Someone at my Thursday game night called Catan a 'babys first board game' and I cant stop thinking about it
So last Thursday at our usual meetup spot in Columbus, this newer guy named Dave watched us set up Settlers and just says 'oh thats like the baby version of a real game' and walks off to another table. Ive been playing Catan for 11 years, own like 6 expansions, and I still think its a solid gateway game that does what it sets out to do. But it got me wondering if hes kinda right and Im just too comfy in my little hexagon rut. The thing is he then sat down at a table running Twilight Imperium 4th edition and lost in round 3 because he didnt read the agenda phase rules at all. So now Im stuck between feeling petty and feeling like maybe I do need to branch out past my comfort zone. Anyone got a mid weight game that actually pulled them out of their Catan phase without going full TI4?
Did your buddy ever try Power Grid? A friend of mine was deep in Catan for years and swore nothing else clicked, then someone handed him Power Grid and he was hooked by the second game. It keeps the route building and money stress of Catan but adds real choices, so it pulls you out without tossing you into a four hour space war.