Wonder Tiles are equipment exclusive to the scenario “The Wonders of Catan”. Up until the English 6th edition and 4th international edition, they are the only components in any Catan expansion to not be printed.
Appearance
Wonder Tiles are a small tile that depict one of the titular Wonders of Catan, as well as the requirements to claim it and the cost to build it. From their first appearance in Seafarers with the English 4th edition (2nd international edition), they must be cut out of the Seafarers manual; since the English 6th edition (4th international edition), they are now a separate printed component.
Each wonder must be built in four stages, and a marker is used by players to mark the number of stages a player has built. Depending on the release, there may be a dedicated marker for this purpose.
In the English 6th edition (4th international edition), there is a dedicated marker, known as a Wonder Marker, for this purpose.
In the English 4th and 5th edition, a Catan chit is used for this purpose.
In the Dutch “Six Scenarios” release, there are dedicated Wonder Markers, taking the form of a Catan chit that has been shaded with player colors.
In the original print-and-play release, a ship is used as the marker.
Gameplay
At the start of the game, all of the Wonder Tiles are unclaimed by any player.
To claim a wonder, a player must meet the wonder’s requirements. After a wonder has been claimed, no other player may attempt to claim the same wonder.
In the English 4th and 5th editions, to accommodate players not willing to cut up the Seafarers manual, players can use a ship to claim a wonder.
Note that players are not required to immediately build a stage of the wonder when claiming it.
A player may not claim multiple wonders, nor relinquish their claim on an existing wonder in order to claim another one. Once a player claims a wonder, they are committed to building it for the remainder of the game.
Each wonder may only be claimed by one player. There should be enough wonders that no wonder should be prevented from claiming a wonder.
Building a stage of their wonder is considered a build action. A player may build multiple stages of their wonder in the same turn.
Once claimed, players may only build additional stages of their wonder as long as the wonder’s requirements are met. If for any reason a player no longer meets the requirements, they may not build additional stages of their claimed wonder until the wonder’s requirements are met again.
Manifest
As originally released, and subsequently integrated into Seafarers, 5 wonders are originally available, with the Seafarers extension adding two more:
Name
Requirements
Stage Cost
Grand Castle
1 City and at least 6 Victory Points
1 brick, 1 lumber, 3 ore
Grand Monument
1 City at a harbor, and a route of length at least 5
3 grain, 2 ore
Grand Theater
2 Cities
1 brick, 1 lumber, 3 wool
Great Bridge
A settlement on a Great Bridge marker
1 grain, 3 lumber, 1 wool
Great Wall
A settlement on a Great Wall marker
3 brick, 1 grain, 1 lumber
Great Library
2 Cities
1 brick, 1 lumber, 3 wool
Lighthouse
A settlement on a Lighthouse marker
1 grain, 3 lumber, 1 wool
The Grand Monument was named the Colossus in the original release, and the Monument in the English 4th and 5th editions.
The Grand Theater was named the Theater in the English 4th and 5th editions.
Prior to the English 6th edition, the Grand Castle was named the Cathedral.
The Great Library was simply named the Library prior to the English 6th edition. The Lighthouse was a second Great Bridge prior to the English 6th edition.
The Great Library and Lighthouse are only available in the Seafarers extension.