by cotyp

This post was originally posted on my blog, kacoplays. Click to view this blog on its original format
Introduction: Why You Shouldn't Judge a Game by Its Cover
Dominion isn't winning any beauty contests at first glance. The box is...a box, and the art is...unique. It's not bad, per se, but it might have you wondering for a second if you accidentally grabbed a pack of Magic: The Gathering cards instead. The art kind of grows on you, especially once you see how well it reflects the card's function. But here's the thing: looks can be incredibly deceiving, especially in the world of board games. Dominion might not catch your eye, but this game is a strategic powerhouse. This was the first deck-building game I ever played. Six years later, we’ve challenged ourselves to play 100 different kingdoms this year. We've done it three times already, can we play the 100 kingdoms? We shall see. Follow my search for the perfect kingdom geeklist!

From Deck-Building Newbie to Fanatic
I stumbled upon Dominion at my local game store—a used copy of the first version with two expansions. Deck-building was a new concept for me, but the easy-to-learn rules and deep strategy had our entire friend group hooked after just one game. We fumbled at first, unsure of the best path to victory. Why do you only get one action, one buy, and one card? Whoa, what is this card that gives me an extra buy? With each game, it clicked. We started crafting killer combos, building our own money-making machines. My only issue? Figuring out how to trash cards effectively—but that’s a story for another day

Simple Rules, Deep Strategy
Dominion's beauty lies in its deceptively simple rules. Forget complex resource systems. You have a core set of actions: buy a card, play a treasure for money, or unleash an action card's effect. This streamlined system makes Dominion easy to teach and a perfect gateway game for new players (as long as the Witch doesn't come out in the first game)

The Power of Extra Actions and Buys
This is where things get exciting. Dominion throws in cards that let you bend the rules a bit. These "action cards" are the real game-changers. Want to draw more cards and see more options? Grab a card that lets you do just that! Need a quick cash infusion to snag that powerful card? Play a treasure that gives you extra buying power. The key to victory lies in strategically using these cards to create an unstoppable engine. The secret sauce is figuring out how to draw a ton of cards to generate massive wealth, and then use that wealth to purchase powerful cards that let you draw even more cards, generate even more wealth, buy multiple cards in a single turn, and ultimately acquire the most Provinces to win

A Fresh Take: Upgrading Dominion with the Update Pack
I updated my Dominion first edition box with the second-edition update and base pack, and honestly, it’s been a great decision. This pack allows me to have the second edition game without having to throw away my first edition sleeved find 🥰. If you’re new to Dominion, buy the second edition—it’s streamlined and polished. But if, like us, you stumble across a used first-edition copy for a crazy good price, the update and base pack makes so much sense. Sure, some of the first-edition cards that got cut (looking at you, Thief and Chancellor) have a bad rap, but honestly? They’re still fun, especially when you’re new and experimenting. And my absolute favorite part of upgrading? Now I’ve got two sets of Treasures, Curses, and Victory cards. I’ve sleeved them up in a Gamegenic 200 deck box, so whenever we’re traveling and going out with a potential to be able to play this game, I just toss in a few kingdoms, and boom—we’re ready to play wherever we go. The only downside is that I don't have a trash mat, but we've survived!

Pros
✅ Easy to learn
🔄 Infinite replayability
⏩ Quick turns (unless you get someone with analysis paralysis)
👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Works for families, casual gamers, and strategy enthusiasts alike
📦 Travel-friendly if you pack a single kingdom
📜 Great rulebook

Considerations
⚠️ The box and art won’t win any beauty contests
🧠 Overthinking? Totally possible. There's so many strategic options 🤓
💸 The expansions are addictive and amazing—you’ve been warned!

Bottom Line
Have you tried this beauty? If not, next time you're browsing the game store shelves, don't be fooled by the box. Dominion might not be the prettiest game on the shelf, but the gameplay? That's pure, strategic gold.

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