Craig Sanderlin
United States
Maryland Heights
Missouri
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Here has been my experience with Dominion.
Base game: I found it boring.
Intrique: A moment of hope, but still boring.
Alchemy: Boring again.
Prosperity: Finally! The new expansion. Yaawwn.
Seaside: Love it!
Maybe I'm just a naval nut, or maybe I'm more demanding in theme. All other types of Dominion I just don't feel connected to the "storyline" or "world" of Dominion. I'm just shuffling and picking up cards with no feeling.
Yet with Seaside everything hits on notes. The island, the village, the pirate ship! The treasure map! The artwork on the cards and the function of the cards and the coin / embargo components just seem to reach out and grab you. All the other Dominions seem dull, faded, and black and white. Seaside seems to be full of life and in bright colors.
Maybe I'm just weird like that, but Seaside is the only Dominion for me.
Thoughts?
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Larry Doherty
United States
Windsor, Northern-
California
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Must have something to do with the naval thing, I love it too.
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Paul W
United States
Eugene
Oregon
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I typically like a well done, tightly integrated theme to my games, but for some reason the lack of thematic feel to Dominion doesn't bother me at all...I have no idea why. Personally, Seaside doesn't feel any more thematic to me than the other sets, but if it does to you...enjoy!
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Jeremy Volk
United States
Eagan
Minnesota
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Well, Dominion's theme might not be very strong, but it's still there. It's middle ages stuff. That's enough theme for me. But really, I don't play as much for atmosphere as I do for gameplay. I love Dominion's mechanics. Seaside is my favorite set (besides maybe Prosperity, but I won't know that for sure until I play it), but not because of the theme or the pretty pictures or even the way the card abilities are comparable to real life. I like it because of the fun card abilities - durations in particular.
But I guess if you're looking for theme, Seaside is definitely the best. (You must not like using regular playing cards.)
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Kevin Elmore
United States
Missouri
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fizzmore wrote: I typically like a well done, tightly integrated theme to my games, but for some reason the lack of thematic feel to Dominion doesn't bother me at all...I have no idea why. Personally, Seaside doesn't feel any more thematic to me than the other sets, but if it does to you...enjoy!
Pretty much exactly how I feel, Paul. I hear the lack of theme as a detriment of the game, but I don't buy it. Theme, to me, is just icing on the cake. It can make a mediocre game very fun (such as Red November), but a good game can still get by without theme.
I like the gameplay of Dominion. As long as I don't scratch my head and wonder, "Why ever did they choose that name," I'm not bothered by it.
That being said, I can agree that Seaside is the closest to theme than the other sets. But I do like all the sets (even Alchemy).
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Max Maloney
United States
Portland
Oregon
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Seaside is a little disappointing to me. I guess it's because everyone always says it's the best set, so when I played it I was a little let down because I didn't like it quite as well as Intrigue. I do like it though. I like every set so far, even Alchemy.
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Christopher Paul
United States
Seattle
WA
man lying down on job voluntarily
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I also usually like a strong theme, but with Dominion I like the mechanics and elegance of the game enough that theme doesn't matter too much. I like Seaside the same as Intrigue, and Alchemy quite a bit less. But the theme has never really resonated with me.
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Dave Kudzma
United States
Gumboro
Delaware
Muffins.
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While I haven't played with prosperity I think it adds more to the whole than as a truly unique element; referring to the duration cards that Seaside added.
I'm not sure how you could like 'just' Seaside as it contains all of the elements of the base games and/or Intrigue.
I can totally see not enjoying Alchemy; it's a take it or leave ti expansion IMHO.
So alone on liking "only" Seaside? Most likely.
Crazy or odd? Not so much.
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Rick Teverbaugh
United States
Anderson
Indiana
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Going back to the OP's question, I have met literally over a hundred Dominion fans counting working the Rio Grande room at this year's GenCon, and he is the first person I've ever heard of that only liked Seaside and not anything else.
It makes me wonder two things. Does he like theme over game play? How did he ever even get to Seaside if he didn't like the base set and Intrigue?
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Jon
United States
Minneapolis
Minnesota
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rickert wrote: It makes me wonder two things. Does he like theme over game play? How did he ever even get to Seaside if he didn't like the base set and Intrigue?
Those are the same two thoughts I had while reading the OP. I'm assuming theme is very important for you to get immersed into a game. For me, Dominion is too short to get immersed and to be concerned about theme. Just curious, other than theme and art, what about the cards in the other expansions don't you like?
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DK Kemler
United States
Sacramento
California
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Well here is one other person with the OP. I wasn't particularly compelled by the base game, or intrigue, or alchemy, but basegame + seaside is just about right. It will never be my favorite game, but it's miles better than any other combo It's got nothing to do with theme either, I just find the mechanics of seaside more interesting.
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Craig Sanderlin
United States
Maryland Heights
Missouri
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I can't really put my finger on it. Normally theme is always secondary over solid mechanics. Maybe it's the mechanics of dominion in general that I don't like, but somehow the theme of seaside makes it more tolerable to me? I do prefer Thunderstone over Dominion, but that's probably the old RPG gamer in me craving a good dungeon crawl.
Maybe the mechanics of seaside appeal to me better than the mechanics of the other sets. All I know is that I really enjoy Seaside and find all the others to be "meh".
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Rick Teverbaugh
United States
Anderson
Indiana
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To each his or her own for sure. I really like every expansion and the theme is less than secondary for me. The primary and secondary thing for me is to have interesting mechanics that make the game experience fun.
But I am a bit baffled by anyone liking any expansion better than Prosperity. For me it is the king of all expansions even though it does make the game a bit longer when the Colony is in play.
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Doctor_Zaius wrote: I do prefer Thunderstone over Dominion, but that's probably the old RPG gamer in me craving a good dungeon crawl.
Maybe the mechanics of seaside appeal to me better than the mechanics of the other sets. All I know is that I really enjoy Seaside and find all the others to be "meh".
If you prefer Thunderstone over Dominion, you almost definitely prefer theme over mechanics.
Seaside is the best themed set, but there is some theme in almost every card, even if it is a little pasted on.
And what's all this "I even like Alchemy" stuff in some of the previous posts? Alchemy is fabulous and completely redeems the power of action cards. I originally disrepected Vineyard and then got absolutely crushed by an opponent using it well. Now I simply love all the Alchemy cards.
And every set seems to play better after adding a new set. I cannot wait for my Prosperity to show up in the mail. At least I have RFTG: Rebel vs. Imperium to keep me occupied in the interim.
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Jeremy Volk
United States
Eagan
Minnesota
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theright555J wrote: Seaside is the best themed set, but there is some theme in almost every card, even if it is a little pasted on.
And what's all this "I even like Alchemy" stuff in some of the previous posts? Alchemy is fabulous and completely redeems the power of action cards.
It sounds to me as if you even like Alchemy.
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BaconSnake wrote: theright555J wrote: Seaside is the best themed set, but there is some theme in almost every card, even if it is a little pasted on.
And what's all this "I even like Alchemy" stuff in some of the previous posts? Alchemy is fabulous and completely redeems the power of action cards. It sounds to me as if you even like Alchemy.
I do! 
Alchemy gets substantially more hate than the other sets, such as price (USD, not coins) per card too high, potions are finicky, I hate Possession, etc.
I find it difficult to understand why Alchemy deserves any more hate than other sets. The +Action and +Buy powers of cards have much more use with Alchemy. Actions in general are much more useful. The number of meaningful paths to victory is increased.
I suspect that much of the hate comes the drastic shift in tension between card power and tempo management that Alchemy introduces. It makes Dominion a more meaty, difficult game in a way fundamentally different than Intrigue or Seaside.
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Robert Ell
United States
Emeryville
California
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I honestly think the only reason Alchemy gets flack is because of the potions. If they were just normal cards with higher costs, everyone would love it. The cards themselves are a ton of fun, people just don't like dealing with the potion.
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Domenic Ippolito
United States
California
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Elltrain wrote: I honestly think the only reason Alchemy gets flack is because of the potions. If they were just normal cards with higher costs, everyone would love it. The cards themselves are a ton of fun, people just don't like dealing with the potion.
The potion is the reason I don't have Alchemy. It sounds interesting, but I want to be able to play with random cards from all sets, not have to play with a particular emphasis on Alchemy cards to make it worthwhile. Am I wrong?
I've mixed my base and Intrigue randomizer cards together, and then I start with 5 of those and 5 Seaside cards to begin the game. After each hand, the players each choose a card to kick out, and we deal in new cards from the two piles in equal amounts. We always end up with more Seaside cards than base/Intrigue by the time we're done.
So I wouldn't say we *only* like Seaside, but I was disappointed with Intrigue and Seaside is definitely our favorite set.
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The group I play with have generated our own ten card themes that are essentially mini-stories w/in Dominion. I don't have the list of cards in front of me, but we've done such things as "Baron's Masquarade," "Village Festival," and I'm working on one that will hopefully fit with Salman Rushdie's novel "Enchantress of Florence"
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Rick Teverbaugh
United States
Anderson
Indiana
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dommer2029 wrote: Elltrain wrote: I honestly think the only reason Alchemy gets flack is because of the potions. If they were just normal cards with higher costs, everyone would love it. The cards themselves are a ton of fun, people just don't like dealing with the potion. The potion is the reason I don't have Alchemy. It sounds interesting, but I want to be able to play with random cards from all sets, not have to play with a particular emphasis on Alchemy cards to make it worthwhile. Am I wrong? I've mixed my base and Intrigue randomizer cards together, and then I start with 5 of those and 5 Seaside cards to begin the game. After each hand, the players each choose a card to kick out, and we deal in new cards from the two piles in equal amounts. We always end up with more Seaside cards than base/Intrigue by the time we're done. So I wouldn't say we *only* like Seaside, but I was disappointed with Intrigue and Seaside is definitely our favorite set.
I think everyone should be able to play how they want. But in one sense you are wrong. You don't want to get Alchemy because you don't want to have to emphasize Alchemy yet that's what you're doing with Seaside. Besides, I just randomize Alchemy like any other set. to me it adds another layer of strategy. If there's only 1 or 2 Alchemy cards that use a potion, then do I use a buy to get a potion? do what you like but Alchemy has a lot of very cool cards. Golem is one of my favorites in the game.
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Cyrus the Great
United States
Lexington
Kentucky
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I don't think the theme is drawing you in. On the whole, Seaside is the most mechanically integrated and interesting without being fiddly.
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Domenic Ippolito
United States
California
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rickert wrote: dommer2029 wrote: Elltrain wrote: I honestly think the only reason Alchemy gets flack is because of the potions. If they were just normal cards with higher costs, everyone would love it. The cards themselves are a ton of fun, people just don't like dealing with the potion. The potion is the reason I don't have Alchemy. It sounds interesting, but I want to be able to play with random cards from all sets, not have to play with a particular emphasis on Alchemy cards to make it worthwhile. Am I wrong? I've mixed my base and Intrigue randomizer cards together, and then I start with 5 of those and 5 Seaside cards to begin the game. After each hand, the players each choose a card to kick out, and we deal in new cards from the two piles in equal amounts. We always end up with more Seaside cards than base/Intrigue by the time we're done. So I wouldn't say we *only* like Seaside, but I was disappointed with Intrigue and Seaside is definitely our favorite set. I think everyone should be able to play how they want. But in one sense you are wrong. You don't want to get Alchemy because you don't want to have to emphasize Alchemy yet that's what you're doing with Seaside.
I prefer to think of it as de-emphasizing the base sets. The long-term solution will be to go through the cards and remove the half that I find the least interesting so that they can be shuffled together with Seaside on an even footing. I just don't think that there's enough variety in the cards of those two sets to justify the relative weight they get by being two sets. I used to just pick one or the other, but now they're in one box, so this works pretty well.
Quote: Besides, I just randomize Alchemy like any other set. to me it adds another layer of strategy. If there's only 1 or 2 Alchemy cards that use a potion, then do I use a buy to get a potion? do what you like but Alchemy has a lot of very cool cards. Golem is one of my favorites in the game.
Anyway, I hear what you're saying. Dominion has been hitting the table more lately, so an Alchemy purchase will probably eventually happen. I'm kind of excited about Prosperity, though, so that will probably happen first.
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Gerald Katz
United States
New York
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The point of the game is the interaction between the cards, not the theme. You're ignoring the forest for the trees.
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