To get the resources they need players may trade resources with each other. For example, they may trade a lumber and an ore for a brick. Players may come up with any trade as long as it is agreeable to both players. The robber starts in the Desert but moves from tile to tile under certain conditions. Any tile occupied by the robber produces no resources and the robber can steal resources from adjacent settlements.
Settlements are worth one victory point, Cities are worth two.
Players also get victory points for building special buildings, for having the longest road or having the largest army. The first player to gain 10 victory points is the winner. The Settlers of Catan is a true classic. The randomized setup and random production of resources insure that every game is different. The game is more concerned with cooperation and development instead of attacking and defeating other players.