Customer Reviews

Dominion Seaside

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dominion: Seaside is the second expansion (but first strictly-expansion expansion) to the award-winning uncollectible collectible card game Dominion. The first expansion, Dominion: Intrigue, was an expansion, but could also be played on its own.

Seaside, on the other hand, is a strict expansion- it lacks the Land and Money cards that Dominion and Dominion:Intrigue come with, and can only be played when on also has a copy of one of those two (or both, if you have all three!).

Dominion (the original) had 25 different stacks of Kingdom cards, from which you chose ten stacks to use in any given game (about three million possible scenarios). Intrigue added another 25, for a total of 50 stacks from which you chose 10 (for something like 10 billion possible starting scenarios). Seaside adds 26 more Kingdom cards, for a total of 76 from which one chooses ten (pushing the possible start scenarios up towards the trillions).

Like the other two games, the game starts with each player having a fixed deck of ten cards, and using those cards to purchase more cards from a central pool of Land Cards, Money Cards, and Stuff Cards. One recycles this ever-growing deck back onto itself, simulating a small dominion's cycling economy, and competing against the other player's kingdoms in a race of efficiency and resource-wealth.

Intrigue, as the name belies, introduced many "sneaky" or "mean" cards into the game- attacks that pulled cards from other peoples hands and decks, or cards that punished other players who were getting ahead. Rather than rehashing the original game's mechanics, it pushed them in new, interesting directions, typically by forcing competing players to choose the lesser of two evils when presented with certain card-actions.

Seaside continues this trend, adding an overall theme of "your next turn". Many of the cards in this expansion let you sacrifice a not-so-great hand for a nearly-guaranteed amazing hand next turn, or squirrel cards from your deck away, to be drawn back into your hand later. Other cards let you pirate treasure from other players, embargo goods and services, or move cards from the bottom of your deck to the top.

This theme gives games played with these new 26 cards a much different feel from playing just the original or Intrigue- there are more elements of chance, whimsy, and, after sufficient quiet building momentum, the heady exercise of much-restrained power. It is a nice companion to the smash-and-grab routines introduced by Intrigue.

Like the Intrigue expansion, the 26 Seaside expansion stacks can be used on their own, or combined with the other 50 stacks from the original and Intrigue.

Seaside has some game mechanics that are a little more complicated than the other two games, but this complication is mitigated by the excellent reminder mats and (real metal) tokens that come with the game specifically to make those mechanics easier.

It does not, though, take too long to get up to speed. (All three games share that quality- it takes a couple of turns to learn how to play, a couple of playthroughs to learn how to win, and then has more possible game-states than atoms in the universe- you can always come back for more).

The only downside to Seaside as compared to Intrigue is that it is a strict expansion- it cannot actually be played without the Land and Money cards that come with the Original or Intrigue.

Also, (and this isn't necessarily a downside), it has about 500 cards, and one really ought to by card sleeves for them, both for protection and easier organization.

In any case, Seaside is an interesting, challenging, and all around excellent expansion to Dominion and Dominion: Intrigue.

We bought the Seaside expansion pack to use in conjunction with the original Dominion and Dominion Intrigue and have absolutely no regrets. Seaside offers a variety of new and very original cards to use, many of which "continue" to your next turn. This expansion also adds "metal coins" to be used with the Pirate Ship card, and metal chips to use with the Embargo card, so beware, if you have small kids, this new expansion does have small parts along with the usual multiple cards.

The strategies change significantly with Seaside, as there are numerous cards that allow you to take extra actions, use more coins, and/or draw extra cards on not only the turn they are played, but also the subsequent turn. There are also cards that allow you to "store" coins and/or action cards to be used later in the game. There are also a few attack cards, so the Curse cards are also used in Seaside. There is only one card that I don't like: the Lookout card, which requires you to draw three cards and then you are mandated to trash one. This could be tragic if you happen to draw three Provinces, or something along that line. I refuse to ever buy a Lookout. In fact, my wife and I won't even use it in our games.

Take note that this is an expansion pack and requires the original Dominion or Intrigue, as there are no money or point cards included with it. The action cards in Seaside can be used separately or in conjunction with Dominion and/or Intrigue. We usually combine all three games and use action cards from all of them. It assures that every game is different and totally new strategies are needed each time you play.

I highly recommend Seaside if you are a fan of the first two Dominion games. The new version adds a number of new strategies and ways to not only accumulate points faster, but also to attack opponents, if that is your bag. My wife and I play this game daily, several times usually, and never tire of it. It's the best game I'm ever owned, without a doubt.

One this I definitely recommend is to get card protectors (sleeves)for the cards, as with the constant shuffling that the game requires can and will wear out your cards quickly. They are relatively cheap--a couple bucks for a pack of 100. Bear in mind, you'll need several hundred sleeves for each game, though. However, it's a worth while investment.

If you are a Dominion lover, by ALL means, buy this expansion pack. You will not regret it.

Seaside is great expansion for the Dominion series. I thought Dominion was an amazing stand alone game that needed no improvement but both Seaside and Intrigue have truly added so much more to the already considerable amount of game play variations.

Seaside adds a particularly neat dynamic with duration cads which have a lasting effect where card abilities are used for two turns. Seaside also adds more cards that interact with you opponents like those in Intrigue. So far my favorite card is "Embargo" which allows you to place an Embargo token on any of the purchasable cards to penalize any player who wishes to purchase it. The embargo card is then trashed but each embargo token placed on a card pile forces a player to pick up a curse card with purchase. 3 tokens = 3 curse cards, great for slowing the game down or keeping someone else from getting that last card.

I personally think Dominion is one of the best card/board/ strategy games out there. It's easy to learn and it's always interesting since no two games are ever the same if you are using a random set up method.

This game is a ton of fun. Every time you play it, you are almost forced to use a different strategy than the time before based on the cards that come out. This is a strategy game with a huge amount of replay value.
In comparison to the original Dominion set, I would say that this one is simply more...interesting. The cards often force you into a different mindset. The strategies used can be more off the wall and what your opponents do gets less predictable. In other words, if you like strategy games with small amounts of randomness, and lots of different pathways by which to finagle the victory, this one is for you.
I do have a couple of small critiques:
There are more 'parts' now. It is not just cards anymore, now there are mats and little tokens. So far this is fine, but I typically don't like this type of game bloat.
You can still only play with four players. I was honestly hoping that the expansion would have additional rules for six, but it doesn't. I have tried adding a few more Provinces to play with more than four, but the game seems to be built around four.

Dominion has intense levels of replay value, and it's very accessible. Many people who are otherwise uninterested in unknown games of strategy can become quickly addicted. But the one serious drawback of the game? The limited number of cards can get old. I dislike games that will keep selling you expansion after expansion to stay fun, but Seaside is an excellent expansion. It brings in fresh cards, fresh (uncomplicated) rules, and I'm very glad I bought it. The only downside? Now I've got two big boxes for one game. I really wish the Seaside box was able to fit the original set too.

This game was recommended to us by a game store employee who told us it was highly ranked and a bestseller.
Our first purchase was Dominion Intrigue. We played it as a family and we loved the complexity yet simplicity that allowed even our 13 year old to enjoy the game play.
As an adult I wasn't sure that a game that builds card decks would contain enough of a challenge. My fears were groundless.
We immediately went back and bought the original Dominion and this lastest add-on Dominion Seaside.
By owning all three card sets the game card combinations are endless. Games can be quick or they can be drag 'em out slug fests.
I can't recommend this guy highly enough for those who want to sit down and enjoy some face-to-face enjoyment.
It is important to note that you must own the original Dominion or Dominion Intrigue to be able to use Dominion Seaside.
It is an add-on product only.

Let me begin with the only caveat- this is an expansion pack. You must buy the main Dominion game first.

That said, this is my favorite game ever. Dominion is fun and continually changing. The game is played with a small subset of the available cards, so each game can be different. It's part luck and part strategy. You get to build up a deck of cards and what cards you put in your deck is pretty much completely up to you (you have to have enough "money" on a turn to "buy" a card). The way the cards come out of your deck is random. Different sets of cards demand different strategies, so you can't just figure out one way to play the game and just coast through.

The seaside expansion in particular adds a bunch of cards similar to the regular deck. It also adds duration cards- you play them one turn and they stay in play through the next turn. For example, Haven lets you set aside one card from your current hand to use in your next hand. There are also a few special cards that do nonstandard things. Embargo lets you set a chip on a supply pile and, for the rest of the game, whenever anyone buys from that pile, they get a curse card. Island is a victory card that you can play once as an action to set it and another card from your hand aside, out of your deck, for the rest of the game.

As to the physical quality of the game: the cards are pretty sturdy card stock (about the same as Magic cards). There are some mats for things like Island and they are made of nice cardboard. The chips for the Embargo card (and another card I can't think of right now) are metal. The only part of the game that isn't quite as tough as I would like is the plastic tray that sits in the box and keeps your cards sorted. I haven't ever had a problem with it, but I don't think it could take much more abuse than it would get from normal storage. For instance, if you dropped something on it, it might break. (I am clumsy, so this is a bit of a concern for me.)

In summary: Dominion is awesome. The Seaside expansion makes it even more awesome. It is well worth the money.

In a nutshell the new "duration" game mechanic just doesn't add much fun to the game. And, half the box is full of duration cards. People either don't remember the extra action for the next turn or cuss when they remember too late. Sure people can design a work flow to always remember but still hard for a newbie to grok.

There are some interesting cards in the box:
-ultimate mean card the "Sea Hag"
-for the statistically challenged the "Treasure Map"
-the "Cellar"-like alternative card the "Warehouse"
-the "Embargo" card which will cause you to lose friends

I would rate this expansion above Alchemy since the Potion mechanic was a complete flop.

This is a fun expansion that adds in new cards, the box is adequate for the room, and the size is your standard Dominion size.
My only complaint is how there are cut outs with this one, and trying to make room for them, a small annoyance among a series of great things to say.
Dominion is a game for me with a ton of variety, and to add on another expansion just expands the base game by that much more.
So if you are tired of Dominion and wanting to spice things up a little bit, this expansion has just enough there to increase the life of the game.

This expansion to the original Dominion requires the original Dominion or the Dominion:Intrigue to play because it does not come with the regular Treasure and Victory cards.

Seaside has a nautical theme to most of the cards that is clever. Pirates, Wharfs, Smugglers, Navigator, etc.
Some of the cards allow for actions or effects to carry over to your next turn. This takes a little time to get used to, but can be very useful.

The most revolutionary card is the Pirate Ship card. It has the other players reveal the top two cards of their decks and trashes one of the Treasure cards, if any, revealed. If a Treasure card is trashed in this way by any of the other players, a token is placed on the Pirate Ship mat. You can also play the Pirate Ship card to provide you with coin equal to the tokens on the Pirate Ship mat. Later in the game, this can very powerful. I have seen players have up to 8 tokens on the mat. This could buy a province every time. I tried to collect money in a game with all of the other players playing Pirate Ships. I had several golds and a few platinums (from Prosperity) in my deck, but I lost them all in a couple of turns. They had cleaned out all of my money and they had a lot of tokens for their Pirate Ships. Suffice it to say, I came in last.

Great set with a lot of fun cards.