If you love the series but have played it to death, then this expansion will bring the game back to the table again once more. You get a number of different game play additions to start with, like using cards instead of the dice, which takes a lot of the luck out of the equation. Then you move on to the variants, to complicate the heck out of the game, or just tweak it a little.

Fishermen of Catan makes for a nice addition, giving you another resource that allows you to progress without being smashed trading with the bank. Fish also have an number of other uses, and you can add the variant to any of the other games without unbalancing it. You also have the rivers which adds gold. Gold being yet another resource for trade, so again if you find yourself lacking in a certain area, you can cover your shortfall.

Then it gets different.

Traders makes the desert and the caravans that spring from it useful. Barbarians is another invasion variant And another Traders game that focuses heavily on roads, money and hauling deliveries across the map for victory points. All in all you get a lot in this, with much playing time and much to learn in the box. Combine the new rivers tiles and the fish tiles with seafarers to make a 5-6 player board that is HUGE! makes for a long game to big scores and much wheeling and dealing.