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I agree with the author. Someone said in the early game it is too strong. In the early game, it is just enough to balance the privileged player. Usually, people get 2 cities with a total of 20 dice results that gain something. But sometimes the first player goes to 23/22. The robber is the way to prevent him from dominating the rest of the game. His first city will add +10 when everyone else will not be able to stop him easily now with a robber. If he goes to a metropolis, he will add +13.

For example, 8, 9, 5 = 13; 6, 10, 4 = 10 (total 23), if someone didn't understand what I am talking about. So, the rule breaks the balance of the game.

I find it very helpful to ask the question at the beginning of each game.... Friendly Robber, YES or NO and majority rules

this way everyone knows upfront if there is a friendly robber in the game. I agree, it would be nice if there was a game mechanic to turn this on or off, but as there is not, getting it out of the way at the beginning is a good thing.

I find the majority of the players I play with are willing to put it to a vote. Most of my games are played NO FRIENDLY ROBBER. but majority rules, keeps it from being toxic.

and I am very strategic....so if friendly robber is allowed....it usually helps a stronger player win.

GnimRodd wrote: ↑14 May 2024, 00:02 I find it very helpful to ask the question at the beginning of each game.... Friendly Robber, YES or NO and majority rules

Why majority? Why not YES if unanimous, NO otherwise?

The idea of trying to remove one competitive form of conflict in a game that's ALL competitive conflict is very strange to me. I understand the reasoning behind the Friendly Robber official variant (and I would support it if the group I'm playing with wants it), but a lot of people extend it FAR beyond that, or have their own house rules about what "Friendly Robber" means that does not match the official variant.

Sling the robber as hard or as soft as you want. I'll position him to steal as soon as I roll a 7, but I don't hit 8s and 6es unless someone else has done that to me first. I don't expect others to respect this attitude, because it's not a rule.

aCatNamedVirtute wrote: ↑17 April 2024, 21:01 ... you could just honor the rule ... and you would have fun playing again.

There is no official "friendly robber rule" in Catan. It's just an agreement that some people want to have - after the game has started. I don't like it.

I've been playing Catan with my friends for about 25 years. Almost everyone begs, argues and complains every time they are robbed - it's part of the game and we laugh about it. But it has never happened to me that one of my fellow players has seriously demanded that I wait a few turns before I do with the robber what the rule says: place it on someone's resource tile and rob a resource card.

I can't stand this "political correctness" that is now required even when playing online board games.

There are many players here who don't complain and don't take revenge when they get robbed right at the beginning - and others who get angry and even very nasty. I learned to ignore the nasty stuff or - if it's really bad - to report it to the moderators.

(PS: Robbers are not friendly by nature - they rob other people!)

desertman wrote: ↑17 May 2024, 00:36 There is no official "friendly robber rule" in Catan.

The "friendly robber" is an official variant of Settlers of Catan - it was created by Klaus Teuber himself: When a 7 is rolled or a Knight card played you are not allowed to place the robber on a terrain hex that is adjacent to a settlement of a player who has only 2 victory points.

But here on BGA it is indeed toxic sometimes. Players assuming friendly robber as part of the base rule, or playing variants of the official variant...

euklid314 wrote: ↑17 May 2024, 06:55 The "friendly robber" is an official variant of Settlers of Catan - it was created by Klaus Teuber himself: ...

Can you please provide a link from the Catan website that confirms this? It's definitely not part of the rules that can be downloaded from there or here on the BGA website.

I would really like to see this rule - but not as something that is only claimed.

Thank you!

desertman wrote: ↑17 May 2024, 16:30

euklid314 wrote: ↑17 May 2024, 06:55 The "friendly robber" is an official variant of Settlers of Catan - it was created by Klaus Teuber himself: ...

Can you please provide a link from the Catan website that confirms this? It's definitely not part of the rules that can be downloaded from there or here on the BGA website.

I would really like to see this rule - but not as something that is only claimed.

Thank you!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catan:_ ... Barbarians

https://catan.fandom.com/wiki/The_Friendly_Robber

https://www.catan.com/faq/traders-barba ... 299#faq299 (several FAQs for Friendly Robber can be found here on catan.com)

Yes, it's mentioned in all of these places - just not as a rule.

I know that for some (or many) players here it has become a sort of politically correct convention. That still doesn't make it a rule.

I created now a text snippet that I paste in the chat box when I start a new table:

"As the table admin, I would like to let you know that I prefer to play according to the official rules - that is, without a so-called friendly robber."

I've only done this once so far, but the reactions have been positive. I will let you know how this works over time.

desertman wrote: ↑17 May 2024, 17:37 Yes, it's mentioned in all of these places - just not as a rule.

https://www.catan.com/sites/default/fil ... 200820.pdf

The variant is an official variant - it is included in the official rulebook of Traders&Barbarians (with a comment that the variant is applicable to all Catan games - independent of expansions). I think you have to accept that as a fact.

Please note that I do not like to play this variant myself and see the toxic behavior of those who expect it as a base rule and want to force it onto others very problematic.

But since it is an official rule (important!) it could be implemented by BGA as a game option and both groups would be happy.