Obsession and the Wessex Rivalry of the Victorian Age
Follow the outrageous tale of Victorian courtship and high society with the bitter Wessex-Hanover rivalry in Obsession.
Did you think I was going to disappear without a lengthy, sweeping tale of intrigue while Obsession was still on my table? Preposterous! There was already a budding rivalry between the Wessex family and the “other” family in the county. Stay over there, Hanovers. No one wants to hear about your grand parlour and cricket field. Good day, sir!
Game Overview
Game Name: Obsession
Publication Year: 2018
Designer: Dan Hallagan
Artist: Dan Hallagan
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Alderley Hall stood proudly amidst the picturesque landscape of the British countryside. Little peace was to be had, however, for Derbyshire was abuzz with activity. To attract a Fairchild into the family was scintillating. Naturally, the promise of scandal and gossip brought even the smallest country estate out of disrepair.
First Play
January 25, 2019
Complexity
3
Latest Play
October 15, 2025
Expansions
6
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
106
Play Time
50 Minutes
High Score
248
Game Area
24" x 28"
Low Score
82
A Foundation in Hats
The Wessex family was one such family slowly working its way back into society. Their lineage was ancient, but so too was the faulty roof and violently cracked facade.
It was far too early to host a grand weekend, so the viscountess settled on her dear friends. The ladies were quite excited to see the front parlour back in order.
The talk of the day centered around the Fairchilds. Yet it quickly devolved into a battle of fashionable headwear.
The housekeeper reported heated words, while the lady’s maid witnessed the horrid destruction of a London hat!
Family Considerations
Katherine followed up the hat massacre with a quieter activity, mostly centered around the well-known rivalry with her son, Robert. Bowls was their contest of choice.
With the confoundedly uneven lawn finally leveled into a bowling green, they were eager to best the other.
Robert attacked his turns, curving his bowls expertly. The crowd gasped again and again when it seemed like the boundary would be breached. Not so for the gentleman!
The pair went into the 21st end tied. Katherine’s final bowl struck a mysterious hole. Was there tampering involved?!
Improving the Staff
Derbyshire put the Wessex family front and center as the mystery of the bowling green circulated. Even the county papers featured interviews and theories.
Content with their central standing, Viscount Wessex seized the opportunity to expand the household.
His loyal butler located the best candidates from the local footmen and valets. There was no talk of considering a London hire, though. Derbyshire had its own customs.
The new men eagerly settled in, admiring the country estate even in its early emergence from retirement.
Essentially Essential
There was simply no contest during that glorious opening season! The Wessex name was everywhere, almost literally. What other family could boast elite publication?
As an expert in the social world, Katherine showed little interest in the Fairchilds. This, in turn, forced the eligible pair to pay attention to her family. All according to plan.
Rather than invest in the village, the family left the private study on display. It worked wonders for the Fairchilds!
The following season promised a visit. The staff worked tirelessly to polish, dust, and improve the manor.
The Main Gazebo Event
Without warning, Charles Fairchild received a formal invitation to tea. His curiosity consumed him, for a visit to the Wessex estate was just what he desired!
Young Anne charmed her prestigious guest with her perfect etiquette. It was a most enjoyable outing.
However, the valet overheard Charles mention his disappointment with the demure atmosphere. He hoped to see the bowling green, and possibly take part in play.
Anne was hardly insulted. Her prospects were excellent, and the Fairchild man was not her concern.
Back to the Green
Anxious to get back into the spotlight, Viscount Wessex organized another bowls tournament. This time, the highlight would fall on the outside community.
Katherine and Robert played a meager game of only a few rounds, mostly just for show. To say Derbyshire was let down was an understatement. It was rather in poor taste.
Sir Kenneth Crawley emerged as the tournament victor. He was skilled, but also free-flowing with the cordials.
Before anyone could stop him, he rode his steed across the bowling green in celebration. Derbyshire took note!
A Sporting Time
With a single bad weekend, the Wessex family was in a bad position. Work had to be performed to repair the bowling green without explicitly blaming Sir Crawley.
Meanwhile, the viscount and viscountess quickly rebounded with a friendly game of croquet. Most of the village visited, along with far-traveling visitors.
No one noticed Lady Allison Thatcher until she circulated her pitiful tale too many times. The damage was done.
It was another sad affair, marred by the appearance of a pauper and a dangerously full mustache. What nonsense!
Severely Lacking
The letter arrived on a Tuesday afternoon. Viscountess Wessex joyfully broke into the Fairchild family seal.
She clutched her heart and the butler took a rare step towards the lady of the house, fearful she might faint.
It was not a happy letter. Charles Fairchild expressed his discontent with the family’s doings within the county. They were also “severely lacking” in prestige.
Word began to spread of the time both Fairchilds spent at a neighboring country estate. Namely, that of the strongly disliked Hanover family. The Wessexes had to strike.
Settled Over Breakfast
First, a public show that there were no hard feelings over Sir Kenneth’s inappropriate riding over the bowling green.
A quiet weekend with jovial breakfasts proved to be just the ticket. Anne proved herself charming, as expected, while the gentlemen made faces over their own faces.
But Sir Kenneth proved to be a troublesome house guest. He convinced John to switch rooms, thoroughly angering the valets. Telling the pair apart was maddening!
An anonymous letter indicated that the Hanovers might have had a hand in encouraging the foolish Kenneth.
Terror in the Garden
Joanna Gamble was a distant relation, or possibly the relation of an acquaintance. Katherine was not entirely certain, nor did she care. There was only one problem…
The young woman had a habit of appearing unannounced. She arrived by carriage just as Lady Sarah was about to admire the budding garden around the country estate.
Katherine reacted quickly, acting as though Joanna had arrived just on time. And so their walk began.
Until Joanna mentioned she was an American heiress, thereby causing Lady Sarah to promptly faint in the lilacs.
Over the Hanovers
There was no stopping the rumors. The garden walk was a royal failure, allowing the Hanovers to make even more progress within the Derbyshire social circle.
The Wessex estate was quickly falling apart. Quite literally, as a footman announced one morning when a marble statue toppled over in the hallway. Fabulous.
It was like society was slipping away. Worse, the Wessex name was fading away like an old, worn tapestry.
No! The viscount and viscountess refused to fall back into the old, lean days. More was needed, and more it would be.
A Simple Act
The once glorious drawing room underwent extensive improvements over the seasons. At long last, it was ready for visitors. And the Wessexes knew it all too well.
For the first time in months, possibly even a year, a successful social event marked the high point of the week.
Viscount Townshend was delighted with the company of Lord Mortimer. They talked hunting for hours, even organizing an outing with Viscount Wessex in the autumn.
The success of the drawing room gathering went unnoticed in Derbyshire. Middling at best, or so they said.
Baubles & Debacles
Excitement mounted around the national holiday, certain to bring out the best in Derbyshire! The county coated itself in luxurious gowns, suits, jewels, and decorations.
To their horror, the Wessex family was all but forgotten. No invitations arrived, and nearly their entire social circle had “prior engagements” for the weekend.
Only the Dowager Countess Clare was available. Robert’s day of entertainment involved the ill-fated croquet lawn.
He underestimated the aid she required. The refined lady tumbled down a hill on the way back to the estate. Oh, my.
Hiding from Ridicule
At the height of the social season, the Wessex family was forced to hide from Derbyshire. Now their name was back in the papers, accompanied by horrid rumors and gossip.
Of course, the Dowager Countess Clare did fall down on their watch. But to admit that? Preposterous! Never.
Instead, the viscount made the difficult decision to simply expand the staff. The butler’s brow rose imperceptibly at this decision. It was like conceding to the Hanovers.
Actually, that family name was forbidden in the Wessex household. It was a sore spot that needed mending.
Combining More Plays Into a Single Session
I usually consider a session to consist of a single sitting at my game table. However, since I kept setup the same with the Wessexes vs. Hanovers, I grouped these together in the statistics below. I’ve been playing almost every day to try to take this family down! Slight spoiler… I’ve met my match and I officially can’t stand this scourge on Derbyshire!
Session Overview
Play Number: 23-26
Expansion: Obsession: Wessex Expansion
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Standard Play with Closed Courtship
Required Play Space: 24″ x 28″
Setup Time: 5 Minutes
Play Time: 40 Minutes per Play
Outcome: 126-137, 99-120, 121-137 & 93-141 (4 Losses)
But there was no mending when the Hanovers became the county elite. The Wessex family was always just below them, often laughed at and rarely respected. Oh, bother!
%
100 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
10
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
10
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
10
+ Pros (Positives)
- There is an enormous amount of variety with the building tiles so that every estate feels rather unique.
- Each solo opponent features a different spread of points to change up the challenge in subtle ways.
- The custom wooden meeples feature unique shapes and colors that make it easy to tell them apart.
- Coming up with a story during or after play is a lot of fun and takes only a little effort of the imagination.
- Although gameplay is very competitive, the theme is non-violent and somewhat relaxing from start to finish.
- Losing a courtship round isn’t necessarily the end since there are many other ways to score victory points.
– Cons (Negatives)
- The selection of building tiles in the builders’ market can often have a major effect on the overall outcome.
- Many of the objectives are extremely difficult to complete, although there is a mechanic to slowly discard them.
- It can sometimes be difficult to get anything going when the starting guests are too focused on a certain bonus.
- The font for family and guest names can be difficult to read at times, although it fits in thematically.
Victory Conditions
Score the Most Points
- Overall Goal Progress 60%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 200 points.
Score at least 240 points.
Win at least 1 game against each base game family.
Score at least 280 points.
Win at least 1 game against each Up, Downstairs family.
Continue the Conversation
Do you have any rivalries within Obsession? Are there aspects you really enjoy, or any that you wish were better? This story is part of the reason why I love this solo board game so much! It’s challenging to play, and fun to go back through in order to bring the stories to life. When I beat the Hanover family, it will be a glorious day, indeed!
Such a terrific game. It just oozes theme and isn’t too difficult to learn either. Can’t say I have done these types of story for my games but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.
Good point about how easy it is to learn! I know everyone learns differently, yet the rulebook is laid out nicely and I seem to be able to find anything quickly. Not that I need it for anything except end-game scoring at this point! Thanks for the comment, and I’m glad you had fun reading through this story!
Traditionally in English usage, “Sir Firstname Surname” is always addressed as “Sir Firstname”, never “Sir Surname”. (Lots of American writers do this, and it always irks just a little.)
I love the theme of this game but I feel edgy about the mechanics (personal taste). I should probably find someone with a copy I can borrow!
Wait a second. Are you saying that this entire time, I’ve been typing like… An American heiress?! This is shameful. Ha ha! Thank you for the correction, though. I’ll try my best to make changes in the future and do justice to the source.
I hope you can borrow it at some point. Completely understandable about not being sure about the mechanics, though. This one turned out to be the perfect game for me, yet games that should have worked for me have been mediocre. It’s all about personal taste, and only you’ll know for sure. Good luck!