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Poker Video: Misc/Other by DeathDonkey (Micro/Small Stakes)

This game is incredible. Question in the image:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3493/dominionq.png

And some brags (note how perfect the left one is down to the dollar, buys, last second curse and victory point without counting )

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/4674/epicwins.png

This game is incredible. Question in the image:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3493/dominionq.png

I initially thought Monument-FishingVillage was the best play here, depending on how your opponent opens (looks like he went Island). But I might change my mind because TradeRoute will have early power and it would clean your deck out much faster if you started with at least one of them. I probably lean towards that now, especially since Islands are already opened. I guess Monument-TradeRoute, Island-TradeRoute, GreatHall-TradeRoute or even the bold TradeRoute-TradeRoute would work, the latter planning to clean your deck out ASAP.

Turns 3-N I'd spend on FVs, Monuments, and Golds/Goons. Save the Islands for later once you start picking up Provinces, since they waste an action and you'll want to mostly just trash your starting cards with the TR. I think whoever gets more and faster Goons is likely to win this one, so once you get to 6 I'd probably pick up a few Goons before your first Gold. Also, once Goons are in play (hopefully you get them first) you should use your +buy to pick up a Moat or two to counter your opponent's Goons (and with enough FVs you can actually benefit from the +2cards, too!)

Thats actually a really interesting set, I might have to try it out

Interesting, I never really considered TR early as they give no money, and you might as well go ambassador (which is what I did in the game) if you want to trash, as it also annoys your opponent and you can trash 2 at once sometime. Thoughts on that thought process? And would you intentionally buy an estate at some point to trash it again with tradewood so it starts earning $?

Interesting, I never really considered TR early as they give no money, and you might as well go ambassador (which is what I did in the game) if you want to trash, as it also annoys your opponent and you can trash 2 at once sometime. Thoughts on that thought process? And would you intentionally buy an estate at some point to trash it again with tradewood so it starts earning $?

Ordinarily, TR is a weaker early play because you have to "power it up" but in this set there are 2 useful and cheap victory cards, so it can be useful early (and of course in the late-game its really nice to get +4 or +5 from it, especially when you've got a surfeit of coppers lying around from your goons buys).

I played a few rounds of this set with slightly different strats (though they all wound up about the same in the middlegame and onwards):

http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201101/27/game-20110127-135219-97ba3a5e.html.gz - I didn't expect Colonies and Platinums, but they didn't turn out to matter at all since I ended it quickly by buying out piles. Interestingly enough, I was handicapped by the 5/2 start and just bought a TR against his Island/FV, but I was able to overcome the deficit. Once I picked up a few provinces and had the VP token lead I just went for the quick-end (a very available option in this set!)

http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201101/27/game-20110127-141037-0f92e9c2.html.gz - My opponent opened Ambassador-Silver and I went TR-Island. This one wound up pretty close, actually, but I was able to out-province him. Despite his VPtoken lead, I edged him out. One interesting aspect here is that I typically don't buy extra coppers with my early-turn goons, preferring to keep my deck more streamlined. He always maxed out his buys, so I dunno which is optimal here but it worked out ok for me. I suppose if he had some more ambassadors he could empty those coppers back into my deck faster, but that seems like it would require lots of hand realestate that could be better served by more valuable cards.

http://dominion.isotropic.org/gamelog/201101/27/game-20110127-142640-035a83e4.html.gz - Not much trouble here. My opponent opened Warehouse/Monument so I decided to try out the FV/Monument line myself, but it pretty quickly got back on track with the regular strat. I picked up my first Goons on turn 5 and never looked back.

So, the question of which is the best one still remains. My biggest win came with FV+Monument, possibly because I had buying power much faster, but it probably depends on what our opponent is up to.

I would go island, don't think its that close. My main thought process would be with island and great hall in play its going to be a quick game where 3 piles ends it. I would rush VP.

edit: grindcore get my AIM or skype so we can play!

PMd you my skype. Isn't monument better than island early on then, as you can play it repeatedly, and start hoarding islands after you get some fishing villages first?


Also out of curiosity, are there any strategies (with other cards) that involve chancellors? I can't really think of a use for them except combining them with moneycounter/copper (if it works the way I think it works anyway, I've never used it as it seemed useless).

PMd you my skype. Isn't monument better than island early on then, as you can play it repeatedly, and start hoarding islands after you get some fishing villages first?

Yea I think Monument is a stronger opening because we'll get to play that card 5+ times over the course of the game, gaining $ each time. Island is only useful once, and is a little cloggy until then. I'd rather trash my estates than Island them, at least if thats an easy option.

Also out of curiosity, are there any strategies (with other cards) that involve chancellors? I can't really think of a use for them except combining them with moneycounter/copper (if it works the way I think it works anyway, I've never used it as it seemed useless).

http://dominionstrategy.wordpress.com/2011/01/28/guest-article-chancellor/ The gist of it is that he thinks its a stronger card than its given credit for, but that its basically a gamble to take it instead of silver first turn. Also, it doesn't really combine well with many things, it just makes your whole deck cycle faster.

I have played three games of Dominion with friends (so I'm obviously an expert by now). Does anyone want to destroy me online and then tell me what stupid things I did so I can use this knowledge to crush my friends? :-)

PMd you my skype. Isn't monument better than island early on then, as you can play it repeatedly, and start hoarding islands after you get some fishing villages first?


Also out of curiosity, are there any strategies (with other cards) that involve chancellors? I can't really think of a use for them except combining them with moneycounter/copper (if it works the way I think it works anyway, I've never used it as it seemed useless).

I disagree with DJ, I think in a speed game you want to make sure you end the game ASAP, and starting monument will slow you by probably a full turn. Getting a few extra VP is irrelevant in the game I am predicting because your opponent is most likely going to try to upgrade hard to get provinces (or race with you and then its a micro management contest). Either he will succeed and get a lot of provinces or you will end the game fast and beat him handily, it would be unlikely to be a super close game if it went that route.

There is some discussion of chancellors on the boardgamegeek forums (the DC of board games imo)

how can I choose which set I want to take? I only want to play my first games with the basic set... makes the game a little bit faster I guess. Does anyone know?

edit: sry I have found it under the constraints set = base... I should have looked closer before I've asked.

The new expansion is out! Jester is ridiculous.

The new expansion is out! Jester is ridiculous.

on isotropic?

Yeah.

Alright, now that this poker thing is not taking up my time, does anyone want to play some games with a n00b? I promise to lose gracefully and often.

I'll be in the lobby for a bit while doing other stuff.