Dominion Strategy Forum

Dominion => Game Reports => Topic started by: ecq on April 28, 2012, 05:14:28 pm

Title: Well-supported Vineyards vs well-supported Duke
Post by: ecq on April 28, 2012, 05:14:28 pm
This game (http://councilroom.com/game?game_id=game-20120427-205626-f782840e.html) came up yesterday:

Chancellor, Duke, Haggler, Hamlet, Horse Traders, Lighthouse, Mining Village, Pawn, Potion, Vineyard, and Walled Village

The game was impressively close, and ended with the lead trading back and forth and neither player being comfortable letting piles get too low.  It could have gone either way in the end.  Vineyards won, but the Duke player had $5 in-hand to buy an 8VP Duke the next turn, which would have given him the lead.  It's rare to see such divergent strategies end up that close.

I can spot a few mistakes on both sides, and I'm still not sure whether one strategy is better.  Thoughts?
Title: Re: Well-supported Vineyards vs well-supported Duke
Post by: Geronimoo on April 29, 2012, 04:52:54 am
The first card tO buy on $2 is lighthouse and not pawn. It's far better economy. I see one big problem for vineyards: no +x cards, but he solved that nicely buying potions early and often.
Title: Re: Well-supported Vineyards vs well-supported Duke
Post by: ecq on April 29, 2012, 08:25:58 pm
Pawn seemed like a decent buy for its versatility.  You can take the money and buys to load up on action cards or you can play it as a cantrip to cycle through to Potions faster.

Lighthouse is better for the economy, but it does nothing for cycling and lacks +buy for gaining more action cards.  What would you done after Lighthouse?  Haggler / Walled Village?

I don't have a great feel for how Vineyards should be played on this board.  Too many options.