Wednesday, February 19, 2020

#17: Eminent Domain (Mark's Top 50 - 2020)


Eminent Domain

BoardGameGeek
  • rank: 498
  • rating: 7.08
Print Status
  • in print
Why It's On The List
  • Yes, I know... it's another space empire-building deck-builder (right after I put Core Worlds at #46). Eminent Domain is tighter & quicker than Core Worlds (read: less sprawling) - and is easier to teach new players. Don't let that fool you, though - there's some nifty twists on classic mechanics from Race for the Galaxy and Dominion that add to an excellent game.
Tips & Tricks:
  • My first experience with Eminent Domain was off-putting: late in a long gaming weekend with two people trying to teach me the rules at the same time. I'm glad I gave it another chance - it's a game that reveals new wrinkles each time you play.
  • Learning when (and when not) to invest in technology is a key game skill - and one that took me a few plays to learn.
  • I think the Escalation expansion is splendid - though not for first time players. Especially nice are the scenarios, which give each player a different starting hand along with some technological advance.
  • While I think the game probably shines best with 3 players, my oldest son and I have played a lot of 2 player games and enjoyed them immensely.
Extras
  • Sadly, this is really the only thing I've written about Eminent Domain.
  • I did write a preview of Eminent Domain: Microcosm - a fantastic 2 player microgame in the same universe.
  • I also had the privilege of playtesting the Exotica expansion for Eminent Domain... which is very cool.
  • And for die hards, the Oblivion expansion adds an interesting political system.

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