<p>No, you may not.</p>

<p>As per the <a href="http://www.catan.com/service/game-rules">rulebook</a>, under "Build" (on page 4) it says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Take the appropriate number of roads, settlements, and/or cities from your supply and place them on the game board.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>An explicit part of the building process is putting the built items onto the board, so no, you can't buy it and place it later.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-29T00:10:44.833Z
2016-06-29T00:10:44.833Z
Duncan
<p>The rules never talk about <em>buying</em> a settlement, they always talk about <em>building</em> a settlement, and there is no mention of being able to hold a settlement in reserve after paying for it. On the basis that the rules tell you specifically what you <em>can</em> do, then when you build a settlement you <em>must</em> place it on the board.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-29T01:40:00.270Z
That is what I mean, I can't find anywhere any ruling on if you can or cannot do this. Doesn't state that you must have the appropriate roads built before you can buy and build a new settlement. There has been occasions where I bought a settlement and realised I can't put it anywhere on the board due to the distance rule and not having the roads. Then what do I do, get a refund from the bank?
IronFin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-29T01:41:55.213Z
Game rules always tell you what you can do within the context of the game, and by elimination what they don't tell you you can do, you can't. If there was some means to pay the resources and delay the actual placement of the settlement, the rules would explain the means to do so. See also game designer Donald X Vaccarino on whether the rules to Dominion let you keep track of score by writing in your own blood
ConMan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-29T00:00:34.860Z
2016-06-29T00:00:34.860Z
ConMan
<p>Of course if you have cards to buy a settlement you can buy a road, but I want to buy a settlement first in case my cards get stolen by another player. Can I buy the settlement first and not place it anywhere until I have a road network that would allow me to place it in accordance to the distance rule?</p>

<catan>
I have cards to buy a road or settlement, can I buy settlement first and not place it on the board?
IronFin
# I have cards to buy a road or settlement, can I buy settlement first and not place it on the board?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-28)

Of course if you have cards to buy a settlement you can buy a road, but I want to buy a settlement first in case my cards get stolen by another player. Can I buy the settlement first and not place it anywhere until I have a road network that would allow me to place it in accordance to the distance rule?

**Tags:** catan


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-29. Score: 18

No, you may not.

As per the [rulebook](http://www.catan.com/service/game-rules), under "Build" (on page 4) it says:

> Take the appropriate number of roads, settlements, and/or cities from your supply and place them on the game board.

An explicit part of the building process is putting the built items onto the board, so no, you can't buy it and place it later.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-06-29. Score: 8

The rules never talk about *buying* a settlement, they always talk about *building* a settlement, and there is no mention of being able to hold a settlement in reserve after paying for it. On the basis that the rules tell you specifically what you *can* do, then when you build a settlement you *must* place it on the board.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That is what I mean, I can't find anywhere any ruling on if you can or cannot do this. Doesn't state that you must have the appropriate roads built before you can buy and build a new settlement. There has been occasions where I bought a settlement and realised I can't put it anywhere on the board due to the distance rule and not having the roads. Then what do I do, get a refund from the bank?  
> **username_2**: Game rules always tell you what you can do within the context of the game, and by elimination what they don't tell you you can do, you can't. If there was some means to pay the resources and delay the actual placement of the settlement, the rules would explain the means to do so. See also game designer Donald X Vaccarino on whether the rules to Dominion let you keep track of score by writing in your own blood  

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