Dominations: Road to Civilization (2019) Board Game

Dominations: Road to Civilization is a civilization-themed board game that was released in 2019 by Holy Grail Games. Designed by Eric Dubus and Olivier Melison, this game allows 2-4 players to compete against each other to build the most successful civilization.

Game Components of Dominations: Road to Civilization

Triangular land tiles with colored circles

Mastery cards representing different domains of knowledge

City tiles for building and upgrading cities

Monument tiles for constructing and contributing to monuments

Knowledge points and influence tokens

Civilization Tree components for tracking progress

Objective cards for guiding player decisions

How To Setup Dominations: Road to Civilization

To set up the game, players begin by creating the shared play area with the triangular land tiles. Each player selects a starting city tile and places it on the board. The Mastery cards, which represent various technologies and advancements, are shuffled and placed within reach of all players. Each player starts with a set of basic Knowledge points and influence tokens. The game is divided into three ages, each age consisting of five turns per player.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Turn Phases: Each turn consists of three phases – Grow, Build, and Develop.

Grow: Place a triangular tile to earn Knowledge points based on the colors matched.

Build: Build a new city, upgrade an existing city, or contribute to a monument.

Develop: Add a new Mastery card or upgrade an existing one in your Civilization Tree.

Influence and Knowledge: Players gain influence by having the most Knowledge in each of the six domains at the end of each age. They can copy a Mastery card from another player and add it to their Civilization Tree.

Objective: The ultimate goal is to accumulate the most points by building cities, monuments, and advancing your Civilization Tree.

Player Experience

Playing **Dominations: Road to Civilization** involves a blend of strategic planning and tactical tile placement. Players must balance generating Knowledge points, building and upgrading cities, and advancing their Civilization Tree. The game encourages collaboration in the sense that players share a common board space, but there is also competition for resources and Mastery cards. The puzzle aspect of tile placement and the complexity of the Civilization Tree provide a engaging and challenging experience.

Pros

Excellent Puzzle Game: The game offers a compelling puzzle element, especially in tile placement and building the Civilization Tree.

High Replay Value: With 72 unique Mastery cards and variable tile placements, the game offers a lot of replayability.

Strategic Depth: Players must make strategic decisions about resource management, city building, and technology advancements.

Cons

Analysis Paralysis: The game can suffer from analysis paralysis, especially with more players, leading to longer playtimes.

Pasted-on Theme: Some players might find the civilization theme not deeply integrated, making it feel less like a traditional civilization game.

Playtime: The game length can vary significantly, from one hour with two experienced players to three hours with more players or new players.

Personal Thoughts on Dominations: Road to Civilization

**Dominations: Road to Civilization** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with a strong puzzle element. It is not a traditional civilization game but rather a unique blend of tile placement and tech tree building. This game is best suited for those who appreciate complex decision-making and are willing to invest time into understanding the mechanics. While it can be enjoyable with the right crowd, it may not be the best fit for players seeking direct conflict or a more thematic civilization experience.

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