obsession board game strategy

2022.07.31
why does my kitten chew on everything

obsession board game strategy

Invite guests The tile selected above will indicate the number and type of guests you can invite to take part, providing they meet the following criteria The prestige rating of the guest must be equal to or less than, your current reputation, and the servants required to attend the guest are available (family and the Fairchilds have no rating, and can thus attend any activity). Once you have figured out the basics of the game, you can then dive deeper into the nuances and intricacies of the game. The Fairchilds are going to want a specific type of estate focus every quarter of the game, but you only know the current quarters focus. The meeples are all made of wood; each type of servant having a different pose and colour. The text on all the cards is clear, though I did have to concentrate when reading some of the Gentry names; I found the font used here is a little awkward to read at times. Once the roleplaying had died down, and everyone started concentrating on his or her own estate, I found that player interaction was very limited. It contains a throw away insert, and is large enough to contain the game plus the Wessex expansion. All players total up the number of victory points on their tiles under the current courtship theme. The game, from the players perspective, is exactly the same as when playing against other people. The Fairchild siblings have moved to the area, and either one would be an influential addition to the family. The winner of the final courtship chooses one of the Fairchilds to add to their deck for final scoring. From these, place all tiles with a prestige rating of three or lower, plus the service tiles, into the linen bag. All Rights Reserved. I would like to present the case that Dan Hallagan is one of our latest Catholic treasures. While Im not ready to crown this one yet as the best game of 2018, it definitely stands up there as a legitimate contender for that honor. Yes, there is some useful information here, but that could have been contained within the glossary. When we look through the history of popular culture, Catholics have been dominant players in arts, music, and literature. I will provide a brief summary again for you. Reputation VPs, as per the table in the rulebook. ), and place it in your hand. It is easily my favorite thing in the whole game. Obsession sees you re-invigorating your estate, making improvements and making it appealing enough to lure one of the unsuspecting siblings into your domain! Dan Hallagan is the owner of Kayenta Publishing, where he has published three books and one AMAZING board game called Obsession. It is a good game, probably even a really good game. The addictiveness comes from trying to consistently beat the AI, working different strategies, trying to find the best. And while using more cards isnt necessarily a bad thing (as they give you benefits, too when used), theres another key ingredient: Youre going to have to pass and skip a turn at least once in this game. The tile chosen dictates the event that can be hosted and the guests to be invited. The Gentry cards are standard poker size, with the objective cards being roughly mini-Euro size (44 x 67mm). Age rating, Id say 12+, mainly down to being able to grasp the intricacies. Everything about the game shouts Victorian Britain; the events you host, the guests you invite, and the servants you move around to make it all happen. Im looking forward to seeing what their next release will be. Thank you for checking review #81 by Cardboard Clash. The tile is placed, face up (no rose visible), in the estate organiser, and must not be a duplicate of one already owned. Such a simple addition, but one that is always welcome by the players. Theres nothing worse than buying a game and have to dig out a bag to put components in. By simple, I dont mean you play this game once, have figured it, and dont need to play it again. The remainder are shuffled into the casual guest gentry deck and placed in the appropriate position, as indicated on the supply board. Player. The player with the purple pawn starts the game. It all works marvellously well, providing you remembered to increase your service, and until you try and concentrate on one thing, like winning a courtship. Lets start with the thing that first interested me in Obsession: its theme. I dont think Ive finished a game yet with any money, because it is just that tight for spending. Will you play with Open Courtship where information is known, or play blind and have to be fluid in your strategy? The rules for the game play however, are pretty much spot on. From the computer to the tabletop, this is all about games. Monuments feel way too powerful. In reverse player order, players will pick a Family Player Board that provides them with a small variable setup bonus (extra money, extra reputation, extra family member, and so on), four Family Member cards, two Starter Guests, and Servant Meeples that consist of a Butler, Housekeeper, Valet, Ladys Maid, and Footman. Of course it can go down again, and a useful tool in gaining those few extra pounds just at a crucial moment. You have some great decisions right out of the gate, such as whether or not to try and get the bonus money and reputation at the two Fairs or keep the 3 VP tile. The box is also linen finish portraying a large country manner on its cover. On the supply board populate the Servants For Hire area with the appropriate number of servants for the number of players (for example: 2-players 1 underbutler, 4 footmen, 2 valets, 2 ladys maids). Each turn, players choose a building tile representing a room or outdoor space in and around their 19th century British country house. This tile sees the family planning the village fairs, and if used, generates income and reputation each time the village fair comes up on the round track. I love the process of growing my estate, and the simple decision in the design that encourages players to continue that growth rather than spam the same room or two all game. But in order to use those buildings and guests you probably are going to need to increase your reputation some. If you add a little role-playing, then expect to be at the table far longer! And lets not even talk about the bonus of gaining a Reputation on every.

I do wonder why the underbutler, rather than the Butler, is black, as this is the traditional colour of a Butlers uniform! Note that Gentry refers to a person of a certain social standing, not just a gentleman! The tiles are subtly decorated in what looks like period wallpaper, which adds a luxurious air to them. Yes, you can flip this Improvement Tile and use some guests that will net you a generous amount of money and some reputation, but in doing so, youll exhaust some valuable servants which could potentially make your next turn weaker. All of the boards, counters, coins, and tiles, are 2.5mm cardboard; they are sturdy and adorned with thematic artwork. Obsession is a board game designed by Dan Hallagan that was published in 2018 by Dan Hallagan. The object of the game is to be the player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the end. Be at the forefront in the selected theme on a courtship, and youll win the attention of a Fairchild. Obsession is a game of 16 to 20 turns in which players build a deck of Victorian gentry (British social upper class), renovate their estate by acquiring building tiles from a centralized builders market, and manipulate an extensive service staff of butlers, housekeepers, underbutlers, maids, valets, and footmen utilizing a novel worker placement mechanic. Updated each week-end. It has mostly lived up to every expectation I had of the game from the first time I saw its Kickstarter page and hopefully with more plays Ill see the steamrolling victories happen less frequently and can enjoy the package this delivers. Another talking point was when, and if, to use the Private study. The player who best meets these objectives while accumulating victory points will win the hand of the wealthy love interest and the game. You are also giving five Starting Improvement Tiles that consist of a Private Study, Butlers Room, Main Gazebo, Front Parlour, and Bowling Green. Will you employ a Servant draft and try to further capitalize on your familys starting bonus? The reward for success is new investment opportunities, permitting further renovation of the estate (acquisition of more valuable/powerful building tiles), an increase in reputation in the county, an expanding circle of influential acquaintances, and a larger and highly-trained domestic staff. Theres a lot of great intertwining of mechanics with the theme that went into the design of Obsession, something Dan Hallagan should be commended for. Single. As you can see, there are VP scores for each courtship event, and for each improvement area. Yes, Im aware that show wasnt set during Victorian England, but it has the same Upstairs, Downstairs feeling of the gentry and the servant class. Every game Ive played has finished, either win or lose, within a few points, easily the difference between winning or losing the hand of a Fairchild. I like having secret objectives, and getting 3 of them over the course of the game to score. #catholicmom.

By no coincidence, that is the name of one of the expansions for this game. There is evidence throughout that a lot of homework has been done in creating just the right ambiance. Place the two Fairchild family members, Charles and Elizabeth, nearby. Put on a kettle of tea, play some 19th century music, and revel in the time period that the game tries successfully to evoke. Instead, it would appeal mainly to women, specifically Jane Austen fans.

It has quite a structured playing turn, presenting only a few actions to a player, and yet it offers a wealth of options within those actions, and each need careful consideration before taking. And Id be a horrible reviewer if I didnt mention how thematic a lot of the games mechanics are. Its relatively quick for a Euro, with a solo game coming in at around 40 minutes to and hour, and 4 players approaching the 2-hour mark. We shall be having a jolly good game of lawn tennis, and I shall require the service of the footman, Jeeves. There are two booklets, one containing the rules set up, game play, solitaire rules, and scoring the other a very formidable glossary. I especially like the feel of the cards, my only criticism is that they could be a little stiffer but, as they arent continually shuffled, this is just a personal and minor gripe. 1 is placed in the centre of the reputation wheel, and the marker is placed on the small no.1 beside it), county estate organiser, and their starting improvement tiles (one for each improvement area essentials, service, estate, prestige, sporting as indicated with a mansion in their top right corner). Through all my plays, I always learn something new and always try something different, but the one thing that has stayed the same is my awe of this game and the designer. Throughout the game, a competitive courtship for the hand of the most eligible young gentleman and lady in the county presents specific renovation and reputation objectives. In these actions, you pick one of your Improvement Tiles and execute the action.