ChromaticTheory

I am a big fan of this game. It has just enough strategy to keep more advanced players interested but it isn’t so involved as to scare off newbies.

Pros: Gameplay moves quickly and rarely gets bogged down during turns. The randomness of each game setup ensures interesting and mostly balanced replay value, with the occasional curve ball to keep things interesting. There are different game boards depending on the number of players involved as well, which is a very nice touch.

Cons: I will admit the game can be daunting at first. There is a lot to keep track of between the different powers and races.

I would probably not suggest this game to very casual players, but if you are looking for a fast paced and goofy strategy game I wholeheartedly suggest SmallWorld.

The game gets its name from having cards that reward players for having the maximum variety of cards in their deck, a Cornucopia! Unlike previous expansions, this can change the fundamental strategy that players would employ.

Up until this expansion, the basic strategy for Dominion (including other expansions) is to find a few Kingdom cards in the current array that work well together and stack your deck with them. Cornucopia instead asks players to gain as wide a variety of Kingdom cards as they can, with benefits for doing say ranging from more actions during your turn to more victory points at the end of the game.

I quite enjoyed seeing this new mechanic, it allows for even more variety in play styles. One of the reasons I love Dominion so much is that you can win in any number of different ways, and Cornucopia simply adds another way to win without detracting from other strategies.

I am very much of the opinion that Dominion is the best game around. Set up is simple and quick, the rules are easily understood, and various strategies for play are encouraged.

I will admit, the number of specific effects that various cards offer can be daunting for new players. Trying to keep track of what your cards are doing can be complicated at first, but by the end of your first game, if not your first hand, you should have a solid idea of how different cards effect your turn.

Pros: Simple enough for casual gamers, strategic enough to keep hardcore gamers interested. Wide variety of cards offer hours of replay value. Several expansions offer even more cards with new rules and effects without changing the basic way the game is played

Cons: There are a few cards that can severely limit how other players play the game, they can force that a very specific strategy be used.