I am a little behind getting into Dominion. Just picked up the base game 2 weeks ago, but out of 8 people who I have played it with, all 8 have loved it. Thanks for this review, tells me exactly what I wanted to know. I hesitated from buying this expansion today, and you confirmed some of my suspicions about this expansion. I think I will look at the other expansions first and leave this one for a bit. Thanks again, really enjoy your reviews.
I'm wondering if the players chose to forego potion and instead considered any cards that cost potion to cost +1 instead or maybe substitute, potion for action. So that a card which costs 3 treasure and 1 potion would instead cost 3 treasure and one action card. Could that work?
Good review, really covered the game well, it seems. One random note, it seems to me that if you are playing with the Philosopher's Stone, you can speed up the game by having everyone keep a running total of the cards in their decks. Then, you only have to subtract the cards in their hand and in play (which is usually only 5-7, much easier to count)
You don't need more than one potion card to make potions worth while. Potion cards are generally so much more powerful than non potion cards that it can be worth it. I've won plenty of games with just one potion and a bunch of Familiars.
I like the idea of using the Philosopher's stone card, and i think i have an idea that could reduce the time needed to use it. If it's in play, have each player keep track of the total number of cards they have in their deck on a piece of paper and edit the number as they buy in trash card. That way, when a player uses this card, they only have to count the cards in hand an in play, and subtract that from their recorded deck size. this might make the card more fun and feasible
...and everyone is writing a whole piece of paper per round, like they are doing exams in school or something. All that, just in case someone, MAYBE, could buy that one action and use it later on. Yeah uhm... no thx.
When I first played Alchemy, I completely agreed with all of your sentiments. I thought it was weird and pretty lame. However, after playing Dominion a lot more, it's clear to me now that almost every Alchemy card is extremely strong. A single Alchemy card in the pool dramatically changes gameplay. Transmute, in my opinion, is one of the weakest because it has such a narrow use. However, it's INCREDIBLE effective early on for some quick Gold or for performing a Duchy rush.
I want to first thank you for ALL your reviews. I have been playing dominion for about 6 months and have about 6 sets. One of the favorites of the people adult a & children 10 and up is this set. We play every week 2 games and usually switch sets, but if asked they usually request this set to be one of the sets played. I think because it is soooooo very different then the others. I want to reiterate that I am so thankful you do your explanations they have helped tremendously to understand the games. Keep on vlogging.
I recommend to ignore the 3-5 potion rule. Just mix them with the other cards! You will sometimes buy then and sometimes not - like most of the other cards.
the familiar is the best card in dominion by far. get it first and get many. then corrupt your opponents deck with curses while you keep drawing cards.
I think you should stop knocking these out so fast and concentrate on some quality control. Letting the audio go out of synch like that is just sloppy.
I dislike that this expansion pulls the game squarely into the realm of Fantasy, instead of being some kind of medieval kingdom builder. Of course, the original had the Witch-card, but that card could be explained away with being some elder woman who happened to have medical knowledge and could therefore poison opposing players. With Alchemy, it appears magic have been explored as an accepted science -> Fantasy. I also dislike that Alchemy took some non-magical names, e.g. University.
"ive seen some violent reactions to possession"
"I've seen some people have really violent reactions to possession."
Care to elaborate...
I am a little behind getting into Dominion. Just picked up the base game 2 weeks ago, but out of 8 people who I have played it with, all 8 have loved it. Thanks for this review, tells me exactly what I wanted to know. I hesitated from buying this expansion today, and you confirmed some of my suspicions about this expansion. I think I will look at the other expansions first and leave this one for a bit. Thanks again, really enjoy your reviews.
I'm wondering if the players chose to forego potion and instead considered any cards that cost potion to cost +1 instead or maybe substitute, potion for action. So that a card which costs 3 treasure and 1 potion would instead cost 3 treasure and one action card.
Could that work?
Good review, really covered the game well, it seems.
One random note, it seems to me that if you are playing with the Philosopher's Stone, you can speed up the game by having everyone keep a running total of the cards in their decks. Then, you only have to subtract the cards in their hand and in play (which is usually only 5-7, much easier to count)
You don't need more than one potion card to make potions worth while. Potion cards are generally so much more powerful than non potion cards that it can be worth it. I've won plenty of games with just one potion and a bunch of Familiars.
I like the idea of using the Philosopher's stone card, and i think i have an idea that could reduce the time needed to use it. If it's in play, have each player keep track of the total number of cards they have in their deck on a piece of paper and edit the number as they buy in trash card. That way, when a player uses this card, they only have to count the cards in hand an in play, and subtract that from their recorded deck size. this might make the card more fun and feasible
...and everyone is writing a whole piece of paper per round, like they are doing exams in school or something. All that, just in case someone, MAYBE, could buy that one action and use it later on. Yeah uhm... no thx.
When I first played Alchemy, I completely agreed with all of your sentiments. I thought it was weird and pretty lame.
However, after playing Dominion a lot more, it's clear to me now that almost every Alchemy card is extremely strong. A single Alchemy card in the pool dramatically changes gameplay.
Transmute, in my opinion, is one of the weakest because it has such a narrow use. However, it's INCREDIBLE effective early on for some quick Gold or for performing a Duchy rush.
@ErmineskinCreelov the out of synch sound can just as well be a fault at youtubes end not the dice towers.
I want to first thank you for ALL your reviews. I have been playing dominion for about 6 months and have about 6 sets. One of the favorites of the people adult a & children 10 and up is this set. We play every week 2 games and usually switch sets, but if asked they usually request this set to be one of the sets played. I think because it is soooooo very different then the others. I want to reiterate that I am so thankful you do your explanations they have helped tremendously to understand the games. Keep on vlogging.
I recommend to ignore the 3-5 potion rule. Just mix them with the other cards! You will sometimes buy then and sometimes not - like most of the other cards.
Well. This is a third video with audio out of sync (in the second part of vid only!).
@wordlyweko
Yup. That's why people re-upload.
My favorite expansion so far is Seaside.
@ErmineskinCreelov Whatever, keep knocking them out quick: I love it
@DesmonJones
It's both. Google is your friend.
the familiar is the best card in dominion by far. get it first and get many. then corrupt your opponents deck with curses while you keep drawing cards.
I had gotten over 100 VP when Vineyard was in the kingdom.
@anotherelvis Agreed, I wouldn't have purchased it if I had seen this first.
Oh. Waiting for Prosperity review.
whoa, nice kungfu theater at the end there.
i play with the kids and may pick the expansion up if they realy want it. thanks
That's a fair review I'd say.
I love the HD video! Looks amazing! Oh, and I never play with alchemy. I just don't like the set.
POSSESSION and MASQUERADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If i were to get this, it would be to use possession when sitting next to my roommate.
I disagree, this expansion is awesome with prosperity ... we found some awesome strats
my philosopher was once 12
I think you should stop knocking these out so fast and concentrate on some quality control. Letting the audio go out of synch like that is just sloppy.
hahaha, yeah you were right, no other Potion card in the futur
agreed. i bought this expansion because it looked the most interesting, but turned out to be the most boring. lol how unfortunate
Not wise to upset a wookie
I dislike that this expansion pulls the game squarely into the realm of Fantasy, instead of being some kind of medieval kingdom builder. Of course, the original had the Witch-card, but that card could be explained away with being some elder woman who happened to have medical knowledge and could therefore poison opposing players. With Alchemy, it appears magic have been explored as an accepted science -> Fantasy. I also dislike that Alchemy took some non-magical names, e.g. University.
ALCHEMY, CRAPPIEST EXPANSION