What are the advantages of going Premium?

[desertman]

When I look at the list of advantages for Premium users (https://boardgamearena.com/premium?src=playermenu) I don't see much that I really wanted to have.

However, when I look at the list of tables that I cannot join as non-Premium player I see tables with setups that I actually do like: turn-based with 1 or 2 moves per day (as opposed to 1 move per 2 days by default), variable setup with random numbers, and variable setup with random harbor pieces. I especially would like to play turn-based games where people have to make a move within 12 hours (if that is meant by "2 moves per day").

Are this additional options for premium Catan players which are just not listed on the general Premium overview pages?

Greetings, desertman

PS: I'm playing Catan since the game came out in Germany around 1995. The game (and extension) set that I have has wooden roads, settlements, cities, and also a wooden robber.

[Jellby]

The tables you cannot join have other restrictions that have nothing to do with premium, they're based on ELO, reputation, language, friends' group, etc.

Not being premium restricts which games (and in some cases which options/expansions) you can open a table for, but it doesn't affect which already open tables you can join.

[FSKFSK]

The biggest perk is that you can create tables for premium games. However, there generally are enough premium players that you should be able to find a table anyway. It also makes the queue for arena move faster for you, because arena will only start a premium game when one premium player is present.

Another perk is that you can create tournaments.

[Cos-]

For me the second biggest perk is being able to choose your own preferred color. For tables you create, I think you're guaranteed your first choice color. I used to often make big mistakes in games because I am used to seeing myself as a particular color and I would accidentally think I'm one of the other players on the board. For some games I play, like Wingspan and 7 Wonders, it doesn't matter at all, but Catan is one of the games I made this kind of mistake on the most before I got premium. Since I got premium I can make sure, by only playing Catan on tables I create, that I always get the same color, and never accidentally think someone else's roads and settlements are mine.

Note: If you only play real time games, this probably doesn't make sense to you, since you have continuity. I rarely play real time, nearly all turn based, so I'm coming back to several tables in a row hours after I last played on any of them, which means I don't necessarily remember my board position, I glance at the board to remind myself.

[cigma]

Another premium feature is to create private lists https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30442

[thoun]

And it gives BGA more money, money they might want to spend on Catan expansions for example

[desertman]

For me the second biggest perk is being able to choose your own preferred color. For tables you create, I think you're guaranteed your first choice color. I used to often make big mistakes in games because I am used to seeing myself as a particular color and I would accidentally think I'm one of the other players on the board.

The color choice is the main reason I became a Premium user. I also got sometimes confused about "me" and made fatal mistakes.

And, yes, for tables you create you always get your first choice color.

If you only play real time games, this probably doesn't make sense to you, since you have continuity. I rarely play real time, nearly all turn based, so I'm coming back to several tables in a row hours after I last played on any of them, which means I don't necessarily remember my board position, I glance at the board to remind myself.

By now I only play real times games, and I only play on tables that I start myself. It's also helpful in real time games to have always the same color.

The other reason I became a Premium user is that I am really grateful for the opportunity to play Catan online. I'm happy to give the developers some money (which is not too much).

I bought my "real" Catan game (called "Siedler von Catan" at that time which means "Settlers of Catan) 1996 in Germany shortly after it became available and some time later also the extension set. At that time all the game parts were still made from wood. I still think it's a terrific game!