Even if the dice corresponding to that resource come out.

Even one more thing.

“If the thief is placed next to a specific player’s village, the player who moved the thief may take one of that player’s resources at random.”

“… … Simply put, if you get a 7, you not only hinder your opponent, but you can also definitely take a resource.”

“That is also an important part of this game. There are more rules if you go into detail, but if you look at it briefly, it goes like this. How about it?”

“… … … I see.”

While the 3rd prince closed his eyes and thought for a moment, Sally, who was looking at Katan, muttered.

“Woman, as expected, you are a genius! This complex game can be played in an instant… … … .”

“Your thoughts are short.”

“… … … W-what?”

“Just because it’s complicated doesn’t mean it’s a good game. This board game called Catan has a structure in which everything depends on dice, but it is also not a game where decisions are made purely based on your luck. You can also obtain resources from dice rolled by other people, so it can be said that the variables caused by luck have been blocked as much as possible.”

“… … … … … .”

“We build a road between the hexagonal plates and build a new village at the end of the road to expand our power. The more villages you build, the higher your chances of obtaining resources, so players will inevitably have to compete within the narrow island of Catan. Isn’t that right?”

“… … … … … .”

“I think a detailed analysis of board games would be much more helpful to Kyle Byron than simply praising him as a genius for its complexity.”

“… … … … .”

Should I say Adella? There is a reason why he was appointed to the position of high-ranking official of the tower and the chief disciple of the Olfin Magic Tower Lord.

The rules I told everyone were almost the same as the ones I just explained to the Third Prince. Although no further detailed rules were explained, Adela seemed to already have a general idea of what kind of board game Catan was.

Sally lowered her head after hearing Adella’s words, but there was no need for her to be embarrassed. Anyway, what I want is a board game player rather than a board game analyst.

And in that respect, neither Adela nor the water tiger can follow Sally. After all, he and I have been playing board games for over 10 years.

However, what Adela said is not entirely wrong. This and that feedback is of great help to me as I have to transform the original world’s board game to suit this world.

So, instead of comforting Sally with words, I just quietly patted her on the shoulder.

“Adela, is there anything else?”

“… … Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Still, it’s disappointing. I thought that with that level of analysis, I would be able to figure out the most important rules of Catan on my own, which were intentionally not told to me.

When I patted her shoulder, she immediately raised her head and looked at Sally, who was grinning, then quietly turned her head away.

To the 3rd prince who is still worried.

‘Adela didn’t notice, but I think the prince would.’

That was a vague belief. A glimpse of the talent that the 3rd prince possessed was gradually revealed in his appearances so far.

A glimpse of the showmanship in Abracadabra and its political management skills… … ‘Insight’.

And the prince did not betray my expectations.

“The game is a bit frustrating.”

“Could you please tell me in more detail?”

“Kyle, if the game progresses as you said, the maximum number of resources players can obtain in the early stages will be limited to three types. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right. The maximum number of lands that a village can be adjacent to is 3.”

“But there are five types of resources in Catan. There are also many overlapping pictures on the paint boards, so there may be villages where you can’t get even three types. In this case, the player must build a new village to obtain other resources.”

widely.

The 3rd prince tapped the ‘production table’ prepared on the table in advance and continued speaking.

The fatal contradictions that present-day Catan possesses.

“To make a road, it takes one tree and one brick. This is probably possible. But building a village is a different story.”

“A little more.”

“To build a village, you need wood, bricks, sheep, and wheat. You need 4 types of resources. This is impossible according to the rules, but isn’t it… … … Kyle Byron?”

“Yes? Why is that so?”

“That’s right… … Aren’t you laughing too hard? Is there anything strange about what I have to say?”

“Absolutely not! There is nothing at all, so I am very satisfied, Your Royal Highness!”

“Um… … ?”

The prince is right. If everything goes as I explained, Catan is just a very frustrating game.

Of course, the rule of starting with two villages was not mentioned at the beginning, but even if he had heard of it, the 3rd prince would have objected. Even so, it is true that the game becomes loose.

‘Even if you have all five types of resource boards in two villages, numbers are the problem.’

Ultimately, in order to take resources, the sum of the dice must match the number. But if the number is 2 or 12, is that really a resource that can be taken? If you roll 2 dice, you should get 1 1 or 6 6?

As such, Catan players inevitably suffer from chronic resource shortages. There are few specific resources, or there is an overall shortage.

And that’s why.

There is one most important rule in Catan.

“There are rules I haven’t told you about yet.”

“Rules? What are the rules? … … .”

“Players can ‘trade’ with each other.”

“… … What?”

“That means you can trade resources with other players during your turn.”

“Ah… … !!”

That way, everything will be explained. Why does Catan have such a structure that it inevitably lacks resources?

Catan is a game where you cannot obtain enough of the five types of resources on your own. However, if you consider other players’ resources, the story is different.

And that means.

“Competitor… … Collaborator.”

“That is the core of Catan.”

Catan encourages competition. In the end, it’s like a game of land grabs, but the game board is not that big, so it’s natural.

However, unlike other board games, you cannot compete against your opponent unconditionally. If I want to expand my power, I inevitably have to trade with other players.

A board game where interaction, dialogue, persuasion and negotiation with the other party are the most important. A game that caused a change in the board game world with its completely different gameplay from previous board games.

That was Catan.

I really wanted to applaud the 3rd prince who figured out that element right away.

While Adela collects fragmentary information and compiles it, the 3rd Prince gains insight into ‘something else’ from that information.

In other words, it was a talent optimized for board games.

However, even after hearing Katan’s entire explanation, the 3rd prince looked somewhat puzzled.

“Kyle Byron, I want to ask you something.”

“Please say as much as you want.”

“Judging by what I’ve heard so far, this game called Catan is… … It’s a game that seems more likely to separate you from the other person than to become closer to them.”

“Why do you think so?”

“That means intentionally not trading certain resources, blatantly checking road or village construction, or colluding with other players to isolate certain players… … … Isn’t it true that multiple plays are legal within the rules?”

“Exactly.”

“If I did that with my brothers, instead of getting closer, I would have to worry about my life!”

From the 3rd prince’s point of view, this is absurd. He called me to become friends with his brothers who might kill him in the future, but the board game he made was a friendship-destroying game.

Of course, I didn’t do this to intentionally screw up the 3rd prince.

“Please fix it, Your Highness. This is only the first game.”

“… … First?”

“Of course, there are many other board games I have planned. However, rather than simply hearing an explanation and making a decision, we thought it would be better to see and play the results in person and make a decision since we promised unlimited support.”

“Okay… … army. Well, that’s the right thing to do.”

It was just because I wanted to play Catan.

‘No, that’s not true.’

As many as three princes each promised unlimited support, so they just make one board game that suits the third prince’s tastes and be done with it? There is no way.

I really wanted to make Catan, but it was a game I put on hold because the process of making it was complicated as it required many pictures, miniatures, and tokens. But you can make it so easily, right?

Of course, I will listen to the 3rd prince’s request. I’ve already thought of a suitable board game. Even so.

‘If not now, when will you try making it?’

It is not intended for mass production. Just making one is enough. You can have fun with Sally, Water Tiger, and Adela.

So, I made a suitable excuse and created Catan. Knowing full well that this does not suit the third prince’s purpose.

And the next few games were going to be similar.

‘They said they would provide infinite support? ‘Do you really spend that much?’

Should we call in dwarven engineers to make it? I heard that he is a blacksmith who is treated as a VIP even in the imperial family.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to call in a group of court painters to draw a large board game board, and you could also use artifacts to maintain the hardening magic.

I grinned at the dream-like reality and picked up the dice.

“Okay, let’s give it a try!”

“Uh… … … .”

“You’ll know for sure once you see it, right? Well, here we go… … !!”

Sigh.

The dice roll.

I couldn’t help but laugh at Catan, which took place 20 years after my reincarnation.

‘uh? Come to think of it, wasn’t there someone who told you to find something earlier?’

hmm… … I don’t know. After all, there is nothing more important than a board game.

I just forgot everything and just watched the dice rolling.

I enjoyed playing Catan all day today, and looked forward to what kind of board game I would make tomorrow.

*

The night of Hwangseong is not night.

Even when the people of the capital city were asleep under the castle floating in the air, the castle shined brightly. Its appearance is like the sun, making people worship it… … It wasn’t a big deal, there were just a lot of people working overtime.

Those who worked in the imperial castle were some of the most talented people or high-ranking public officials in the entire empire, but even those people had to work overtime under the emperor’s strict orders.

If it weren’t for Hwang Seong-man, I would have cursed him out loud, but I can’t. Therefore, although the Imperial Castle was respected by everyone, it was also a place that was most frowned upon by some.

However, despite this, the lights went out early in the eastern part of the imperial castle, where the 3rd prince was staying. The 3rd prince judged that keeping the lights on late could make the 1st and 2nd princes wary.

The lights went out so early, and everyone, including the 3rd prince, was asleep.

Kyle Byron was lost in a dream in a place larger and more luxurious than the guest room in the Magic Tower, as it was an imperial castle.

“Fu, sleep well… … Oh, master… … … .”

I’ve been focusing on Catan for several hours, so I’m sure I’m tired. His maid, who was casting a simple sleep spell, thought so.

I enjoyed the sleeping expression of my dear master for a while, and smiled while ‘escorting’ him.

Sally, the maid, covered Kyle with the blanket again and swallowed the drool that was flowing down, looking very happy.

“That, and… … … .”

[…] … … … .]

Right next to Kyle Byron.

Oddly enough, as soon as my gaze lands on the water tiger covering the same blanket, the atmosphere quickly cools down.

His happy expression became expressionless, and he took out a dagger that he had been hiding completely in front of Kyle.

Despite that obvious action, the water tiger did not move. This was because he was so close to Kyle Byron that he couldn’t move quickly.

Did the high point that was thought to be advantageous actually become a defeat? In the end, the water tiger was unable to respond in any way.

Sally walked around the bed in the opposite direction without even making a sound.

He quietly whispered and said.

“My, I told you, right?”

[…] … … .]

“Ta, if you follow me… … … .”

[…] … … you.]

“… … I’m going to kill you.”

and.

Deep.