Dominion Dark Ages Review - with Tom and Melody Vasel

[@michaelperkins3225]

Your daughter's hilarious at 16:40

[@kimberlymatisko6937]

Thank you for the explanation about the shelters! I couldn’t figure out how we were supposed to play with them and this cleared it up

[@VULTUSPRIME]

"I wonder if they should stop now"! Last famous words.

[@-Tristan-]

Just watched this review... and thought the same *g

[@garryknox1614]

Thank you Melody for your entertaining hand gesture mimicry! LOL. Dominion is great and this adds more greatness.

[@JonathonV]

Haha, it never ceases to surprise me how your opinion of Dominion expansions is almost always directly opposite to mine! One of the most game-changing cards in Dark Ages in my opinion is one of the simplest in the set: Fortress, because with cards like Remodel, or with Knights (the attack actually benefits you!) or with Procession, Fortress instantly makes them all more powerful. Lurker from Intrigue is amazing with Fortress, since you can trash a Fortress from the supply, put it straight into your hand, and have an extra action to play it with! (Similarly, Watchtower from Prosperity can put it in your hand when you gain it.) I love Fortress for that. Also, I find Beggar to be super useless and I almost never buy it. Very rarely would I want three more Coppers, and the attacks rarely coincide with the Beggar enough to get the Silvers; I could usually just buy the Silvers in as many turns as buying the Beggar and waiting for it to resurface. One thing I do agree on: Prosperity is an excellent expansion, especially for beginners. Still, I’d take Dark Ages over Seaside any day because it has far fewer dud cards (Seaside has Pearl Diver, Sea Hag, and the ever annoying and game-lengthening Ambassador). The complexity of an expansion seems to make things less enjoyable for you, whereas it makes things more enjoyable for me. I’d also disagree that Dark Ages doesn’t play well with other expansions. My two cents. :)

[@nshaw1299]

This is the expansion that made Dominion fun for me. The Dominion version of 'Valhala' to 'Champions of Midgard' (because it made trashing far more interesting)

[@PeterSchott]

I so appreciate Melody taking part in the wrap up. I can only imagine that holding that box up gets boring after a while. The game itself looks interesting to me because I like the idea of more choices and I know my wife will easily go in for more attack-type cards. I'll just put it down as a future buy for the time being. Need to get more money in my gaming budget first. :)

[@fightingkitchen7960]

Yeah, it’s a pretty fun game.

[@Auxius.]

First time I played the base game last week, I came across Chapel and I decided to create a dominion of one chapel, cellars one bandit and victory points, trashed the rest :D Sadly I lost due to the gardens of my opponent. I think I should've stuck some villages in there to speed the discarding/banditting up.

[@exterminateexterminate9751]

I'm a Dominion professional, so let me tell you that Ironmonger, Hermit and Counterfeit are all AMAZING!!!! Great review though.

[@monteslu]

A little more complex, but in a very good way. Makes the game deeper, but not at the expense of a ton of new rules. Disagree with Tom. This is the best expansion to date.

[@MaxBenitez83]

Hi. I was wondering if it was possible to Remodel a card not in the Supply (like Madman or Spoils) from your hand into a card costing up to 2 more (like an Estate). Any help would be appreciated.

[@dandude5196]

Sure lmao!!!!

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

"I'm wondering if maybe they should stop now." They will never stop. Never.

[@gryphon202]

True and enough, but if you don't like playing with Baron when you have the shelters out, just don't put Baron in with the randomizers. You can play with whatever set of ten you want.

[@Powergridfan]

I've only played Dark Ages once since buying it last weekend, but I'm thinking Tom is right as far as this one maybe not playing as well with other expansions as say, Prosperity. Our first play was one of the longest games of Dominion I've ever played and with newer Dominion players I can see that being a distinct downside with the game. Knowing when the game is not about chasing provinces and when it's time to pursue a 3 pile game end is not easy - even for veteran players.

[@HarryDwarf]

Looks fun to me! Adding more variety of strategies to the game is ok in my books.

[@saintidoru]

I guess I'm assuming you wouldn't buy a contraband (or keep copper) if there is venture on the table. Honestly - maybe a card draw action or two, something to trash out copper, and a hanful of ventures is very powerful. Most strategies get sluggish as you but more and more green. Venture doesn't even see the green in your deck. For sure, the KC KC B B B combo is mad - but that's a specific 5 card draw. Venture never fails me! X

[@kroen]

Only thing I dislike about Shelters is how they render Baron 99% unplayable. I can only see it bought if it's the only +buy in the kingdom.

[@eless066]

More complex expansion: Yes please!

[@saintidoru]

Hmm... Fewer "new rules" here than Seaside (headscrewy duration cards) and less new slightly broken stuff like "victory chips" (Prosperity - Goons!). I think it'll work well with older sets mixed in, but we won't know till we try, Tom! There are enough other cards with trashing for these cards to shine, I think. I still think that there is only one truly "broken" card in Dominion... (Venture), so it's still my fave game, I think! X

[@justandyisok]

Actually, he is still working on them. Planned doesn't mean finished.

[@justandyisok]

You are one of a few. Congrats! You should have enough to play for a while, but chances are you play online more than in real life, because, let's face it, fan boys and board game "buffs" are the reason this game is still relatively popular.

[@TheAyanamiRei]

Really good review! Looks like a cool thing for Dominion. Though I saw Netrunner: Android up there! When are you going to do a review of it??

[@jasonfalcon]

You seem to say convoluted alot in your various reviews haha!

[@richardhutnik]

How about liking the game alot, and having all the expansions and then realizing you have back issues so you can't lift your set? Welcome to my world. That is also sadness. Argh! But you are right.

[@Schlohmotion]

13:41 So, before I attack with my knight I trash my enemies knight via pillage.

[@Kniesoor]

quick question, where do I put the mercenary and madman. There seems to be no space for it in the box :-s

[@TheHouseofPanda]

I thought they went right behind their respective Urchin and Hermit cards in the same slots.

[@rkky]

Good, thorough review

[@TheParadox3000]

awsome review, awesome expansion!

[@OwinDB]

Yes

[@slammer612]

Padawan just upset because he gets to confused in it (also eats babies)

[@mich4791]

Maybe some people are, but there are plenty of people who aren't.

[@Ab1djan]

I love DA and disagree with you on many points, but thats ok the world would be boring if we all had the same oppinions.

[@Laian41]

You're going to tell someone that "s/he is one of the few" on a mixed review of the game? I don't know what kind of point you were making, but I sure hope you aren't surprised that not many people are going to agree with you.

[@ClusterFuckRecords]

"the vagrant isn't terrible but.." the vagrant is one of the best cards in the entire set.

[@justandyisok]

Grammar must confuse you, too:/ Oh well. They are teaching people how to troll over on reddit, you should check it out.

[@mich4791]

You're commenting on an online review for the 7th expansion for this game, yet it seems like you're also trying to talk down to the "fan boys" and "board game buffs" who play it online? FWIW, on Amazon's Best Sellers in Board Games list, Dark Ages is currently #6 and Dominion is #10. So it seems like it's still doing alright IRL, even if it's made a few people like you grumpy for some reason.

[@jasonglover6615]

Thanks Tom for the review. I was excited about this one, but I think I will pass. I guess as long as people keep on buying these expansions, they will keep on making them, but I think I am done. I will spend my money elsewhere on a new experience like Lords of Waterdeep, Powergrid: First Sparks, or Smash Up. All three I have been wanting but waiting.

[@slammer612]

Nah, I am good where I am. I love reading when people try to act cool by hating or speaking for the general public. Translation: good for you that you are bored of dominion, but there are quite a lot that still enjoy it. When he does this years people's choice top 100 it will end up back at #1.

[@dannydoesright]

Dominion: Trash. I like it. With that said, this deck seems a little to complex for my wife and anything that over complicates an already great game isn't for us. I just don't see us using enough of these cards to warrant a purchase. Also, it seems you have to use a bunch of these in a game and can't really mix and match THAT much.

[@awesomeness24great62]

People argue how the poor house use?

[@2winks538]

Where are the rats

[@spanky1113]

No money + New Dominion Expansion = Sadness

[@riceman2011]

You think Pirate Ship is a game changing card? Dude, your credibility just went down the drain

[@PlanetHugger]

Very last sentence didn´t aged well

[@gmanward]

Does beggar look like Obi Wan to anyone else?

[@OriS-16]

YOU are tired of Dominion. I personally think dominion is the best boardgame of the world and if they never stop... it will be good news.

[@wroot_lt]

Bloargest expansion indeed :)

[@theGoonofDominion]

Prosperity is the 2ed worst set in dominion because it makes the game take longer. Cornucopia is the best set because it helps you 4 multiple cards and no good 2's? Chapel, Haven, Fool's Gold, Pawn? are they bad? NO and Knights are going to be as good as saboteur (crap) plz estates could go it to silver i think u can start with the new stuff i'll start with estates Dominion is and always will be a great game. plz make more expansion!!!!!!

[@exterminateexterminate9751]

Also, Pillage is probably the worst 5.

[@BenedictHarris]

ahaha :)

[@AgentKuo]

Trash Ages

[@TheChaoslive]

bahahahaha

[@justandyisok]

He won't... people are getting tired of Dominion..

[@Rich711]

18 minutes!?!? ugh

[@mydemon]

Noone is forcing you to watch!?!? Ugh

[@WannaBeRockStar800]

Dark ages trash lol