In board games like catan, careful planning of road and settlement placement to collect resources is mixed with around-the-table diplomacy. The game has a social engine that encourages healthy interactions among players and can be a fantastic way to teach civics, economics, math and other important topics.
One of the biggest challenges for new players is figuring out how to trade well in catan. This involves understanding that good trades are not just about giving away a resource to your opponent but also gaining a beneficial advantage. Generally, each player gains net benefit from every fair trade they make. However, some players feel that trading too much gives them an advantage over their opponents and they need to learn how to avoid making lopsided deals.
Another tricky aspect of the game is the robber card that prevents players with a settlement or city on the hex number occupied by the robber from getting resources on that turn. Some players try to counter this by settling near high probability hex numbers and prioritizing diverse resource sources for their settlements. However, this strategy can backfire if other players are able to quickly develop roads and cities in that area.
Many players also struggle with the rules and mechanics of the game, especially when it comes to determining who goes first in the game. The oldest player goes first and play proceeds clockwise from that person. This makes the game difficult for younger children to learn and it can be challenging for kids to keep up with the fast pace of play.