Catan Traders & Barbarians Map Generator: Five Scenarios, One Tool

Traders & Barbarians is genuinely five expansions in one box. Each scenario has its own setup quirks. A balanced T&B map generator handles all five — but with different emphasis depending on which you're playing. Here's the full breakdown.

The five T&B scenarios

1. The Fishermen of Catan

Adds Fishing Grounds (sea hexes near the coast) where players can place ships and catch fish for VPs. The generator places the Fishing Grounds in canonical positions; the underlying terrain layout follows standard balance constraints.

2. The Rivers of Catan

A river runs through the centre of the map, dividing the land. Bridges must be built (cost: 1 wood + 1 brick + 1 ore) to cross. The generator places the river in the rulebook-canonical position; terrain on each side of the river is balanced independently.

3. The Caravans

Camel caravans move between the city of Muscat and player settlements. The map includes a fixed desert with the city placed centrally. The generator handles the surrounding terrain balance.

4. Barbarian Attack

Barbarian camps appear at the map edges; players must spend resources to drive them off. The generator handles the standard map layout; barbarian placement is rulebook-canonical.

5. Traders & Barbarians (title scenario)

The flagship scenario combines elements: caravans, barbarians, and trade-good production from specific terrain types. The most setup-heavy of the five. The generator produces the underlying balanced layout; you overlay the scenario-specific elements per the rulebook.

What the generator enforces across all scenarios

• Standard balance constraints (no two reds touching, resource diversification, pip-balanced corners).
• Port placement on canonical edges with random port-type assignment.
• Number distribution following the standard T&B distribution.

Catan for Two: the bonus variant

Traders & Barbarians also includes Catan for Two, the only official 2-player Catan variant that plays well. The map is smaller and uses a constrained trade rule. We covered this in detail in Catan for 2 players. The generator can produce balanced 2P layouts for this variant — useful for ranked-style 2P play.

5–6 player T&B

The 5–6 player T&B extension scales each scenario to the larger 30-hex map. Use the T&B 5–6 generator for these. Same balance constraints, larger surface area.

Recommended play order for new T&B groups

1. Start with The Fishermen of Catan — lightest rules overhead.
2. Then The Rivers of Catan — adds the bridge concept cleanly.
3. Then Barbarian Attack — introduces the shared-threat mechanic that prepares groups for Cities & Knights later.
4. Then The Caravans — the most cooperative scenario.
5. Finally Traders & Barbarians (title scenario) — the most complex.

Why use a generator for T&B?

T&B's per-scenario rules are complex enough that pre-game setup tends to drag. A balanced generated map cuts setup time roughly in half by:

• Skipping the manual hex shuffle and balance check.
• Producing a fair starting position automatically.
• Letting your group focus on the scenario-specific rules instead.

Common questions

Does the generator handle the Caravan paths?

The generator produces the static map. Caravan path planning is a gameplay concern handled at the table per the rulebook.

Can I generate a 5–6 player T&B board for the title scenario?

Yes — use the T&B 5–6 generator. All five scenarios are supported on the larger map.

How does T&B compare to other expansions?

T&B offers the best variety-per-dollar in the Catan catalogue (five scenarios + Catan for Two in one box). For the deeper comparison, see our expansion ranking and C&K vs Seafarers comparison.

Generate a balanced T&B layout on the 3–4 player generator or the 5–6 player generator for your next session. For full T&B rules notes, see our T&B rules FAQ.