Catan Historical Scenarios I: Alexander and Cheops - Cheops

Cheops

In this scenario, players take on the role of Egyptian nobles, where they must build a pyramid for the Pharaoh.

At the start of the game, players place three settlements along the Nile river (represented by a series of marked intersections). Certain hexes are "gold hexes", which produce gold pieces. Gold pieces can be traded in the same manner as resources, and are used to compensate opponents for using their road network - in Cheops, a player may use the services of a harbour if they have a settlement there or are connected through a series of roads to such a settlement (for which the owner receives compensation if the harbour is used). Ships may be also be built as in Catan: Seafarers, though unlike Seafarers, ships may not be moved, though ships and roads may be connected without a settlement in between.

Aside from expanding as in the main Settlers game, players may choose to contribute to building the pyramid - this can only be done if a player has a settlement at the base of the pyramid (represented by another series of marked intersections), or is connected by a series of roads to such a settlement (though the owner of said settlement is given gold pieces as compensation). Whenever a 7 is rolled and a settlement is at the base of the pyramid, the Pharaoh also contributes a piece to the pyramid. The player with the most pyramid pieces receives the "Pharaoh's Blessing" bonus, worth three victory points, while the players with the fewest number of pieces receives the "Pharaoh's Curse", which deducts two victory points.

The game ends when any player obtains 12 victory points, when the pyramid is finished, or when the supply of Pharaoh pieces is exhausted; the latter two giving the victory with the leading player (gold pieces are used as a tiebreaker).