The online Competitive Catan and its beauty
A presentation of the Online Competitive Catan scene and a reflection on what is so beautiful about competing in the game.
Hello and welcome to the Catan Vanguard blog. Throughout this journey, my goal is to provide tactical analyses, discuss and present strategies, assist in defining the parameters that should shape the development of the competitive scene, propose ideas in general, and conduct interviews with renowned figures in the world of Catan.
In this first post, I would like to introduce you to what I call competitive Catan, offering insights to potential newcomers. Finally, I invite you to ponder why we persist with this game and what makes it so profoundly captivating.
I also invite you to stick around for the next publications. While this one is meant to be something more introductory, I plan to leave some deeper thought in the next one – “Binary Mindset: The downfall of all we are doing”, in which I'll look at the long-term consequences of only valuing in-game wins.
But first, let me reintroduce myself. I’m Felipe, also known as Fmfm (Shanks) within the online communities. I am a 27-year-old Brazilian doctor who dedicates my free time to Catan competitions. I have been immersed in this world for nearly three years, gathering data and incredible experiences. I believe in the competitive side of the game and constantly strive to improve my skills.
I understand that many prefer to view the game in a more casual and family-oriented way, which is completely valid. However, we cannot ignore the fact that Settlers of Catan holds immense appeal in competitive settings.
But, first of all, WHY do we even compete?
Well, competition is part of who we are as a species, and it applies to all species. Competing is in our DNA, it flows in our veins. I believe that for many ethologists, this competition is justified by our tendency to seek a higher position to obtain more resources for survival and species reproduction. Whether the theory is justified or if I present it accurately, I do not know. However, the fact remains that humans competed with each other, often resulting in wars for centuries, for both trivial and non-trivial reasons. Today, we live in a world that, despite religious and political disputes, is in a steep decline of armed conflicts.
It seems to me that this animal competitive spirit has been channeled, in part, into sports competitions. Nations tend to no longer wage war—they battle on football fields, volleyball courts, and basketball courts. Individuals are fighting less physically and more intellectually.
Strategic discussions and disputes, formerly reserved for barracks and state intelligence sectors, today give way to board games table strategies, like chess and… why not Catan?
The Competitive Catan
If you are here in this blog after only playing casual catan, you might be skeptical. "What nonsense! Settlers of Catan can never be competitive because it involves dice, and there is too much luck involved for that." Well, I acknowledge the validity of this argument—yes, luck is a factor. The confirmation of my subsequent response can only be gradually established as I continue to collect data. But here it goes:
Yes, it is possible to design competitive scenarios in Catan, given that there is evidence of some players being better than others through win rates and other parameters when analyzed over the long term. In fact, this is the only way to endorse Catan as something competitive - through long-term analysis. This is precisely due to the recently mentioned factor of luck. For an analysis that excludes biases, large samples are needed. Just as science is produced, competitive Catan is produced.
In my view, logical skill, probabilistic cognitive knowledge, social skills, pattern memorization, and other mental techniques justify the above statement. Experienced and up-to-date players end up having enhanced mental patterns, quick connections, and a good read of the game. People with greater logical and metacognitive abilities can naturally take advantage of the probabilities of the table and the dice, as well as the minor decisions presented during the game. Communicative players, on the other hand, prevail in controlling the table through table talk and dictating the intrinsic social relationships in a competition.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, online Catan has experienced a boom in popularity, and gradually, leagues have been structured. Today, three years later, what we see is a widely competitive and organized space, although still relatively unknown. For the success of any competitive proposition, a certain type of justification is required, meaning fairness - giving ideally better players a greater prevalence of results and rewards, which in turn motivates weaker players to improve.
As these channels generally promote monthly leagues based on performance, this pattern of sporting justice ends up working. But only to a certain extent. This is because, even so, what we observe is the inadequacy of current systems in embracing long-term data - as one month is still insufficient from a sample perspective, resulting in somewhat unfair cohorts to define rankings and winners. However, when we conduct a long-term analysis, we see a certain pattern repeating itself, and that's when we can be certain of the competitive nature of Catan. But we'll address that at another time, with another post.
The Leagues of Catan
Although ranked games on Colonist present the largest pool of competitiveness in the world, the best Catan players with unique skills, developed over years, are found in Discord Leagues, like we said. In these spaces, games develop intelligently and astutely for hours on end. It is common to find games that last more than 90 turns, where the table dances in perfect equilibrium, players engage in calculated collisions, and board awareness is at its best. I dare say that what is practiced in these leagues is a completely different game from what is played in-person, whether casually or even in national championships. It is WAY MORE tactical and intelligent. It is also significantly different from non-league online games, including ranked games on Colonist - although I believe that over time, the level of ranked games will also evolve.
For the curiosity and information of interested readers who do not frequent the competitive world of Catan, allow me to shed light on the grand stages of competitive Catan. There exist four esteemed Discord servers:
- Catan Championship League (CCL/Champs): Hosting the world's largest open Catan league, this monthly competition blends consistency matches with thrilling playoff finales. It currently consists of two player divisions (D1 and D2) with a promotion and relegation system. They also organize monthly leagues featuring the Cities and Knights expansion.
- King of Catan Premier League/Proven Competitors League (PL/PCL): These closed, prestigious and very traditional championships require specific qualifications based on personal achievements and a proven track record of consistency. The Proven Competitors League serves as the qualifying stage for the Premier League. Seasons last 2 to 3 months, with intervals in between.
- Catan Community (CC): One of the largest Catan servers, it hosts monthly open leagues and a diverse array of weekend tournaments, each offering various rewards. It is a traditional hub of amusement and competition, attracting players with its wide range of events.
- Catan Players Invitational (CPI): The newest addition to the competitive servers, challenging the community of Catan enthusiasts and aiming to establish itself as the epitome of competitive Catan. Its initial editions featured a very select group of players.
So, having presented the motives why I think we compete, and introduced the places where the magic happens, I want to now finish with this final brief reflection:
What is so beautiful in Catan?
In modern times, what advantages can a board game bring to us personally? While many may argue that the answer is mere entertainment, I dare to differ, At least when it comes to Catan. To me, this game is art. Don't misunderstand me, I don't intend to be drastic or dramatic. Instead, I invite you to reflect on why many of us spend weeks contemplating Twitch streams and countless hours in front of game screens, even knowing that our chances of winning are smaller than our chances of losing (since it's a 4-player game).
For me, the answer lies in its beauty. In the expression of beauty conceived by Klaus Teuber. Despite the addictive nature of a game involving luck, it is the aesthetic aspect that fascinates me about Catan. Witnessing or making a beautiful move, a well-crafted strategy, or skillfully executed table talk gives me a sense of satisfaction—a feeling akin to witnessing a brilliant play by Messi, a guitar solo by David Gilmour, or the masterful prose of Dostoevsky.
Well, of course, appreciating beauty is inherently subjective. You may or may not agree with me. But, if just as me, you are an addicted to Catan, there is something beyond pure competitiveness that holds yourself into it. Something somehow similar to what I describe.
Regardless, for me, the beauty of Catan lies in the image above: a two-hour game where minds harmoniously collide with various strategies and interpretations, enough to make the game delay itself from its natural course. The result? It matters little. At the end of the game, everyone is satisfied with their performance, experiencing a surge of adrenaline and serotonin. They are happy, knowing that they have achieved or pursued excellence in the cognitive skills required. The beauty in Catan lies in the process, in constant improvement. It embraces luck, why not? But fundamentally, it rests in the pursuit of perfection in each move made.
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful. Perhaps more so." – Victor Hugo
This is the Catan Vanguard, exploring the Competitive Frontier.