Ames' syllabi

Dominion is a game where players aim to build their “kingdoms” by buying money and actions so gain the most points (land) against other players’ “kingdoms”.

Was it fun? Yes very much

What were the player interactions? Honestly, if every player knew what they were doing there really wouldn’t need to be much interaction, except if you got attack and had to defend yourself or take a curse

How long did it take to learn? A good bit, if we didn’t have somebody (thank you professor ames) to explain it in person, it would have take quite a while to figure out but thankfully we didn’t have to read the 50 page rule book

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played? Getting down the reshuffling was frustrating when trying to explain it to others, not too much frustration otherwise

What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played? The amount of cards was really fun after you understood what they all did, it was very overwhelming at first but then made sense and made it really interesting

Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t? Be able to block witch attacks with the defense even if it wasn’t in your hand (although it would make it too easy)

If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything from the experience, what would it be? Perhaps be able to get coin cards in other ways than just buying them

Is this a game you would play again? Yes, because of the different iterations it’s a game that is designed to be play again so I’d like to with totally different action cards

Analyze the game using the 3 act structure. There is the setup and the slow beginning of gaining money and actions, then it gets more complicated with stacking actions and buying point cards, then the end draws near when the piles run out and you count them.

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game? It’s not super collaborative in my opinion but pretty much completely competitive with the kingdoms competing against each other

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout? The metaphor is that of a kingdom (a fantasy one by some of the actions and pictures) where there are kingdoms trying to gain the most land

I had a lot of fun playing Splendor. It was an extremely unique game play experience that I had not previously experienced.

Players formulated strategies, multiple turns in advance, lining up a series of purchases. It was common to hear another player’s sigh as you buy the card they hoped for.

The game did not take long to learn, only about 10 minutes.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the game was the coin and card limit. I understand the limitation to encourage players to make more purchases, but I saw players hoarding a lot.

I had fun winning by a landslide through the automatic noble acquisition (if you have the cards, you automatically receive a noble).

Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?

We made the mistake of thinking that the number representing “prestige” on the card meant that you received 2 or three gems for the price of one card. After reading the rules, we realized that it was impossible.

I would add more money to the overall “economy”. I understand that the money limit is to force players to make purchases and not hoard, having more money to play around with would make games more technically complex.

Yes, I would play Splendor again. It offered a unique competitive experience in which players are always wondering if they’re the only person vying for the card they need.

The first act starts slow, as players are amassing wealth and trying to understand the game. Usually, an initial strategy forms, buy cheap cards in order to have enough to cover a more expensive one.

The game had many competitive aspects. We all shared the same coins, so we were forced to contribute to the economy while shutting others out. I often bought cards that my opponent were looking for to force them to revise their strategy.

The metaphor is similar to monopoly, which is capitalism. Strategic investments allows you to win in the long run.

Aleah Dudek

Splendor

Was it fun? Yes I enjoyed it.

What were the player interactions? yes there are aspects that get competitive.

How long did it take to learn? It took us a lot shorter than other games maybe about 10 minutes.

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played? I didn’t really find anything frustrating.

What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played? I liked the different moves and you n ever know what card you are going to go for.

Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t? I wish there was cards where you could steal other peoples cards.

If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything

from the experience, what would it be? I wish there was more action cards.

Is this a game you would play again? Yes _____ No ______ Why I enjoyed it I Liked the strategy in it too.

Analyze the game using the 3 act structure.

Act 1: The focus is on collecting gem tokens to afford the cheapest development cards. Most players just grab what’s available; strategy is light, and everyone’s building their “engine” from scratch. Victory points aren’t usually scored yet, this stage is about laying groundwork.

Act 2: Players have cards that permanently give gems, making each future turn stronger. Players start racing for medium-value cards, noble tiles become reachable, and blocking moves emerge. Some players aim for nobles, others for big-point high-cost cards, creating diverging paths to victory.

Act 3: The board shrinks in options—players fight for the last few cards that can push them over 15 points. Every gem token and reserved card matters; timing is crucial since the first to 15 triggers the end. Victory comes from a combination of planning (engine + nobles) and tactical plays in the last few turns.

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game? The collaborative part I think would be not hogging the tokens I guess and the competitive could be the ability to steal a card someone wanted to eventually take.

What is the game’s metaphor and which of the game’s mechanics standout?

The metaphor : The gems = raw resources of wealth and beauty.

The development cards = mines, transportation, artisans → infrastructure for growing power.

The nobles = recognition and patronage from high society once your wealth reaches a certain level.

The mechanic: Players collect gem tokens .Use gems to purchase development cards, which give permanent gem bonuses .Those bonuses make it easier to buy more expensive, higher-point cards.Noble tiles reward players for meeting certain card thresholds 

Madison Hurst

Was it fun? – At first, my friends and I struggled to fully grasp the concept of the game and what actions were allowed to do. But after we started playing and learning all of the hacks and tricks of the game, it became more intriguing.

What were the player interactions?- The player interactions were working together to take down the four infections. I thought this game was unique in a way because it encouraged players to work together and to see each other’s cards. In a normal card/board game, players are against each other and trying to win.

How long did it take to learn?- I would say the game took a fair amount of time to learn because the directions were vague or didn’t say you couldn’t do a certain actions or move. For instance, we struggled to understand what role cubes could take and who couldn’t. My one friend had the Quarantine Specialist, and the card never said if he could take a cube off a city, but as we played and we found that in a small sentence in the instructions that he could take one cube off.

What was the most frustrating moment or aspect of what you just played?- The most frustrating moment or aspect of the game was it being over after you went through the player deck. The other frustrating part about the game was the 4 actions rules because I was the research specialist, and I was able to help cure the infections, though I couldn’t in times due to the action limit. This made us wait until the next turn and struggle to get the cards together to cure the infection.

What was your favorite moment or aspect of what you just played?- My favorite moment of the game was when we worked together to get me the blue cards through the duration of two rounds, and curing blue to then eradicate it. It was super fun, and I think it pushed us to want to cure the next infection. This small win gave us motivation to continue the game and kept it fun.

Was there anything you wanted to do that you couldn’t?- Some of the things I wanted to do that I couldn’t were to be able to cure an infection because the other players couldn’t meet my game piece. At times, we had all of the cards in order, but they weren’t in the same place, which then made us wait a whole round.

If you had a magic wand to wave, and you could change, add, or remove anything

From the experience, what would it be? – If I could change or add anything to Pandemic, it would be more specific instructions in the rules. I think it was hard at times to understand what to do, and it was made harder than it was.

Is this a game you would play again? Yes, because my friends were asking when we are playing it next. I think after we understood what to do it was super fun. I think it challenged us to communicate and figure out game strategies to eliminate the pandemic. This made it fun and intriguing. Furthermore, my attention span was long, and I stayed engaged in the game throughout the whole duration.

Analyze the game using the 3-act structure. – In Act 1, this is when the players start to see their role and read the instructions. Cards are being dealt, and diseases are starting to be implemented throughout various cities. Players are starting to understand what the research hubs and basic tools are in place. Act 2 is when the epidemic starts to get fairly bad and more difficult to control. We start to see outbreaks happen, and epidemic cards coming into play. Sharing cards has become a thing, and switching city to city becomes more difficult since the outbreaks are coming from opposite sides of the world. Tension to make the right move and the risk of losing increases. Act 3 is when players are drawing cards to find a cure for the four diseases as we near the game’s potential ending. Key cards are becoming limited as we suffer outbreaks around the world. The final rounds are crucial in deciding the player’s fate, whether they will lose or win.

What are the collaborative and or competitive aspects of the game? – Pandemic is a collaborative game, and has the players join together to compete against the game itself. Their competition is the outbreaks, the epidemics, the risks, and the limited resources. The collaboration is encouraged through sharing knowledge cards, giving out roles, and every mistake affecting everyone rather than just one.

What is the game’s metaphor, and which of the game’s mechanics stand out? – The game’s metaphor is the global health crisis and outbreaks, which is the entire theme of the game. In the game, we see outbreaks happen, and the spread of the pandemic rapidly increases. The roles that each player has in the game are some jobs people have in reality, which makes the game more “realistic” for the player. For instance, my role was a research specialist, so when an outbreak happens, I study what it is and figure out how to cure it. The metaphor creates tension and urgency, which can be compared to what may happen in real life. For instance, the Kobold’s guide, Part 1 does a great job explaining how games are created through metaphors. They help make the mechanics of the game and ensure it is more cohesive