Don't get me wrong. It's one of the best games I've ever played. As mentioned in another thread, the replay value is unlike any game I've seen. I've played almost 1200 ranked matches and I'm sure I could play 1200 more without ever getting bored. However, like any multiplayer game, as soon as you add the human dynamic you're bound to develop a few pet peeves. Here's my top 10 list of things that really tick me off about Catan.

#10. Endless Emotes - You people know who you are. Guess what? I know who's in the lead. I got the message the first 50 times you targeted them. Honestly, they should limit the number of emotes for each player to 10 per game. Or here's a better idea. USE YOUR MIC. Most Xbox's come with them now.

#9. Dragging Players into the Trade Screen - I don't mind the occasional slip-up but if you have no intention on trading resources, please stop dragging me into the trade screen. Just because the AI does it doesn't mean you have to do it too.

#8. Bargain Hunters - These are the guys that will always ask for 2 for 1 trades. Okay. Let me see. There are 15 wheat and 2 brick in play and you want me to trade my 2 bricks for your 1 wheat. I don't know....it sounds kinda sketchy....Oh! You used the sweeten the deal emote? Well here...you convinced me now...take my two bricks and take some ore while you're at it!

#7. Left Bumper Impaired - It's one thing to ask for an improbable trade. It's even more annoying when a player will sit in the trade screen for the full minute looking for that non-existant brick. I'll even take time out of the game to send this player a text message but sure enough, they're still looking for the mistery brick on their next turn.

#6. Multitaskers -  These are guys that have Catan running in the background while the rest of the players wait for them to go to the bathroom, make dinner, chase their kids around (as they scream into the mic) and then come back with 10 seconds left in their turn and start looking to trade.

#5. Snoozers - Even worse than the multitaskers! These guys come home from a night at the bar and figure it would be a good idea to play Catan before passing out on the couch. I've actually listened to a guy snoring in his mic. Yeah. It was special.

#4. Bailers - I discussed this in another thread but it bears repeating. Bailers are players that trade all their cards away for one card in return in attempt to *** someone over. Do me a favour. If you have to leave....just leave. If you're pissed off with another player then just don't play them again. Don't throw off the whole balance of the game.

#3. Friendly Robber in the Endgame - Like a lot of players, I use the friendly robber during the first few turns to exercise some diplomacy. Well some players feel that Catan is a popularity contest because the leader will have 8 points and they're still hitting the 12 or 2 spot just to be "nice". Go be Miss Congeniality somewhere else please.

#2. STOP TRADING - You should NOT be trading with people that have 7 points or more unless you think you can win the game in that turn. There are some exceptions in special circumstances but I'm getting really tired of people trading bricks and wood to players that simply steal longest road and win the game. Just look at the scoreboard before you make a trade. Oh and if you have 9 points, please don't insult your fellow players and ask for a trade.  

#1. QUITTERS - I don't mean people that have to leave because their dog/kid/grandma just puked on the livingroom rug or the girlfriend just showed up for a 2am booty call. We all have lives and stuff happens. I'm talking about the slimy wastes of space that quit seconds before you earn that 10th victory point. You people know who you are. Here's a tip. You learn more about the game from losing than you do from winning. It's okay to lose. Odds are...you will lose. Accept it. Nobody is going to believe you won 150 games and only lost 3 and please don't pretend that your power went out because I can see you playing another match within minutes.

Spot on sir!!!! 

---

In this world gone mad, we wont spank the monkey,
The monkey will spank us.

I took the time to read all ten things.  Here are my ten comments.

#10. Endless Emotes - I think it's fascinating that people choose to express themselves via these silly emotes.  Its even more amusing when someone is using them obsessively.  As long as I have the option to mute emotes, the antispam cooldown should be shorter IMO.

#9. Dragging Players into the Trade Screen - Killing time can sometimes kill your opponent's development.  It doesn't hurt to try and there is only a minute timer.

#8. Bargain Hunters -  loln00bs

#7. Left Bumper Impaired - loln00bs .  However, it is always amusing to hear a frustrated player use his mic with a bouquet of condescension. "*sigh* There is no brick...Use your left bumper.  I can't believe you didn't know that.."

#6. Multitaskers - Granted, people may need to get up for one reason or another.  IMO, forcing the other 3 players to sit through at least 2 or more of your idle turns is just rude.

#5. Snoozers - lol, i have never encountered a sleeper.  I have encountered drunk people before though.  Fun drunks, but mostly mean drunks... 

#4. Bailers - It's always discouraging when that happens.  But sometimes its worth doing to people who deserve it.

#3. Friendly Robber in the Endgame -  Nice people are creepy.

#2. STOP TRADING - This is it for me.  I have seen too many games where the game is practically given away because of a stupid trade.  This is probably the only time I would use my mic in a catan match.

#1. QUITTERS - lol "grandma just puked on the livingroom rug"  Yes it is very discouraging, but it's like that in almost every xbox live game.  Regardless of the ethical considerations, nobody wants to take a loss if they have the option to not take the loss.

Great read.  #2 is definitely my biggest pet peeve

You're right, quitters are the worst. When I see someone who has more wins than losses then you know they are going to quit sometime during the game. Then they wonder why they have "Quit Early" bad feedback.

I don't see the point in having 58 wins and 4 losses if that's not your real score. To me, it shows they are worse players than people who actually suck at the game.

#7 gets on my nerves too. Many games have I seen people wanting brick when no one has brick. It isn't that hard to hit LB and check. Some even use the soldier hoping to get this imaginary brick card that every one has.

#3 is worse when the player is still putting the robber on you when you have 3 points and someone has 8 points and left to do what they want.

Great game but some people out there are idiots.

 DJD29 wrote:

You're right, quitters are the worst. When I see someone who has more wins than losses then you know they are going to quit sometime during the game. Then they wonder why they have "Quit Early" bad feedback.

I don't see the point in having 58 wins and 4 losses if that's not your real score. To me, it shows they are worse players than people who actually suck at the game.

#7 gets on my nerves too. Many games have I seen people wanting brick when no one has brick. It isn't that hard to hit LB and check. Some even use the soldier hoping to get this imaginary brick card that every one has.

#3 is worse when the player is still putting the robber on you when you have 3 points and someone has 8 points and left to do what they want.

Great game but some people out there are idiots.

Very true. My favorite is when they put the robber on your brick spot because they think it increases their chances of getting brick. Even though you traded or used the last brick on the prior turn.

Heres another

Players that wont leave the trade screen with the AI.    Most of the time the AI wont leave the trade screen until all other players have.   It gets pretty old waiting for them to figure this out.

Good one. That's really annoying. Makes you wish you could reach through their TV set, give them a cuff up side their head and press the B button for them.

#10. Endless Emotes - If you don't like hit mute. While I try to use in moderation I was muted early a few times for asking others to come back to trade. If I do that I'm usually willing to give up 2:1 or better. Your loss.

#9. Dragging Players into the Trade Screen - Learn to use the fast forward. It's the >> button. 90% of the time I know if people have things I may want to trade for but if you drag me in several time you get fast forwarded. If needed I can go into the trade screen if I see you're REALLY making trades. Also rushes AI <hint hint>

#8. Bargain Hunters - Early game yeah. Late game can sometimes be justified.

#7. Left Bumper Impaired - Any bumper inpaired are usually noobs. You can look at dice rolls, cards and all sorts of data. Use them in combonation. Just learn to use them. Even the emotes. ;)

#6. Multitaskers - Guess I've been lucky. Haven't sat through someones entire turn like that.

#5. Snoozers - WOW. Really? That's funny. Wish the main player of the game could drop players like that. Cause I know I like my scotch when I play but I'll have 2. No where near enough to pass out.

#4. Bailers - If someone is a bailer like that I put them on my "Not Prefered" Players list. Don't want match ups against them and this prevents future match ups. If good players all do that then bailers will only ever play themsevles.

#3. Friendly Robber in the Endgame -  Yeah... I traget AI hard end game and sometimes the leader. Most of the time I'm paying attention to peoples cards so I'm trying to get what I need.

#2. STOP TRADING - I pay attention to players W/L records before the game and sometimes if someone has little if any wins I throw them a bone if I know I can't win. Especially if a bailer is in the room. :)

#1. QUITTERS - Again, put them on my "Not Prefered" Players list. Any way to prevent games vs them is great.

A major pet peeve of mine (allthough it is nice to exploit it) is when players have no clue of what is coming; i.e. the guy that is going be unstoppable if he gets both resource harbors on his 6/6 or 6/8 combo. He/she scored the combo by outsmarting all during setup, prevent them from executing it and loosing instead of helping them and blowing jolly kisses while at it.

Also a new trend seems to be to target the weakest player on the board with the robber, whilst in theory this may work out you are still hurting yourself if you aren't destined to score that win yourself. But it gets really annoying when people continue to do this while you can safely assume that a player other then the one who is place the robber is within reach to win the game.

Anyway thanks for the write up, if nothing it did make me laugh.

Also... players using fastforward is extremely annoying, at least show me a red cross if you dont want to trade, but if you are not going to bother to even look expect incoming soldiers/robbers and no trades or increased prices on trades. Bottomline, fastforwarding is rude.

 DrAtomic1 wrote:

Also a new trend seems to be to target the weakest player on the board with the robber, whilst in theory this may work out you are still hurting yourself if you aren't destined to score that win yourself. But it gets really annoying when people continue to do this while you can safely assume that a player other then the one who is place the robber is within reach to win the game.

This is actually the only reason I'll quit a game. I don't mind losing, but when I'm being targeted I'm going to take off. I was in a game the other day where the other three players all had 7 victory points or more, and I had only 3. I don't mind that my "put starting settlements on a 5/6 wheat junction and a low-point (2) wheat port" plan didn't work out. But when the other three players started using all their soldiers and 7 rolls on me, I just quit out of the game. The three of them were laughing their asses off.

Haha, let me just sit here for 20 more minutes while you pull this crap. Just kidding, you can play against Genghis Khan instead. Let's see if you have as much fun doing that.

 DrAtomic1 wrote:

Also... players using fastforward is extremely annoying, at least show me a red cross if you dont want to trade, but if you are not going to bother to even look expect incoming soldiers/robbers and no trades or increased prices on trades. Bottomline, fastforwarding is rude.

I think when you fastforward, the game automatically puts up the red cross for you.

 skrame wrote:

 DrAtomic1 wrote:

Also... players using fastforward is extremely annoying, at least show me a red cross if you dont want to trade, but if you are not going to bother to even look expect incoming soldiers/robbers and no trades or increased prices on trades. Bottomline, fastforwarding is rude.

I think when you fastforward, the game automatically puts up the red cross for you.

No, it shows the player as not being in the trade with a red cross. I.e. i could be offering a village for his 1 iron and he wouldnt even take the effort to consider. It's rude. Have a look and deny then leave that is polite.

 skrame wrote:

 DrAtomic1 wrote:

Also a new trend seems to be to target the weakest player on the board with the robber, whilst in theory this may work out you are still hurting yourself if you aren't destined to score that win yourself. But it gets really annoying when people continue to do this while you can safely assume that a player other then the one who is place the robber is within reach to win the game.

This is actually the only reason I'll quit a game. I don't mind losing, but when I'm being targeted I'm going to take off. I was in a game the other day where the other three players all had 7 victory points or more, and I had only 3. I don't mind that my "put starting settlements on a 5/6 wheat junction and a low-point (2) wheat port" plan didn't work out. But when the other three players started using all their soldiers and 7 rolls on me, I just quit out of the game. The three of them were laughing their asses off.

Haha, let me just sit here for 20 more minutes while you pull this crap. Just kidding, you can play against Genghis Khan instead. Let's see if you have as much fun doing that.

The action you describe is often the result of your own play;
i.e. drop a robber on someone blocking him on his biggest number stealing a critical resource, all before he even had a chance to roll the dice once. Then repeat that the next time you roll a 7 and prefferably pull ahead yourself whilst cutting him/her off will make you a social target.

In general extremely aggressive behaviour such as choosing the cut off over building something time and time again will get you in trouble as well.

Also targetting the same player that is trailing over and over will lead to robber visits.

Then add unreasonable trade demands into the mix and you'll be blobbed by robbers... Those players were trying to teach you a lesson.

Anyways, this is all assumption based on experience. Bottomline if you are going to be overly aggresive be sure to compensate through trade and have plenty of defense in reserve. Donot underestimate the social aspect of this game. In order to win you'll need in order: tactical insight and secondly social skills, Luck iis far less of a factor then most people assume especially if the dice rolls are balanced and the players are evenly matched.

Don't forget to list the bugged achievements (i.e., not being able to unlock achievements, even after fulfilling the requirements).  That's my #1 beef with this game.

Heh my bro picked up the board game at orgins and I must say it's quite a bit more fun playing with friends and family around a table =]

I have to admit, in this game and in this game only, am I a multi-tasker. I have a 2 year old and 8 month old twins. But this game does make it easy to multi task, all you have to do is take your controller with you and it vibrates when its your turn so you know to come back. If you walk off without your controller your just rude.

 Dernwb wrote:

If you walk off without your controller your just rude.

Last night some guy decided to go idle when the game started and never came back.  idk why i posted, its just very annoying to sit through somebody's entire turn and subsequent turns when they're doing nothing.