Rate the Fun: Dominion

Dominion is a fast paced card game by Donald X. Vaccarino and published by Rio Grande Games. Players begin with an identical, very small deck of cards. In the middle of the table are "Kingdom” cards that can "bought" depending on the hand drawn. How you use your hand and what you choose to buy effects the deck you build. You are attempting to create the most efficient method of “buying” precious victory points to win the game.

What I love about the game is the possibilities. Every time you play the game dynamics could be completely different based on the action cards you choose. The box includes 25 different action cards but you only put ten of these out. You could use one of their suggested games or make a random deck. It is also one of the quicker games I play (30min), is easy for newcomers to pick up, and popular with most people who has played it. It won Spiel des Jahres 2009 (the German Game of the Year Award same award as Settlers in 1995) and nine other gaming awards (credit: boardgamegeek.com). From the back of the box:

"You are a monarch, like your parents before you, a ruler of a small pleasant kingdom of rivers and evergreens. Unlike your parents, however, you have hopes and dreams! You want a bigger and more pleasant kingdom, with more rivers and a wider variety of trees. You want a Dominion! In all directions lie fiefs,freeholds, and feodums. All are small bits of land, controlled by petty lords and verging on anarchy. You will bring civilization to these people, uniting them under your banner.

"But wait! It must be something in the air; several other monarchs have had the exact same idea. You must race to get as much of the unclaimed land as possible, fending them off along the way. To do this you will hire minions, construct buildings, spruce up your castle, and fill the coffers of your treasury. Your parents wouldn't be proud, but your grandparents would be delighted."

The Game Set Up

The Scores:
Dominion = 8.8

The Rate the Fun Scale:
10 = Outstandingly Awesome Game; Always want to play it and I expect this will never change.
9 = Excellent Game; Always want to play it.
8 = Very good game; I like to play. Probably I'll suggest it and I'll never turn down a game.
7 = Good game; Usually willing to play.
6 = Okay game; There is some element of fun or challenge; will play sporadically if in the right mood.
5 = Fair game; Slightly boring, take it or leave it.
4 =Not so good; It doesn't get me but I could be talked into it on ccasion.
3 = Bad; Likely won't play this again but could be convinced.
2 = Extremely annoying game; Won't play this ever again.
1 = Clearly broken; You won't catch me dead playing this.