3D Catan

My fascination with the game Catan began when I played the game for the first time during my graduate studies. Despite never winning, the game captivated me with its strategic depth and social interaction. And how easily it turned friends against each other.

When I stumbled upon BuildXYZ I knew that I needed to create my own 3D-printed Catan, the website showcased a stunning 3D-printed Catan stored in a custom wooden box. This discovery ignited my ambition to craft my version. When the COVID-19 lockdowns confined me to my home, I seized the opportunity. Equipped with a supply of filament, I embarked on the painstaking task of printing each hex piece.

Initially, I aimed to create enough pieces for the 6-player expansion. However, a memorable board game night with eight friends inspired me to expand the set further so everyone would be able to play. This meant utilizing AI tools and my creativity to ensure that my set would accommodate up to eight players.

The painting process turned out to be a test of patience and precision. I dedicated 2-3 hours each night over several weeks to painstakingly paint the all-white pieces that I had printed. The final touches include detailed touch-ups and a water-based protective coating to preserve each piece.

My vision for storage was a wooden crate, designed to hold not only the base game and the 8-player expansion but also the Seafarers and Cities & Knights expansions. The crate's design is practical: the lower section stores the hexes, while an upper compartment houses player pieces, cards, and border pieces. The chest-like appearance, complete with rope handles, adds a touch of intrigue to look like a treasure chest of old. In the future, I dream of laser-engraving the lid with Catan motifs, but that's a project for another day.

Reflecting on the project, two lessons stand out. First, I would opt to spend a little more on the different colored filaments for each hex type to avoid the monumental task of painting white pieces. This remains my biggest regret due to the detailed painting required. Second, printing ten different player color sets for an eight-player game was overzealous. My desire to offer color choices led to extra work and likely 3 more weeks of extra printing to be completed.

Despite these challenges, creating this 3D-printed Catan set has been a journey of creativity. It stands as a special blend of my passion for engineering, design, and board games.

The Thingiverse files that I have utilized:

• Settlers of Catan

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1238980

• Explorers and Pirates

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1588996

• Seafarers

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1393862

• Traders and Barbarians

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:853663

• Cities and Knights

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1254404/files

• Catan Water Borders

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2100711

• Player Pieces Box

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2452854/files

• Lots of things from here:

  • https://www.thingiverse.com/dakanzla/designs