It's one of the best board games I've ever played. And there is a java version called jsettlers with online ladders and so on, that helped a lot to spread word

It's one of the best board games I've ever played. And there is a java version called jsettlers with online ladders and so on, that helped a lot to spread word about Settlers. The java version was created to test artificial intelligence applications for robot players, with some success (although robots never beat a trained human). Settlers as a game pushes the player to discover different business strategies and to commit to them; in between strategies never win. And always to invest! Cards in the hand lose value very fast (and get taken away en masse with a 7, and by the robber as well). It's fascinating. Edit: some here mentioned the "Cities and Knights extension". I have never played the game without them -- even back in 2001, the board game you can buy on a shop already had Cities and Knights included. I didn't know it existed without them at all. Edit 2: the JSettlers applet: http://www.jsettlers.com/ http://www.jsettlers.com/