Through the Desert

What you need

CATAN plus Seafarers, the frame, desert strip, large-island and small-island hexes, number discs, ports, pirate and robber, player pieces, and the scenario VP supply.

• Players: 3 or 4.
• Required games: CATAN + Seafarers.
• Generator mode: randomized / variable board.
• 3 players: 25 land + 10 sea hexes, 22 discs, 8 active harbors, and 24 VP tokens; 3 desert hexes remain unnumbered.
• 4 players: 30 land + 12 sea hexes, 27 discs, 9 active harbors, and 32 VP tokens; 3 desert hexes remain unnumbered.

Before you generate

The generator keeps the three desert hexes, sea positions, harbor edges, and smaller-region footprints in place while randomizing the published main and unexplored land and number-disc contents. Red discs cannot touch or sit on gold fields.

Set up the table

1. Use Configure this setup above. It opens the 4-player variable selection by default; choose 3 players when needed, then generate.
2. Assemble the matching frame and place the three fixed desert hexes and sea hexes. Use the print setup sheet to keep the main and unexplored pools separate.
3. Place generated land, discs, harbor types, robber, pirate, and VP supply; frame material is not a sea tile and desert hexes receive no discs.
4. Place starting settlements with roads or ships on the main island, then follow the scenario rulebook for the unexplored regions.

Scenario notes

A desert crossing board generated from the published variable pools.

• The three desert hexes are unnumbered and divide the main island from the other regions. Follow the scenario rules for crossing and VP.

Source reference

CATAN — Seafarers Rulebook, 2025 sixth edition, pages 10–11.