This session there were five players and we used a random Supply from Dominion and Dominion: Intrigue. My group will typically play each Supply configuration at least twice. We feel the first time everyone is figuring out the strategy for the specific cards involved. The second (and sometimes third) play people usually know how they plan to win.

The Supply consisted of:
Conspirator, Chancellor, Duke, Laboratory, Minion, Moat, Money Lender, Pawn, Swindler, Throne Room

In the first game, I got a 4:3 split of my initial Copper. I went second and spent 4 treasure on a Money Lender. I then watch two or three players buy the Swindler. My second turn I bought some protection…a Moat. I bought another Moat shortly after that and was trying to buy Silver, Gold or a Laboratory. I figured the Lab/Moat combo could get me 8 treasure to buy Provinces and protect me from the Swindlers.

Well things changed quickly as the Swindler managed to swindle both my Moats early in the game. They were replaced with Pawns and I no longer had any protection in my deck as all the Moats were gone. Also swindled were my Money Lender and a Silver. They became a Conspirator and Chancellor.

In the end this worked out as The Lab/Pawn/Conspirator or Chancellor helped me get to 8 treasure a few times. Unfortunately they were not quite enough…

Scores:
Me – 24
Kim – 29
Meredith – 22
Jeff – 26
Jim – 36

The second game I tried to follow a similar strategy as the first. Except this time I was determined to be protected from the Swindler. The first three turns I bought Moats and everyone else thought of protection too. The last one was bought after I bought my third Moat.

Again I thought a Lab/Moat/Money Lender combo would help me secure victory. And although this time I had more protection. I still came up short. In the mid-game the deck was running well but shortly got clogged.

Scores:
Me – 26
Kim – 31
Meredith – 35
Jeff – 31
Jim – 8