I have played quite a few casual Dominion games over the years. Finally, I think it is time for me to purchase my own copy of the game. Therefore, I need to select which expansions I would like to purchase. Currently, I have enough credits at my FLGS account (gained from dumping a few kilograms of old M:tG cards) for 3 large expansions + base cards or small expansion.
Personal & playgroup background:
I am CCG veteran, so even complex card interactions are not a problem to me, neither to my usual playgroup. However, from time to time I will be playing with players new to Dominion (= alternative playgroup), so I wish the sets I pick have also some "vanilla capability" (to lessen walls of text and AP for first time players by e.g. fixing 6-7 simple kingdom cards, then grabbing the rest more randomly to make things a bit interesting) for introducing new players to the game. From time to time, I will be playing H2H with my girlfriend, who does not like direct attacks. But to reduce that with 3-4 expansions, I believe the veto rule will be okay-ish even by itself.
I - and especially my playgroup - have played enough of the Dominion base set to get bored of it. Seaside has not seen as much play, but one of my friends already has it available, so I do not consider it a "must buy" since we can just combine our purchases when we play together, making it a lower priority. Some players in my playgroup dislike Alchemy a lot, because one of the guys bought it as the only expansion to combine with Intrigue...a combination which sucked and "ruined" Alchemy for many of us.
Our playgroup does not have any experience of expansions released after Alchemy (= Prosperity, Hinterlands, Cornucopia and Dark Ages), making them a higher priority on my purchase list. At the time of writing, Dark Ages is not yet available in the FLGS where I have the in-store credits.
Initial thoughts:
I am considering a mix of Base cards (NOT base set) + Prosperity + Hinterlands + Intrigue/Seaside.
Reasoning:
- Platinum + Colonies will be a whole new world of experience for even the most veteran Dominion players in my playgroup, making it a top priority.
- Hinterlands is the latest large expansion available in my FLGS full of new and mysterious cards for our playgroup. Making it a second-from-top priority.
- Intrigue has the "vanilla element", including a touch a familiarity for some Dominion players in my playgroup used to play sets until Alchemy came out (and when they quite sadly lost interest in future Dominion expansions as a consequence). Making introducing the newer sets simpler to the veterans by including some familiar Intrigue interactions into the mix.
- Base cards + Intrigue allows for 5 players, or 2 playgroups simultaneously, without purchasing the Dominion base set "everyone" seems to be quite bored with already. Not a top priority, since someone is bound to bring their base set along regardless for the second bunch of basic cards.
- Base cards + Prosperity + Intrigue allows for 2 playgroups to be playing with Platinum and Colonies simultaneously. Not a top priority, but a nice bonus nevertheless.
- Intrigue includes the 5-6 players rules in print form. The base set and base cards do not.
- The four above points are the main reasons why I consider purchasing Intrigue over Seaside as "the third set".
Other expansion alternatives:
"All new cards": Base cards + Prosperity + Hinterlands + Cornucopia -seems like the learning curve would be quite steep for everyone involved, especially the newbies, because there is little to no "vanilla factor".
"Moar cards": Prosperity + Cornucopia + Hinterlands + Intrigue -skipping the Base cards in favor of Cornucopia means more Kingdom cards. Someone is bound to bring their copy of base set in case we need the basic cards for the second playgroup, anyhow. No Platinum + Colonies for the second group, but then again at least one of the two simultaneous groups is bound to be newbie-heavy, anyhow, which would favor a more basic game experience (e.g. the base set + Intrigue).
...and of course, even if I am about to purchase 3-4 expansions with my store credit at once, that does not mean I have to introduce all of the new card sets simultaneously to the play group.
Comments or suggestions?
EDIT: Please also suggest some sample 10-card kingdom combinations compiled from the suggested sets for
a) players completely new to the game ("vanilla factor") - without Platinum + Colonies
b) a slightly more advanced compilation to introduce Platinum + Colonies mechanics to players who have played Dominion (especially Base set/Intrigue/Seaside) a few times already
c) players familiar with Intrigue but new to any expansion released after Alchemy, preferably containing some new interactions with old cards, with or without Platinum + Colonies