Dominion (Base Set)

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Dominion
Dominion.jpg
Dominion2.jpg
Info
Type Base Game
Icon Dominion icon.png
Cards 500
252 (25 sets)
208
32
7
Other Card(s)
Theme(s) Simplicity
Release October 2008
Official Rulebook PDF

Dominion, sometimes called Base Dominion or Base Set, is the first Dominion game created by Donald X. Vaccarino. It was released in 2008 by publisher Rio Grande Games. The box contains 25 Kingdom Cards and Basic Supply Cards to support up to 4 players. The base set was also included in the Special Edition and both the English and German Big Boxes.

Contents

Contents

Basic Supply Cards

$0 CopperCopper.jpg, CurseCurse.jpg
$2 EstateEstate.jpg
$3 SilverSilver.jpg
$5 DuchyDuchy.jpg
$6 GoldGold.jpg
$8 ProvinceProvince.jpg

Kingdom Cards

$2 CellarCellar.jpg, ChapelChapel.jpg, MoatMoat.jpg
$3 ChancellorChancellor.jpg, VillageVillage.jpg, WoodcutterWoodcutter.jpg, WorkshopWorkshop.jpg
$4 BureaucratBureaucrat.jpg, FeastFeast.jpg, GardensGardens.jpg, MilitiaMilitia.jpg, MoneylenderMoneylender.jpg, RemodelRemodel.jpg, SmithySmithy.jpg, SpySpy.jpg, ThiefThief.jpg, Throne RoomThrone Room.jpg
$5 Council RoomCouncil Room.jpg, FestivalFestival.jpg, LaboratoryLaboratory.jpg, LibraryLibrary.jpg, MarketMarket.jpg, MineMine.jpg, WitchWitch.jpg
$6 AdventurerAdventurer.jpg

Flavor Text

You are a monarch, like your parents before you, a ruler of a small pleasant kingdom of rivers and evergreens. Unlike your parents, however, you have hopes and dreams! You want a bigger and more pleasant kingdom, with more rivers and a wider variety of trees. You want a Dominion! In all directions lie fiefs, freeholds, and feodums. All are small bits of land, controlled by petty lords and verging on anarchy. You will bring civilization to these people, uniting them under your banner.


But wait! It must be something in the air; several other monarchs have had the exact same idea. You must race to get as much of the unclaimed land as possible, fending them off along the way. To do this you will hire minions, construct buildings, spruce up your castle, and fill the coffers of your treasury. Your parents wouldn’t be proud, but your grandparents, on your mother's side, would be delighted.


Impact of the Base set

As the original game, this set contains the cards that serve as most players' introduction to Dominion. The cards are, for the most part, simple, yet compelling. Some of them, like SmithySmithy.jpg, Throne RoomThrone Room.jpg, MilitiaMilitia.jpg, GardensGardens.jpg, WitchWitch.jpg, ChapelChapel.jpg, and VillageVillage.jpg, are important cornerstones to strategies and strategic discussions, and serve as archetypes for card categories. As such, other cards of those categories have their costs dictated by these cards, as they tend to be these original cards with something "extra." The main strategies (engine, big money, slog, rush and combo) all have their roots in this set, in the most basic forms of each.

The Base set now is often considered simply a gateway to the more complex or "interesting" sets which introduce new mechanics and strategies, but it is the Base set which won the Spiel des Jahres, and it is the Base set which drew most players into the game of Dominion.

The Base set has a lower percentage of non-terminal Actions than most of the expansions. This gives it a reputation as favoring Big Money decks over engines (at least in comparison to the expansions).

Alternate versions

Trivia

In other languages

  • Chinese: 皇舆争霸 (pron. huáng yú zhēngbà, lit. struggle for the emperor's throne)
  • Czech: Dominion
  • Dutch: Dominion: In naam van de koning (lit. in the name of the king)
  • Finnish: Dominion: Valtakunta (lit. the kingdom)
  • French: Dominion
  • German: Dominion: Was für eine Welt! (lit. what a world!)
  • Greek: Dominion: Ο κυρίαρχος (pron. o kyriarchos, lit. the dominant)
  • Hungarian: Dominion
  • Italian: Dominion: Nasce un Regno (lit. birth of a king)
  • Japanese: ドミニオン (pron. dominion)
  • Korean: 도미니언 (pron. dominieon)
  • Norwegian: Dominion
  • Polish: Dominion: Rozdarte Królestwo (lit. torn kingdom)
  • Romanian: Dominion
  • Russian: Доминион (pron. dominion)
  • Spanish: Dominion
  • Swedish: Dominion

Secret History

Donald X. Vaccarino gave an interview to BGN concerning the design of the base set: the Secret History of the Dominion Cards.

Retrospective

The big thing is to add more replayability. There are six vanilla cards and probably five would have been fine; the obvious one to replace is WoodcutterWoodcutter.jpg. Woodcutter is a fine card for the main set but the other vanilla cards are all better. That means all of the +buy cards would cost $5 but I can live with that. After that, FeastFeast.jpg adds very little. ChancellorChancellor.jpg doesn't add much and would have been better in Intrigue (where it came from); the fact that it's a puzzler is way better in an expansion than in the main set. And finally there's SpySpy.jpg. Spy is slow to resolve, that's the big thing. Over the years I have learned that ideally Spy-type attacks don't have +1 action, or don't involve a decision, or both. RabbleRabble.jpg is exactly what I want. Spy has +1 action and involves a decision, so you potentially make tons of decisions per turn. I like decisions but man Spy is not where to get them. It initially got to interact with two attacks that trashed cards from the top of your deck, and that's cool, but now it only interacts with ThiefThief.jpg (in the main set that is), and that combo just isn't worth the slot.

The way to think of these things is, imagine the replacement cards. Let's say I just take out Woodcutter and Feast and put in Wishing WellWishing Well.jpg and CoppersmithCoppersmith.jpg. Those are not top-of-the-line adored-by-all go-in-every-deck cards. But they still give you more to do than Woodcutter and Feast do.

It would be nice if Thief were stronger, but it already scares new players, and once everyone was new. There are some wording tweaks; Throne RoomThrone Room.jpg and MoneylenderMoneylender.jpg should of course say "you may." I would try coloring the coins on the treasures. The Trash card should be a mat instead.

There are people who complain about various other cards, but I am happy with those, so there.


Recommended Sets of 10

Dominion Only

First Game [images]
Cellar Market Militia Mine Moat
Cellar.jpg Market.jpg Militia.jpg Mine.jpg Moat.jpg
Remodel.jpg Smithy.jpg Village.jpg Woodcutter.jpg Workshop.jpg
Remodel Smithy Village Woodcutter Workshop
Big Money [images]
Adventurer Bureaucrat Chancellor Chapel Feast
Adventurer.jpg Bureaucrat.jpg Chancellor.jpg Chapel.jpg Feast.jpg
Laboratory.jpg Market.jpg Mine.jpg Moneylender.jpg Throne Room.jpg
Laboratory Market Mine Moneylender Throne Room
Interaction [images]
Bureaucrat Chancellor Council Room Festival Library
Bureaucrat.jpg Chancellor.jpg Council Room.jpg Festival.jpg Library.jpg
Militia.jpg Moat.jpg Spy.jpg Thief.jpg Village.jpg
Militia Moat Spy Thief Village
Size Distortion [images]
Cellar Chapel Feast Gardens Laboratory
Cellar.jpg Chapel.jpg Feast.jpg Gardens.jpg Laboratory.jpg
Thief.jpg Village.jpg Witch.jpg Woodcutter.jpg Workshop.jpg
Thief Village Witch Woodcutter Workshop
Village Square [images]
Bureaucrat Cellar Festival Library Market
Bureaucrat.jpg Cellar.jpg Festival.jpg Library.jpg Market.jpg
Remodel.jpg Smithy.jpg Throne Room.jpg Village.jpg Woodcutter.jpg
Remodel Smithy Throne Room Village Woodcutter

Dominion & Intrigue

Deconstruction [images]
Bridge Mining Village Remodel Saboteur Secret Chamber
Bridge.jpg Mining Village.jpg Remodel.jpg Saboteur.jpg Secret Chamber.jpg
Spy.jpg Swindler.jpg Thief.jpg Throne Room.jpg Torturer.jpg
Spy Swindler Thief Throne Room Torturer
Hand Madness [images]
Bureaucrat Chancellor Council Room Courtyard Mine
Bureaucrat.jpg Chancellor.jpg Council Room.jpg Courtyard.jpg Mine.jpg
Militia.jpg Minion.jpg Nobles.jpg Steward.jpg Torturer.jpg
Militia Minion Nobles Steward Torturer
Underlings [images]
Baron Cellar Festival Library Masquerade
Baron.jpg Cellar.jpg Festival.jpg Library.jpg Masquerade.jpg
Minion.jpg Nobles.jpg Pawn.jpg Steward.jpg Witch.jpg
Minion Nobles Pawn Steward Witch

Dominion & Seaside

Reach for Tomorrow [images]
Adventurer Cellar Council Room Cutpurse Ghost Ship
Adventurer.jpg Cellar.jpg Council Room.jpg Cutpurse.jpg Ghost Ship.jpg
Lookout.jpg Sea Hag.jpg Spy.jpg Treasure Map.jpg Village.jpg
Lookout Sea Hag Spy Treasure Map Village
Repetition [images]
Caravan Chancellor Explorer Festival Militia
Caravan.jpg Chancellor.jpg Explorer.jpg Festival.jpg Militia.jpg
Outpost.jpg Pearl Diver.jpg Pirate Ship.jpg Treasury.jpg Workshop.jpg
Outpost Pearl Diver Pirate Ship Treasury Workshop
Give and Take [images]
Ambassador Fishing Village Haven Island Library
Ambassador.jpg Fishing Village.jpg Haven.jpg Island.jpg Library.jpg
Market.jpg Moneylender.jpg Salvager.jpg Smugglers.jpg Witch.jpg
Market Moneylender Salvager Smugglers Witch

Dominion & Alchemy

Forbidden Arts [images]
Apprentice Familiar Possession University Cellar
Apprentice.jpg Familiar.jpg Possession.jpg University.jpg Cellar.jpg
Council Room.jpg Gardens.jpg Laboratory.jpg Thief.jpg Throne Room.jpg
Council Room Gardens Laboratory Thief Throne Room
Landscapes and Additional Cards
Potion
Potion.jpg
Potion Mixers [images]
Alchemist Apothecary Golem Herbalist Transmute
Alchemist.jpg Apothecary.jpg Golem.jpg Herbalist.jpg Transmute.jpg
Cellar.jpg Chancellor.jpg Festival.jpg Militia.jpg Smithy.jpg
Cellar Chancellor Festival Militia Smithy
Landscapes and Additional Cards
Potion
Potion.jpg
Chemistry Lesson [images]
Alchemist Golem Philosopher's Stone University Bureaucrat
Alchemist.jpg Golem.jpg Philosopher's Stone.jpg University.jpg Bureaucrat.jpg
Market.jpg Moat.jpg Remodel.jpg Witch.jpg Woodcutter.jpg
Market Moat Remodel Witch Woodcutter
Landscapes and Additional Cards
Potion
Potion.jpg

Dominion & Prosperity

Biggest Money [images]
Bank Grand Market Mint Royal Seal Venture
Bank.jpg Grand Market.jpg Mint.jpg Royal Seal.jpg Venture.jpg
Adventurer.jpg Laboratory.jpg Mine.jpg Moneylender.jpg Spy.jpg
Adventurer Laboratory Mine Moneylender Spy
The King's Army [images]
Expand Goons King's Court Rabble Vault
Expand.jpg Goons.jpg King's Court.jpg Rabble.jpg Vault.jpg
Bureaucrat.jpg Council Room.jpg Moat.jpg Spy.jpg Village.jpg
Bureaucrat Council Room Moat Spy Village
The Good Life [images]
Contraband Counting House Hoard Monument Mountebank
Contraband.jpg Counting House.jpg Hoard.jpg Monument.jpg Mountebank.jpg
Bureaucrat.jpg Cellar.jpg Chancellor.jpg Gardens.jpg Village.jpg
Bureaucrat Cellar Chancellor Gardens Village

Dominion & Cornucopia

Bounty of the Hunt [images]
Harvest Horn of Plenty Hunting Party Menagerie Tournament
Harvest.jpg Horn of Plenty.jpg Hunting Party.jpg Menagerie.jpg Tournament.jpg
Cellar.jpg Festival.jpg Militia.jpg Moneylender.jpg Smithy.jpg
Cellar Festival Militia Moneylender Smithy
Bad Omens [images]
Fortune Teller Hamlet Horn of Plenty Jester Remake
Fortune Teller.jpg Hamlet.jpg Horn of Plenty.jpg Jester.jpg Remake.jpg
Adventurer.jpg Bureaucrat.jpg Laboratory.jpg Spy.jpg Throne Room.jpg
Adventurer Bureaucrat Laboratory Spy Throne Room
The Jester's Workshop [images]
Fairgrounds Farming Village Horse Traders Jester Young Witch
Fairgrounds.jpg Farming Village.jpg Horse Traders.jpg Jester.jpg Young Witch.jpg
Feast.jpg Laboratory.jpg Market.jpg Remodel.jpg Workshop.jpg
Feast Laboratory Market Remodel Workshop
Landscapes and Additional Cards
Bane pile:
Chancellor
Chancellor.jpg

Dominion & Hinterlands

Highway Robbery [images]
Cellar Library Moneylender Throne Room Workshop
Cellar.jpg Library.jpg Moneylender.jpg Throne Room.jpg Workshop.jpg
Highway.jpg Inn.jpg Margrave.jpg Noble Brigand.jpg Oasis.jpg
Highway inn Margrave Noble Brigand Oasis
Adventures Abroad [images]
Adventurer Chancellor Festival Laboratory Remodel
Adventurer.jpg Chancellor.jpg Festival.jpg Laboratory.jpg Remodel.jpg
Crossroads.jpg Farmland.jpg Fool's Gold.jpg Oracle.jpg Spice Merchant.jpg
Crossroads Farmland Fool's Gold Oracle Spice Merchant

Dominion & Dark Ages

High and Low [images]
Hermit Hunting Grounds Mystic Poor House Wandering Minstrel
Hermit.jpg Hunting Grounds.jpg Mystic.jpg Poor House.jpg Wandering Minstrel.jpg
Cellar.jpg Moneylender.jpg Throne Room.jpg Witch.jpg Workshop.jpg
Cellar Moneylender Throne Room Witch Workshop
Chivalry and Revelry [images]
Altar Knights Rats Scavenger Squire
Altar.jpg Knights.jpg Rats.jpg Scavenger.jpg Squire.jpg
Festival.jpg Gardens.jpg Laboratory.jpg Library.jpg Remodel.jpg
Festival Gardens Laboratory Library Remodel

Dominion & Guilds

Arts and Crafts [images]
Stonemason Advisor Baker Journeyman Merchant Guild
Stonemason.jpg Advisor.jpg Baker.jpg Journeyman.jpg Merchant Guild.jpg
Laboratory.jpg Cellar.jpg Workshop.jpg Festival.jpg Moneylender.jpg
Laboratory Cellar Workshop Festival Moneylender
Clean Living [images]
Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker Doctor Soothsayer
Butcher.jpg Baker.jpg Candlestick Maker.jpg Doctor.jpg Soothsayer.jpg
Militia.jpg Thief.jpg Moneylender.jpg Gardens.jpg Village.jpg
Militia Thief Moneylender Gardens Village
Gilding the Lily [images]
Plaza Masterpiece Candlestick Maker Taxman Herald
Plaza.jpg Masterpiece.jpg Candlestick Maker.jpg Taxman.jpg Herald.jpg
Library.jpg Remodel.jpg Adventurer.jpg Market.jpg Chancellor.jpg
Library Remodel Adventurer Market Chancellor

Dominion & Adventures

Level Up [images]
Dungeon Gear Guide Lost City Miser
Dungeon.jpg Gear.jpg Guide.jpg Lost City.jpg Miser.jpg
Market.jpg Militia.jpg Spy.jpg Throne Room.jpg Workshop.jpg
Market Militia Spy Throne Room Workshop
Landscapes and Additional Cards
Training
Training.jpg
Son of Size Distortion [images]
Amulet Duplicate Giant Messenger Treasure Trove
Amulet.jpg Duplicate.jpg Giant.jpg Messenger.jpg Treasure Trove.jpg
Bureaucrat.jpg Gardens.jpg Moneylender.jpg Thief.jpg Witch.jpg
Bureaucrat Gardens Moneylender Thief Witch
Landscapes and Additional Cards
Bonfire Raid
Bonfire.jpg Raid.jpg


Base set
Cards $2 CellarCellar.jpgChapelChapel.jpgMoatMoat.jpg $3 HarbingerHarbinger.jpg • MerchantMerchant.jpgVassalVassal.jpgVillageVillage.jpgWorkshopWorkshop.jpg $4 BureaucratBureaucrat.jpgGardensGardens.jpgMilitiaMilitia.jpgMoneylenderMoneylender.jpgPoacherPoacher.jpgRemodelRemodel.jpgSmithySmithy.jpgThrone RoomThrone Room.jpg $5 BanditBandit.jpgCouncil RoomCouncil Room.jpgFestivalFestival.jpgLaboratoryLaboratory.jpgLibraryLibrary.jpgMarketMarket.jpgMineMine.jpgSentrySentry.jpg • WitchWitch.jpg $6 ArtisanArtisan.jpg
Removed cards $3 ChancellorChancellor.jpgWoodcutterWoodcutter.jpg $4 FeastFeast.jpgSpySpy.jpgThiefThief.jpg $6 AdventurerAdventurer.jpg
Combos and Counters Beggar/GardensChancellor/StashWorkshop/Gardens
Other concepts Vanilla
Dominion Products
Sets DominionIntrigueSeasideAlchemyProsperityCornucopia & GuildsHinterlandsDark AgesAdventures • EmpiresNocturneRenaissanceMenagerieAlliesPlunderRising SunPromo
Collections Big BoxSpecial Edition (German) • Alchemy & Cornucopia (Japanese, German, Dutch)
Accessories Base CardsUpdate PacksPlay Mat • Base Cards MatCollectors CaseDominion Chest
Retired Products CornucopiaGuilds
Personal tools
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