Real-Life Settlers of Catan

Settlers players with big backyards can take inspiration in the work of Matt Bell and friends:  As a project for Burning Man a few years ago, Bell constructed a life-sized Settlers of Catan board. Bell says that the size actually changed the way the game was played:

An interesting game dynamic emerged. Unlike in the board game version, people were spread far enough apart that you could have a private conversation with another player. We also had too many people wanting to play, so we ended up with 2-3 players on a “team”. As a result, a diplomatic wheeler-dealer atmosphere emerged, where players would huddle and discuss trades, periodically sending emissaries to speak with other players.

(Matt Bell via MAKE)