"Gently Conform A Flawed World To Your Needs..."

Unless you've played Settlers of Catan, the mosaic above probably looks rather esoteric. Settlers is an award-winning strategy game where the players built settlements and roads between areas laden with resources such as stone, bricks, sheep, wood, and wheat; you win by building up your own city and cutting off your rivals from access to the resources they need to survive -- a really intriguing way to play with your concepts of ego, survival, and economy.

Normally the game is played on a plain flat board that you piece together out of cardboard hexagons, but this particular nation-builder has taken things to the next level, customizing their own beautifully elaborate Settlers experience. I can only imagine how much more fun it is to play the game with a version you've made yourself -- here's a tutorial to get you started on your own.

This card has always struck me as a particularly lovely follow-up to the treacherous Seven of Coins. Unsatisfied with the version that came in the box? A little patience, creativity, and elbow-grease (make that a LOT) could be all that's required to gently conform a flawed world to your needs. Whether it winds up suiting anyone else's -- well, that's another matter altogether. [Via]