Differences from original Settlers of Catan

• Additional resource type: Science (gained from cities)
• Additional resource type: Energy (gained from power plants)
• Events: Can be beneficial or not, depending on the number and type of power plants on the board
• Hazard: Hazards on cities, towns, or power plants prevent players from gaining resources

Overview

New Energies is mostly like Settlers of Catan: get resources to buy buildings, roads, and development cards.

The game can end in one of two ways:

1. The first player to reach 10 VP wins (as in classic Catan).
2. The Event bag is empty. The player with the best balance of Renewable & Fossil fuel power plants wins. If no player has more Renewable power plants than Fossil fuel power plants, everyone loses.

Gameplay

Each player’s turn is divided into several phases:

Event Phase

The active player draws event discs from the bag. The number depends on the current Global Footprint (the Global Footprint is the value of all Fossil fuel plants and Renewable plants on the board).

The discs are placed on the board according to their icon. When all discs of an icon are filled, the event triggers. Events have different effects depending on player's footprint. They may hamper production, give resources, remove resources, or do other things.

Production Phase

The player rolls two dice (as in classic Catan). The sum of the dice indicates which hexes produce resources on this turn. All players who have towns (settlements) adjacent to those hexes receive 1 resource of that hex. Players with adjacent cities receive 1 resource of that hex and 1 science resource. Power plants on that hex and attached to that town/city produce energy.

Hazards prevent resource production. A hex with an Inspector or Hazard does not produce resources. A town, city, or power plant with a hazard on it cannot gain resources.

As in Catan, if the player rolls 7, players with 8 resources or more must discard half of them (rounded down). The active player moves the Environmental Inspector (robber) to a new hex and steals 1 random resource from a player with a building adjacent to that hex.

Action Phase

The active player may perform several actions (some can be combined depending on the rules):

Propose a Trade

As in Catan, you can propose trading resources with other players.

Trade with Supply

As in Catan, you can trade resources with the Supply. The standard rate is 4 identical resources or 3 science resources or 2 energy for any 1 resource. A building at a harbor can reduce the exchange rate for resources, but not science or energy.

Build

• Road: Roads must connect to the initial towns and cost 1 brick & 1 lumber
• Town: Towns must connect to roads and cost 1 brick & 1 lumber & 1 natural fiber & 1 food
• City: Replace an existing town with a City at a cost of 3 steel & 2 food
• Power Plant: Build a power plant on a hex adjacent to any town or city. Can only build 1 power plant per turn. Renewable power plants cost 3 science. Fossil fuel power plants cost 1 science.
• Development Card: Buy a Development Card for 1 food, 1 natural fiber, & 1 steel. There are several different development cards.
• Road Construction (2x): Build 2 roads for free.
• High Yield (2x): Take 1 resource card from up to 3 different hexes containing your renewable power plants.
• Research Grant (2x): Take any 2 resources from the supply.
• Victory Point (5x): Gain 1 VP.
• Cleanup (14x): Move the Inspector or remove 1 Hazard from the board. Then steal 1 resource from a player with a higher LF than you. (Like the Knight card in Catan)

Remove Hazard

Spend 1 energy to remove a Hazard of your choice from the board.

Demolish Power Plant

Spend 1 energy to demolish a Fossil fuel power plant. This will reduce your Local Footprint (LF).

Increase Warehouse

Spend 2 energy to increase your card limit to 10. If a 7 is rolled, you no longer need to discard cards unless you have 11 or more.

Ecological Footprint

Local Footprint (LF)

Each player has a Local Footprint determined by their buildings and power plants.

Building settlements, cities, or fossil power plants increases it.

(Your player board displays how this is calculated. Brown [+] spots, gained from building towns, cities, and Fossil fuel power plants, add to your footprint. Green [+] spots, gained from Renewable power plants, subtract from it.

Global Footprint (GF)

The Global Footprint is the sum of all players' Local Footprints. The number indicates how many event discs are drawn during the event phase (see tracking board).