The Better Catan Board Generator

Map generator for Settlers of Catan for Normal and Expansion Pack. Use the generation options to build a board that works for your house rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use this board generator?

Simply click the "Shuffle" button to generate a random Catan board. You can customize the generation rules using the "Options" button, which allows you to adjust various house rules and board constraints.

What do the different options mean?

6 & 8 Can Touch: When enabled, allows the number tokens 6 and 8 to be placed on adjacent hexes (normally prohibited for fairness).

2 & 12 Can Touch: Allows number tokens 2 and 12 to be adjacent.

Same Numbers Can Touch: Allows identical number tokens to be placed on adjacent hexes.

Same Resource Can Touch: Allows hexes of the same resource type to be adjacent.

Image Style: Switch between "Colorblock" (simplified colored tiles) and "Classic" (traditional Catan artwork).

What's the difference between Classic and Expansion?

Classic: Generates boards for 3-4 players using the standard Catan board layout.

Expansion: Generates boards for 5-6 players using the expanded board layout from the Catan expansion pack.

You can switch between them using the buttons at the top of the page.

Are the generated boards fair and balanced?

Yes! The generator follows standard Catan rules to create balanced boards. By default, it ensures that:

  • Red number tokens (6 & 8) are not placed on adjacent hexes
  • Resource distribution is balanced
  • The desert is placed in a valid location
  • Number tokens follow the standard probability distribution

You can customize these rules using the options if you want to play with different house rules.

Can I save or share generated boards?

Currently, you can take a screenshot of the generated board. Future versions may include sharing features. The board generation is deterministic based on the rules you select, so you can recreate the same board by using the same options and seed.

Why are some options grayed out or unavailable?

Some options may be temporarily disabled based on your current settings. For example, certain combinations of rules might conflict with each other. The generator automatically disables options that would create invalid board configurations.