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« on: July 13, 2013, 07:03:52 pm »
Wow, Seaside, Prosperity and Dark Ages for beginners. That's a really a hard task. After the first game you will hopefully have the second one, so you need to introduce many concepts in the first game without completely overwhelming them with choices and edge cases.
Here are my design criteria:
1. Players' decks must improve gradually. No megaturns or crazy combos. In other words, effect of each card should be obvious. Engines should occur naturally, no traps.
2. No durations
In my experience, beginners tend to have problems with basic game mechanics, like when to shuffle, so durations are really unaceptable in the first game.
2. No attacks
Yes, attacks are an important aspect of Dominion, but keep in mind that if you're introducing the game IRL, it will probably be a 3+ player game where attacks will be very annoing. I don't see a simple counter like Moat in your sets.
4. At least one card at each price level. You don't want them to feel unlucky and they will always want to buy the most expensive card anyway.
5. Benefit of trashing must be obvious.
6. No alternative VP. KISS.
7. All vanilla bonuses should be introduced.
8. Big money shouldn't be a good strategy. There's nothing more annoying than losing to a begginer playing big money (been there).
Here's my deck:
- No shelters, no Colony.
- Grand Market.
This is the most complicated card in the deck. It requires the players to understand the concept of separate phases of playing treasures and buying cards. Normally I wouldn't recommend it with beginners, but you own Prosperity, you have to wipe out any misconceptions in this area quickly. On the plus side, Grand Market clearly states that Copper is bad.
- Bazar
- Catacombs
Engine parts which aren't usually a mistake. Coolnes of engines is naturally introduced.
- Mystic
I remember a beginner quickly grasping the idea of Wishing Well. This should be similar.
- Venture
Once someone understands Grand Market, he won't have problems with Venture.
- Armory
- Island
- Salvager
Terminals. This is the weakness of this kingdsom. I feel there should be more, but you don't have that many begginer friendly terminals in your sets.
- Lookout
Only one card for 3. This will help beginners avoid the mistake of not buying Silver.
- Vagrant
There must exist a card costing 2. It clearly wins with Pearl Diver by its simplicity.
And baker one had at least some hard decision about when to start greening but otherwise it was just wierd BM-Chapel
. So thanks again and good luck in next rounds
