Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Unsettled in Catan


As far as I can tell, up until this past weekend I was one of the few remaining in the blissfully ignorant camp of those who still hadn't learned to play Settlers of Catan.

No more, baby.

On our annual vacation with Rich & Jenny*, we finally had time, sans kids, to get through the rules and give the game a try. Aogu even played (collective gasp!). Furthermore, he won! Let's see if his amazing victory spurs him to play again in the next six months. If so, this truly is an addictive game!

Or at least, I know it is for me. How can it not be when I won TWO of the next TWO games we played? If you are looking for people to play with, GET OVER HERE. And if you haven't played yet, COME ON!

*Look for more about our trip in this space, below this entry, sometime later...yep, not only do I back-date, I plan ahead for my back-dating. Move that index finger! Scroll down!...but not yet...

9 comments:

SamErika said...

Jamie,

Erika and I will take you and Aogu on ANYTIME!!!

Plus, extra respect to you and Aogu for beating the the Queen of Catan herself, Mrs Jenny Wug!!

Jane said...

I love your blog and I love you. How fun to get a virtual visit from you anytime, anyday.

Of course we want to play. Next time we're together!

Kathleen said...

A friend tried to teach me how to play once, but I'm too impatient to learn rules. That was in 2001, though, so 5 years later, maybe it's time for me to learn! Do you think Brad would like it?

Jane said...

Just for fun compare the eyes in this photo to the eyes in "Surprised Pirate!" (Scroll down to the purple gigham baby.)

Could you say Izumi is a quick study?

Anonymous said...

ha! hi mrs. lucas! you are making the same kind of observations i have made. except i liken jamie's surprise "voice" (hello?) to izumi's surprised face but this pic gives us more to work with.

jamie,
i noticed your use of that very persuasive jcm technique: "come on". and it's in caps. looks i have no choice now.
clc

hadashi said...

bwah-hah-hah! another victim of Die Siedler von Catan!
apparently Thomas' brother is a huge fan/player & wants us to learn... i guess resistance is futile, no?

Anonymous said...

Steve would love this game (and might give Jenny a run for her money too!). I will be awful, but Aogu and I can each bring books and read in happy solitude after you all have eliminated us! I propose an evening (or lazy afternoon) in Catan at the home of whoever needs to be within earshot of the nursing baby!
Cindy

JulieAnn said...

We LOVE that game. I've been wanting to make friends just so we can play Settlers with them, is that bad??

I heard Aogu lived in Hilo for a while - do you know if he knows the Yamane (sp?) family? Mr. Yamane was the pastor of a Japanese Christian church here... they're our next door neighbors and seem to know everyone!

Jamie Lives in Tokyo said...

thanks for all the comments, everyone! I don't know if you'll come back here to see this reply, but I'm writing one just in case you do.

Laurs--this game is FUN and will not wait until the kids are in college! I'll pay a babysitter so we can play; especially if said babysitter is working at Oregon rates.

Sam, are you busy tonight?! Or maybe we need to go ahead and set up a tournament? I'm not good enough yet for trash-talking but I certainly want to get to that point, so let's go!

Mom, this game has a steeper learning curve than some but if you (and Dad?) are willing to make the initial investment of learning the rules, I think you'll find it worthwhile.

Kath, after consulting with Rich & Jen, we've decided this is a great game for you & Brad. Also see the above comment to Mom...

CLC and Erika~ resistance IS futile, so give it up now and instead starting planning your domination (unless you're playing with me, that is)...wait, is this the trash-talking I told Sam I'm not qualified for?!...

Cindy, I think a tournament may definitely be in the works so we'll count you and Steve in. You may not even need your book; even Aogu has been coming back for more!

Julie, I don't think it's bad to make friends so you can play Settlers. Maybe you can occasionally do other activities with them to relieve your guilt? Whatever guilt you feel will be worth being able to play! Aogu says he doesn't know Yamane-sensei. But I wonder if Aogu's dad does? In any case, maybe Yamane-sensei will play with you?!