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Commons Game — Instructor Guide (Basic Variant)

A quick-reference guide for running the Basic Variant of the Commons Game.

Before the Game

Setup Checklist

  1. Build the board. Assemble the Catan board with 19 terrain hex tiles, number tokens, and border pieces. Place 2 settlements and 2 roads for each player in their predetermined positions (use the same layout every time you run the game).

  2. Prepare the resource bank. Count out exactly 30 resource cards — 6 each of lumber, brick, wheat, wool, and ore. Place them behind the cardboard barrier so that no player can see the bank at any point during the game. Keep the remaining resource cards from the box nearby as reserve stock for replenishment.

  3. Prepare development cards. Shuffle the development cards (victory-point cards and progress cards) and place the deck face-down within reach.

  4. Set out building cost cards. Place one building cost card at each player seat. These show the standard Catan costs for roads, settlements, and cities.

  5. Seat players by color. Have each player sit at the seat assigned to their color: Red, Orange, White, or Blue. Players refer to themselves by color throughout the game (e.g., "Red would like two wheat").

  6. Prepare your tracking sheet. Have a notepad or spreadsheet ready to track:

  7. Current card count for each resource type in the bank
  8. Which resources are crashed and how many player turns remain until recovery

  9. The current round number Alternatively, this website provides a tracker to digitally record the course of the game. If someone takes on the role of observer, the game is documented by that person.

  10. Brief the players. Before the first roll, explain the following:

  11. The goal is to reach more than 8 victory points. This is not a competition — every player who reaches that threshold individually "survives." Multiple players can win, or nobody can.
  12. Victory points come from settlements, cities, and victory-point development cards.
  13. The resource bank is shared and hidden. You (the instructor) will hand out requested resources. If a resource is unavailable, you will say it is "temporarily depleted."
  14. No communication between players is allowed. No talking, signaling, or coordinating about the game.
  15. No trading between players. Players may only trade with the bank.
  16. Turn order is fixed: Red → Orange → White → Blue.

Running the Game

Your Responsibilities Each Turn

  1. Announce the active player. Say the color of the player whose turn it is (e.g., "Red's turn").

  2. Step 1 — Roll. The active player rolls two dice. Identify which terrain hex(es) match the number rolled.

  3. Any player (not just the active player) with a settlement on a matching hex may request 0 to 3 cards of that resource.
  4. Any player with a city on a matching hex may request 0 to 6 cards of that resource.
  5. Players are never forced to take the full amount — they may request fewer cards or none at all.
  6. If a 7 is rolled, no one receives anything (the desert produces no resources).

  7. Hand out the requested cards from behind the barrier. If a resource does not have enough cards to fulfill a request, give what you can and announce that the resource is "temporarily depleted." Do not reveal the exact count.

  8. Step 2 — Trade (optional). The active player may trade 4 cards of the same type to the bank for 1 card of any other type (4:1 ratio). Players on a port may trade at the port's better ratio (3:1 or 2:1). Return traded-in cards to the bank.

  9. Step 3 — Build (optional). The active player may spend resource cards to build roads, settlements, or cities according to the building cost card. Return spent cards to the bank. Remind players of the distance rule if needed: at least 2 roads must separate any two settlements/cities owned by the same player.

  10. Step 4 — Play a Development Card (optional). The active player may reveal and play one development card, following its instructions.

  11. End of turn. Move to the next player in order.

End-of-Round Replenishment

After all 4 players have completed their turns (one full round), replenish the bank:

  1. Count the cards of each resource type currently in the bank.
  2. For each resource, add 1 card for every 3 cards remaining (round down).
  3. 6 cards → add 2 (bank becomes 8)
  4. 5 cards → add 1 (bank becomes 6)
  5. 4 cards → add 1 (bank becomes 5)
  6. 3 cards → add 1 (bank becomes 4)
  7. 2 cards → add 0
  8. 1 card → add 0
  9. 0 cards → add 0 (crashed resources do not grow)
  10. Do this behind the barrier so players cannot see the totals.

Crash and Recovery

  • Crash: When a resource type reaches 0 cards in the bank, it has crashed. Mark it on your tracking sheet and note the current player-turn count.
  • Recovery: After 12 player turns (3 full rounds) at 0, restore that resource to 6 cards. It then participates in normal replenishment again from the next end-of-round onward.
  • A resource can crash multiple times during a game.
  • If a player requests a crashed resource, simply say it is "temporarily depleted." Do not explain the crash mechanic or tell them when it will return.

Key Rules to Enforce

  • No communication. Players may not talk to each other, gesture, show cards, or coordinate in any way during the Basic Variant.
  • No player-to-player trading. All trades go through the bank at the 4:1 ratio (or a port ratio).
  • Resource requests are voluntary. A player may request anywhere from 0 up to their maximum per hex (3 for a settlement, 6 for a city). Never force a player to take the full amount.
  • One development card per turn. A player may play at most one development card on their turn.
  • Distance rule. At least 2 roads between any two of a player's settlements or cities.
  • Keep the bank hidden. The barrier must stay up at all times. Never reveal exact card counts to players.

Transitioning to the Ostrom Variant

After 6 rounds of the Basic Variant, introduce the Ostrom Variant:

  1. Stop play at the end of a round (after Blue's turn) so every player has had equal turns.
  2. Announce the transition. Tell the players:

    "We are now adding new rules to the game. You will be able to communicate during designated meetings, a Monitor will be elected, and sanctions and rewards will be introduced. All other rules from before still apply."

  3. Do NOT reset the resource bank. The bank carries over exactly as it is — crashed resources stay crashed, depleted resources stay depleted.
  4. Follow the Ostrom Variant instructor guide for the remaining setup steps (Monitor election, initial sanctions/rewards, etc.).