An Unexpected "Bargain Ninja" Sunday

Yep. I did it again! Hunted down a bargain... like the "Bargain Ninja" does! 😎🙂

As I wait for Viticulture to arrive (expected in a few days), I came across Dominion on our local Facebook Marketplace, for $15 barely used! *insert ninja high kick here* 😁. It retails for $40 new here in Canada now.

I know I'm a bit behind the times, but as I move closer to 2-years in the hobby, I'm slowly being able to either experience and/or purchase some of the modern classics. I've read so much about Dominion and how it's the "grandfather of deck builders". Since deckbuilding continues to grow on me as one of my favourite mechanics, it just made sense to not let this deal pass me by. 🙃

Before I picked it up and as I was deciding whether or not I should (which didn't take long), I naturally went to the BGG forums to check on fan-made solo variants. There are many... and just on the first two forum pages. Whoa. It just made sense to buy it now! ✔️

I was first off impressed by the rulebook. Very short and to the point. Just a handful of pages. Not many pictures, but I don't think it really needs more than it has. I was also impressed with the insert it comes with (very handy) but also the little legend/guide in terms of suggesting where to store each set of cards. It makes it very easy to find the cards you need for setup!

I'm still pretty early on in my deckbuilder experience:

... I started with Star Realms (digital version on Steam)

... Then Ascension (digital version - someday tabletop version for sure)

... Then Shadowrift (tabletop version) - which is the one that REALLY made me fall in love with the mechanic

... And finally Aeon's End (tabletop version)

With my plays of Shadowrift, Dominion was a pretty smooth learning experience. I see now how games that came after Dominion used similar mechanics (because they're just great!). However, I still chose to play my first game two-handed just to get the feel of the game. I'm glad I did.

In the basic setup, you have the supply deck (left) and the kingdom cards. Playing two-handed my first run through allowed me to understand that the kingdom cards may help you and draw your curiousity, but ultimately you want the most VPs ... and VPs come from buying land/VP cards. Since the mechanics were so familiar for me, it was a nice learning game for me, in terms of strategy and where you may get caught on certain things.

In the end, the (left hand) player won 48-38. Damn that left-hand player! 🤣

I left the game set up with the basic setup and I'm planning to head back to the table now to try a solo variant out before I put it away from the night. Like I said, there's many, so if it's not so great I have lots of others to experiment with.

I'm excited as well because, as with Shadowrift, there is PLENTY of variability in terms of cards and how you can setup the game (including randomizer cards like Shadowrift and Aeon's End). I love that.

I am very happy to have added this to the collection. Like 7-Wonders for example, to me Dominion needs to be in my collection. I also like the fact that if someone I'm playing with maybe isn't into the fighting monsters idea like in Shadowrift or Aeon's End, we can play a game with a somewhat similar feel, but less "violence". 🤔 Make sense? I actually found Dominion to be a bit more relaxing because of that element actually. But maybe that feel will be less when I'm actually playing someone other than myself two-handed. 🤣

"BARGAIN NINJA" IS HEADING BACK TO THE TABLE!

Comments (8)

Cadet Stimpy

Sep 20, 2021

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Is Dominion considered to be the primary gran'-daddy of Deck-Builders?

Replying to

Then I'd say it might be a worthy game for a "Collector", even if ya don't like Deck-Builders, as it has a significant spot in "Gaming Evolution". But, on the other hand, do ya want a game ya actually don't like? 🤔

Derek

Sep 21, 2021

@Cadet Stimpy I know for me personally, I definitely don't want a game I don't like on my shelves.

@Derek That makes good sense. I'm sure there are collectors (not to be confused with enthusiasts) that just want 'everything' because, ah, they just do. I gotta admit, if I won a huge lottery, having one of every game in existence might be fun. 😄 Plus, I'd hire a large team of artists to pimp-out every component! Probably build a Game Library for the community, too. 😎

Agreed! That's what I like about games like this; finding the optimal combos/choices. Will I ever find them? Possibly not. 😂 But I do like the challenge. And with the variability, to me that means that effort to find the optimal stuff will always stay just out of reach for me. Cool!

Zerbique

Dominion was one of my early board games. My sisters had gifted it to me for Christmas, many years ago (2012 perhaps?). Then we played it and my elder sister crushed us miserably several times in a row. I didn't touch it for years, and sold it in 2019.

Honestly, I did not quite like it. This is all about optimization. You want to purchase cards to get the best combos, and you must find the optimal point to get Victory Points cards without cluttering your deck with them. All I wanted was to peacefully build a kingdom and purchase the cards that looked fun. This was just not the spirit of the game.

As many others have told before me, the annoying thing with Dominion is that your deck has no real purpose but being hood at making a better deck. I need an external motivation to feel compelled to have a good deck. War of the Worlds: the New Wave does so for instance, where the deck-building drives a dudes on a map game, and I like it there. But it's not soloable (and if there are solo variants, I am not sure I would be interested in these).