1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,580
(upbeat music)
2
00:00:02,581 --> 00:00:24,200
- Welcome to Replayable, where
we go to depth on our favorite
3
00:00:24,201 --> 00:00:26,360
tabletop games that keep us
coming back again and again.
4
00:00:26,361 --> 00:00:29,920
I'm the start player Todd, and
today I'm joined by Megan and Paul,
5
00:00:29,921 --> 00:00:33,600
for our 25th episode, we'll
be taking some afternoon tea
6
00:00:33,601 --> 00:00:36,600
and then strolling along the
promenade with Obsession.
7
00:00:36,601 --> 00:00:40,640
It was designed by Dan Halligan, who
also did the artwork and the publishing,
8
00:00:40,641 --> 00:00:43,760
as it was released by
Came to Games in 2018.
9
00:00:43,761 --> 00:00:47,280
Have you two heard the
rumors about Miss Ann Fairborn?
10
00:00:47,281 --> 00:00:48,320
(sighing)
11
00:00:48,321 --> 00:00:52,760
- I heard she's in American
areas, so I'd love to have her over.
12
00:00:52,761 --> 00:00:53,920
- A scandal.
13
00:00:53,921 --> 00:00:55,200
(laughing)
14
00:00:55,201 --> 00:00:59,320
- Obsession is a theme first board
game set in Victorian England.
15
00:00:59,321 --> 00:01:02,400
Players assume the
mantles of families with good
16
00:01:02,401 --> 00:01:04,760
histories that have just
emerged from trying times.
17
00:01:04,761 --> 00:01:07,280
Build your estates, manage your staff,
18
00:01:07,281 --> 00:01:11,040
entertain guests, and
climb the social ladder to win.
19
00:01:11,041 --> 00:01:13,880
Let's talk about this
Victorian England theme.
20
00:01:13,881 --> 00:01:16,360
I mean, this is such a popular theme.
21
00:01:16,361 --> 00:01:18,960
It's amazing how well it resonates.
22
00:01:18,961 --> 00:01:23,320
- And not just in board gaming
and all sorts of media, right?
23
00:01:23,321 --> 00:01:24,160
(laughing)
24
00:01:24,161 --> 00:01:25,440
- Right, absolutely.
25
00:01:25,441 --> 00:01:27,700
There have been countless shows about this.
26
00:01:27,701 --> 00:01:31,060
- Yeah, I mean, my
wife says, let's play the
27
00:01:31,061 --> 00:01:33,000
doubt-nabby game when
she wants to play obsession.
28
00:01:33,001 --> 00:01:36,420
- Exactly, and there
was the original upstairs
29
00:01:36,421 --> 00:01:41,660
downstairs back in,
what, 1971 or early 1970s?
30
00:01:41,661 --> 00:01:43,980
- Well, and I think you
can't discount the fact
31
00:01:43,981 --> 00:01:48,500
that there is still this
real-life aristocracy
32
00:01:48,501 --> 00:01:52,440
over in England that we
were just talking about.
33
00:01:52,441 --> 00:01:56,500
In the news right now, people are
talking about Kate Middleton, right?
34
00:01:56,501 --> 00:01:58,980
There's people that still have these titles
35
00:01:58,981 --> 00:02:03,660
that we giggle over when
someone's a baronet or if I
36
00:02:03,661 --> 00:02:06,500
count or something, because
that feels so old-fashioned.
37
00:02:06,501 --> 00:02:10,220
But there's literally people--
- I can't not giggle.
38
00:02:10,221 --> 00:02:13,720
- Yeah, there's literally
people with those titles today
39
00:02:13,721 --> 00:02:19,520
fascinating that there's pop culture
that's obsessed with the history of this.
40
00:02:19,521 --> 00:02:22,020
But yeah, it's still with us.
41
00:02:22,021 --> 00:02:27,940
- Yeah, it's just, I've been
thinking about the unending
42
00:02:27,941 --> 00:02:31,100
fascination and love of Jane
Austen's stories and the like.
43
00:02:31,101 --> 00:02:37,060
I mean, we just keep remaking movies
and TV series around her original works.
44
00:02:37,061 --> 00:02:41,100
- Yeah, absolutely, and I'll be
honest, I've read Pride and Prejudice,
45
00:02:41,101 --> 00:02:44,620
but I think that's it as
far as her works go.
46
00:02:44,621 --> 00:02:47,500
Oh, Megan, just to look on your face.
47
00:02:47,501 --> 00:02:51,100
All right, do tell, what is the
required reading shelf here?
48
00:02:51,101 --> 00:02:55,380
- Oh, "Northanger Abbey"
is probably my fave,
49
00:02:55,381 --> 00:03:01,220
but Mansfield Park is actually probably
the best, and it's also the weirdest.
50
00:03:01,221 --> 00:03:02,060
- Okay.
51
00:03:02,061 --> 00:03:07,060
- But I mean, some
sensibility is just really lovely.
52
00:03:07,061 --> 00:03:10,860
Emma, I will say, is a
little bit of a slog, but Mr.
53
00:03:10,861 --> 00:03:19,140
Knightley might be the
dreamiest Austen man, though
54
00:03:19,141 --> 00:03:21,540
Persuasion, that also includes
a very dreamy Austen man.
55
00:03:21,541 --> 00:03:25,500
So, I know you didn't realize
there were so many books.
56
00:03:25,501 --> 00:03:28,860
- I think there was the humblest
flexing I've ever seen or heard.
57
00:03:28,861 --> 00:03:35,740
- There are others, there was just a
movie, and I can't remember the name,
58
00:03:35,741 --> 00:03:43,060
that actress was previously married
to Michael Sheen, British, anyway.
59
00:03:43,061 --> 00:03:47,060
They just adapted Lady
Susan, which was an unfinished
60
00:03:47,061 --> 00:03:50,020
Austen book, by just, I
mean, within the last 10 years.
61
00:03:50,021 --> 00:03:52,180
- Compared to Victorian
England, that's recent.
62
00:03:52,181 --> 00:03:55,300
- And that's a really,
the movie's really fun.
63
00:03:55,301 --> 00:03:57,820
So, yeah, there's lots out there.
64
00:03:57,821 --> 00:04:02,140
- With this popular theme
that resonates with everyone,
65
00:04:02,141 --> 00:04:05,700
we're supposed to be families setting
these times, and I think it's interesting,
66
00:04:05,701 --> 00:04:08,740
because all the families are
given a common background, right,
67
00:04:08,741 --> 00:04:12,580
that they have good histories, but
they've gone through some trying times.
68
00:04:12,581 --> 00:04:18,620
What were these trying times that we've
emerged into this setting for obsession?
69
00:04:18,621 --> 00:04:20,980
- Well, it was a tumultuous time.
70
00:04:20,981 --> 00:04:25,780
I mean, there were recessions,
there was a great banking panic.
71
00:04:25,781 --> 00:04:30,700
You know, child labor laws
were coming out, industrialization
72
00:04:30,701 --> 00:04:32,780
was happening, the great
potato famine occurred.
73
00:04:32,781 --> 00:04:38,780
So, I think there is latitude for each
player to make up their own story
74
00:04:38,781 --> 00:04:42,340
about how their estate
and family fell on hard times.
75
00:04:42,341 --> 00:04:43,940
Maybe it was a horrible investment.
76
00:04:43,941 --> 00:04:46,380
Maybe they had to send
all the kids that worked
77
00:04:46,381 --> 00:04:51,540
for them to school, or
maybe all their trade ships
78
00:04:51,541 --> 00:04:54,780
either got sunk in a storm
or were attacked by pirates.
79
00:04:54,781 --> 00:04:56,020
It's really up to you.
80
00:04:56,021 --> 00:04:59,380
- This game is begging for that
81
00:04:59,381 --> 00:05:02,460
fill-in narrative role-playing
aspect, isn't it? I think so.
82
00:05:02,461 --> 00:05:04,660
I wanna hear from Megan.
83
00:05:04,661 --> 00:05:11,580
- I was just gonna say, I think
people that accumulate power
84
00:05:11,581 --> 00:05:18,020
and prestige, they do that in a
particular circumstance, right?
85
00:05:18,021 --> 00:05:21,220
And especially when that's
done within a family setting.
86
00:05:21,221 --> 00:05:25,300
You know, you have a
generation that is a war hero,
87
00:05:25,301 --> 00:05:29,820
and so the king bestows
some property and a title on you.
88
00:05:29,821 --> 00:05:34,180
And maybe the next
generation, someone's very
89
00:05:34,181 --> 00:05:35,940
savvy, they're able
to make that flourish.
90
00:05:35,941 --> 00:05:40,780
But then the generation after that
maybe doesn't know what they're doing.
91
00:05:40,781 --> 00:05:45,300
You know, or maybe the tactics that worked
92
00:05:45,301 --> 00:05:48,660
for the generation before
don't work for you anymore.
93
00:05:48,661 --> 00:05:54,700
Either because technologies change or
because society's moral compass has kicked in
94
00:05:54,701 --> 00:05:59,940
and you realize that, hey, what we
were doing in the Caribbean wasn't so hot.
95
00:05:59,941 --> 00:06:04,580
And we in fact need to
reconcile with that, right?
96
00:06:04,581 --> 00:06:05,660
And deal with that.
97
00:06:05,661 --> 00:06:11,340
And so that's, I don't want
to gloss over, we're talking
98
00:06:11,341 --> 00:06:12,900
about child labor laws change
and could impact these families.
99
00:06:12,901 --> 00:06:16,660
Yeah, 'cause those laws
needed to change, you know?
100
00:06:16,661 --> 00:06:18,900
And these families were exploiting people.
101
00:06:18,901 --> 00:06:21,020
Like that's possible, right?
102
00:06:21,021 --> 00:06:23,740
So I just don't want to make it sound like,
103
00:06:23,741 --> 00:06:26,860
oh, these poor families, like
they may have contributed
104
00:06:26,861 --> 00:06:30,500
to their own tough times
with the choices they made.
105
00:06:30,501 --> 00:06:34,420
But of course, you know,
we get to bring that into them.
106
00:06:34,421 --> 00:06:38,580
And I'll say, whenever we play,
when we're talking about these families
107
00:06:38,581 --> 00:06:44,220
that have names that are still part of the
royal family today, like Wessex or York,
108
00:06:44,221 --> 00:06:50,620
I am often talking about the people in
those families and the choices they've made
109
00:06:50,621 --> 00:06:53,780
because I think that
contributes something to it.
110
00:06:53,781 --> 00:06:56,780
But also I just want to show
off that I know those things.
111
00:06:56,781 --> 00:06:58,300
(laughing)
112
00:06:58,301 --> 00:07:01,300
- Well, family Wessex was
definitely feeling some shade
113
00:07:01,301 --> 00:07:04,980
coming their way from family
York last time we played this game.
114
00:07:04,981 --> 00:07:05,980
- Yeah.
115
00:07:05,981 --> 00:07:07,540
- Let's talk about the game.
116
00:07:07,541 --> 00:07:11,740
And for a game that claims
not to focus on strategy,
117
00:07:11,741 --> 00:07:15,700
and we can talk about the two
different lengths of the game,
118
00:07:15,701 --> 00:07:18,700
but in the basic game, every
turn feels absolutely essential.
119
00:07:18,701 --> 00:07:21,260
How do you feel about
the pacing of the game?
120
00:07:21,261 --> 00:07:22,220
- Yes, I agree.
121
00:07:22,221 --> 00:07:26,100
And I don't think that changes whether
you're playing standard or extended.
122
00:07:26,101 --> 00:07:34,060
Every turn, I feel like if I mess up
too much, I'll lose the game, right?
123
00:07:34,061 --> 00:07:35,300
Megan, how do you feel about it?
124
00:07:35,301 --> 00:07:41,260
- Yeah, completely agree, though I will
say, I think that is somewhat our group.
125
00:07:41,261 --> 00:07:49,500
And I think that context, we are always
pushing for making the most of each turn.
126
00:07:49,501 --> 00:07:56,380
And we are certainly a group that
believes strongly in trying to win.
127
00:07:56,381 --> 00:08:02,460
And someone not even trying to
win just being in it for the experience
128
00:08:02,461 --> 00:08:07,100
is something that I don't think our
group would tolerate for very long.
129
00:08:07,101 --> 00:08:11,020
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
130
00:08:11,021 --> 00:08:13,900
We're happy to let anybody
come and lose at our table.
131
00:08:13,901 --> 00:08:16,140
(laughing)
132
00:08:16,141 --> 00:08:19,740
- As long as they sit to the right of me.
133
00:08:19,741 --> 00:08:20,580
- It blows.
134
00:08:20,581 --> 00:08:23,900
But we, you know, often within our group,
135
00:08:23,901 --> 00:08:28,060
we are counting on other
players to take certain
136
00:08:28,061 --> 00:08:30,580
actions that we would
consider best practice.
137
00:08:30,581 --> 00:08:32,260
Someone, someone doesn't do that.
138
00:08:32,261 --> 00:08:35,940
We're like, oh, you know, and this game,
139
00:08:35,941 --> 00:08:40,260
I think allows for a little
bit less of that to happen.
140
00:08:40,261 --> 00:08:44,420
But you can still be counting
on someone paying attention
141
00:08:44,421 --> 00:08:47,060
that, you know, someone
really wants to buy this building.
142
00:08:47,061 --> 00:08:50,820
And so someone else should buy
up that building so they don't get it.
143
00:08:50,821 --> 00:08:53,940
And then if that person's just
not even really paying attention
144
00:08:53,941 --> 00:08:58,020
and they leave that building
there for the person to grab,
145
00:08:58,021 --> 00:09:02,940
then that would be something that
our group would express frustration over.
146
00:09:02,941 --> 00:09:03,780
- True, true.
147
00:09:03,781 --> 00:09:06,020
- Like, come on, you're not even trying.
148
00:09:06,021 --> 00:09:11,860
- Yes, yes, I don't think we would be
rude, but we would be like, hey, so anyway,
149
00:09:11,861 --> 00:09:16,660
I will say every turn feeling essential,
I feel like that is somewhat our culture.
150
00:09:16,661 --> 00:09:20,500
But I think that is
also, if you're actually
151
00:09:20,501 --> 00:09:21,420
paying attention to the
game, that's what it is.
152
00:09:21,421 --> 00:09:22,860
This isn't an experience.
153
00:09:22,861 --> 00:09:26,300
This isn't Tokaido or, you know,
154
00:09:26,301 --> 00:09:29,300
some of those other games
that are just there for vibes.
155
00:09:29,301 --> 00:09:31,340
This is not a just vibes game.
156
00:09:31,341 --> 00:09:32,660
- Yeah, I would agree with that.
157
00:09:32,661 --> 00:09:36,940
And it doesn't foment
long-term strategy it feels like
158
00:09:36,941 --> 00:09:40,700
because there are so many random
elements, and we could talk about those,
159
00:09:40,701 --> 00:09:45,540
whether it's the tiles coming out of the
bag, or if it's drawing the guest cards.
160
00:09:45,541 --> 00:09:50,260
And yet, if I'm trying to be
competitive for the next courtship phase,
161
00:09:50,261 --> 00:09:52,900
I know that I'm gonna
have to try to bring on
162
00:09:52,901 --> 00:09:56,860
one or two more estate tiles
of a certain type or activity tiles.
163
00:09:56,861 --> 00:10:00,540
I'm gonna need to maybe reset my hand once.
164
00:10:00,541 --> 00:10:04,740
And suddenly, I've got a map to
follow to get to that next courtship.
165
00:10:04,741 --> 00:10:08,140
And I just think it's delightful
the way that this game
166
00:10:08,141 --> 00:10:11,900
allows you to find whatever
depth you're comfortable with.
167
00:10:11,901 --> 00:10:13,900
- Yeah, and I think
both of you are referring
168
00:10:13,901 --> 00:10:17,820
to the competition over the
theme of the season, correct?
169
00:10:17,821 --> 00:10:18,660
- Right.
170
00:10:18,661 --> 00:10:21,500
- So the building purchase
Megan was talking about,
171
00:10:21,501 --> 00:10:24,980
if you don't take it, somebody
else who might be tied
172
00:10:24,981 --> 00:10:27,540
to win the theme could
be the outright winner,
173
00:10:27,541 --> 00:10:29,340
which would be bad
for the whole table.
174
00:10:29,341 --> 00:10:30,660
(laughing)
175
00:10:30,661 --> 00:10:32,020
- I don't think so.
176
00:10:32,021 --> 00:10:32,860
(laughing)
- Wow.
177
00:10:32,861 --> 00:10:33,700
- Yeah.
178
00:10:33,701 --> 00:10:36,300
(laughing)
179
00:10:36,301 --> 00:10:39,060
- I mean, it got to the
point where I was looking at,
180
00:10:39,061 --> 00:10:42,220
like on a turn, did I want
to buy an upgrade now
181
00:10:42,221 --> 00:10:45,100
and spend money because
obviously that's a tempo, right?
182
00:10:45,101 --> 00:10:48,340
That's something that gets added to my
tableau and increases my points going.
183
00:10:48,341 --> 00:10:53,140
But if there wasn't a themed
room on the market yet,
184
00:10:53,141 --> 00:10:56,220
I would either be bringing
one on for someone else to buy
185
00:10:56,221 --> 00:10:58,540
or making something
really good for them cheaper.
186
00:10:58,541 --> 00:11:01,540
I started thinking, maybe I
don't want to buy this just yet.
187
00:11:01,541 --> 00:11:03,180
Maybe I'll just conserve my money now
188
00:11:03,181 --> 00:11:07,020
and be ready to buy an expensive tile
that comes out freshly onto the track.
189
00:11:07,021 --> 00:11:09,180
And is that one of the
more expensive spots?
190
00:11:09,181 --> 00:11:11,100
What's the top spot, 800 pounds?
- Mm-hmm.
191
00:11:11,101 --> 00:11:15,100
- So be ready to buy that one
when someone else reveals it for me.
192
00:11:15,101 --> 00:11:19,980
I mean, I just think it's
very interesting how much
193
00:11:19,981 --> 00:11:21,420
you can read into this
game if you're so inclined.
194
00:11:21,421 --> 00:11:22,260
- Sure.
195
00:11:22,261 --> 00:11:25,020
Planning for the Village
Fair really optional.
196
00:11:25,021 --> 00:11:29,060
We have one person in our group
who I think has yet to effectively do it.
197
00:11:29,061 --> 00:11:33,580
And I think he's effectively been last
in the last few games we've played.
198
00:11:33,581 --> 00:11:35,220
So I'm interested to hear
your thoughts on this game.
199
00:11:35,221 --> 00:11:38,140
- Well, the sample size is too small.
200
00:11:38,141 --> 00:11:39,660
(laughing)
201
00:11:39,661 --> 00:11:43,140
But I think--
- But the results are very high.
202
00:11:43,141 --> 00:11:47,540
- Yeah, I think there
is a shortage of turns.
203
00:11:47,541 --> 00:11:49,580
If you want to do the
Village Fair planning,
204
00:11:49,581 --> 00:11:51,700
you should do it before
the first Village Fair.
205
00:11:51,701 --> 00:11:56,700
And that means you've only
got two opportunities to do so.
206
00:11:56,701 --> 00:11:58,980
So I think it should be a choice.
207
00:11:58,981 --> 00:12:01,620
Do you want to plan for the Village Fair?
208
00:12:01,621 --> 00:12:05,900
Or do you want to try
and compete for the theme
209
00:12:05,901 --> 00:12:07,540
and win the first courtship?
- Right.
210
00:12:07,541 --> 00:12:09,940
- I think it should
be either or.
211
00:12:09,941 --> 00:12:11,420
- Hmm, okay.
212
00:12:11,421 --> 00:12:18,100
- But it doesn't need to be if the first
courtship you're going for the brown tiles.
213
00:12:18,101 --> 00:12:19,780
- Right, so you're getting that flip.
214
00:12:19,781 --> 00:12:22,020
- Well, that would be
definitely a reason too because.
215
00:12:22,021 --> 00:12:23,700
- Oh, right, right, right.
216
00:12:23,701 --> 00:12:26,380
Yeah, because that
flips it from three to zero.
217
00:12:26,381 --> 00:12:27,220
- Yeah.
218
00:12:27,221 --> 00:12:28,060
- I'd forgotten about that.
219
00:12:28,061 --> 00:12:28,900
- Oh, that's right.
220
00:12:28,901 --> 00:12:30,100
- Yep, that makes sense.
221
00:12:30,101 --> 00:12:33,660
- So that's when it's
in tip team for multiple
222
00:12:33,661 --> 00:12:35,700
people to avoid planning
for the Village Fair
223
00:12:35,701 --> 00:12:39,100
when the first theme card
is the brown essentials card.
224
00:12:39,101 --> 00:12:40,700
- That's interesting.
225
00:12:40,701 --> 00:12:44,140
If you do have that
dynamic where the first
226
00:12:44,141 --> 00:12:46,820
theme you're going
for is the brown tiles.
227
00:12:46,821 --> 00:12:50,220
And so you have two
people who decide not to do
228
00:12:50,221 --> 00:12:53,340
Village Fair planning
because that haunts
229
00:12:53,341 --> 00:12:56,300
them every time there's
a Village Fair, right?
230
00:12:56,301 --> 00:12:57,460
And.
231
00:12:57,461 --> 00:13:00,580
- The people, they're
not going to like my family.
232
00:13:00,581 --> 00:13:05,580
- One of them is going to
lose that first courtship then,
233
00:13:05,581 --> 00:13:11,100
you know, and so that
in a way is beneficial
234
00:13:11,101 --> 00:13:16,100
to everyone else who does
the Village Fair planning
235
00:13:16,101 --> 00:13:19,300
because they at least
have a leg up on the loser
236
00:13:19,301 --> 00:13:25,180
because that person didn't get the Village
Fair nor did they get the Fair Child.
237
00:13:25,181 --> 00:13:28,740
So instead of Fair Fair, it's lose lose.
238
00:13:28,741 --> 00:13:31,700
(laughing)
239
00:13:31,701 --> 00:13:34,140
- This game can be very cutthroat.
240
00:13:34,141 --> 00:13:35,260
- Oh, absolutely.
241
00:13:35,261 --> 00:13:38,220
- I mean, how many times
do you want to buy a servant
242
00:13:38,221 --> 00:13:41,600
or hire a servant and there's just none of the kind you want available?
- Mm-hmm.
243
00:13:41,601 --> 00:13:45,180
- Or there are several
cards in the game
244
00:13:45,181 --> 00:13:47,300
or as well as a tile
called the Servants Hall
245
00:13:47,301 --> 00:13:50,540
which are gossip basically
you steal a reputation
246
00:13:50,541 --> 00:13:52,460
from somebody else
and give it to yourself.
247
00:13:52,461 --> 00:13:56,380
- Yes, there's definitely
more thought to theme
248
00:13:56,381 --> 00:13:59,780
than I will say
well-roundedness or balance.
249
00:13:59,781 --> 00:14:01,580
I mean, if there are
some things that turn out
250
00:14:01,581 --> 00:14:05,820
to be unfair or overly
chaotic, they're fine
251
00:14:05,821 --> 00:14:09,340
as long as you look at
them within the love of
252
00:14:09,341 --> 00:14:11,780
this theme and environment
you're replicating.
253
00:14:11,781 --> 00:14:15,540
- Right, isn't that on the box cover?
(laughing)
254
00:14:15,541 --> 00:14:17,420
- It was definitely on their site.
255
00:14:17,421 --> 00:14:19,180
I don't know if it's on the box cover.
256
00:14:19,181 --> 00:14:21,540
I went to the website and it even said
257
00:14:21,541 --> 00:14:24,100
it's theme first more than
any game you now own.
258
00:14:24,101 --> 00:14:26,940
It sacrifices everything
on the altar of theme.
259
00:14:26,941 --> 00:14:29,860
It's not interested in who wins
or advises the best strategy.
260
00:14:29,861 --> 00:14:32,340
It's interested in capturing
the feel of the period
261
00:14:32,341 --> 00:14:35,460
which in large part is
overflowing with chaotic revelations
262
00:14:35,461 --> 00:14:39,300
that are a staple of 19th
century British literature.
263
00:14:39,301 --> 00:14:40,420
Pretty cool stuff.
264
00:14:40,421 --> 00:14:42,740
- Yes, yeah, I totally agree.
265
00:14:42,741 --> 00:14:50,300
And I guess my point is that there is an
undercurrent of backstory to the game.
266
00:14:50,301 --> 00:14:51,300
- Yes.
267
00:14:51,301 --> 00:14:55,700
- And so you can certainly
play it in a cut-throat way.
268
00:14:55,701 --> 00:14:58,260
- I don't think we've yet
seen it done too many times
269
00:14:58,261 --> 00:15:01,060
in our games, but maybe the last
time we play this game we'll do this.
270
00:15:01,061 --> 00:15:04,640
(laughing)
271
00:15:04,641 --> 00:15:11,140
- So while we're talking about
themes and competing for the fair child's
272
00:15:11,141 --> 00:15:15,300
and their what amorous
nature or you're fighting for their--
273
00:15:15,301 --> 00:15:16,580
- No, just their interest.
274
00:15:16,581 --> 00:15:17,420
- Just their interest.
275
00:15:17,421 --> 00:15:20,540
- You can spend time with
them and have that one-on-one.
276
00:15:20,541 --> 00:15:22,700
- Do you have to try for them?
- Yes.
277
00:15:22,701 --> 00:15:26,020
- I mean, there are
what, four courtships
278
00:15:26,021 --> 00:15:27,620
during the course of the game?
- It depends.
279
00:15:27,621 --> 00:15:32,660
I think it really comes down to
what Megan was talking about
280
00:15:32,661 --> 00:15:37,580
where if only one person
tries for the courtship
281
00:15:37,581 --> 00:15:39,700
they're gonna run
away with everything.
282
00:15:39,701 --> 00:15:43,380
But if multiple people
vie for it and sometimes
283
00:15:43,381 --> 00:15:45,300
tie then the person
who sat back and said,
284
00:15:45,301 --> 00:15:49,060
"Eh, I'm okay, I'm not gonna
pursue that," ends up ahead.
285
00:15:49,061 --> 00:15:50,580
- Megan, you disagree?
- Yes.
286
00:15:50,581 --> 00:15:56,780
Well, I don't, because of a
qualification he put on what he said.
287
00:15:56,781 --> 00:16:01,780
Essentially, I think, yes, you
can't just let someone go for it.
288
00:16:01,781 --> 00:16:06,660
And I will say, you know,
we played the other night
289
00:16:06,661 --> 00:16:13,540
and it was clear that Todd was like, I
wanna see a fair child as often as possible.
290
00:16:13,541 --> 00:16:18,540
And I was like, I cannot,
I don't see anyone
291
00:16:18,541 --> 00:16:22,700
else fighting for whatever
the second one was.
292
00:16:22,701 --> 00:16:24,580
And so I was like, I have to get in it.
293
00:16:24,581 --> 00:16:30,500
I have to do this because if we
let Todd win this he wins the game.
294
00:16:30,501 --> 00:16:34,540
And so, you know, there is
that you have to look around.
295
00:16:34,541 --> 00:16:37,980
Now it is a bummer when
you're like, man, I'm not
296
00:16:37,981 --> 00:16:40,220
really set up to do this,
but no one else is doing this.
297
00:16:40,221 --> 00:16:41,060
- Right.
298
00:16:41,061 --> 00:16:43,860
- And so you have to make that decision.
299
00:16:43,861 --> 00:16:45,940
Maybe I didn't make the right decision.
300
00:16:45,941 --> 00:16:48,940
But in the moment, I felt
like I have to make him
301
00:16:48,941 --> 00:16:53,340
a little scared to make
his decisions a little harder
302
00:16:53,341 --> 00:16:55,860
that felt like what I needed
to do in the moment.
303
00:16:55,861 --> 00:16:57,780
And so, yeah, when someone's saying that,
304
00:16:57,781 --> 00:17:01,620
oh, this game is just like
fluffy having people over for tea.
305
00:17:01,621 --> 00:17:06,620
No, it is forcing pretty
conflict heavy choices.
306
00:17:06,621 --> 00:17:10,220
- Yeah, I recall the game
we had most recently,
307
00:17:10,221 --> 00:17:14,860
Todd and Dave were fighting like
cats and dogs for the very first courtship.
308
00:17:14,861 --> 00:17:18,900
And then like you said, the
second courtship that turned
309
00:17:18,901 --> 00:17:21,100
over was sporting and
Todd was already in the lead.
310
00:17:21,101 --> 00:17:23,100
And you tried to compete with them,
311
00:17:23,101 --> 00:17:27,500
but unfortunately you were
not able to get the reputation
312
00:17:27,501 --> 00:17:31,860
you required to use your
newly constructed fields, right?
313
00:17:31,861 --> 00:17:32,740
- Mm-hmm.
314
00:17:32,741 --> 00:17:37,980
- And then the third courtship theme
was estates, which fell into your lap.
315
00:17:37,981 --> 00:17:40,740
Todd had completely ignored.
316
00:17:40,741 --> 00:17:41,820
- Yeah, exactly.
317
00:17:41,821 --> 00:17:44,380
- You hadn't even flipped your
first starting building for that theme.
318
00:17:44,381 --> 00:17:45,900
- Right.
319
00:17:45,901 --> 00:17:51,500
- So you just gave up on that, but
then the final courtship card turned over
320
00:17:51,501 --> 00:17:55,180
and it was green, which you were
way ahead of everybody else already.
321
00:17:55,181 --> 00:17:57,020
So yeah, we were
like, oh, it's over.
322
00:17:57,021 --> 00:17:57,860
- Right.
323
00:17:57,861 --> 00:18:01,900
I even had the
objective card that said
324
00:18:01,901 --> 00:18:05,220
plus one point for every
green tile in your tableau.
325
00:18:05,221 --> 00:18:07,340
I mean, that was just paying dividends.
326
00:18:07,341 --> 00:18:09,540
And yet it wasn't enough.
327
00:18:09,541 --> 00:18:10,540
(laughs)
328
00:18:10,541 --> 00:18:12,500
- Just barely, just barely.
329
00:18:12,501 --> 00:18:14,340
It was very close game, yes.
330
00:18:14,341 --> 00:18:16,540
- Which comes down to those guest cards.
331
00:18:16,541 --> 00:18:18,580
So what are your thoughts
about drawing guest cards?
332
00:18:18,581 --> 00:18:19,420
There's a lot of fun.
333
00:18:19,421 --> 00:18:20,780
Obviously that's where
a lot of the role play
334
00:18:20,781 --> 00:18:25,220
starts coming in when we start gossiping
about the personalities that are on there.
335
00:18:25,221 --> 00:18:27,460
And yet they're not all good.
336
00:18:27,461 --> 00:18:29,480
- Megan, the American Air is Hunter.
337
00:18:29,481 --> 00:18:32,340
Oh my gosh.
338
00:18:32,341 --> 00:18:33,500
Was that two games ago?
339
00:18:33,501 --> 00:18:35,420
Where she like drew all of them?
340
00:18:35,421 --> 00:18:40,460
- Yeah, and immediately I took their
money then immediately dismissed them.
341
00:18:40,461 --> 00:18:41,460
It was awesome.
342
00:18:41,461 --> 00:18:43,220
(laughs)
343
00:18:43,221 --> 00:18:46,060
- You took them to watch
the horses and say goodbye.
344
00:18:46,061 --> 00:18:49,580
- So I didn't get that reputation hit.
345
00:18:49,581 --> 00:18:50,660
It was great.
346
00:18:50,661 --> 00:18:52,660
(laughs)
347
00:18:52,661 --> 00:18:59,380
I think if you want to win
the game that drawing a lot of
348
00:18:59,381 --> 00:19:01,460
guest cards is essential, to
me it's the most important thing.
349
00:19:01,461 --> 00:19:05,020
Once you've gotten to
at least three reputation.
350
00:19:05,021 --> 00:19:05,860
- Okay.
351
00:19:05,861 --> 00:19:07,820
And why is that just
because they are points?
352
00:19:07,821 --> 00:19:10,580
- Because they are points
and because of the efficiency.
353
00:19:10,581 --> 00:19:13,340
So the activities have a maximum.
354
00:19:13,341 --> 00:19:17,420
I mean, they have a required
number of guests, but it goes
355
00:19:17,421 --> 00:19:18,900
from a low number to slightly
higher and higher numbers.
356
00:19:18,901 --> 00:19:22,580
So the more favors you
can get with a single guest,
357
00:19:22,581 --> 00:19:25,260
the more explosive your
growth is going to be.
358
00:19:25,261 --> 00:19:28,100
And so the prestigious
guests are super essential
359
00:19:28,101 --> 00:19:31,220
and you want to have at
least three of them right.
360
00:19:31,221 --> 00:19:35,180
- I also think that it's
not that you necessarily
361
00:19:35,181 --> 00:19:40,180
need to acquire a
huge stable of guests
362
00:19:40,181 --> 00:19:45,420
because you can be dismissing
them and getting rid of them.
363
00:19:45,421 --> 00:19:48,620
And there's multiple ways
of doing that in the game.
364
00:19:48,621 --> 00:19:53,500
But I think the more you
have, it gives you more options.
365
00:19:53,501 --> 00:20:01,300
You know, when an activity requires two
ladies, well, if all you have are ladies
366
00:20:01,301 --> 00:20:07,580
that require the ladies made
and you just have one ladies made
367
00:20:07,581 --> 00:20:10,580
or you have two, but one of
them isn't ready to serve again.
368
00:20:10,581 --> 00:20:12,140
You're, uh-oh.
369
00:20:12,141 --> 00:20:12,980
- Right.
370
00:20:12,981 --> 00:20:15,660
- But when you have other guests available,
371
00:20:15,661 --> 00:20:20,820
other ladies who don't need
the ladies made, then all of a
372
00:20:20,821 --> 00:20:23,380
sudden you have an option and
you can do that activity you want.
373
00:20:23,381 --> 00:20:27,260
And so making sure that
you're having those guests,
374
00:20:27,261 --> 00:20:32,260
even if they're going to turn
and leave your hand or whatever,
375
00:20:32,261 --> 00:20:37,220
it just gives you options
and you're not so backed
376
00:20:37,221 --> 00:20:39,660
into corners, which is so
important as we talked about,
377
00:20:39,661 --> 00:20:42,580
'cause you don't want to have
a wasted turn in this game.
378
00:20:42,581 --> 00:20:47,220
So having that flexibility means
you're not wasting those turns.
379
00:20:47,221 --> 00:20:48,060
- Right.
380
00:20:48,061 --> 00:20:50,620
- Yep, and sometimes you just
have to invite the cad to your party.
381
00:20:50,621 --> 00:20:53,020
(laughing)
- Absolutely.
382
00:20:53,021 --> 00:20:56,500
- Yeah, the other thing I
like about having those cards
383
00:20:56,501 --> 00:20:59,140
in my hand is it prolongs
the amount of time
384
00:20:59,141 --> 00:21:03,620
before I need to pass
and recover my debt, right?
385
00:21:03,621 --> 00:21:05,460
Which, at least without the expansion,
386
00:21:05,461 --> 00:21:08,620
that feels more like a
lost move that I'm just,
387
00:21:08,621 --> 00:21:10,620
like we talked about
it in Anno 1800, right?
388
00:21:10,621 --> 00:21:14,020
With the idea of festival hanging,
can I postpone having to do that?
389
00:21:14,021 --> 00:21:18,460
Unless there is someone that I really,
whose powers I really want to reuse again,
390
00:21:18,461 --> 00:21:21,220
I dislike having to pass
just to recover my hand.
391
00:21:21,221 --> 00:21:23,420
- Right, right, you
want to have really good
392
00:21:23,421 --> 00:21:25,500
cards in your discard
before you pass, I agree.
393
00:21:25,501 --> 00:21:28,980
- So let's talk about
the staff in this game.
394
00:21:28,981 --> 00:21:31,980
What would it take to open
up some of their stories?
395
00:21:31,981 --> 00:21:33,940
Because in all the shows that we mentioned,
396
00:21:33,941 --> 00:21:37,660
there's development of
staff stories as well as,
397
00:21:37,661 --> 00:21:39,860
obviously the homeowners
and the lords and the ladies
398
00:21:39,861 --> 00:21:43,460
and the like, what's it going to take for
us to give a little more color to the folks
399
00:21:43,461 --> 00:21:46,860
that are helping us host
all of these activities?
400
00:21:46,861 --> 00:21:52,700
- I think that's a delightful possibility
in an expansion or something, right?
401
00:21:52,701 --> 00:21:57,940
Maybe the role, there's all
those games that have a dice
402
00:21:57,941 --> 00:22:00,380
or role or whatever is the
like smaller sequel game.
403
00:22:00,381 --> 00:22:04,900
That could be what the servant
stories, where we dig into that.
404
00:22:04,901 --> 00:22:07,100
- I think that's exactly
what the designer's doing.
405
00:22:07,101 --> 00:22:09,580
So he's already released
upstairs downstairs,
406
00:22:09,581 --> 00:22:13,100
which give you the four
supplemental servants.
407
00:22:13,101 --> 00:22:13,940
- Right.
408
00:22:13,941 --> 00:22:18,380
- And I felt like I was beginning to
tell stories every time I used them.
409
00:22:18,381 --> 00:22:22,220
Like, oh, I invite my head housemaid
410
00:22:22,221 --> 00:22:25,060
to help me screen the new
connections that I'm gaining.
411
00:22:25,061 --> 00:22:28,860
Or, ah, the cook comes and
makes such a wonderful meal.
412
00:22:28,861 --> 00:22:31,140
But then there's a new
expansion coming out this year
413
00:22:31,141 --> 00:22:34,460
called characters, which is
gonna add even more of that.
414
00:22:34,461 --> 00:22:36,340
- Oh, okay.
415
00:22:36,341 --> 00:22:37,660
That sounds interesting.
416
00:22:37,661 --> 00:22:39,660
And the useful man who
looks like he came out
417
00:22:39,661 --> 00:22:44,340
of picky blinders with
his mallet who's going out
418
00:22:44,341 --> 00:22:48,420
and, you know, breaking knees and
bringing in rents during the-- - No, no.
419
00:22:48,421 --> 00:22:50,420
He's building things.
420
00:22:50,421 --> 00:22:51,260
- No, he's not.
421
00:22:51,261 --> 00:22:52,100
No, he's not.
422
00:22:52,101 --> 00:22:55,100
All right.
423
00:22:55,101 --> 00:23:00,700
Now that last game we played,
Paul, the way the tiles came
424
00:23:00,701 --> 00:23:02,260
out really was fortuitous in
that you were able to capture
425
00:23:02,261 --> 00:23:04,900
what three different monuments
by the end of the game.
426
00:23:04,901 --> 00:23:06,780
Are those monuments overpowered?
- I had two.
427
00:23:06,781 --> 00:23:08,620
- You had two?
428
00:23:08,621 --> 00:23:10,580
- You know, some people think they are.
429
00:23:10,581 --> 00:23:13,220
And so with the upstairs
downstairs expansion,
430
00:23:13,221 --> 00:23:16,460
there is a set of monument
replacement tiles,
431
00:23:16,461 --> 00:23:19,300
which are all worth
about half as many points.
432
00:23:19,301 --> 00:23:20,300
- Ah, okay.
433
00:23:20,301 --> 00:23:22,860
- For those people who
think they're overpowered.
434
00:23:22,861 --> 00:23:23,740
- Yes.
435
00:23:23,741 --> 00:23:25,300
I remember a couple of games back.
436
00:23:25,301 --> 00:23:27,780
I think I ended up with
three of those monuments.
437
00:23:27,781 --> 00:23:29,220
- You did, yeah.
438
00:23:29,221 --> 00:23:32,380
- They ended up being
great also to help me race
439
00:23:32,381 --> 00:23:37,060
around the reputation track
and gain reputation quickly.
440
00:23:37,061 --> 00:23:39,300
So they didn't just
offer a bunch of points.
441
00:23:39,301 --> 00:23:42,700
It was also a lot of reputation
which definitely helped.
442
00:23:42,701 --> 00:23:43,540
- Yeah.
443
00:23:43,541 --> 00:23:47,980
So I think it's balanced
because of the cost.
444
00:23:47,981 --> 00:23:51,340
So if the other players allow a monument
445
00:23:51,341 --> 00:23:56,380
to drop down to the three or 400
pound space, then-- - That's on them.
446
00:23:56,381 --> 00:23:58,580
- Yeah, you're getting a steal, totally.
447
00:23:58,581 --> 00:24:01,700
But if people are buying
them for eight or 700 pounds
448
00:24:01,701 --> 00:24:05,780
plus the extra cost that they
have, then I think it's very fair.
449
00:24:05,781 --> 00:24:06,620
- Okay.
450
00:24:06,621 --> 00:24:08,300
And for folks who aren't familiar,
451
00:24:08,301 --> 00:24:13,700
each of the colors, there are five
colors of activities or tiles in the game.
452
00:24:13,701 --> 00:24:16,940
And each of them has a
monument in that color.
453
00:24:16,941 --> 00:24:20,700
And unlike the activities
where if you host the activity
454
00:24:20,701 --> 00:24:23,220
the first time, it flips
over and it usually
455
00:24:23,221 --> 00:24:26,060
has a better side,
offers you better benefits
456
00:24:26,061 --> 00:24:29,020
and definitely more points,
monuments can't be flipped.
457
00:24:29,021 --> 00:24:31,140
But there were a lot of
points right out of the gate
458
00:24:31,141 --> 00:24:32,820
and then they do help
you with the reputation.
459
00:24:32,821 --> 00:24:34,020
So they're pretty important.
460
00:24:34,021 --> 00:24:39,660
- Yeah, the game comes with an extra estate
monument called the Sculpture Garden.
461
00:24:39,661 --> 00:24:42,020
And you're supposed
to always play with that
462
00:24:42,021 --> 00:24:45,180
and you're also supposed
to add an extra number
463
00:24:45,181 --> 00:24:46,620
of monuments equal
to the number of players.
464
00:24:46,621 --> 00:24:47,460
- Ah!
465
00:24:47,461 --> 00:24:49,780
- You can choose them
randomly or have players
466
00:24:49,781 --> 00:24:51,020
decide which ones
they wanna play with.
467
00:24:51,021 --> 00:24:52,540
- Okay, interesting.
468
00:24:52,541 --> 00:24:58,940
So beyond reputation and beyond the estate
points, you also have objective cards.
469
00:24:58,941 --> 00:25:02,980
These are cards that you're managing
throughout the course of the game.
470
00:25:02,981 --> 00:25:04,980
I think you're gonna
see a total of what is it?
471
00:25:04,981 --> 00:25:08,700
Six, five during the course of the
game, but you wind up with three?
472
00:25:08,701 --> 00:25:10,540
- It depends on whether
you're playing standard
473
00:25:10,541 --> 00:25:14,740
or extended, but yeah, you're gonna have to
discard four over the course of the game.
474
00:25:14,741 --> 00:25:18,300
So since we end with
three, that means we've
475
00:25:18,301 --> 00:25:19,180
seen a total of seven
throughout the game.
476
00:25:19,181 --> 00:25:20,020
- Got it.
477
00:25:20,021 --> 00:25:21,340
So do you prioritize those?
478
00:25:21,341 --> 00:25:27,100
How much emphasis do you place upon trying
to fulfill one of those objective cards?
479
00:25:27,101 --> 00:25:30,340
- I definitely want to fulfill them.
480
00:25:30,341 --> 00:25:37,100
And there is that nice
tension of their objectives that
481
00:25:37,101 --> 00:25:39,300
are hard to fulfill, but
that's worth a lot of points.
482
00:25:39,301 --> 00:25:43,140
Some ones that are easier to
fulfill, but not worth as many points.
483
00:25:43,141 --> 00:25:46,300
And so it's all about what do you keep?
484
00:25:46,301 --> 00:25:51,980
And are you saying I want the sure
thing that's gonna give me five points?
485
00:25:51,981 --> 00:25:58,140
Or do I want the stretch that's gonna
maybe be worth 20 some points?
486
00:25:58,141 --> 00:26:03,140
And our last game, I had
one little piddly sure thing.
487
00:26:03,141 --> 00:26:09,780
And then I felt really good about
potentially getting these stretch ones
488
00:26:09,781 --> 00:26:13,860
because I had gotten two of
the three buildings I needed.
489
00:26:13,861 --> 00:26:18,860
And I saw within my reach
the last building that I wanted.
490
00:26:18,861 --> 00:26:24,780
So I discarded one of the objectives
that was a sure thing that was easy
491
00:26:24,781 --> 00:26:29,460
because I was like, no, no, I'm
gonna be able to get my huge
492
00:26:29,461 --> 00:26:31,460
amount of points here with
my more difficult objectives.
493
00:26:31,461 --> 00:26:34,620
And then I did not get that building.
494
00:26:34,621 --> 00:26:38,100
Someone else purchased,
someone else purchased six.
495
00:26:38,101 --> 00:26:39,980
And was it me?
496
00:26:39,981 --> 00:26:43,860
It was, no, it was David.
497
00:26:43,861 --> 00:26:44,700
I thought it was Dave.
498
00:26:44,701 --> 00:26:46,740
I bought the first barn, but then
David bought the second one.
499
00:26:46,741 --> 00:26:47,580
I was mundering.
500
00:26:47,581 --> 00:26:48,580
The york.
501
00:26:48,581 --> 00:26:55,020
He bought the cabinet of
curiosities, which is what I needed.
502
00:26:55,021 --> 00:26:56,180
Got it.
503
00:26:56,181 --> 00:27:00,740
Yeah, it was difficult, but
I've come to terms with it.
504
00:27:03,620 --> 00:27:05,620
Yeah, I don't know how
I feel about objectives.
505
00:27:05,621 --> 00:27:06,900
I mean, I don't know.
506
00:27:06,901 --> 00:27:10,820
It's another way to get
some extra points, but I think
507
00:27:10,821 --> 00:27:12,340
they're often a crapshoot
like Megan described us now.
508
00:27:12,341 --> 00:27:13,180
- Right.
509
00:27:13,181 --> 00:27:16,860
Well, especially if you
have one of those crazy ones
510
00:27:16,861 --> 00:27:18,820
tantalizing you with like,
hey, you get 15 or 20 points.
511
00:27:18,821 --> 00:27:23,100
If you get this combination of rooms,
but then you don't even see one of them
512
00:27:23,101 --> 00:27:27,780
or they're too expensive or any number
of things other people keep buying them.
513
00:27:27,781 --> 00:27:31,260
- Or they're totally off theme for
fighting for the Fairchilds, yeah.
514
00:27:31,261 --> 00:27:34,100
- Right. And I think
that just goes and talks
515
00:27:34,101 --> 00:27:35,500
to more of the chaos
that's in the game.
516
00:27:35,501 --> 00:27:39,700
And that's a common word to throw around
these days, which basically just means
517
00:27:39,701 --> 00:27:44,100
there's a fair deal of randomness to
the way things are going to emerge.
518
00:27:44,101 --> 00:27:48,700
But I still really enjoy playing the
game and getting into that, you know,
519
00:27:48,701 --> 00:27:51,780
almost tactical feel of,
okay, I need to do these
520
00:27:51,781 --> 00:27:53,300
next three things for
before the next courtship.
521
00:27:53,301 --> 00:27:58,060
And then before I know it, we're in the
home stretch and the game's almost over.
522
00:27:58,061 --> 00:28:01,220
- Yeah, I guess I think
of it as like a risk posture.
523
00:28:01,221 --> 00:28:03,060
How much do you want to risk?
524
00:28:03,061 --> 00:28:04,100
How much do you want to gamble?
525
00:28:04,101 --> 00:28:08,500
Because you can put yourself in a
position where you only make safe choices
526
00:28:08,501 --> 00:28:11,460
or you can put yourself
in a position where you
527
00:28:11,461 --> 00:28:12,780
only make the risky choices
or somewhere in between.
528
00:28:12,781 --> 00:28:14,020
- Yep, absolutely.
529
00:28:14,021 --> 00:28:20,420
- I'm fascinated by the amount of
forethought required to have a big turn.
530
00:28:20,421 --> 00:28:26,420
Like there's a lot of buildings
that require five gentry
531
00:28:26,421 --> 00:28:29,500
or four gentlemen or something
that seems really difficult
532
00:28:29,501 --> 00:28:31,460
because not only do you
have to have the cards in hand,
533
00:28:31,461 --> 00:28:33,620
but also have to have
the servants available.
534
00:28:33,621 --> 00:28:35,460
So what are your thoughts on that?
535
00:28:35,461 --> 00:28:38,060
- I really like that
because I don't think
536
00:28:38,061 --> 00:28:40,420
there's anything you
can ignore in this game.
537
00:28:40,421 --> 00:28:42,980
I don't think you can say, you know what?
538
00:28:42,981 --> 00:28:44,740
I don't care about my reputation.
539
00:28:44,741 --> 00:28:46,780
I'm not going to do one thing to raise it.
540
00:28:46,781 --> 00:28:53,260
I'm going to focus on, you know,
money and buying more tiles and getting--
541
00:28:53,261 --> 00:28:54,860
- Spoken like a true York.
542
00:28:54,861 --> 00:28:59,780
- I'm going to get just my casual
guests and I'm not going to care.
543
00:28:59,781 --> 00:29:01,180
Like it's going to bite you.
544
00:29:01,181 --> 00:29:03,940
You're going to have things
you need that reputation for.
545
00:29:03,941 --> 00:29:05,740
And it's the same thing.
546
00:29:05,741 --> 00:29:09,460
You can't be a popper with a heart of gold.
547
00:29:09,461 --> 00:29:10,900
That's not going to work either.
548
00:29:10,901 --> 00:29:14,460
And you have to be
keeping everything in mind.
549
00:29:14,461 --> 00:29:16,900
And yeah, for those, when you're like,
550
00:29:16,901 --> 00:29:21,740
"Hey, this activity requires
my reputation to be up at six.
551
00:29:21,741 --> 00:29:25,260
" And I also need,
however many people ready,
552
00:29:25,261 --> 00:29:29,220
along with all of their
servants, whatever, that's huge.
553
00:29:29,221 --> 00:29:31,180
But it's going to pay out huge.
554
00:29:31,181 --> 00:29:36,500
So when the stars align and you
make it happen, it's very exciting.
555
00:29:36,501 --> 00:29:39,340
And it's, I think it's fun to watch.
556
00:29:39,341 --> 00:29:41,700
I mean, it's also
somewhat disappointing to
557
00:29:41,701 --> 00:29:43,100
watch when you're
one of the other players.
558
00:29:43,101 --> 00:29:47,300
But fun at the same time is
you're like, "Oh, I'm getting crushed.
559
00:29:47,301 --> 00:29:49,180
" (laughs)
560
00:29:49,181 --> 00:29:53,340
- As long as you know who's going
to the party, the gossip allows you to--
561
00:29:53,341 --> 00:29:57,740
- Right, yeah, be a perfectly
happy Victorian foyer.
562
00:29:57,741 --> 00:30:02,940
- When you pull it off, as
Megan said, you feel awesome.
563
00:30:02,941 --> 00:30:06,580
And you have this entire parade
of staff that you're just rolling out
564
00:30:06,581 --> 00:30:10,140
and you're putting all the valets on the
gentlemen, ladies' maids with the ladies.
565
00:30:10,141 --> 00:30:11,940
And then you get your
footmen that are helping
566
00:30:11,941 --> 00:30:13,700
with it or the butler
that's hosting the event.
567
00:30:13,701 --> 00:30:19,020
And then suddenly, all of your staff
is over in the left most expended box.
568
00:30:19,021 --> 00:30:22,100
And you're like, "Oh,
I've got to do something
569
00:30:22,101 --> 00:30:25,700
just to catch up in the next
turns that I can set up for that.
570
00:30:25,701 --> 00:30:29,580
" So there is a pacing to the game
that kind of feels like you're not swinging
571
00:30:29,581 --> 00:30:33,300
for the fences on every
turn, but you definitely have at
572
00:30:33,301 --> 00:30:35,180
least one prep turn while they
all move into the center box.
573
00:30:35,181 --> 00:30:37,820
And then you might be
able to pull something off
574
00:30:37,821 --> 00:30:41,300
on the next turn,
assuming you still have the
575
00:30:41,301 --> 00:30:42,540
gentry cards and
everything to do it again.
576
00:30:42,541 --> 00:30:44,260
But I love that puzzle.
577
00:30:44,261 --> 00:30:47,860
Then let's move on to the prompts,
starting with weight in complexity.
578
00:30:47,861 --> 00:30:50,740
On board game geeks, scale of one to five
579
00:30:50,741 --> 00:30:53,140
with one being the lowest,
five being the heaviest.
580
00:30:53,141 --> 00:30:57,380
This category would also align with
what board game arena calls complexity.
581
00:30:57,381 --> 00:30:58,700
How would you rate?
582
00:30:58,701 --> 00:31:01,300
Obsession, Megan,
why don't you lead us off?
583
00:31:01,301 --> 00:31:04,060
- I'm a little nervous
about leading us off here
584
00:31:04,061 --> 00:31:07,540
because I think the two of you
may really disagree with me,
585
00:31:07,541 --> 00:31:11,020
but I'm going to go
ahead and rate this a four.
586
00:31:11,021 --> 00:31:13,300
- Four. - For our weight, complexity.
587
00:31:13,301 --> 00:31:16,380
I don't think anyone in
our group has this solved.
588
00:31:16,381 --> 00:31:21,380
I don't think anyone has said
there's an auto win strategy here.
589
00:31:21,381 --> 00:31:27,140
I think there is an enjoyable depth
here, which is, it's why it's wild to me
590
00:31:27,141 --> 00:31:31,820
that the designer would say,
well, this is more themed than game
591
00:31:31,821 --> 00:31:37,500
because I think we are still really
wrestling with the game that is here.
592
00:31:37,501 --> 00:31:38,980
- Right, that's awesome.
593
00:31:38,981 --> 00:31:41,700
I struggled with how to
answer this for quite a while
594
00:31:41,701 --> 00:31:45,540
because when I first started
playing this, it was not easy.
595
00:31:45,541 --> 00:31:48,860
And that's because it's very different
than every other game I've played.
596
00:31:48,861 --> 00:31:51,020
And I mean, we've been
playing games for decades.
597
00:31:51,021 --> 00:31:54,060
So a lot of the time
when I start to play a
598
00:31:54,061 --> 00:31:55,700
new game, I can figure
it out on my first play.
599
00:31:55,701 --> 00:32:00,060
I could not do that with this, but now
that I've played it so much with my wife,
600
00:32:00,061 --> 00:32:03,700
I ended up with a rating of
two for weight and complexity
601
00:32:03,701 --> 00:32:07,660
because I feel like we both
understand exactly how to play.
602
00:32:07,661 --> 00:32:11,140
There's not a lot of things to remember.
603
00:32:11,141 --> 00:32:12,580
We don't have to look up anything.
604
00:32:12,581 --> 00:32:15,780
It just, it all fits together
and makes sense.
605
00:32:15,781 --> 00:32:16,900
- Wow, okay.
606
00:32:16,901 --> 00:32:18,300
Well, I am not at the two stage.
607
00:32:18,301 --> 00:32:23,060
In fact, I had this originally as a three
when I first sat down and was playing it.
608
00:32:23,061 --> 00:32:24,420
I was like, okay, this is a three.
609
00:32:24,421 --> 00:32:26,820
But then I kept discovering
those things I talked about, right?
610
00:32:26,821 --> 00:32:29,660
Those depths that you
can find if you read into it
611
00:32:29,661 --> 00:32:32,460
and looking at how you're
gonna manufacture money
612
00:32:32,461 --> 00:32:36,220
and then staging the sequence of events so
that you have the right servants available
613
00:32:36,221 --> 00:32:38,340
and how you're gonna
manage the gentry cards.
614
00:32:38,341 --> 00:32:39,420
And Megan, I agree with you.
615
00:32:39,421 --> 00:32:42,420
It feels like when you are
understanding the game
616
00:32:42,421 --> 00:32:45,940
and you're playing all of the different
things at the same time, it's a four.
617
00:32:45,941 --> 00:32:47,860
And it's an awesome four.
618
00:32:47,861 --> 00:32:49,300
I'm really enjoying it.
619
00:32:49,301 --> 00:32:52,100
So Paul, I guess I can look
forward to dropping it down
620
00:32:52,101 --> 00:32:55,260
in the future with more
familiarity, but I'm not there yet.
621
00:32:55,261 --> 00:32:56,740
(laughs)
622
00:32:56,741 --> 00:32:57,740
So then strategy.
623
00:32:57,741 --> 00:32:59,420
How much opportunity is there for strategy
624
00:32:59,421 --> 00:33:02,860
and long-term planning on the
same scale of one to five, please?
625
00:33:02,861 --> 00:33:03,900
Paul, what do you think?
626
00:33:03,901 --> 00:33:08,620
- Yeah, so for the reasons you and
Megan already stated, I rate this a four.
627
00:33:08,621 --> 00:33:13,500
There is quite a lot of long-term
planning and strategy in this game,
628
00:33:13,501 --> 00:33:15,860
even though there's
also a lot of randomness.
629
00:33:15,861 --> 00:33:17,980
- I agree with Paul on this one.
630
00:33:17,981 --> 00:33:20,900
I also rated this a four for strategy.
631
00:33:20,901 --> 00:33:26,380
I think for exactly the reasons we
discussed, you can't waste a turn.
632
00:33:26,381 --> 00:33:33,700
And so you need to be thinking
about not only what benefits you now,
633
00:33:33,701 --> 00:33:37,500
but how are you setting
yourself up for those next turns?
634
00:33:37,501 --> 00:33:41,700
You know, you could use that servant
now, but if it's not gonna be a big help,
635
00:33:41,701 --> 00:33:44,140
maybe they can be a
big help for you next turn.
636
00:33:44,141 --> 00:33:47,780
So when will they be available
again if you use them now?
637
00:33:47,781 --> 00:33:51,380
And, you know, if you
flip this activity now,
638
00:33:51,381 --> 00:33:55,460
hey, great, you're getting money or
reputation, whatever you're getting from that,
639
00:33:55,461 --> 00:33:57,620
but is that helping
you with the fair child?
640
00:33:57,621 --> 00:34:00,740
So there's so much to
weigh and to consider.
641
00:34:00,741 --> 00:34:03,980
And even we'll get into some of this later,
642
00:34:03,981 --> 00:34:07,980
but thinking about which
family you want to start with,
643
00:34:07,981 --> 00:34:13,260
that I think right from the beginning of
the game, there is strategy to consider.
644
00:34:13,261 --> 00:34:14,660
Well, let's get into it now.
645
00:34:14,661 --> 00:34:16,740
What are your thoughts on family selection?
646
00:34:16,741 --> 00:34:20,900
- I'm not super clear on what
the official rules are regarding that.
647
00:34:20,901 --> 00:34:27,220
The way we've played most of the
time in the past, it's just kind of been a,
648
00:34:27,221 --> 00:34:30,380
here's all the family
boards, pick what you
649
00:34:30,381 --> 00:34:32,220
want, and people
have just kind of picked.
650
00:34:32,221 --> 00:34:37,580
But the last time we played,
we actually figured out
651
00:34:37,581 --> 00:34:40,500
who player won, we selected
player one from the start.
652
00:34:40,501 --> 00:34:43,180
And then I think we
followed the rules on this.
653
00:34:43,181 --> 00:34:45,860
- Yeah, the rules say
player two gets the first pick,
654
00:34:45,861 --> 00:34:49,300
and then player one gets the
last pick for family selection.
655
00:34:49,301 --> 00:34:55,500
- Mm-hmm, and I think that honestly
is a more appropriate way of doing it,
656
00:34:55,501 --> 00:35:00,460
because I think the family you start
with does matter, and it impacts your play.
657
00:35:00,461 --> 00:35:08,220
And so I think having that be determined
by your turn order makes sense.
658
00:35:08,221 --> 00:35:11,300
- Okay, yeah, I definitely
liked drafting the families
659
00:35:11,301 --> 00:35:15,260
in some non-random order,
or just whatever you felt like.
660
00:35:15,261 --> 00:35:19,100
And you do have some early
advantages, whether it's more money,
661
00:35:19,101 --> 00:35:22,060
or if it's an extra footman or
whatever the case may be.
662
00:35:22,061 --> 00:35:24,980
So I can see what that affects
shapes your early decisions.
663
00:35:24,981 --> 00:35:26,900
I had strategy down as a three,
664
00:35:26,901 --> 00:35:29,620
because I feel like those
are a lot of tactical decisions.
665
00:35:29,621 --> 00:35:31,940
Like what I'm gonna do
before that first courtship,
666
00:35:31,941 --> 00:35:34,780
I may try to take advantage
of whatever my family
667
00:35:34,781 --> 00:35:36,060
has, but by the end
of the first courtship,
668
00:35:36,061 --> 00:35:39,100
it feels like playing field
has evened out quite a bit.
669
00:35:39,101 --> 00:35:42,580
The other thing that just, it
prevents me from giving it a four,
670
00:35:42,581 --> 00:35:47,860
is the theme or the season of the
Fairchilds and what they're going to expect.
671
00:35:47,861 --> 00:35:51,220
And like Paul mentioned,
it came out in the last
672
00:35:51,221 --> 00:35:53,940
game where they wanted
sporting events again,
673
00:35:53,941 --> 00:35:56,700
and I was already sitting on
the most points at the table.
674
00:35:56,701 --> 00:35:59,900
And that was gonna be counted
twice, because it had emerged twice.
675
00:35:59,901 --> 00:36:03,300
That was nothing to do with planning, or
foresight, or anything, that was just luck.
676
00:36:03,301 --> 00:36:06,700
So for me, that saps
some of the strengths from
677
00:36:06,701 --> 00:36:08,060
strategy, it's not
sapping it in a bad way.
678
00:36:08,061 --> 00:36:10,620
I'm not wishing that--
- Oh, I wish that would last a lot.
679
00:36:10,621 --> 00:36:12,420
- I guess to maybe try and convince you,
680
00:36:12,421 --> 00:36:18,100
I think you have to plan almost half the
game ahead to put on those big events,
681
00:36:18,101 --> 00:36:22,380
because you have to stage out,
when am I gonna hire extra staff?
682
00:36:22,381 --> 00:36:24,540
How am I gonna get more cards?
683
00:36:24,541 --> 00:36:26,060
How am I gonna get my reputation up?
684
00:36:26,061 --> 00:36:29,740
And that takes, like if you wanna
have a ball in the final two turds,
685
00:36:29,741 --> 00:36:31,980
you have to spend the
whole game working up to that.
686
00:36:31,981 --> 00:36:32,820
- Right.
687
00:36:32,821 --> 00:36:33,660
I have to say about it.
688
00:36:33,661 --> 00:36:35,260
(laughing)
689
00:36:35,261 --> 00:36:36,100
- All right, well then luck.
690
00:36:36,101 --> 00:36:37,820
How much do you think luck plays a factor?
691
00:36:37,821 --> 00:36:39,420
Same scale one to five.
692
00:36:39,421 --> 00:36:41,620
The two numbers don't
have to add up to six.
693
00:36:41,621 --> 00:36:42,460
(laughing)
694
00:36:42,461 --> 00:36:43,420
- All right, I'll go first.
695
00:36:43,421 --> 00:36:45,620
I think there's a lot of luck to this game,
696
00:36:45,621 --> 00:36:48,780
but I also have to admit
that I win this game a lot,
697
00:36:48,781 --> 00:36:51,700
which to me means
there's not a lot of luck to it.
698
00:36:51,701 --> 00:36:54,700
So I ended up right in
the middle, rating it a three.
699
00:36:54,701 --> 00:36:55,580
- Well, I'll join you there.
700
00:36:55,581 --> 00:36:57,180
I also had it down as a three.
701
00:36:57,181 --> 00:36:58,180
Megan, what'd you have?
702
00:36:58,181 --> 00:36:59,420
- I won't be joining you.
703
00:36:59,421 --> 00:37:01,260
I had it as a one.
704
00:37:01,261 --> 00:37:09,660
- Wow.
- Because I think, I think those things that you've each mentioned previously
705
00:37:09,661 --> 00:37:16,340
that there's luck in the tile
draw or luck in the cards,
706
00:37:16,341 --> 00:37:21,500
but there's also things in the game
mechanics that allow you to mitigate that.
707
00:37:21,501 --> 00:37:24,980
There's opportunities to
wipe that builder's market
708
00:37:24,981 --> 00:37:28,060
or impact those things,
get yourself more money.
709
00:37:28,061 --> 00:37:33,100
And so because there are those little,
I don't know what you would call them,
710
00:37:33,101 --> 00:37:40,100
but there are all those
mitigating mechanics that allow
711
00:37:40,101 --> 00:37:43,700
you to kind of temper how
much impact that luck has on you.
712
00:37:43,701 --> 00:37:45,540
So I'm saying a one.
713
00:37:45,541 --> 00:37:46,380
- Wow, all right.
714
00:37:46,381 --> 00:37:48,940
You convinced me, Megan,
I'm changing my score to two.
715
00:37:48,941 --> 00:37:49,780
(laughing)
- Great.
716
00:37:49,781 --> 00:37:56,220
- I'm sticking to three, but I am
glad that you find it so deterministic.
717
00:37:56,221 --> 00:37:59,980
So then theme, for me,
this one's going to be a
718
00:37:59,981 --> 00:38:01,180
foregone conclusion,
but I will throw it out there.
719
00:38:01,181 --> 00:38:04,620
What do you have down for
theme, same scale, one to five?
720
00:38:04,621 --> 00:38:06,580
- I give this a six out of five.
721
00:38:06,581 --> 00:38:08,840
(laughing)
722
00:38:08,841 --> 00:38:13,980
- I have rated other games on
this podcast, a five out of five.
723
00:38:13,981 --> 00:38:15,700
This has more theme than those games.
724
00:38:15,701 --> 00:38:18,380
So I have to break the scale.
725
00:38:18,381 --> 00:38:20,060
- You have to break the scale.
726
00:38:20,061 --> 00:38:21,540
Okay.
727
00:38:21,541 --> 00:38:23,540
- Wow, I give this a four.
728
00:38:23,541 --> 00:38:29,180
I could potentially see these
mechanics with a different theme.
729
00:38:29,181 --> 00:38:32,860
I'm not super attached to the theme.
730
00:38:32,861 --> 00:38:34,660
However, I- - Scandalous.
731
00:38:34,661 --> 00:38:40,500
- I see how our group
refuses to play this without me.
732
00:38:40,501 --> 00:38:46,500
And that's very kind because you
guys know that I enjoy this theme
733
00:38:46,501 --> 00:38:51,260
and that there are other themes that don't
resonate with me the way this one does.
734
00:38:51,261 --> 00:38:58,420
So I love the opportunities to play with
this game and what the theme brings to it.
735
00:38:58,421 --> 00:39:04,180
You know, how we laugh about someone being
a cat or a popper or an American heiress.
736
00:39:04,181 --> 00:39:09,180
And I think those things all add
to our enjoyment of the game.
737
00:39:09,181 --> 00:39:14,180
But do I think it is a perfect
meld of mechanic and beam?
738
00:39:14,181 --> 00:39:18,340
It's just not quite a perfection for me.
739
00:39:18,341 --> 00:39:19,420
- I see.
740
00:39:19,421 --> 00:39:22,740
Well, we'll have to talk about
that one later behind your back.
741
00:39:22,741 --> 00:39:23,740
- Because I went with it.
742
00:39:23,741 --> 00:39:25,060
(laughing)
743
00:39:25,061 --> 00:39:26,220
It's a five, right?
744
00:39:26,221 --> 00:39:28,100
The theme is one sets this game apart.
745
00:39:28,101 --> 00:39:31,060
I really like the idea of
hosting these activities,
746
00:39:31,061 --> 00:39:33,140
but only if I have the
right staff for the event.
747
00:39:33,141 --> 00:39:36,420
And then if I only have enough
reputation to draw the right crowds,
748
00:39:36,421 --> 00:39:39,260
I mean, I just, I think
it's done a really good job
749
00:39:39,261 --> 00:39:41,700
of integrating the theme with
the mechanics that are there.
750
00:39:41,701 --> 00:39:46,020
And much I would go to six,
but it's definitely a solid five.
751
00:39:46,021 --> 00:39:48,900
- I just, I feel like I'm
watching one of those shows
752
00:39:48,901 --> 00:39:52,060
or movies or reading one of
those books every time I play.
753
00:39:52,061 --> 00:39:52,900
- Exactly.
754
00:39:52,901 --> 00:39:55,260
And apparently there are many
more books that I have to read.
755
00:39:55,261 --> 00:39:56,300
(laughing) All right.
756
00:39:56,301 --> 00:39:57,980
What's your favorite
player account?
757
00:39:57,981 --> 00:40:00,420
What's obsession best played at?
758
00:40:00,421 --> 00:40:01,260
Paul?
759
00:40:01,261 --> 00:40:03,140
- For me, it is two players.
760
00:40:03,141 --> 00:40:05,140
And we can talk about it later.
761
00:40:05,141 --> 00:40:07,460
There's a lot of variance in the game
762
00:40:07,461 --> 00:40:10,660
that make the two player
version extremely good.
763
00:40:10,661 --> 00:40:12,740
- We don't have a
separate variance section.
764
00:40:12,741 --> 00:40:14,940
- Oh, I guess it was in
house rules, but yeah.
765
00:40:14,941 --> 00:40:19,700
So variance, there's lots of
variance listed in the rule book.
766
00:40:19,701 --> 00:40:21,580
And they're actually given fun names
767
00:40:21,581 --> 00:40:24,620
like the Jane Austen
variant, the Charles
768
00:40:24,621 --> 00:40:26,220
Dickens variant, the
polite society variant.
769
00:40:26,221 --> 00:40:27,060
- Right.
770
00:40:27,061 --> 00:40:30,060
- So you can do things
like draft, starting guests.
771
00:40:30,061 --> 00:40:35,580
You can start the game with the blue
service tiles on the builders market.
772
00:40:35,581 --> 00:40:40,580
You can start the game with extra servants
so you don't have to fight over them.
773
00:40:40,581 --> 00:40:44,180
And my wife and I love to play
with the Jane Austen variant
774
00:40:44,181 --> 00:40:48,420
where the theme card is
unknown until the actual courtship.
775
00:40:48,421 --> 00:40:50,060
So it is always a surprise.
776
00:40:50,061 --> 00:40:51,060
- Oh, yikes.
777
00:40:51,061 --> 00:40:54,300
- And so we have to
constantly track our scores
778
00:40:54,301 --> 00:40:57,620
of all five colors to know
who's gonna win what theme.
779
00:40:57,621 --> 00:40:59,060
- If it comes up a certain way.
780
00:40:59,061 --> 00:41:00,340
- Leave it up to chance, right?
781
00:41:00,341 --> 00:41:03,700
- All right, so tell me about
the Charles Dickens variant.
782
00:41:03,701 --> 00:41:06,860
- It's similar to Jane
Austen, but you roll a die.
783
00:41:06,861 --> 00:41:10,220
And based on the die roll,
you reveal the theme card
784
00:41:10,221 --> 00:41:13,380
either at the beginning
of the season, at the end
785
00:41:13,381 --> 00:41:14,980
of the season, or one
of the turns in between.
786
00:41:14,981 --> 00:41:16,300
- Oh my, okay.
787
00:41:16,301 --> 00:41:17,900
- So it builds up the drama.
788
00:41:17,901 --> 00:41:20,180
- Right, it's not as hard
of course Jane Austen,
789
00:41:20,181 --> 00:41:23,860
but okay, Megan, how
about you, player count?
790
00:41:23,861 --> 00:41:27,860
- I'd say for me four, I
haven't played this to player.
791
00:41:27,861 --> 00:41:28,700
Oh, you know what?
792
00:41:28,701 --> 00:41:32,940
Maybe I have on BGA,
but I enjoy a four player.
793
00:41:32,941 --> 00:41:37,940
I like that those base game
families all are getting out there.
794
00:41:37,941 --> 00:41:42,500
I think there's a nice amount of
tension and competition with four.
795
00:41:42,501 --> 00:41:45,260
And yeah, it's been my preferred count.
796
00:41:45,261 --> 00:41:47,100
- Yeah, I would agree
with you as well on that one.
797
00:41:47,101 --> 00:41:50,060
I think now two is the only
one that I haven't played it at.
798
00:41:50,061 --> 00:41:51,780
I mean, out of one to five.
799
00:41:51,781 --> 00:41:53,820
And part of it is playing
with you all, right?
800
00:41:53,821 --> 00:41:56,700
So when four of us are sitting
down and playing this game,
801
00:41:56,701 --> 00:42:01,020
and we've played it at five, that
has been a wonderful experience,
802
00:42:01,021 --> 00:42:06,300
but as we will get to in the next question,
I prefer four over higher player accounts,
803
00:42:06,301 --> 00:42:08,820
which means the next
question, the least favorite player
804
00:42:08,821 --> 00:42:10,660
account for me, it's pretty
much anything beyond four.
805
00:42:10,661 --> 00:42:14,500
Five had too much downtime as it
was, so I guess six would be right out.
806
00:42:14,501 --> 00:42:20,700
- Well, six is a team game,
where it's three on three.
807
00:42:20,701 --> 00:42:24,460
And you have to have the upstairs downstairs
expansion to do that, but then five.
808
00:42:24,461 --> 00:42:25,620
- Yeah, I agree.
809
00:42:25,621 --> 00:42:27,940
Five would be my least favorite as well.
810
00:42:27,941 --> 00:42:30,820
Although, you know, I only
played the solo game to learn it.
811
00:42:30,821 --> 00:42:32,540
I don't really ever play it anymore.
812
00:42:32,541 --> 00:42:35,940
So I guess I could pick solo as
well, but it's because of the downtime,
813
00:42:35,941 --> 00:42:40,820
especially as Dave so rightly pointed
out, the downtime during courtship rounds,
814
00:42:40,821 --> 00:42:43,780
if you are the first person
before the courtship,
815
00:42:43,781 --> 00:42:46,540
you will pass the start
player marker to your
816
00:42:46,541 --> 00:42:48,820
left and be the last
person after the courtship.
817
00:42:48,821 --> 00:42:53,100
So in a five player
game, there'll be eight
818
00:42:53,101 --> 00:42:54,420
people take a turn before
you take another one.
819
00:42:54,421 --> 00:42:55,260
- Right?
820
00:42:55,261 --> 00:42:58,500
And didn't he say that his
downtime was around 40 minutes?
821
00:42:58,501 --> 00:43:00,500
(both laugh)
822
00:43:00,501 --> 00:43:02,700
I think he was exaggerating,
but yeah, it was a lot.
823
00:43:02,701 --> 00:43:04,180
- I don't know if he was, but okay.
824
00:43:04,181 --> 00:43:06,100
- Yeah, this is the one time this podcast
825
00:43:06,101 --> 00:43:09,980
we're all gonna agree because
I also said I have player.
826
00:43:09,981 --> 00:43:13,900
And for the same reasons,
it's just too much downtime.
827
00:43:13,901 --> 00:43:14,740
- Right.
828
00:43:14,741 --> 00:43:18,420
Okay, so while we're talking about time,
time, time, what's the actual playing time?
829
00:43:18,421 --> 00:43:19,780
Because boxes can lie.
830
00:43:19,781 --> 00:43:23,620
This one says it takes 30 to 90 minutes.
831
00:43:23,621 --> 00:43:26,540
- I can't imagine getting it down that low.
832
00:43:26,541 --> 00:43:29,060
My experience has been
about 30 minutes per player
833
00:43:29,061 --> 00:43:33,020
for the standard game and 45 minutes
per player for the extended game.
834
00:43:33,021 --> 00:43:34,100
- Even with two players?
- Yes.
835
00:43:34,101 --> 00:43:39,620
- So then at four players, standard game,
you're already looking at 120 minutes.
836
00:43:39,621 --> 00:43:40,460
- Right?
837
00:43:40,461 --> 00:43:42,700
- Which is what my BG stat says.
838
00:43:42,701 --> 00:43:43,940
- Yep, I would agree with that.
839
00:43:43,941 --> 00:43:50,420
So the meaningless playing time on the box
is for hyper fans who are very efficient.
840
00:43:50,421 --> 00:43:54,220
Expansions, there have been more
expansions to this game than I realized.
841
00:43:54,221 --> 00:43:58,300
And I think we may have even
been playing with more expansions
842
00:43:58,301 --> 00:44:01,020
than I realized until I was
getting ready for this pod.
843
00:44:01,021 --> 00:44:04,580
Paul, why don't you get us headed
off and talking about expansions?
844
00:44:04,581 --> 00:44:08,540
- Yeah, so we've been playing
with the Wessex expansion.
845
00:44:08,541 --> 00:44:09,380
- Right.
846
00:44:09,381 --> 00:44:11,300
- Minus the additional guests.
847
00:44:11,301 --> 00:44:12,140
- Okay.
848
00:44:12,141 --> 00:44:17,060
- I also included the card
corrections from the useful box.
849
00:44:17,061 --> 00:44:21,540
And the reason for that, and I
guess that's more of a house rule,
850
00:44:21,541 --> 00:44:25,020
is I'm worried about
bloating the deck of guests
851
00:44:25,021 --> 00:44:28,100
and making it more
variable or more chaotic.
852
00:44:28,101 --> 00:44:32,620
And so I chose not to add any additional
guests to the decks that we play with.
853
00:44:32,621 --> 00:44:34,500
- Interesting, we've
talked about that before
854
00:44:34,501 --> 00:44:36,620
with other games, so
that makes a lot of sense.
855
00:44:36,621 --> 00:44:41,140
- Yeah, there's also the upstairs
downstairs expansion that we played with.
856
00:44:41,141 --> 00:44:48,100
And again, I did not add any of the cards
because honestly, I was punching the game
857
00:44:48,101 --> 00:44:51,580
as you were setting up, so
that was the reason for that.
858
00:44:51,581 --> 00:44:54,100
But it was a lot of fun playing
with those supplemental servants.
859
00:44:54,101 --> 00:44:58,100
I think they make the game take
longer because they add more decisions.
860
00:44:58,101 --> 00:45:00,260
But with those supplemental servants,
861
00:45:00,261 --> 00:45:03,460
I would more than happily
play with the additional guests
862
00:45:03,461 --> 00:45:06,220
because the guests,
as well as the servants,
863
00:45:06,221 --> 00:45:09,580
add several ways to churn
through the deck faster
864
00:45:09,581 --> 00:45:12,100
and to discard cards
you don't want as well.
865
00:45:12,101 --> 00:45:15,300
- Right, that head house made
was just paying dividends for you.
866
00:45:15,301 --> 00:45:19,100
- Yes, I never put a negative
point guest in my hand.
867
00:45:19,101 --> 00:45:24,260
- Right, I think not just
that, you may also have
868
00:45:24,261 --> 00:45:25,380
gotten a better yield of
points from your guests.
869
00:45:25,381 --> 00:45:28,620
- Right, and then I
pre-ordered the character's
870
00:45:28,621 --> 00:45:31,380
expansion, so we'll have
to try that in the future.
871
00:45:31,381 --> 00:45:32,300
- Absolutely.
872
00:45:32,301 --> 00:45:36,420
One of the things that I
noticed about, I guess it's
873
00:45:36,421 --> 00:45:38,940
upstairs downstairs was we
got a new pass card, right?
874
00:45:38,941 --> 00:45:44,260
And on it, when you passed,
you now had the ability to hire staff.
875
00:45:44,261 --> 00:45:46,020
Is that a new feature?
876
00:45:46,021 --> 00:45:48,300
- Yes, that is for upstairs downstairs only
877
00:45:48,301 --> 00:45:51,940
because otherwise very
few people would wanna
878
00:45:51,941 --> 00:45:55,660
take the extra turns
to increase their staff.
879
00:45:55,661 --> 00:45:59,780
The game adds four unique
supplemental staff members
880
00:45:59,781 --> 00:46:03,020
for every player and it's
really a lot of fun to use them.
881
00:46:03,021 --> 00:46:07,700
So I'm happy the designer put it away to
make it much easier to expand your staff.
882
00:46:07,701 --> 00:46:10,340
- Well, and as we were talking
about at the start of the pod
883
00:46:10,341 --> 00:46:13,660
that this game feels
like every turn is essential
884
00:46:13,661 --> 00:46:17,460
and taking a turn to
hire staff with a butler
885
00:46:17,461 --> 00:46:21,320
who's then gonna go tromping
off to the left and take two
886
00:46:21,321 --> 00:46:24,220
turns to return, like it was
a major decision to hire staff
887
00:46:24,221 --> 00:46:26,460
and not something that
you would do very often.
888
00:46:26,461 --> 00:46:27,820
- It could be painful, yes.
889
00:46:27,821 --> 00:46:30,260
- I really enjoyed having that opportunity
890
00:46:30,261 --> 00:46:33,060
be more readily available with
the upstairs downstairs expansion.
891
00:46:33,061 --> 00:46:33,900
- Heck yeah.
892
00:46:33,901 --> 00:46:40,580
- I think that I originally looked at the
additional servants that were being added
893
00:46:40,581 --> 00:46:45,380
as part of upstairs
downstairs and didn't see the
894
00:46:45,381 --> 00:46:47,860
potential in them in the way
that it actually played out.
895
00:46:47,861 --> 00:46:52,660
And so I was somewhat
attempting to disregard them
896
00:46:52,661 --> 00:46:55,220
and just play the game
as I would without them.
897
00:46:55,221 --> 00:47:00,220
And my score showed
how faulty that thinking was.
898
00:47:00,221 --> 00:47:06,580
- Yeah, I think they added about 50
points to our scores, at least for Todd.
899
00:47:06,581 --> 00:47:07,420
- Yeah.
900
00:47:07,421 --> 00:47:11,860
- Once you're in the game, you have
to be making the best use of them.
901
00:47:11,861 --> 00:47:15,940
I got all four because
I had an objective card
902
00:47:15,941 --> 00:47:21,420
that gave me points for having
all four, but I was not making
903
00:47:21,421 --> 00:47:23,740
efficient use of them during
my turns the way I needed to be.
904
00:47:23,741 --> 00:47:27,620
So I'm hoping to play
upstairs downstairs
905
00:47:27,621 --> 00:47:29,300
again sometime to see
if I can improve on that.
906
00:47:29,301 --> 00:47:31,020
- Yeah, I agree with that.
907
00:47:31,021 --> 00:47:34,220
It was fun playing with
upstairs downstairs specifically.
908
00:47:34,221 --> 00:47:38,420
I didn't realize Wessex was an expansion
until I was doing the research for it.
909
00:47:38,421 --> 00:47:40,540
- Okay, you know, one
thing I want to point out
910
00:47:40,541 --> 00:47:46,100
about the Wessex expansion is it comes with
an Uber starting guest, Ms. Agnes Dansby.
911
00:47:46,101 --> 00:47:53,500
She gives you two lions of
reputation for no servants required.
912
00:47:53,501 --> 00:47:54,340
- Wow.
913
00:47:54,341 --> 00:47:58,580
- Yeah, so it felt a little swingy to me.
914
00:47:58,581 --> 00:48:00,740
And that's one of the reasons
we haven't been playing with it.
915
00:48:00,741 --> 00:48:05,020
But next time we play with upstairs downstairs,
I'm just gonna include all the cards.
916
00:48:05,021 --> 00:48:06,700
- Okay, I'm looking forward to that.
917
00:48:06,701 --> 00:48:09,140
And then of course,
the four new staff types,
918
00:48:09,141 --> 00:48:11,900
there was the head house
made, the hall boy, the cook.
919
00:48:11,901 --> 00:48:13,620
And it was funny, every
time you did an event,
920
00:48:13,621 --> 00:48:15,380
you're like, oh, I'm gonna
send my cookout on this.
921
00:48:15,381 --> 00:48:19,020
And you know, Tate,
what was it, extra money?
922
00:48:19,021 --> 00:48:21,260
- He would either give
you a reputation lion
923
00:48:21,261 --> 00:48:26,540
or he would lower the
reputation needed to invite guests.
924
00:48:26,541 --> 00:48:29,380
- Okay, and then of course,
there's that useful man
925
00:48:29,381 --> 00:48:34,420
who's tall and handsome in a
dusty black coat with a red right hand.
926
00:48:34,421 --> 00:48:35,420
(laughing)
927
00:48:35,421 --> 00:48:38,620
See that the servants are already
telling their own stories, right?
928
00:48:38,621 --> 00:48:40,260
(laughing)
929
00:48:40,261 --> 00:48:42,820
Okay, most recognizable comparison.
930
00:48:42,821 --> 00:48:47,100
What's the highest ranking game
that reminds you the most of obsession?
931
00:48:47,101 --> 00:48:49,260
Megan, I'm gonna give
you first dibs at this one.
932
00:48:49,261 --> 00:48:51,580
- Okay, well, that's fine.
933
00:48:51,581 --> 00:48:56,260
What I'm gonna say in
neither one, there's no chance
934
00:48:56,261 --> 00:48:57,780
that either one of you is
gonna say the same thing.
935
00:48:57,781 --> 00:48:58,780
- There's 100% chance.
936
00:48:58,781 --> 00:49:01,820
- And this is just a truly wild comparison,
937
00:49:01,821 --> 00:49:03,620
but I think it makes all
the sense of the world
938
00:49:03,621 --> 00:49:06,460
and it's just what my
brain just connected with.
939
00:49:06,461 --> 00:49:07,300
- Right.
940
00:49:07,301 --> 00:49:09,260
- I'm gonna go ahead and say love letter.
941
00:49:09,261 --> 00:49:10,260
- Yes.
942
00:49:10,261 --> 00:49:14,580
- Which mechanics wise, not there at all.
943
00:49:14,581 --> 00:49:15,420
- Pretty much the same.
944
00:49:15,421 --> 00:49:20,260
- But theme, theme, it's right there.
945
00:49:20,261 --> 00:49:23,940
I'm like, they could do
a little version of love
946
00:49:23,941 --> 00:49:26,220
letter where you're
trying to get the fair child.
947
00:49:26,221 --> 00:49:29,820
And you'd be like, oh yeah,
I get it, it fits right in, so.
948
00:49:29,821 --> 00:49:31,540
- That needs to happen.
949
00:49:31,541 --> 00:49:33,660
- Right, Paul, I'm worried
about you, what did you have?
950
00:49:33,661 --> 00:49:38,340
- So, doing my research, I
recall the game I used to love
951
00:49:38,341 --> 00:49:43,060
and haven't been able to play,
and that game is Colosseum.
952
00:49:43,061 --> 00:49:44,220
- Oh, yes.
953
00:49:44,221 --> 00:49:46,940
- It came out in 2007.
954
00:49:46,941 --> 00:49:49,580
Basically, you collect
tiles that represent people
955
00:49:49,581 --> 00:49:54,580
or animals or objects, and
then you also have these events
956
00:49:54,581 --> 00:49:59,980
that you're trying to put on, and you can
only put them on a show for the Colosseum
957
00:49:59,981 --> 00:50:03,580
if you have all the required
people and objects and animals.
958
00:50:03,581 --> 00:50:04,420
- Yes.
959
00:50:04,421 --> 00:50:08,500
- And you're gaining reputation,
you're gaining favor with the emperor,
960
00:50:08,501 --> 00:50:12,500
and you're trying to woo
senators to be your backup
961
00:50:12,501 --> 00:50:16,060
and vouch for you, so it has
so many similar elements.
962
00:50:16,061 --> 00:50:20,180
I had almost forgotten about it,
and now I realize, wow, it's so similar.
963
00:50:20,181 --> 00:50:21,100
- We should play that.
964
00:50:21,101 --> 00:50:21,940
- I agree.
965
00:50:21,941 --> 00:50:25,060
- And I have the original Days
of Wonder version of that game.
966
00:50:25,061 --> 00:50:27,140
- Yeah, that's the one I
played over and over again.
967
00:50:27,141 --> 00:50:29,780
- Right, and one of the
other things that happens,
968
00:50:29,781 --> 00:50:34,060
similar to wooing the favor of
the Fairchilds, is you're trying
969
00:50:34,061 --> 00:50:35,580
to put on the show when the
emperor's coming around the track
970
00:50:35,581 --> 00:50:38,380
and will be at your stadium
when you're putting on the show.
971
00:50:38,381 --> 00:50:39,220
- Yes.
972
00:50:39,221 --> 00:50:41,380
- That is a very good recommendation, Paul.
973
00:50:41,381 --> 00:50:42,220
Not that yours wasn't making.
974
00:50:42,221 --> 00:50:43,420
I thought of it too, and I laughed.
975
00:50:43,421 --> 00:50:47,060
I thought about, yeah, we're
gonna take a four heavy game
976
00:50:47,061 --> 00:50:50,260
and we're gonna compare it
to, but you're absolutely right.
977
00:50:50,261 --> 00:50:51,220
It feels very similar.
978
00:50:51,221 --> 00:50:53,340
We were trying to woo for somebody's favor.
979
00:50:53,341 --> 00:50:55,900
I had two games, and
they were both out there
980
00:50:55,901 --> 00:50:58,860
as far as ranking, so I
picked the higher of the two.
981
00:50:58,861 --> 00:51:00,580
But for me, it's Last Will.
982
00:51:00,581 --> 00:51:01,420
- That was my backup.
983
00:51:01,421 --> 00:51:02,260
- Was it?
984
00:51:02,261 --> 00:51:05,860
- I was afraid that it was gonna be
your less recognizable comparison.
985
00:51:05,861 --> 00:51:07,860
It's a little too high
for less recognizable,
986
00:51:07,861 --> 00:51:09,860
but if you're trying
to stay within this kind
987
00:51:09,861 --> 00:51:11,220
of theme, there aren't
a lot of candidates.
988
00:51:11,221 --> 00:51:13,500
And it's like obsession and reverse.
989
00:51:13,501 --> 00:51:15,980
Instead of trying to get
up to all of their prestige
990
00:51:15,981 --> 00:51:19,460
and everything, you start out with it,
and then you're trying to give it all away.
991
00:51:19,461 --> 00:51:20,780
- It's so true.
992
00:51:20,781 --> 00:51:22,220
(laughing)
993
00:51:22,221 --> 00:51:24,780
- So you're putting out the fancy events
994
00:51:24,781 --> 00:51:27,100
and you have your errand
boys that you're sending out,
995
00:51:27,101 --> 00:51:30,860
kind of like your staff, and you're trying
to spend the money down to zero, so.
996
00:51:30,861 --> 00:51:34,220
- Yeah, every time I play Last Will, I
think of the movie Brewster's Millions.
997
00:51:34,221 --> 00:51:35,860
- Yes, exactly.
998
00:51:35,861 --> 00:51:38,020
So then, Last Recognizable Comparison.
999
00:51:38,021 --> 00:51:42,420
What did you have for something
that isn't as high on the ranking charts?
1000
00:51:42,421 --> 00:51:43,500
- I'll let Megan go first.
1001
00:51:43,501 --> 00:51:48,620
- Okay, normally when we
were talking about games on
1002
00:51:48,621 --> 00:51:50,620
this podcast, it's coming,
we're even mentioning a game.
1003
00:51:50,621 --> 00:51:54,140
It comes with some sort
of recommendation to it.
1004
00:51:54,141 --> 00:51:59,860
- I cannot be more clear about
the fact that that is not what this is.
1005
00:51:59,861 --> 00:52:06,540
I am recommending you to stay so far
away from the game I'm about to share.
1006
00:52:06,541 --> 00:52:11,540
But the game I'm going to
say that it made me think of
1007
00:52:11,541 --> 00:52:17,620
that's less recognizable and for a very
good reason is called Ladies and Gentlemen.
1008
00:52:17,621 --> 00:52:18,980
- Oh. - And.
1009
00:52:18,981 --> 00:52:19,900
- I've heard of that one.
1010
00:52:19,901 --> 00:52:24,940
- I went to a game date that I
swear was put on by Days of Wonder.
1011
00:52:24,941 --> 00:52:28,220
But I looked on BGG and
it said this is from Asmadi.
1012
00:52:28,221 --> 00:52:31,060
So I'm like, maybe I'm misremembering
1013
00:52:31,061 --> 00:52:33,700
that the game day I went to
was Days of Wonder themed.
1014
00:52:33,701 --> 00:52:35,460
But anyway, went to a game date.
1015
00:52:35,461 --> 00:52:37,460
This came out in 2013.
1016
00:52:37,461 --> 00:52:40,660
The game actually has a
very interesting mechanic
1017
00:52:40,661 --> 00:52:43,500
to it that it's, you
play as part of teams.
1018
00:52:43,501 --> 00:52:45,500
When I played, I think
there were six of us.
1019
00:52:45,501 --> 00:52:47,740
So it was three two player teams.
1020
00:52:47,741 --> 00:52:51,140
And one person on the
team is playing the Lady.
1021
00:52:51,141 --> 00:52:53,060
The other is playing the gentleman.
1022
00:52:53,061 --> 00:52:55,980
And the way the game
works, it's asymmetric.
1023
00:52:55,981 --> 00:52:58,540
The gentleman is trying
to earn a bunch of money.
1024
00:52:58,541 --> 00:53:02,180
So he's doing a bunch of things
in the game to make lots of money.
1025
00:53:02,181 --> 00:53:08,140
And the Lady is trying to spend all of the
money on jewels and clothes and things.
1026
00:53:08,141 --> 00:53:09,620
So that the end is.
1027
00:53:09,621 --> 00:53:12,700
- There's not much, it's horrific.
1028
00:53:12,701 --> 00:53:15,940
It's horrific.
1029
00:53:15,941 --> 00:53:20,940
And then at the end,
it's who has the most
1030
00:53:20,941 --> 00:53:22,540
reputation and throws
the best party, whatever.
1031
00:53:22,541 --> 00:53:26,780
So it's one of those things that
there's a very clever mechanic to it.
1032
00:53:26,781 --> 00:53:29,220
If someone out there
has done like a re-theme
1033
00:53:29,221 --> 00:53:31,220
or something, I wouldn't
be surprised if someone has
1034
00:53:31,221 --> 00:53:35,980
because the way the theme is implemented
here is just so shockingly offensive.
1035
00:53:35,981 --> 00:53:39,380
But the mechanic is
actually very interesting.
1036
00:53:39,381 --> 00:53:42,660
And I would be curious to
see this kind of mechanic
1037
00:53:42,661 --> 00:53:47,140
in this sort of team
asymmetric play in other games
1038
00:53:47,141 --> 00:53:49,060
because it's not something
I've seen much of.
1039
00:53:49,061 --> 00:53:53,340
And I still remember this after playing
the game once over a decade ago.
1040
00:53:53,341 --> 00:53:58,260
It's something that really settled in my
mind and not just because I was so offended.
1041
00:53:58,261 --> 00:54:01,620
So there's something there in the mechanic.
1042
00:54:01,621 --> 00:54:04,420
That's why it came to mind
and why I'm even bringing it up
1043
00:54:04,421 --> 00:54:07,820
at all, but the theme is
atrocious, don't play it.
1044
00:54:07,821 --> 00:54:10,260
(laughing)
1045
00:54:10,261 --> 00:54:12,260
- Okay, I won't try to hunt that one down.
1046
00:54:12,261 --> 00:54:14,780
Paul, what did you have for
less recognizable comparison?
1047
00:54:14,781 --> 00:54:20,740
- You know, games I've never played but
reading up on them and learning about them,
1048
00:54:20,741 --> 00:54:24,460
they seem like good recommendations
for people who like obsession.
1049
00:54:24,461 --> 00:54:29,300
And so my recommendation is
Legacy, the Testament of Duke de Cersei.
1050
00:54:29,301 --> 00:54:30,140
- Okay.
1051
00:54:30,141 --> 00:54:36,740
- It is a card game where you play
as a French aristocrat pre-revolution
1052
00:54:36,741 --> 00:54:39,700
and you have a sense
that revolution's coming.
1053
00:54:39,701 --> 00:54:44,140
And so you're trying to prepare your family
to survive the next three generations.
1054
00:54:44,141 --> 00:54:48,540
And you have family,
friends, prestigious
1055
00:54:48,541 --> 00:54:50,580
things and you're
building out a family tree
1056
00:54:50,581 --> 00:54:53,660
and trying to arrange
marriages and collect
1057
00:54:53,661 --> 00:54:55,540
honor and basically
survive the revolution.
1058
00:54:55,541 --> 00:54:58,660
- Okay, I've seen it,
but I've never played it.
1059
00:54:58,661 --> 00:54:59,500
Interesting.
1060
00:54:59,501 --> 00:55:03,300
I went into the way back machine
for this one, all the way back to 1990.
1061
00:55:03,301 --> 00:55:07,300
Adele Verklichette or Hoidy Toidy,
for no other reason than the theme.
1062
00:55:07,301 --> 00:55:11,500
So the idea of boarding
the snowballs, collecting
1063
00:55:11,501 --> 00:55:12,700
things and then showing
them off seemed to fit right in.
1064
00:55:12,701 --> 00:55:15,620
And when we think of this
theme, I always think of that game.
1065
00:55:15,621 --> 00:55:21,780
So it was the inaugural winner of
the Deutre Spiele praise in 1990.
1066
00:55:21,781 --> 00:55:24,420
It also won the Spiele
de Jarris that same year.
1067
00:55:24,421 --> 00:55:29,520
It's really more of a prisoner's
dilemma game where you're
1068
00:55:29,521 --> 00:55:32,220
trying to take stuff versus
someone's gonna try to steal stuff
1069
00:55:32,221 --> 00:55:34,660
and someone else is
gonna try to stop the thieves.
1070
00:55:34,661 --> 00:55:36,460
Okay, house rules.
1071
00:55:36,461 --> 00:55:40,700
So beyond variance, do you have any ideas
about how you might improve this game?
1072
00:55:40,701 --> 00:55:44,460
- Well, I did already talk about how
I have not bloated the guest deck
1073
00:55:44,461 --> 00:55:47,340
with the extra cards that
came with the expansions.
1074
00:55:47,341 --> 00:55:48,180
- Yeah.
1075
00:55:48,181 --> 00:55:49,020
I remember we talked about that.
1076
00:55:49,021 --> 00:55:52,140
I think it was in Wingspan where it
would be great if someone went through
1077
00:55:52,141 --> 00:55:56,900
and was like our card, Somalia, and
like came out with a pared down version
1078
00:55:56,901 --> 00:56:00,620
that allowed you to experience the expansions
without diluting the deck too much.
1079
00:56:00,621 --> 00:56:02,880
And you basically have done that for us.
1080
00:56:02,881 --> 00:56:03,900
(laughing)
1081
00:56:03,901 --> 00:56:05,340
I mean, the designer did it.
1082
00:56:05,341 --> 00:56:07,980
I just decided not to
add any extras, but yeah.
1083
00:56:07,981 --> 00:56:09,140
(laughing)
1084
00:56:09,141 --> 00:56:12,260
But I will throw them in when
we play upstairs, downstairs again.
1085
00:56:12,261 --> 00:56:13,100
- Yep.
1086
00:56:13,101 --> 00:56:13,940
- Make any thoughts there?
1087
00:56:13,941 --> 00:56:17,780
- I mean, I think you are going
to enjoy this game the most.
1088
00:56:17,781 --> 00:56:23,140
And I know for sure I enjoy this game
the most when you get into the theme.
1089
00:56:23,141 --> 00:56:27,180
And so I think when
you aren't letting the
1090
00:56:27,181 --> 00:56:30,420
game just be mechanics,
but you are sharing,
1091
00:56:30,421 --> 00:56:37,620
oh, I'm bringing the CAD and the popper
to this event and oh no, I just got them.
1092
00:56:37,621 --> 00:56:40,940
And you know, we all laugh
now and I get an American heiress
1093
00:56:40,941 --> 00:56:42,740
because we know what
I'm going to do with there.
1094
00:56:42,741 --> 00:56:44,980
I'm going to use her in loser, right?
1095
00:56:44,981 --> 00:56:47,620
(laughing) So that is fun.
1096
00:56:47,621 --> 00:56:54,380
And so I think if I was going to house
rule anything, it's that you have to share.
1097
00:56:54,381 --> 00:56:57,620
Who are those guests that
you've invited to your home?
1098
00:56:57,621 --> 00:57:01,180
Who are the guests that you've
paired together for this activity?
1099
00:57:01,181 --> 00:57:05,660
And now you're imagining a
table of wist being played by,
1100
00:57:05,661 --> 00:57:11,060
you know, this unlikely duo or
whatever, or a four-sum and that's funny.
1101
00:57:11,061 --> 00:57:13,900
So I think that adds to the fun of it.
1102
00:57:13,901 --> 00:57:14,900
- I agree. - Perfect.
1103
00:57:14,901 --> 00:57:16,900
The one thing that I would suggest
1104
00:57:16,901 --> 00:57:19,460
and this would be interesting
to find the right balance,
1105
00:57:19,461 --> 00:57:22,460
but my RNG luck has
been great in the last couple
1106
00:57:22,461 --> 00:57:25,020
of games with the Fairchild's
doubling up on a theme
1107
00:57:25,021 --> 00:57:27,420
in which I was leading
and I'm not complaining,
1108
00:57:27,421 --> 00:57:29,860
but it would be
interesting if there was a
1109
00:57:29,861 --> 00:57:31,700
way to mitigate the
luck for those reveals.
1110
00:57:31,701 --> 00:57:34,580
So this would be the
opposite of Jane Austen,
1111
00:57:34,581 --> 00:57:39,420
but a variant where you turn one card
over and then you'd publicly discard one.
1112
00:57:39,421 --> 00:57:44,820
So if there are five types of activity and
each one has two cards in the theme deck,
1113
00:57:44,821 --> 00:57:50,340
that means that you're going
to see four out of 10 possibilities,
1114
00:57:50,341 --> 00:57:52,740
which means on the last
one, you have a one in
1115
00:57:52,741 --> 00:57:53,640
seven chance of knowing
what's gonna be there.
1116
00:57:53,641 --> 00:57:58,460
And if you at each courtship, you revealed
the next card and threw one away publicly,
1117
00:57:58,461 --> 00:58:02,820
you'd have a one in four chance of guessing
the right remaining one on the last turn.
1118
00:58:02,821 --> 00:58:04,900
I think that might be a
little more interesting.
1119
00:58:04,901 --> 00:58:06,000
- Okay, let's do it.
1120
00:58:06,001 --> 00:58:09,100
- Yeah, and I'm thinking
about there was a game back
1121
00:58:09,101 --> 00:58:14,940
in the early 2000s called La Chita or La
Sita, and you were building up these cities,
1122
00:58:14,941 --> 00:58:18,420
but part of the game
was favor of the people.
1123
00:58:18,421 --> 00:58:22,940
And if you had more buildings of a
certain type than your neighboring cities
1124
00:58:22,941 --> 00:58:25,060
and the people would
migrate towards your cities,
1125
00:58:25,061 --> 00:58:27,500
which then might cause
you infrastructure problems,
1126
00:58:27,501 --> 00:58:30,180
but the favor of the
people was being revealed
1127
00:58:30,181 --> 00:58:33,180
throughout the course of the
game before the next migration
1128
00:58:33,181 --> 00:58:35,660
happened, and that was
a really cool mechanism
1129
00:58:35,661 --> 00:58:37,860
that I remembered
enjoying from that game.
1130
00:58:37,861 --> 00:58:39,740
So if this game is being
played a game night,
1131
00:58:39,741 --> 00:58:43,180
then what do you
want to play afterwards?
1132
00:58:43,181 --> 00:58:44,060
- Go ahead, Todd.
1133
00:58:44,061 --> 00:58:48,520
- Well, it's dinosaur tea party, of course.
1134
00:58:48,521 --> 00:58:54,900
With all of the commensurate
role-playing that should go along with it.
1135
00:58:54,901 --> 00:58:58,060
- It's the same theme, just
rewind 100 million years.
1136
00:58:58,820 --> 00:59:02,260
(both laughing)
1137
00:59:02,261 --> 00:59:04,140
- For me, it's Village Green.
1138
00:59:04,141 --> 00:59:04,980
- Okay.
1139
00:59:04,981 --> 00:59:05,980
- I adore that game.
1140
00:59:05,981 --> 00:59:11,460
It's quick, and I feel like it's
something that these families
1141
00:59:11,461 --> 00:59:13,780
could be doing in between
their activities and gaining,
1142
00:59:13,781 --> 00:59:16,180
well, I mean, Village
Green is about gaining
1143
00:59:16,181 --> 00:59:17,820
reputation by having
the best Village Green.
1144
00:59:17,821 --> 00:59:19,180
- Yes, I like it.
1145
00:59:19,181 --> 00:59:22,500
- So instead of improving themselves,
they're improving Derby Shire.
1146
00:59:22,501 --> 00:59:23,340
- There you go.
1147
00:59:23,341 --> 00:59:24,180
And Megan?
- I said Wist.
1148
00:59:24,181 --> 00:59:29,100
(both laughing)
1149
00:59:29,101 --> 00:59:30,100
- That's a great choice.
1150
00:59:30,101 --> 00:59:33,660
- To be playing some
Wist, some old card games.
1151
00:59:33,661 --> 00:59:38,660
So you have, you know, it's easy enough
to gossip, and I think that fits right in.
1152
00:59:38,661 --> 00:59:40,020
- I like that one a lot.
1153
00:59:40,021 --> 00:59:43,660
It's very, what's the opposite of meta?
1154
00:59:43,661 --> 00:59:47,460
(both laughing)
1155
00:59:47,461 --> 00:59:49,940
All right, so what feature of
the game still stands out to you?
1156
00:59:49,941 --> 00:59:54,460
And obviously it was just released
in 2018, so it's relatively new.
1157
00:59:54,461 --> 00:59:55,740
What do you like the most about?
- Obsession.
1158
00:59:55,741 --> 00:59:57,420
Megan?
1159
00:59:57,421 --> 01:00:02,660
- Hmm, I think that the theme
is one that really appeals to me.
1160
01:00:02,661 --> 01:00:07,660
It delights me, and that
raises my enjoyment
1161
01:00:07,661 --> 01:00:10,820
of the rest of the
mechanics of the game.
1162
01:00:10,821 --> 01:00:15,580
And it's been fun having
our group enjoy the game.
1163
01:00:15,581 --> 01:00:20,740
Sometimes you like a game, but the rest
of the group isn't really clicking with it.
1164
01:00:20,741 --> 01:00:21,820
(both laughing)
1165
01:00:21,821 --> 01:00:22,660
- Good Imperium?
- Yeah.
1166
01:00:22,661 --> 01:00:27,460
- Oh, and so it's nice.
1167
01:00:27,461 --> 01:00:29,900
I mean, it's probably, this isn't a game,
1168
01:00:29,901 --> 01:00:33,220
I think that our whole
group unreservedly loves,
1169
01:00:33,221 --> 01:00:38,900
but it does seem for the
moment that it is a game that
1170
01:00:38,901 --> 01:00:41,260
our group likes, and there's
something fun about that too.
1171
01:00:41,261 --> 01:00:43,660
- Just to be clear, I'm on the
Love Doom Imperium side.
1172
01:00:43,661 --> 01:00:46,700
(both laughing)
1173
01:00:46,701 --> 01:00:48,500
- Yeah, I totally agree, Megan.
1174
01:00:48,501 --> 01:00:49,700
It's been a delight.
1175
01:00:49,701 --> 01:00:51,780
- And I will go ahead and agree also.
1176
01:00:51,781 --> 01:00:53,220
So we're in all agreement again.
1177
01:00:53,221 --> 01:00:56,020
The theme is what really
sets this game apart.
1178
01:00:56,021 --> 01:00:58,300
- Oh, I was just agreeing
with what Megan said,
1179
01:00:58,301 --> 01:01:03,300
but my answer for what stands
out is the interconnectedness.
1180
01:01:03,301 --> 01:01:06,220
Like the designer goes
out of his way to say
1181
01:01:06,221 --> 01:01:09,180
that he's addressed theme
at the cost of gameplay.
1182
01:01:09,181 --> 01:01:10,580
I don't think that's true at all.
1183
01:01:10,581 --> 01:01:12,700
The gameplay just shines for me.
1184
01:01:12,701 --> 01:01:17,860
The way that your hand of guests have to
be managed to interact with your servants,
1185
01:01:17,861 --> 01:01:23,460
which have to be managed to interact with
the buildings you buy is such a delight.
1186
01:01:23,461 --> 01:01:26,900
And for people who like to
solve puzzles, it's all there.
1187
01:01:26,901 --> 01:01:29,020
- Good answer, and I totally agree.
1188
01:01:29,021 --> 01:01:31,380
All right, so what feature of
the game now disappoints?
1189
01:01:31,381 --> 01:01:34,460
What maybe isn't as well done in obsession?
1190
01:01:34,461 --> 01:01:38,500
- Well, for me, it's the guest deck
and the variance in the guest deck.
1191
01:01:38,501 --> 01:01:41,220
There's not a consistent trade-off
1192
01:01:41,221 --> 01:01:46,020
between what they
require as far as reputation
1193
01:01:46,021 --> 01:01:48,100
and servants and what
they give you for favors.
1194
01:01:48,101 --> 01:01:50,820
And that totally fits with the theme.
1195
01:01:50,821 --> 01:01:54,940
It's just annoying when you
go to draw a bunch of guests
1196
01:01:54,941 --> 01:01:58,660
and you get a couple of
American heiresses in a cab.
1197
01:01:58,661 --> 01:02:04,140
But given that, I think that
upstairs, downstairs really
1198
01:02:04,141 --> 01:02:06,260
addressed that issue and
medicates it wonderfully.
1199
01:02:06,261 --> 01:02:07,100
- I would agree with that.
1200
01:02:07,101 --> 01:02:09,460
I had the other side of the random coin.
1201
01:02:09,461 --> 01:02:12,220
I had the way in which the
tiles were coming out, right?
1202
01:02:12,221 --> 01:02:16,500
Sometimes a tile that's perfect
for you comes out and someone
1203
01:02:16,501 --> 01:02:19,020
else snaps it up and then
you never even had a shot at it.
1204
01:02:19,021 --> 01:02:22,140
And like you said, it's not game-breaking
by any stretch, it's annoying.
1205
01:02:22,141 --> 01:02:25,940
But then we even recognize that
upstairs, downstairs, fix that one.
1206
01:02:25,941 --> 01:02:28,740
If you had the useful man,
right, you could discard him
1207
01:02:28,741 --> 01:02:31,740
and then just go bag
diving and pick out the one
1208
01:02:31,741 --> 01:02:36,260
that you wanted and put it in the 800 spot
and have a chance at buying it yourself.
1209
01:02:36,261 --> 01:02:37,900
- Yep, you can order him to build
1210
01:02:37,901 --> 01:02:40,140
whatever building you want
as long as it's not a monument.
1211
01:02:40,141 --> 01:02:44,260
- You can go have him evict whoever you
want out of the property you'd like, yes.
1212
01:02:44,261 --> 01:02:46,500
(laughing)
1213
01:02:46,501 --> 01:02:50,340
- To keep lighter strikes again.
1214
01:02:50,341 --> 01:02:53,660
- Yes, so did this game
replace a previous one for you?
1215
01:02:53,661 --> 01:02:55,500
- No, it made its own room for me.
1216
01:02:55,501 --> 01:02:57,020
- Right, I agree.
1217
01:02:57,021 --> 01:03:02,500
I mean, we didn't stop playing anything
else to start playing obsession instead of.
1218
01:03:02,501 --> 01:03:04,980
The one thing that I will
say is like in my headspace,
1219
01:03:04,981 --> 01:03:07,140
one of the other games
that reminded me of it,
1220
01:03:07,141 --> 01:03:09,500
even though they're
wildly different, was Trajan
1221
01:03:09,501 --> 01:03:12,660
because in that you're
trying to clear the tiles off
1222
01:03:12,661 --> 01:03:15,700
of your little Munkala
track and planning ahead
1223
01:03:15,701 --> 01:03:18,820
for how you're going
to get that tile feel
1224
01:03:18,821 --> 01:03:21,580
similar, but I can't
think of a situation now
1225
01:03:21,581 --> 01:03:23,940
where I would want to
play Trajan over obsession.
1226
01:03:23,941 --> 01:03:24,780
- Nice.
1227
01:03:24,781 --> 01:03:26,220
- So has this game since been replaced?
1228
01:03:26,221 --> 01:03:27,860
And if so, by what?
1229
01:03:27,861 --> 01:03:28,980
I'm gonna go ahead and say no.
1230
01:03:28,981 --> 01:03:31,260
- Yeah, possibly by its expansions.
1231
01:03:31,261 --> 01:03:32,100
- Right.
1232
01:03:32,101 --> 01:03:33,180
(laughing)
1233
01:03:33,181 --> 01:03:37,140
- Its evolution is replacing itself,
but it's still obsession everyday.
1234
01:03:37,141 --> 01:03:38,140
Okay, then soundtrack.
1235
01:03:38,141 --> 01:03:40,500
What music would you
want to listen to while playing?
1236
01:03:40,501 --> 01:03:45,420
- I have the Biden prejudice
2005 movie soundtrack.
1237
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:50,020
Yeah, that soundtrack is
something that has gained popularity
1238
01:03:50,021 --> 01:03:52,460
than with people who
aren't fans of that movie,
1239
01:03:52,461 --> 01:03:57,460
but it's very memorable,
super fun, maybe not.
1240
01:03:57,461 --> 01:04:00,780
I actually, part of me
is like, you know what I
1241
01:04:00,781 --> 01:04:01,900
should have gone for now
that I'm thinking about this?
1242
01:04:01,901 --> 01:04:05,860
There's a really wonderful
adaptation of Mansfield
1243
01:04:05,861 --> 01:04:08,980
Park that came out maybe
around the same time
1244
01:04:08,981 --> 01:04:13,020
that involves characters
who are a bit more
1245
01:04:13,021 --> 01:04:16,060
manipulative and the
music reflects that a little bit.
1246
01:04:16,061 --> 01:04:20,140
So that might even be better, but
just because of ease of accessing it,
1247
01:04:20,141 --> 01:04:22,940
I'll still stick with that Pride
and Prejudice soundtrack.
1248
01:04:22,941 --> 01:04:25,140
- All right, I actually did some searching
1249
01:04:25,141 --> 01:04:29,660
and I found an album which
is classified as a soundtrack,
1250
01:04:29,661 --> 01:04:32,740
but it's basically a performance
by the Regency Players
1251
01:04:32,741 --> 01:04:35,940
and they titled it A Suitable
Wife Classic Romance Themes
1252
01:04:35,941 --> 01:04:43,100
from Period Drama and so they
recreate a bunch of favorite musical scores
1253
01:04:43,101 --> 01:04:46,740
from various TV shows
and movies of that theme.
1254
01:04:46,741 --> 01:04:49,100
- Okay, I like it and I'm gonna follow
1255
01:04:49,101 --> 01:04:52,220
in those footsteps as far
as TV shows and movies.
1256
01:04:52,221 --> 01:04:55,580
I mean, there are so many well-known themes
1257
01:04:55,581 --> 01:05:00,140
that we've heard, whether we're
talking about Downton Abbey or whatever.
1258
01:05:00,141 --> 01:05:04,220
I'm going to settle on Bridgerton
'cause they had some great music in there
1259
01:05:04,221 --> 01:05:06,820
and specifically they did
some baroque versions
1260
01:05:06,821 --> 01:05:10,500
of modern music, so I
always think it's kind of fun
1261
01:05:10,501 --> 01:05:14,500
to hear it's song in the background
and you realize, oh wait, I know that one.
1262
01:05:14,501 --> 01:05:17,260
That's a song by Nirvana,
but here it is showing up
1263
01:05:17,261 --> 01:05:20,900
in Victorian England, which
is a nice clash of culture there.
1264
01:05:20,901 --> 01:05:24,540
All right, rating on board game
geek scale of one to 10 now.
1265
01:05:24,541 --> 01:05:25,860
No decimals, please.
1266
01:05:25,861 --> 01:05:27,900
How would you rate obsession?
1267
01:05:27,901 --> 01:05:29,940
And Paul, we'll give you first tips.
1268
01:05:29,941 --> 01:05:33,660
- I currently rate it an eight, very good.
1269
01:05:33,661 --> 01:05:35,980
That is a very good rating from you, Megan.
1270
01:05:35,981 --> 01:05:37,420
- I bet it's a nine.
1271
01:05:37,421 --> 01:05:41,500
I really enjoy this game,
really enjoy the theme.
1272
01:05:41,501 --> 01:05:51,500
I have to reward anyone for not doing a
space theme, a colonial theme, a train theme.
1273
01:05:51,501 --> 01:05:54,900
(laughing)
1274
01:05:54,901 --> 01:05:57,380
So, yeah, I love it.
1275
01:05:57,381 --> 01:05:59,140
- I also had it down as a nine.
1276
01:05:59,141 --> 01:06:03,140
I've really enjoyed the
game, my plays of it and
1277
01:06:03,141 --> 01:06:05,940
the theme, so absolutely
well worth the nine.
1278
01:06:05,941 --> 01:06:10,020
Last question, is it replayable and
how soon would you want to revisit it?
1279
01:06:10,021 --> 01:06:11,380
Absolutely replayable.
1280
01:06:11,381 --> 01:06:13,460
I mean, I could play this
game again next week.
1281
01:06:13,461 --> 01:06:17,380
I'm enjoying going through and learning
about it and exploring the expansions.
1282
01:06:17,381 --> 01:06:18,300
What do you two think?
1283
01:06:18,301 --> 01:06:22,340
- I'll say I also think
this is for sure replayable
1284
01:06:22,341 --> 01:06:26,620
and I think once a month seems
like a good cadence for this.
1285
01:06:26,621 --> 01:06:28,940
- I also said absolutely like Utah.
1286
01:06:28,941 --> 01:06:31,500
Basically, anytime I
wanna return to the ideal
1287
01:06:31,501 --> 01:06:34,460
country side of Victoria
in England, I pull this out.
1288
01:06:34,461 --> 01:06:36,220
- How often does your wife ask to play it?
1289
01:06:36,221 --> 01:06:37,260
- About once a month.
1290
01:06:37,261 --> 01:06:39,260
- Wow, Paul and Megan are not married.
1291
01:06:39,261 --> 01:06:41,660
(laughing)
1292
01:06:41,661 --> 01:06:47,820
- Yeah, that wasn't a secret
spouse reveal there or anything.
1293
01:06:47,821 --> 01:06:52,860
- And so with that, we've
had our final ball of the season
1294
01:06:52,861 --> 01:06:56,380
and the fair childs have
granted their favor too.
1295
01:06:56,381 --> 01:06:57,460
We'll go with Megan.
1296
01:06:57,461 --> 01:06:58,300
Well done, Megan.
1297
01:06:58,301 --> 01:07:00,060
- Aw, thanks.
1298
01:07:00,061 --> 01:07:02,300
(laughing)
1299
01:07:02,301 --> 01:07:07,540
- For our next episode,
we are going to take on
1300
01:07:07,541 --> 01:07:10,700
another classic something
about royalty, I think.
1301
01:07:10,701 --> 01:07:13,340
I still need someone else to sign
up to be the third seed in that one.
1302
01:07:13,341 --> 01:07:14,860
Thank you both for being available today.
1303
01:07:14,861 --> 01:07:16,540
This was really enjoyable.
1304
01:07:16,541 --> 01:07:19,940
Make sure you pick up the party
favors on your way out the door.
1305
01:07:19,941 --> 01:07:22,300
- Thanks, dad.
1306
01:07:22,301 --> 01:07:23,780
- 'Til next time.
1307
01:07:23,781 --> 01:07:25,540
- Thank you for listening to replayable.
1308
01:07:25,541 --> 01:07:28,340
Support for our podcast
comes from listeners like you.
1309
01:07:28,341 --> 01:07:31,020
You can find us
online at replayable.
1310
01:07:31,021 --> 01:07:32,980
fm, on Twitter as replayable.
1311
01:07:32,981 --> 01:07:35,260
fm, and on Instagram
as replayable.fm.
1312
01:07:35,261 --> 01:07:38,820
You can also join our team
at patreon.com/replayable.
1313
01:07:38,821 --> 01:07:40,420
Thank you for your support.
1314
01:07:40,421 --> 01:07:44,020
We welcome your feedback, which is the
only way that we are going to get better.
1315
01:07:44,021 --> 01:07:48,180
You can get in touch with us via
email at feedback@replayable.fm.
1316
01:07:48,181 --> 01:07:50,020
And if you're interested in sponsoring us,
1317
01:07:50,021 --> 01:07:53,820
then please contact us at
sponsors@replayable.fm.
1318
01:07:53,821 --> 01:07:56,400
(upbeat music)
1319
01:07:56,401 --> 01:07:58,980
(upbeat music)
1320
01:07:58,981 --> 01:08:05,980
(upbeat music)
1321
01:08:05,981 --> 01:08:10,980
(upbeat music)
1322
01:08:10,981 --> 01:08:12,980
You
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,580
(upbeat music)
2
00:00:02,581 --> 00:00:24,200
- Welcome to Replayable, where
we go to depth on our favorite
3
00:00:24,201 --> 00:00:26,360
tabletop games that keep us
coming back again and again.
4
00:00:26,361 --> 00:00:29,920
I'm the start player Todd, and
today I'm joined by Megan and Paul,
5
00:00:29,921 --> 00:00:33,600
for our 25th episode, we'll
be taking some afternoon tea
6
00:00:33,601 --> 00:00:36,600
and then strolling along the
promenade with Obsession.
7
00:00:36,601 --> 00:00:40,640
It was designed by Dan Halligan, who
also did the artwork and the publishing,
8
00:00:40,641 --> 00:00:43,760
as it was released by
Came to Games in 2018.
9
00:00:43,761 --> 00:00:47,280
Have you two heard the
rumors about Miss Ann Fairborn?
10
00:00:47,281 --> 00:00:48,320
(sighing)
11
00:00:48,321 --> 00:00:52,760
- I heard she's in American
areas, so I'd love to have her over.
12
00:00:52,761 --> 00:00:53,920
- A scandal.
13
00:00:53,921 --> 00:00:55,200
(laughing)
14
00:00:55,201 --> 00:00:59,320
- Obsession is a theme first board
game set in Victorian England.
15
00:00:59,321 --> 00:01:02,400
Players assume the
mantles of families with good
16
00:01:02,401 --> 00:01:04,760
histories that have just
emerged from trying times.
17
00:01:04,761 --> 00:01:07,280
Build your estates, manage your staff,
18
00:01:07,281 --> 00:01:11,040
entertain guests, and
climb the social ladder to win.
19
00:01:11,041 --> 00:01:13,880
Let's talk about this
Victorian England theme.
20
00:01:13,881 --> 00:01:16,360
I mean, this is such a popular theme.
21
00:01:16,361 --> 00:01:18,960
It's amazing how well it resonates.
22
00:01:18,961 --> 00:01:23,320
- And not just in board gaming
and all sorts of media, right?
23
00:01:23,321 --> 00:01:24,160
(laughing)
24
00:01:24,161 --> 00:01:25,440
- Right, absolutely.
25
00:01:25,441 --> 00:01:27,700
There have been countless shows about this.
26
00:01:27,701 --> 00:01:31,060
- Yeah, I mean, my
wife says, let's play the
27
00:01:31,061 --> 00:01:33,000
doubt-nabby game when
she wants to play obsession.
28
00:01:33,001 --> 00:01:36,420
- Exactly, and there
was the original upstairs
29
00:01:36,421 --> 00:01:41,660
downstairs back in,
what, 1971 or early 1970s?
30
00:01:41,661 --> 00:01:43,980
- Well, and I think you
can't discount the fact
31
00:01:43,981 --> 00:01:48,500
that there is still this
real-life aristocracy
32
00:01:48,501 --> 00:01:52,440
over in England that we
were just talking about.
33
00:01:52,441 --> 00:01:56,500
In the news right now, people are
talking about Kate Middleton, right?
34
00:01:56,501 --> 00:01:58,980
There's people that still have these titles
35
00:01:58,981 --> 00:02:03,660
that we giggle over when
someone's a baronet or if I
36
00:02:03,661 --> 00:02:06,500
count or something, because
that feels so old-fashioned.
37
00:02:06,501 --> 00:02:10,220
But there's literally people--
- I can't not giggle.
38
00:02:10,221 --> 00:02:13,720
- Yeah, there's literally
people with those titles today
39
00:02:13,721 --> 00:02:19,520
fascinating that there's pop culture
that's obsessed with the history of this.
40
00:02:19,521 --> 00:02:22,020
But yeah, it's still with us.
41
00:02:22,021 --> 00:02:27,940
- Yeah, it's just, I've been
thinking about the unending
42
00:02:27,941 --> 00:02:31,100
fascination and love of Jane
Austen's stories and the like.
43
00:02:31,101 --> 00:02:37,060
I mean, we just keep remaking movies
and TV series around her original works.
44
00:02:37,061 --> 00:02:41,100
- Yeah, absolutely, and I'll be
honest, I've read Pride and Prejudice,
45
00:02:41,101 --> 00:02:44,620
but I think that's it as
far as her works go.
46
00:02:44,621 --> 00:02:47,500
Oh, Megan, just to look on your face.
47
00:02:47,501 --> 00:02:51,100
All right, do tell, what is the
required reading shelf here?
48
00:02:51,101 --> 00:02:55,380
- Oh, "Northanger Abbey"
is probably my fave,
49
00:02:55,381 --> 00:03:01,220
but Mansfield Park is actually probably
the best, and it's also the weirdest.
50
00:03:01,221 --> 00:03:02,060
- Okay.
51
00:03:02,061 --> 00:03:07,060
- But I mean, some
sensibility is just really lovely.
52
00:03:07,061 --> 00:03:10,860
Emma, I will say, is a
little bit of a slog, but Mr.
53
00:03:10,861 --> 00:03:19,140
Knightley might be the
dreamiest Austen man, though
54
00:03:19,141 --> 00:03:21,540
Persuasion, that also includes
a very dreamy Austen man.
55
00:03:21,541 --> 00:03:25,500
So, I know you didn't realize
there were so many books.
56
00:03:25,501 --> 00:03:28,860
- I think there was the humblest
flexing I've ever seen or heard.
57
00:03:28,861 --> 00:03:35,740
- There are others, there was just a
movie, and I can't remember the name,
58
00:03:35,741 --> 00:03:43,060
that actress was previously married
to Michael Sheen, British, anyway.
59
00:03:43,061 --> 00:03:47,060
They just adapted Lady
Susan, which was an unfinished
60
00:03:47,061 --> 00:03:50,020
Austen book, by just, I
mean, within the last 10 years.
61
00:03:50,021 --> 00:03:52,180
- Compared to Victorian
England, that's recent.
62
00:03:52,181 --> 00:03:55,300
- And that's a really,
the movie's really fun.
63
00:03:55,301 --> 00:03:57,820
So, yeah, there's lots out there.
64
00:03:57,821 --> 00:04:02,140
- With this popular theme
that resonates with everyone,
65
00:04:02,141 --> 00:04:05,700
we're supposed to be families setting
these times, and I think it's interesting,
66
00:04:05,701 --> 00:04:08,740
because all the families are
given a common background, right,
67
00:04:08,741 --> 00:04:12,580
that they have good histories, but
they've gone through some trying times.
68
00:04:12,581 --> 00:04:18,620
What were these trying times that we've
emerged into this setting for obsession?
69
00:04:18,621 --> 00:04:20,980
- Well, it was a tumultuous time.
70
00:04:20,981 --> 00:04:25,780
I mean, there were recessions,
there was a great banking panic.
71
00:04:25,781 --> 00:04:30,700
You know, child labor laws
were coming out, industrialization
72
00:04:30,701 --> 00:04:32,780
was happening, the great
potato famine occurred.
73
00:04:32,781 --> 00:04:38,780
So, I think there is latitude for each
player to make up their own story
74
00:04:38,781 --> 00:04:42,340
about how their estate
and family fell on hard times.
75
00:04:42,341 --> 00:04:43,940
Maybe it was a horrible investment.
76
00:04:43,941 --> 00:04:46,380
Maybe they had to send
all the kids that worked
77
00:04:46,381 --> 00:04:51,540
for them to school, or
maybe all their trade ships
78
00:04:51,541 --> 00:04:54,780
either got sunk in a storm
or were attacked by pirates.
79
00:04:54,781 --> 00:04:56,020
It's really up to you.
80
00:04:56,021 --> 00:04:59,380
- This game is begging for that
81
00:04:59,381 --> 00:05:02,460
fill-in narrative role-playing
aspect, isn't it? I think so.
82
00:05:02,461 --> 00:05:04,660
I wanna hear from Megan.
83
00:05:04,661 --> 00:05:11,580
- I was just gonna say, I think
people that accumulate power
84
00:05:11,581 --> 00:05:18,020
and prestige, they do that in a
particular circumstance, right?
85
00:05:18,021 --> 00:05:21,220
And especially when that's
done within a family setting.
86
00:05:21,221 --> 00:05:25,300
You know, you have a
generation that is a war hero,
87
00:05:25,301 --> 00:05:29,820
and so the king bestows
some property and a title on you.
88
00:05:29,821 --> 00:05:34,180
And maybe the next
generation, someone's very
89
00:05:34,181 --> 00:05:35,940
savvy, they're able
to make that flourish.
90
00:05:35,941 --> 00:05:40,780
But then the generation after that
maybe doesn't know what they're doing.
91
00:05:40,781 --> 00:05:45,300
You know, or maybe the tactics that worked
92
00:05:45,301 --> 00:05:48,660
for the generation before
don't work for you anymore.
93
00:05:48,661 --> 00:05:54,700
Either because technologies change or
because society's moral compass has kicked in
94
00:05:54,701 --> 00:05:59,940
and you realize that, hey, what we
were doing in the Caribbean wasn't so hot.
95
00:05:59,941 --> 00:06:04,580
And we in fact need to
reconcile with that, right?
96
00:06:04,581 --> 00:06:05,660
And deal with that.
97
00:06:05,661 --> 00:06:11,340
And so that's, I don't want
to gloss over, we're talking
98
00:06:11,341 --> 00:06:12,900
about child labor laws change
and could impact these families.
99
00:06:12,901 --> 00:06:16,660
Yeah, 'cause those laws
needed to change, you know?
100
00:06:16,661 --> 00:06:18,900
And these families were exploiting people.
101
00:06:18,901 --> 00:06:21,020
Like that's possible, right?
102
00:06:21,021 --> 00:06:23,740
So I just don't want to make it sound like,
103
00:06:23,741 --> 00:06:26,860
oh, these poor families, like
they may have contributed
104
00:06:26,861 --> 00:06:30,500
to their own tough times
with the choices they made.
105
00:06:30,501 --> 00:06:34,420
But of course, you know,
we get to bring that into them.
106
00:06:34,421 --> 00:06:38,580
And I'll say, whenever we play,
when we're talking about these families
107
00:06:38,581 --> 00:06:44,220
that have names that are still part of the
royal family today, like Wessex or York,
108
00:06:44,221 --> 00:06:50,620
I am often talking about the people in
those families and the choices they've made
109
00:06:50,621 --> 00:06:53,780
because I think that
contributes something to it.
110
00:06:53,781 --> 00:06:56,780
But also I just want to show
off that I know those things.
111
00:06:56,781 --> 00:06:58,300
(laughing)
112
00:06:58,301 --> 00:07:01,300
- Well, family Wessex was
definitely feeling some shade
113
00:07:01,301 --> 00:07:04,980
coming their way from family
York last time we played this game.
114
00:07:04,981 --> 00:07:05,980
- Yeah.
115
00:07:05,981 --> 00:07:07,540
- Let's talk about the game.
116
00:07:07,541 --> 00:07:11,740
And for a game that claims
not to focus on strategy,
117
00:07:11,741 --> 00:07:15,700
and we can talk about the two
different lengths of the game,
118
00:07:15,701 --> 00:07:18,700
but in the basic game, every
turn feels absolutely essential.
119
00:07:18,701 --> 00:07:21,260
How do you feel about
the pacing of the game?
120
00:07:21,261 --> 00:07:22,220
- Yes, I agree.
121
00:07:22,221 --> 00:07:26,100
And I don't think that changes whether
you're playing standard or extended.
122
00:07:26,101 --> 00:07:34,060
Every turn, I feel like if I mess up
too much, I'll lose the game, right?
123
00:07:34,061 --> 00:07:35,300
Megan, how do you feel about it?
124
00:07:35,301 --> 00:07:41,260
- Yeah, completely agree, though I will
say, I think that is somewhat our group.
125
00:07:41,261 --> 00:07:49,500
And I think that context, we are always
pushing for making the most of each turn.
126
00:07:49,501 --> 00:07:56,380
And we are certainly a group that
believes strongly in trying to win.
127
00:07:56,381 --> 00:08:02,460
And someone not even trying to
win just being in it for the experience
128
00:08:02,461 --> 00:08:07,100
is something that I don't think our
group would tolerate for very long.
129
00:08:07,101 --> 00:08:11,020
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
130
00:08:11,021 --> 00:08:13,900
We're happy to let anybody
come and lose at our table.
131
00:08:13,901 --> 00:08:16,140
(laughing)
132
00:08:16,141 --> 00:08:19,740
- As long as they sit to the right of me.
133
00:08:19,741 --> 00:08:20,580
- It blows.
134
00:08:20,581 --> 00:08:23,900
But we, you know, often within our group,
135
00:08:23,901 --> 00:08:28,060
we are counting on other
players to take certain
136
00:08:28,061 --> 00:08:30,580
actions that we would
consider best practice.
137
00:08:30,581 --> 00:08:32,260
Someone, someone doesn't do that.
138
00:08:32,261 --> 00:08:35,940
We're like, oh, you know, and this game,
139
00:08:35,941 --> 00:08:40,260
I think allows for a little
bit less of that to happen.
140
00:08:40,261 --> 00:08:44,420
But you can still be counting
on someone paying attention
141
00:08:44,421 --> 00:08:47,060
that, you know, someone
really wants to buy this building.
142
00:08:47,061 --> 00:08:50,820
And so someone else should buy
up that building so they don't get it.
143
00:08:50,821 --> 00:08:53,940
And then if that person's just
not even really paying attention
144
00:08:53,941 --> 00:08:58,020
and they leave that building
there for the person to grab,
145
00:08:58,021 --> 00:09:02,940
then that would be something that
our group would express frustration over.
146
00:09:02,941 --> 00:09:03,780
- True, true.
147
00:09:03,781 --> 00:09:06,020
- Like, come on, you're not even trying.
148
00:09:06,021 --> 00:09:11,860
- Yes, yes, I don't think we would be
rude, but we would be like, hey, so anyway,
149
00:09:11,861 --> 00:09:16,660
I will say every turn feeling essential,
I feel like that is somewhat our culture.
150
00:09:16,661 --> 00:09:20,500
But I think that is
also, if you're actually
151
00:09:20,501 --> 00:09:21,420
paying attention to the
game, that's what it is.
152
00:09:21,421 --> 00:09:22,860
This isn't an experience.
153
00:09:22,861 --> 00:09:26,300
This isn't Tokaido or, you know,
154
00:09:26,301 --> 00:09:29,300
some of those other games
that are just there for vibes.
155
00:09:29,301 --> 00:09:31,340
This is not a just vibes game.
156
00:09:31,341 --> 00:09:32,660
- Yeah, I would agree with that.
157
00:09:32,661 --> 00:09:36,940
And it doesn't foment
long-term strategy it feels like
158
00:09:36,941 --> 00:09:40,700
because there are so many random
elements, and we could talk about those,
159
00:09:40,701 --> 00:09:45,540
whether it's the tiles coming out of the
bag, or if it's drawing the guest cards.
160
00:09:45,541 --> 00:09:50,260
And yet, if I'm trying to be
competitive for the next courtship phase,
161
00:09:50,261 --> 00:09:52,900
I know that I'm gonna
have to try to bring on
162
00:09:52,901 --> 00:09:56,860
one or two more estate tiles
of a certain type or activity tiles.
163
00:09:56,861 --> 00:10:00,540
I'm gonna need to maybe reset my hand once.
164
00:10:00,541 --> 00:10:04,740
And suddenly, I've got a map to
follow to get to that next courtship.
165
00:10:04,741 --> 00:10:08,140
And I just think it's delightful
the way that this game
166
00:10:08,141 --> 00:10:11,900
allows you to find whatever
depth you're comfortable with.
167
00:10:11,901 --> 00:10:13,900
- Yeah, and I think
both of you are referring
168
00:10:13,901 --> 00:10:17,820
to the competition over the
theme of the season, correct?
169
00:10:17,821 --> 00:10:18,660
- Right.
170
00:10:18,661 --> 00:10:21,500
- So the building purchase
Megan was talking about,
171
00:10:21,501 --> 00:10:24,980
if you don't take it, somebody
else who might be tied
172
00:10:24,981 --> 00:10:27,540
to win the theme could
be the outright winner,
173
00:10:27,541 --> 00:10:29,340
which would be bad
for the whole table.
174
00:10:29,341 --> 00:10:30,660
(laughing)
175
00:10:30,661 --> 00:10:32,020
- I don't think so.
176
00:10:32,021 --> 00:10:32,860
(laughing)
- Wow.
177
00:10:32,861 --> 00:10:33,700
- Yeah.
178
00:10:33,701 --> 00:10:36,300
(laughing)
179
00:10:36,301 --> 00:10:39,060
- I mean, it got to the
point where I was looking at,
180
00:10:39,061 --> 00:10:42,220
like on a turn, did I want
to buy an upgrade now
181
00:10:42,221 --> 00:10:45,100
and spend money because
obviously that's a tempo, right?
182
00:10:45,101 --> 00:10:48,340
That's something that gets added to my
tableau and increases my points going.
183
00:10:48,341 --> 00:10:53,140
But if there wasn't a themed
room on the market yet,
184
00:10:53,141 --> 00:10:56,220
I would either be bringing
one on for someone else to buy
185
00:10:56,221 --> 00:10:58,540
or making something
really good for them cheaper.
186
00:10:58,541 --> 00:11:01,540
I started thinking, maybe I
don't want to buy this just yet.
187
00:11:01,541 --> 00:11:03,180
Maybe I'll just conserve my money now
188
00:11:03,181 --> 00:11:07,020
and be ready to buy an expensive tile
that comes out freshly onto the track.
189
00:11:07,021 --> 00:11:09,180
And is that one of the
more expensive spots?
190
00:11:09,181 --> 00:11:11,100
What's the top spot, 800 pounds?
- Mm-hmm.
191
00:11:11,101 --> 00:11:15,100
- So be ready to buy that one
when someone else reveals it for me.
192
00:11:15,101 --> 00:11:19,980
I mean, I just think it's
very interesting how much
193
00:11:19,981 --> 00:11:21,420
you can read into this
game if you're so inclined.
194
00:11:21,421 --> 00:11:22,260
- Sure.
195
00:11:22,261 --> 00:11:25,020
Planning for the Village
Fair really optional.
196
00:11:25,021 --> 00:11:29,060
We have one person in our group
who I think has yet to effectively do it.
197
00:11:29,061 --> 00:11:33,580
And I think he's effectively been last
in the last few games we've played.
198
00:11:33,581 --> 00:11:35,220
So I'm interested to hear
your thoughts on this game.
199
00:11:35,221 --> 00:11:38,140
- Well, the sample size is too small.
200
00:11:38,141 --> 00:11:39,660
(laughing)
201
00:11:39,661 --> 00:11:43,140
But I think--
- But the results are very high.
202
00:11:43,141 --> 00:11:47,540
- Yeah, I think there
is a shortage of turns.
203
00:11:47,541 --> 00:11:49,580
If you want to do the
Village Fair planning,
204
00:11:49,581 --> 00:11:51,700
you should do it before
the first Village Fair.
205
00:11:51,701 --> 00:11:56,700
And that means you've only
got two opportunities to do so.
206
00:11:56,701 --> 00:11:58,980
So I think it should be a choice.
207
00:11:58,981 --> 00:12:01,620
Do you want to plan for the Village Fair?
208
00:12:01,621 --> 00:12:05,900
Or do you want to try
and compete for the theme
209
00:12:05,901 --> 00:12:07,540
and win the first courtship?
- Right.
210
00:12:07,541 --> 00:12:09,940
- I think it should
be either or.
211
00:12:09,941 --> 00:12:11,420
- Hmm, okay.
212
00:12:11,421 --> 00:12:18,100
- But it doesn't need to be if the first
courtship you're going for the brown tiles.
213
00:12:18,101 --> 00:12:19,780
- Right, so you're getting that flip.
214
00:12:19,781 --> 00:12:22,020
- Well, that would be
definitely a reason too because.
215
00:12:22,021 --> 00:12:23,700
- Oh, right, right, right.
216
00:12:23,701 --> 00:12:26,380
Yeah, because that
flips it from three to zero.
217
00:12:26,381 --> 00:12:27,220
- Yeah.
218
00:12:27,221 --> 00:12:28,060
- I'd forgotten about that.
219
00:12:28,061 --> 00:12:28,900
- Oh, that's right.
220
00:12:28,901 --> 00:12:30,100
- Yep, that makes sense.
221
00:12:30,101 --> 00:12:33,660
- So that's when it's
in tip team for multiple
222
00:12:33,661 --> 00:12:35,700
people to avoid planning
for the Village Fair
223
00:12:35,701 --> 00:12:39,100
when the first theme card
is the brown essentials card.
224
00:12:39,101 --> 00:12:40,700
- That's interesting.
225
00:12:40,701 --> 00:12:44,140
If you do have that
dynamic where the first
226
00:12:44,141 --> 00:12:46,820
theme you're going
for is the brown tiles.
227
00:12:46,821 --> 00:12:50,220
And so you have two
people who decide not to do
228
00:12:50,221 --> 00:12:53,340
Village Fair planning
because that haunts
229
00:12:53,341 --> 00:12:56,300
them every time there's
a Village Fair, right?
230
00:12:56,301 --> 00:12:57,460
And.
231
00:12:57,461 --> 00:13:00,580
- The people, they're
not going to like my family.
232
00:13:00,581 --> 00:13:05,580
- One of them is going to
lose that first courtship then,
233
00:13:05,581 --> 00:13:11,100
you know, and so that
in a way is beneficial
234
00:13:11,101 --> 00:13:16,100
to everyone else who does
the Village Fair planning
235
00:13:16,101 --> 00:13:19,300
because they at least
have a leg up on the loser
236
00:13:19,301 --> 00:13:25,180
because that person didn't get the Village
Fair nor did they get the Fair Child.
237
00:13:25,181 --> 00:13:28,740
So instead of Fair Fair, it's lose lose.
238
00:13:28,741 --> 00:13:31,700
(laughing)
239
00:13:31,701 --> 00:13:34,140
- This game can be very cutthroat.
240
00:13:34,141 --> 00:13:35,260
- Oh, absolutely.
241
00:13:35,261 --> 00:13:38,220
- I mean, how many times
do you want to buy a servant
242
00:13:38,221 --> 00:13:41,600
or hire a servant and there's just none of the kind you want available?
- Mm-hmm.
243
00:13:41,601 --> 00:13:45,180
- Or there are several
cards in the game
244
00:13:45,181 --> 00:13:47,300
or as well as a tile
called the Servants Hall
245
00:13:47,301 --> 00:13:50,540
which are gossip basically
you steal a reputation
246
00:13:50,541 --> 00:13:52,460
from somebody else
and give it to yourself.
247
00:13:52,461 --> 00:13:56,380
- Yes, there's definitely
more thought to theme
248
00:13:56,381 --> 00:13:59,780
than I will say
well-roundedness or balance.
249
00:13:59,781 --> 00:14:01,580
I mean, if there are
some things that turn out
250
00:14:01,581 --> 00:14:05,820
to be unfair or overly
chaotic, they're fine
251
00:14:05,821 --> 00:14:09,340
as long as you look at
them within the love of
252
00:14:09,341 --> 00:14:11,780
this theme and environment
you're replicating.
253
00:14:11,781 --> 00:14:15,540
- Right, isn't that on the box cover?
(laughing)
254
00:14:15,541 --> 00:14:17,420
- It was definitely on their site.
255
00:14:17,421 --> 00:14:19,180
I don't know if it's on the box cover.
256
00:14:19,181 --> 00:14:21,540
I went to the website and it even said
257
00:14:21,541 --> 00:14:24,100
it's theme first more than
any game you now own.
258
00:14:24,101 --> 00:14:26,940
It sacrifices everything
on the altar of theme.
259
00:14:26,941 --> 00:14:29,860
It's not interested in who wins
or advises the best strategy.
260
00:14:29,861 --> 00:14:32,340
It's interested in capturing
the feel of the period
261
00:14:32,341 --> 00:14:35,460
which in large part is
overflowing with chaotic revelations
262
00:14:35,461 --> 00:14:39,300
that are a staple of 19th
century British literature.
263
00:14:39,301 --> 00:14:40,420
Pretty cool stuff.
264
00:14:40,421 --> 00:14:42,740
- Yes, yeah, I totally agree.
265
00:14:42,741 --> 00:14:50,300
And I guess my point is that there is an
undercurrent of backstory to the game.
266
00:14:50,301 --> 00:14:51,300
- Yes.
267
00:14:51,301 --> 00:14:55,700
- And so you can certainly
play it in a cut-throat way.
268
00:14:55,701 --> 00:14:58,260
- I don't think we've yet
seen it done too many times
269
00:14:58,261 --> 00:15:01,060
in our games, but maybe the last
time we play this game we'll do this.
270
00:15:01,061 --> 00:15:04,640
(laughing)
271
00:15:04,641 --> 00:15:11,140
- So while we're talking about
themes and competing for the fair child's
272
00:15:11,141 --> 00:15:15,300
and their what amorous
nature or you're fighting for their--
273
00:15:15,301 --> 00:15:16,580
- No, just their interest.
274
00:15:16,581 --> 00:15:17,420
- Just their interest.
275
00:15:17,421 --> 00:15:20,540
- You can spend time with
them and have that one-on-one.
276
00:15:20,541 --> 00:15:22,700
- Do you have to try for them?
- Yes.
277
00:15:22,701 --> 00:15:26,020
- I mean, there are
what, four courtships
278
00:15:26,021 --> 00:15:27,620
during the course of the game?
- It depends.
279
00:15:27,621 --> 00:15:32,660
I think it really comes down to
what Megan was talking about
280
00:15:32,661 --> 00:15:37,580
where if only one person
tries for the courtship
281
00:15:37,581 --> 00:15:39,700
they're gonna run
away with everything.
282
00:15:39,701 --> 00:15:43,380
But if multiple people
vie for it and sometimes
283
00:15:43,381 --> 00:15:45,300
tie then the person
who sat back and said,
284
00:15:45,301 --> 00:15:49,060
"Eh, I'm okay, I'm not gonna
pursue that," ends up ahead.
285
00:15:49,061 --> 00:15:50,580
- Megan, you disagree?
- Yes.
286
00:15:50,581 --> 00:15:56,780
Well, I don't, because of a
qualification he put on what he said.
287
00:15:56,781 --> 00:16:01,780
Essentially, I think, yes, you
can't just let someone go for it.
288
00:16:01,781 --> 00:16:06,660
And I will say, you know,
we played the other night
289
00:16:06,661 --> 00:16:13,540
and it was clear that Todd was like, I
wanna see a fair child as often as possible.
290
00:16:13,541 --> 00:16:18,540
And I was like, I cannot,
I don't see anyone
291
00:16:18,541 --> 00:16:22,700
else fighting for whatever
the second one was.
292
00:16:22,701 --> 00:16:24,580
And so I was like, I have to get in it.
293
00:16:24,581 --> 00:16:30,500
I have to do this because if we
let Todd win this he wins the game.
294
00:16:30,501 --> 00:16:34,540
And so, you know, there is
that you have to look around.
295
00:16:34,541 --> 00:16:37,980
Now it is a bummer when
you're like, man, I'm not
296
00:16:37,981 --> 00:16:40,220
really set up to do this,
but no one else is doing this.
297
00:16:40,221 --> 00:16:41,060
- Right.
298
00:16:41,061 --> 00:16:43,860
- And so you have to make that decision.
299
00:16:43,861 --> 00:16:45,940
Maybe I didn't make the right decision.
300
00:16:45,941 --> 00:16:48,940
But in the moment, I felt
like I have to make him
301
00:16:48,941 --> 00:16:53,340
a little scared to make
his decisions a little harder
302
00:16:53,341 --> 00:16:55,860
that felt like what I needed
to do in the moment.
303
00:16:55,861 --> 00:16:57,780
And so, yeah, when someone's saying that,
304
00:16:57,781 --> 00:17:01,620
oh, this game is just like
fluffy having people over for tea.
305
00:17:01,621 --> 00:17:06,620
No, it is forcing pretty
conflict heavy choices.
306
00:17:06,621 --> 00:17:10,220
- Yeah, I recall the game
we had most recently,
307
00:17:10,221 --> 00:17:14,860
Todd and Dave were fighting like
cats and dogs for the very first courtship.
308
00:17:14,861 --> 00:17:18,900
And then like you said, the
second courtship that turned
309
00:17:18,901 --> 00:17:21,100
over was sporting and
Todd was already in the lead.
310
00:17:21,101 --> 00:17:23,100
And you tried to compete with them,
311
00:17:23,101 --> 00:17:27,500
but unfortunately you were
not able to get the reputation
312
00:17:27,501 --> 00:17:31,860
you required to use your
newly constructed fields, right?
313
00:17:31,861 --> 00:17:32,740
- Mm-hmm.
314
00:17:32,741 --> 00:17:37,980
- And then the third courtship theme
was estates, which fell into your lap.
315
00:17:37,981 --> 00:17:40,740
Todd had completely ignored.
316
00:17:40,741 --> 00:17:41,820
- Yeah, exactly.
317
00:17:41,821 --> 00:17:44,380
- You hadn't even flipped your
first starting building for that theme.
318
00:17:44,381 --> 00:17:45,900
- Right.
319
00:17:45,901 --> 00:17:51,500
- So you just gave up on that, but
then the final courtship card turned over
320
00:17:51,501 --> 00:17:55,180
and it was green, which you were
way ahead of everybody else already.
321
00:17:55,181 --> 00:17:57,020
So yeah, we were
like, oh, it's over.
322
00:17:57,021 --> 00:17:57,860
- Right.
323
00:17:57,861 --> 00:18:01,900
I even had the
objective card that said
324
00:18:01,901 --> 00:18:05,220
plus one point for every
green tile in your tableau.
325
00:18:05,221 --> 00:18:07,340
I mean, that was just paying dividends.
326
00:18:07,341 --> 00:18:09,540
And yet it wasn't enough.
327
00:18:09,541 --> 00:18:10,540
(laughs)
328
00:18:10,541 --> 00:18:12,500
- Just barely, just barely.
329
00:18:12,501 --> 00:18:14,340
It was very close game, yes.
330
00:18:14,341 --> 00:18:16,540
- Which comes down to those guest cards.
331
00:18:16,541 --> 00:18:18,580
So what are your thoughts
about drawing guest cards?
332
00:18:18,581 --> 00:18:19,420
There's a lot of fun.
333
00:18:19,421 --> 00:18:20,780
Obviously that's where
a lot of the role play
334
00:18:20,781 --> 00:18:25,220
starts coming in when we start gossiping
about the personalities that are on there.
335
00:18:25,221 --> 00:18:27,460
And yet they're not all good.
336
00:18:27,461 --> 00:18:29,480
- Megan, the American Air is Hunter.
337
00:18:29,481 --> 00:18:32,340
Oh my gosh.
338
00:18:32,341 --> 00:18:33,500
Was that two games ago?
339
00:18:33,501 --> 00:18:35,420
Where she like drew all of them?
340
00:18:35,421 --> 00:18:40,460
- Yeah, and immediately I took their
money then immediately dismissed them.
341
00:18:40,461 --> 00:18:41,460
It was awesome.
342
00:18:41,461 --> 00:18:43,220
(laughs)
343
00:18:43,221 --> 00:18:46,060
- You took them to watch
the horses and say goodbye.
344
00:18:46,061 --> 00:18:49,580
- So I didn't get that reputation hit.
345
00:18:49,581 --> 00:18:50,660
It was great.
346
00:18:50,661 --> 00:18:52,660
(laughs)
347
00:18:52,661 --> 00:18:59,380
I think if you want to win
the game that drawing a lot of
348
00:18:59,381 --> 00:19:01,460
guest cards is essential, to
me it's the most important thing.
349
00:19:01,461 --> 00:19:05,020
Once you've gotten to
at least three reputation.
350
00:19:05,021 --> 00:19:05,860
- Okay.
351
00:19:05,861 --> 00:19:07,820
And why is that just
because they are points?
352
00:19:07,821 --> 00:19:10,580
- Because they are points
and because of the efficiency.
353
00:19:10,581 --> 00:19:13,340
So the activities have a maximum.
354
00:19:13,341 --> 00:19:17,420
I mean, they have a required
number of guests, but it goes
355
00:19:17,421 --> 00:19:18,900
from a low number to slightly
higher and higher numbers.
356
00:19:18,901 --> 00:19:22,580
So the more favors you
can get with a single guest,
357
00:19:22,581 --> 00:19:25,260
the more explosive your
growth is going to be.
358
00:19:25,261 --> 00:19:28,100
And so the prestigious
guests are super essential
359
00:19:28,101 --> 00:19:31,220
and you want to have at
least three of them right.
360
00:19:31,221 --> 00:19:35,180
- I also think that it's
not that you necessarily
361
00:19:35,181 --> 00:19:40,180
need to acquire a
huge stable of guests
362
00:19:40,181 --> 00:19:45,420
because you can be dismissing
them and getting rid of them.
363
00:19:45,421 --> 00:19:48,620
And there's multiple ways
of doing that in the game.
364
00:19:48,621 --> 00:19:53,500
But I think the more you
have, it gives you more options.
365
00:19:53,501 --> 00:20:01,300
You know, when an activity requires two
ladies, well, if all you have are ladies
366
00:20:01,301 --> 00:20:07,580
that require the ladies made
and you just have one ladies made
367
00:20:07,581 --> 00:20:10,580
or you have two, but one of
them isn't ready to serve again.
368
00:20:10,581 --> 00:20:12,140
You're, uh-oh.
369
00:20:12,141 --> 00:20:12,980
- Right.
370
00:20:12,981 --> 00:20:15,660
- But when you have other guests available,
371
00:20:15,661 --> 00:20:20,820
other ladies who don't need
the ladies made, then all of a
372
00:20:20,821 --> 00:20:23,380
sudden you have an option and
you can do that activity you want.
373
00:20:23,381 --> 00:20:27,260
And so making sure that
you're having those guests,
374
00:20:27,261 --> 00:20:32,260
even if they're going to turn
and leave your hand or whatever,
375
00:20:32,261 --> 00:20:37,220
it just gives you options
and you're not so backed
376
00:20:37,221 --> 00:20:39,660
into corners, which is so
important as we talked about,
377
00:20:39,661 --> 00:20:42,580
'cause you don't want to have
a wasted turn in this game.
378
00:20:42,581 --> 00:20:47,220
So having that flexibility means
you're not wasting those turns.
379
00:20:47,221 --> 00:20:48,060
- Right.
380
00:20:48,061 --> 00:20:50,620
- Yep, and sometimes you just
have to invite the cad to your party.
381
00:20:50,621 --> 00:20:53,020
(laughing)
- Absolutely.
382
00:20:53,021 --> 00:20:56,500
- Yeah, the other thing I
like about having those cards
383
00:20:56,501 --> 00:20:59,140
in my hand is it prolongs
the amount of time
384
00:20:59,141 --> 00:21:03,620
before I need to pass
and recover my debt, right?
385
00:21:03,621 --> 00:21:05,460
Which, at least without the expansion,
386
00:21:05,461 --> 00:21:08,620
that feels more like a
lost move that I'm just,
387
00:21:08,621 --> 00:21:10,620
like we talked about
it in Anno 1800, right?
388
00:21:10,621 --> 00:21:14,020
With the idea of festival hanging,
can I postpone having to do that?
389
00:21:14,021 --> 00:21:18,460
Unless there is someone that I really,
whose powers I really want to reuse again,
390
00:21:18,461 --> 00:21:21,220
I dislike having to pass
just to recover my hand.
391
00:21:21,221 --> 00:21:23,420
- Right, right, you
want to have really good
392
00:21:23,421 --> 00:21:25,500
cards in your discard
before you pass, I agree.
393
00:21:25,501 --> 00:21:28,980
- So let's talk about
the staff in this game.
394
00:21:28,981 --> 00:21:31,980
What would it take to open
up some of their stories?
395
00:21:31,981 --> 00:21:33,940
Because in all the shows that we mentioned,
396
00:21:33,941 --> 00:21:37,660
there's development of
staff stories as well as,
397
00:21:37,661 --> 00:21:39,860
obviously the homeowners
and the lords and the ladies
398
00:21:39,861 --> 00:21:43,460
and the like, what's it going to take for
us to give a little more color to the folks
399
00:21:43,461 --> 00:21:46,860
that are helping us host
all of these activities?
400
00:21:46,861 --> 00:21:52,700
- I think that's a delightful possibility
in an expansion or something, right?
401
00:21:52,701 --> 00:21:57,940
Maybe the role, there's all
those games that have a dice
402
00:21:57,941 --> 00:22:00,380
or role or whatever is the
like smaller sequel game.
403
00:22:00,381 --> 00:22:04,900
That could be what the servant
stories, where we dig into that.
404
00:22:04,901 --> 00:22:07,100
- I think that's exactly
what the designer's doing.
405
00:22:07,101 --> 00:22:09,580
So he's already released
upstairs downstairs,
406
00:22:09,581 --> 00:22:13,100
which give you the four
supplemental servants.
407
00:22:13,101 --> 00:22:13,940
- Right.
408
00:22:13,941 --> 00:22:18,380
- And I felt like I was beginning to
tell stories every time I used them.
409
00:22:18,381 --> 00:22:22,220
Like, oh, I invite my head housemaid
410
00:22:22,221 --> 00:22:25,060
to help me screen the new
connections that I'm gaining.
411
00:22:25,061 --> 00:22:28,860
Or, ah, the cook comes and
makes such a wonderful meal.
412
00:22:28,861 --> 00:22:31,140
But then there's a new
expansion coming out this year
413
00:22:31,141 --> 00:22:34,460
called characters, which is
gonna add even more of that.
414
00:22:34,461 --> 00:22:36,340
- Oh, okay.
415
00:22:36,341 --> 00:22:37,660
That sounds interesting.
416
00:22:37,661 --> 00:22:39,660
And the useful man who
looks like he came out
417
00:22:39,661 --> 00:22:44,340
of picky blinders with
his mallet who's going out
418
00:22:44,341 --> 00:22:48,420
and, you know, breaking knees and
bringing in rents during the-- - No, no.
419
00:22:48,421 --> 00:22:50,420
He's building things.
420
00:22:50,421 --> 00:22:51,260
- No, he's not.
421
00:22:51,261 --> 00:22:52,100
No, he's not.
422
00:22:52,101 --> 00:22:55,100
All right.
423
00:22:55,101 --> 00:23:00,700
Now that last game we played,
Paul, the way the tiles came
424
00:23:00,701 --> 00:23:02,260
out really was fortuitous in
that you were able to capture
425
00:23:02,261 --> 00:23:04,900
what three different monuments
by the end of the game.
426
00:23:04,901 --> 00:23:06,780
Are those monuments overpowered?
- I had two.
427
00:23:06,781 --> 00:23:08,620
- You had two?
428
00:23:08,621 --> 00:23:10,580
- You know, some people think they are.
429
00:23:10,581 --> 00:23:13,220
And so with the upstairs
downstairs expansion,
430
00:23:13,221 --> 00:23:16,460
there is a set of monument
replacement tiles,
431
00:23:16,461 --> 00:23:19,300
which are all worth
about half as many points.
432
00:23:19,301 --> 00:23:20,300
- Ah, okay.
433
00:23:20,301 --> 00:23:22,860
- For those people who
think they're overpowered.
434
00:23:22,861 --> 00:23:23,740
- Yes.
435
00:23:23,741 --> 00:23:25,300
I remember a couple of games back.
436
00:23:25,301 --> 00:23:27,780
I think I ended up with
three of those monuments.
437
00:23:27,781 --> 00:23:29,220
- You did, yeah.
438
00:23:29,221 --> 00:23:32,380
- They ended up being
great also to help me race
439
00:23:32,381 --> 00:23:37,060
around the reputation track
and gain reputation quickly.
440
00:23:37,061 --> 00:23:39,300
So they didn't just
offer a bunch of points.
441
00:23:39,301 --> 00:23:42,700
It was also a lot of reputation
which definitely helped.
442
00:23:42,701 --> 00:23:43,540
- Yeah.
443
00:23:43,541 --> 00:23:47,980
So I think it's balanced
because of the cost.
444
00:23:47,981 --> 00:23:51,340
So if the other players allow a monument
445
00:23:51,341 --> 00:23:56,380
to drop down to the three or 400
pound space, then-- - That's on them.
446
00:23:56,381 --> 00:23:58,580
- Yeah, you're getting a steal, totally.
447
00:23:58,581 --> 00:24:01,700
But if people are buying
them for eight or 700 pounds
448
00:24:01,701 --> 00:24:05,780
plus the extra cost that they
have, then I think it's very fair.
449
00:24:05,781 --> 00:24:06,620
- Okay.
450
00:24:06,621 --> 00:24:08,300
And for folks who aren't familiar,
451
00:24:08,301 --> 00:24:13,700
each of the colors, there are five
colors of activities or tiles in the game.
452
00:24:13,701 --> 00:24:16,940
And each of them has a
monument in that color.
453
00:24:16,941 --> 00:24:20,700
And unlike the activities
where if you host the activity
454
00:24:20,701 --> 00:24:23,220
the first time, it flips
over and it usually
455
00:24:23,221 --> 00:24:26,060
has a better side,
offers you better benefits
456
00:24:26,061 --> 00:24:29,020
and definitely more points,
monuments can't be flipped.
457
00:24:29,021 --> 00:24:31,140
But there were a lot of
points right out of the gate
458
00:24:31,141 --> 00:24:32,820
and then they do help
you with the reputation.
459
00:24:32,821 --> 00:24:34,020
So they're pretty important.
460
00:24:34,021 --> 00:24:39,660
- Yeah, the game comes with an extra estate
monument called the Sculpture Garden.
461
00:24:39,661 --> 00:24:42,020
And you're supposed
to always play with that
462
00:24:42,021 --> 00:24:45,180
and you're also supposed
to add an extra number
463
00:24:45,181 --> 00:24:46,620
of monuments equal
to the number of players.
464
00:24:46,621 --> 00:24:47,460
- Ah!
465
00:24:47,461 --> 00:24:49,780
- You can choose them
randomly or have players
466
00:24:49,781 --> 00:24:51,020
decide which ones
they wanna play with.
467
00:24:51,021 --> 00:24:52,540
- Okay, interesting.
468
00:24:52,541 --> 00:24:58,940
So beyond reputation and beyond the estate
points, you also have objective cards.
469
00:24:58,941 --> 00:25:02,980
These are cards that you're managing
throughout the course of the game.
470
00:25:02,981 --> 00:25:04,980
I think you're gonna
see a total of what is it?
471
00:25:04,981 --> 00:25:08,700
Six, five during the course of the
game, but you wind up with three?
472
00:25:08,701 --> 00:25:10,540
- It depends on whether
you're playing standard
473
00:25:10,541 --> 00:25:14,740
or extended, but yeah, you're gonna have to
discard four over the course of the game.
474
00:25:14,741 --> 00:25:18,300
So since we end with
three, that means we've
475
00:25:18,301 --> 00:25:19,180
seen a total of seven
throughout the game.
476
00:25:19,181 --> 00:25:20,020
- Got it.
477
00:25:20,021 --> 00:25:21,340
So do you prioritize those?
478
00:25:21,341 --> 00:25:27,100
How much emphasis do you place upon trying
to fulfill one of those objective cards?
479
00:25:27,101 --> 00:25:30,340
- I definitely want to fulfill them.
480
00:25:30,341 --> 00:25:37,100
And there is that nice
tension of their objectives that
481
00:25:37,101 --> 00:25:39,300
are hard to fulfill, but
that's worth a lot of points.
482
00:25:39,301 --> 00:25:43,140
Some ones that are easier to
fulfill, but not worth as many points.
483
00:25:43,141 --> 00:25:46,300
And so it's all about what do you keep?
484
00:25:46,301 --> 00:25:51,980
And are you saying I want the sure
thing that's gonna give me five points?
485
00:25:51,981 --> 00:25:58,140
Or do I want the stretch that's gonna
maybe be worth 20 some points?
486
00:25:58,141 --> 00:26:03,140
And our last game, I had
one little piddly sure thing.
487
00:26:03,141 --> 00:26:09,780
And then I felt really good about
potentially getting these stretch ones
488
00:26:09,781 --> 00:26:13,860
because I had gotten two of
the three buildings I needed.
489
00:26:13,861 --> 00:26:18,860
And I saw within my reach
the last building that I wanted.
490
00:26:18,861 --> 00:26:24,780
So I discarded one of the objectives
that was a sure thing that was easy
491
00:26:24,781 --> 00:26:29,460
because I was like, no, no, I'm
gonna be able to get my huge
492
00:26:29,461 --> 00:26:31,460
amount of points here with
my more difficult objectives.
493
00:26:31,461 --> 00:26:34,620
And then I did not get that building.
494
00:26:34,621 --> 00:26:38,100
Someone else purchased,
someone else purchased six.
495
00:26:38,101 --> 00:26:39,980
And was it me?
496
00:26:39,981 --> 00:26:43,860
It was, no, it was David.
497
00:26:43,861 --> 00:26:44,700
I thought it was Dave.
498
00:26:44,701 --> 00:26:46,740
I bought the first barn, but then
David bought the second one.
499
00:26:46,741 --> 00:26:47,580
I was mundering.
500
00:26:47,581 --> 00:26:48,580
The york.
501
00:26:48,581 --> 00:26:55,020
He bought the cabinet of
curiosities, which is what I needed.
502
00:26:55,021 --> 00:26:56,180
Got it.
503
00:26:56,181 --> 00:27:00,740
Yeah, it was difficult, but
I've come to terms with it.
504
00:27:03,620 --> 00:27:05,620
Yeah, I don't know how
I feel about objectives.
505
00:27:05,621 --> 00:27:06,900
I mean, I don't know.
506
00:27:06,901 --> 00:27:10,820
It's another way to get
some extra points, but I think
507
00:27:10,821 --> 00:27:12,340
they're often a crapshoot
like Megan described us now.
508
00:27:12,341 --> 00:27:13,180
- Right.
509
00:27:13,181 --> 00:27:16,860
Well, especially if you
have one of those crazy ones
510
00:27:16,861 --> 00:27:18,820
tantalizing you with like,
hey, you get 15 or 20 points.
511
00:27:18,821 --> 00:27:23,100
If you get this combination of rooms,
but then you don't even see one of them
512
00:27:23,101 --> 00:27:27,780
or they're too expensive or any number
of things other people keep buying them.
513
00:27:27,781 --> 00:27:31,260
- Or they're totally off theme for
fighting for the Fairchilds, yeah.
514
00:27:31,261 --> 00:27:34,100
- Right. And I think
that just goes and talks
515
00:27:34,101 --> 00:27:35,500
to more of the chaos
that's in the game.
516
00:27:35,501 --> 00:27:39,700
And that's a common word to throw around
these days, which basically just means
517
00:27:39,701 --> 00:27:44,100
there's a fair deal of randomness to
the way things are going to emerge.
518
00:27:44,101 --> 00:27:48,700
But I still really enjoy playing the
game and getting into that, you know,
519
00:27:48,701 --> 00:27:51,780
almost tactical feel of,
okay, I need to do these
520
00:27:51,781 --> 00:27:53,300
next three things for
before the next courtship.
521
00:27:53,301 --> 00:27:58,060
And then before I know it, we're in the
home stretch and the game's almost over.
522
00:27:58,061 --> 00:28:01,220
- Yeah, I guess I think
of it as like a risk posture.
523
00:28:01,221 --> 00:28:03,060
How much do you want to risk?
524
00:28:03,061 --> 00:28:04,100
How much do you want to gamble?
525
00:28:04,101 --> 00:28:08,500
Because you can put yourself in a
position where you only make safe choices
526
00:28:08,501 --> 00:28:11,460
or you can put yourself
in a position where you
527
00:28:11,461 --> 00:28:12,780
only make the risky choices
or somewhere in between.
528
00:28:12,781 --> 00:28:14,020
- Yep, absolutely.
529
00:28:14,021 --> 00:28:20,420
- I'm fascinated by the amount of
forethought required to have a big turn.
530
00:28:20,421 --> 00:28:26,420
Like there's a lot of buildings
that require five gentry
531
00:28:26,421 --> 00:28:29,500
or four gentlemen or something
that seems really difficult
532
00:28:29,501 --> 00:28:31,460
because not only do you
have to have the cards in hand,
533
00:28:31,461 --> 00:28:33,620
but also have to have
the servants available.
534
00:28:33,621 --> 00:28:35,460
So what are your thoughts on that?
535
00:28:35,461 --> 00:28:38,060
- I really like that
because I don't think
536
00:28:38,061 --> 00:28:40,420
there's anything you
can ignore in this game.
537
00:28:40,421 --> 00:28:42,980
I don't think you can say, you know what?
538
00:28:42,981 --> 00:28:44,740
I don't care about my reputation.
539
00:28:44,741 --> 00:28:46,780
I'm not going to do one thing to raise it.
540
00:28:46,781 --> 00:28:53,260
I'm going to focus on, you know,
money and buying more tiles and getting--
541
00:28:53,261 --> 00:28:54,860
- Spoken like a true York.
542
00:28:54,861 --> 00:28:59,780
- I'm going to get just my casual
guests and I'm not going to care.
543
00:28:59,781 --> 00:29:01,180
Like it's going to bite you.
544
00:29:01,181 --> 00:29:03,940
You're going to have things
you need that reputation for.
545
00:29:03,941 --> 00:29:05,740
And it's the same thing.
546
00:29:05,741 --> 00:29:09,460
You can't be a popper with a heart of gold.
547
00:29:09,461 --> 00:29:10,900
That's not going to work either.
548
00:29:10,901 --> 00:29:14,460
And you have to be
keeping everything in mind.
549
00:29:14,461 --> 00:29:16,900
And yeah, for those, when you're like,
550
00:29:16,901 --> 00:29:21,740
"Hey, this activity requires
my reputation to be up at six.
551
00:29:21,741 --> 00:29:25,260
" And I also need,
however many people ready,
552
00:29:25,261 --> 00:29:29,220
along with all of their
servants, whatever, that's huge.
553
00:29:29,221 --> 00:29:31,180
But it's going to pay out huge.
554
00:29:31,181 --> 00:29:36,500
So when the stars align and you
make it happen, it's very exciting.
555
00:29:36,501 --> 00:29:39,340
And it's, I think it's fun to watch.
556
00:29:39,341 --> 00:29:41,700
I mean, it's also
somewhat disappointing to
557
00:29:41,701 --> 00:29:43,100
watch when you're
one of the other players.
558
00:29:43,101 --> 00:29:47,300
But fun at the same time is
you're like, "Oh, I'm getting crushed.
559
00:29:47,301 --> 00:29:49,180
" (laughs)
560
00:29:49,181 --> 00:29:53,340
- As long as you know who's going
to the party, the gossip allows you to--
561
00:29:53,341 --> 00:29:57,740
- Right, yeah, be a perfectly
happy Victorian foyer.
562
00:29:57,741 --> 00:30:02,940
- When you pull it off, as
Megan said, you feel awesome.
563
00:30:02,941 --> 00:30:06,580
And you have this entire parade
of staff that you're just rolling out
564
00:30:06,581 --> 00:30:10,140
and you're putting all the valets on the
gentlemen, ladies' maids with the ladies.
565
00:30:10,141 --> 00:30:11,940
And then you get your
footmen that are helping
566
00:30:11,941 --> 00:30:13,700
with it or the butler
that's hosting the event.
567
00:30:13,701 --> 00:30:19,020
And then suddenly, all of your staff
is over in the left most expended box.
568
00:30:19,021 --> 00:30:22,100
And you're like, "Oh,
I've got to do something
569
00:30:22,101 --> 00:30:25,700
just to catch up in the next
turns that I can set up for that.
570
00:30:25,701 --> 00:30:29,580
" So there is a pacing to the game
that kind of feels like you're not swinging
571
00:30:29,581 --> 00:30:33,300
for the fences on every
turn, but you definitely have at
572
00:30:33,301 --> 00:30:35,180
least one prep turn while they
all move into the center box.
573
00:30:35,181 --> 00:30:37,820
And then you might be
able to pull something off
574
00:30:37,821 --> 00:30:41,300
on the next turn,
assuming you still have the
575
00:30:41,301 --> 00:30:42,540
gentry cards and
everything to do it again.
576
00:30:42,541 --> 00:30:44,260
But I love that puzzle.
577
00:30:44,261 --> 00:30:47,860
Then let's move on to the prompts,
starting with weight in complexity.
578
00:30:47,861 --> 00:30:50,740
On board game geeks, scale of one to five
579
00:30:50,741 --> 00:30:53,140
with one being the lowest,
five being the heaviest.
580
00:30:53,141 --> 00:30:57,380
This category would also align with
what board game arena calls complexity.
581
00:30:57,381 --> 00:30:58,700
How would you rate?
582
00:30:58,701 --> 00:31:01,300
Obsession, Megan,
why don't you lead us off?
583
00:31:01,301 --> 00:31:04,060
- I'm a little nervous
about leading us off here
584
00:31:04,061 --> 00:31:07,540
because I think the two of you
may really disagree with me,
585
00:31:07,541 --> 00:31:11,020
but I'm going to go
ahead and rate this a four.
586
00:31:11,021 --> 00:31:13,300
- Four. - For our weight, complexity.
587
00:31:13,301 --> 00:31:16,380
I don't think anyone in
our group has this solved.
588
00:31:16,381 --> 00:31:21,380
I don't think anyone has said
there's an auto win strategy here.
589
00:31:21,381 --> 00:31:27,140
I think there is an enjoyable depth
here, which is, it's why it's wild to me
590
00:31:27,141 --> 00:31:31,820
that the designer would say,
well, this is more themed than game
591
00:31:31,821 --> 00:31:37,500
because I think we are still really
wrestling with the game that is here.
592
00:31:37,501 --> 00:31:38,980
- Right, that's awesome.
593
00:31:38,981 --> 00:31:41,700
I struggled with how to
answer this for quite a while
594
00:31:41,701 --> 00:31:45,540
because when I first started
playing this, it was not easy.
595
00:31:45,541 --> 00:31:48,860
And that's because it's very different
than every other game I've played.
596
00:31:48,861 --> 00:31:51,020
And I mean, we've been
playing games for decades.
597
00:31:51,021 --> 00:31:54,060
So a lot of the time
when I start to play a
598
00:31:54,061 --> 00:31:55,700
new game, I can figure
it out on my first play.
599
00:31:55,701 --> 00:32:00,060
I could not do that with this, but now
that I've played it so much with my wife,
600
00:32:00,061 --> 00:32:03,700
I ended up with a rating of
two for weight and complexity
601
00:32:03,701 --> 00:32:07,660
because I feel like we both
understand exactly how to play.
602
00:32:07,661 --> 00:32:11,140
There's not a lot of things to remember.
603
00:32:11,141 --> 00:32:12,580
We don't have to look up anything.
604
00:32:12,581 --> 00:32:15,780
It just, it all fits together
and makes sense.
605
00:32:15,781 --> 00:32:16,900
- Wow, okay.
606
00:32:16,901 --> 00:32:18,300
Well, I am not at the two stage.
607
00:32:18,301 --> 00:32:23,060
In fact, I had this originally as a three
when I first sat down and was playing it.
608
00:32:23,061 --> 00:32:24,420
I was like, okay, this is a three.
609
00:32:24,421 --> 00:32:26,820
But then I kept discovering
those things I talked about, right?
610
00:32:26,821 --> 00:32:29,660
Those depths that you
can find if you read into it
611
00:32:29,661 --> 00:32:32,460
and looking at how you're
gonna manufacture money
612
00:32:32,461 --> 00:32:36,220
and then staging the sequence of events so
that you have the right servants available
613
00:32:36,221 --> 00:32:38,340
and how you're gonna
manage the gentry cards.
614
00:32:38,341 --> 00:32:39,420
And Megan, I agree with you.
615
00:32:39,421 --> 00:32:42,420
It feels like when you are
understanding the game
616
00:32:42,421 --> 00:32:45,940
and you're playing all of the different
things at the same time, it's a four.
617
00:32:45,941 --> 00:32:47,860
And it's an awesome four.
618
00:32:47,861 --> 00:32:49,300
I'm really enjoying it.
619
00:32:49,301 --> 00:32:52,100
So Paul, I guess I can look
forward to dropping it down
620
00:32:52,101 --> 00:32:55,260
in the future with more
familiarity, but I'm not there yet.
621
00:32:55,261 --> 00:32:56,740
(laughs)
622
00:32:56,741 --> 00:32:57,740
So then strategy.
623
00:32:57,741 --> 00:32:59,420
How much opportunity is there for strategy
624
00:32:59,421 --> 00:33:02,860
and long-term planning on the
same scale of one to five, please?
625
00:33:02,861 --> 00:33:03,900
Paul, what do you think?
626
00:33:03,901 --> 00:33:08,620
- Yeah, so for the reasons you and
Megan already stated, I rate this a four.
627
00:33:08,621 --> 00:33:13,500
There is quite a lot of long-term
planning and strategy in this game,
628
00:33:13,501 --> 00:33:15,860
even though there's
also a lot of randomness.
629
00:33:15,861 --> 00:33:17,980
- I agree with Paul on this one.
630
00:33:17,981 --> 00:33:20,900
I also rated this a four for strategy.
631
00:33:20,901 --> 00:33:26,380
I think for exactly the reasons we
discussed, you can't waste a turn.
632
00:33:26,381 --> 00:33:33,700
And so you need to be thinking
about not only what benefits you now,
633
00:33:33,701 --> 00:33:37,500
but how are you setting
yourself up for those next turns?
634
00:33:37,501 --> 00:33:41,700
You know, you could use that servant
now, but if it's not gonna be a big help,
635
00:33:41,701 --> 00:33:44,140
maybe they can be a
big help for you next turn.
636
00:33:44,141 --> 00:33:47,780
So when will they be available
again if you use them now?
637
00:33:47,781 --> 00:33:51,380
And, you know, if you
flip this activity now,
638
00:33:51,381 --> 00:33:55,460
hey, great, you're getting money or
reputation, whatever you're getting from that,
639
00:33:55,461 --> 00:33:57,620
but is that helping
you with the fair child?
640
00:33:57,621 --> 00:34:00,740
So there's so much to
weigh and to consider.
641
00:34:00,741 --> 00:34:03,980
And even we'll get into some of this later,
642
00:34:03,981 --> 00:34:07,980
but thinking about which
family you want to start with,
643
00:34:07,981 --> 00:34:13,260
that I think right from the beginning of
the game, there is strategy to consider.
644
00:34:13,261 --> 00:34:14,660
Well, let's get into it now.
645
00:34:14,661 --> 00:34:16,740
What are your thoughts on family selection?
646
00:34:16,741 --> 00:34:20,900
- I'm not super clear on what
the official rules are regarding that.
647
00:34:20,901 --> 00:34:27,220
The way we've played most of the
time in the past, it's just kind of been a,
648
00:34:27,221 --> 00:34:30,380
here's all the family
boards, pick what you
649
00:34:30,381 --> 00:34:32,220
want, and people
have just kind of picked.
650
00:34:32,221 --> 00:34:37,580
But the last time we played,
we actually figured out
651
00:34:37,581 --> 00:34:40,500
who player won, we selected
player one from the start.
652
00:34:40,501 --> 00:34:43,180
And then I think we
followed the rules on this.
653
00:34:43,181 --> 00:34:45,860
- Yeah, the rules say
player two gets the first pick,
654
00:34:45,861 --> 00:34:49,300
and then player one gets the
last pick for family selection.
655
00:34:49,301 --> 00:34:55,500
- Mm-hmm, and I think that honestly
is a more appropriate way of doing it,
656
00:34:55,501 --> 00:35:00,460
because I think the family you start
with does matter, and it impacts your play.
657
00:35:00,461 --> 00:35:08,220
And so I think having that be determined
by your turn order makes sense.
658
00:35:08,221 --> 00:35:11,300
- Okay, yeah, I definitely
liked drafting the families
659
00:35:11,301 --> 00:35:15,260
in some non-random order,
or just whatever you felt like.
660
00:35:15,261 --> 00:35:19,100
And you do have some early
advantages, whether it's more money,
661
00:35:19,101 --> 00:35:22,060
or if it's an extra footman or
whatever the case may be.
662
00:35:22,061 --> 00:35:24,980
So I can see what that affects
shapes your early decisions.
663
00:35:24,981 --> 00:35:26,900
I had strategy down as a three,
664
00:35:26,901 --> 00:35:29,620
because I feel like those
are a lot of tactical decisions.
665
00:35:29,621 --> 00:35:31,940
Like what I'm gonna do
before that first courtship,
666
00:35:31,941 --> 00:35:34,780
I may try to take advantage
of whatever my family
667
00:35:34,781 --> 00:35:36,060
has, but by the end
of the first courtship,
668
00:35:36,061 --> 00:35:39,100
it feels like playing field
has evened out quite a bit.
669
00:35:39,101 --> 00:35:42,580
The other thing that just, it
prevents me from giving it a four,
670
00:35:42,581 --> 00:35:47,860
is the theme or the season of the
Fairchilds and what they're going to expect.
671
00:35:47,861 --> 00:35:51,220
And like Paul mentioned,
it came out in the last
672
00:35:51,221 --> 00:35:53,940
game where they wanted
sporting events again,
673
00:35:53,941 --> 00:35:56,700
and I was already sitting on
the most points at the table.
674
00:35:56,701 --> 00:35:59,900
And that was gonna be counted
twice, because it had emerged twice.
675
00:35:59,901 --> 00:36:03,300
That was nothing to do with planning, or
foresight, or anything, that was just luck.
676
00:36:03,301 --> 00:36:06,700
So for me, that saps
some of the strengths from
677
00:36:06,701 --> 00:36:08,060
strategy, it's not
sapping it in a bad way.
678
00:36:08,061 --> 00:36:10,620
I'm not wishing that--
- Oh, I wish that would last a lot.
679
00:36:10,621 --> 00:36:12,420
- I guess to maybe try and convince you,
680
00:36:12,421 --> 00:36:18,100
I think you have to plan almost half the
game ahead to put on those big events,
681
00:36:18,101 --> 00:36:22,380
because you have to stage out,
when am I gonna hire extra staff?
682
00:36:22,381 --> 00:36:24,540
How am I gonna get more cards?
683
00:36:24,541 --> 00:36:26,060
How am I gonna get my reputation up?
684
00:36:26,061 --> 00:36:29,740
And that takes, like if you wanna
have a ball in the final two turds,
685
00:36:29,741 --> 00:36:31,980
you have to spend the
whole game working up to that.
686
00:36:31,981 --> 00:36:32,820
- Right.
687
00:36:32,821 --> 00:36:33,660
I have to say about it.
688
00:36:33,661 --> 00:36:35,260
(laughing)
689
00:36:35,261 --> 00:36:36,100
- All right, well then luck.
690
00:36:36,101 --> 00:36:37,820
How much do you think luck plays a factor?
691
00:36:37,821 --> 00:36:39,420
Same scale one to five.
692
00:36:39,421 --> 00:36:41,620
The two numbers don't
have to add up to six.
693
00:36:41,621 --> 00:36:42,460
(laughing)
694
00:36:42,461 --> 00:36:43,420
- All right, I'll go first.
695
00:36:43,421 --> 00:36:45,620
I think there's a lot of luck to this game,
696
00:36:45,621 --> 00:36:48,780
but I also have to admit
that I win this game a lot,
697
00:36:48,781 --> 00:36:51,700
which to me means
there's not a lot of luck to it.
698
00:36:51,701 --> 00:36:54,700
So I ended up right in
the middle, rating it a three.
699
00:36:54,701 --> 00:36:55,580
- Well, I'll join you there.
700
00:36:55,581 --> 00:36:57,180
I also had it down as a three.
701
00:36:57,181 --> 00:36:58,180
Megan, what'd you have?
702
00:36:58,181 --> 00:36:59,420
- I won't be joining you.
703
00:36:59,421 --> 00:37:01,260
I had it as a one.
704
00:37:01,261 --> 00:37:09,660
- Wow.
- Because I think, I think those things that you've each mentioned previously
705
00:37:09,661 --> 00:37:16,340
that there's luck in the tile
draw or luck in the cards,
706
00:37:16,341 --> 00:37:21,500
but there's also things in the game
mechanics that allow you to mitigate that.
707
00:37:21,501 --> 00:37:24,980
There's opportunities to
wipe that builder's market
708
00:37:24,981 --> 00:37:28,060
or impact those things,
get yourself more money.
709
00:37:28,061 --> 00:37:33,100
And so because there are those little,
I don't know what you would call them,
710
00:37:33,101 --> 00:37:40,100
but there are all those
mitigating mechanics that allow
711
00:37:40,101 --> 00:37:43,700
you to kind of temper how
much impact that luck has on you.
712
00:37:43,701 --> 00:37:45,540
So I'm saying a one.
713
00:37:45,541 --> 00:37:46,380
- Wow, all right.
714
00:37:46,381 --> 00:37:48,940
You convinced me, Megan,
I'm changing my score to two.
715
00:37:48,941 --> 00:37:49,780
(laughing)
- Great.
716
00:37:49,781 --> 00:37:56,220
- I'm sticking to three, but I am
glad that you find it so deterministic.
717
00:37:56,221 --> 00:37:59,980
So then theme, for me,
this one's going to be a
718
00:37:59,981 --> 00:38:01,180
foregone conclusion,
but I will throw it out there.
719
00:38:01,181 --> 00:38:04,620
What do you have down for
theme, same scale, one to five?
720
00:38:04,621 --> 00:38:06,580
- I give this a six out of five.
721
00:38:06,581 --> 00:38:08,840
(laughing)
722
00:38:08,841 --> 00:38:13,980
- I have rated other games on
this podcast, a five out of five.
723
00:38:13,981 --> 00:38:15,700
This has more theme than those games.
724
00:38:15,701 --> 00:38:18,380
So I have to break the scale.
725
00:38:18,381 --> 00:38:20,060
- You have to break the scale.
726
00:38:20,061 --> 00:38:21,540
Okay.
727
00:38:21,541 --> 00:38:23,540
- Wow, I give this a four.
728
00:38:23,541 --> 00:38:29,180
I could potentially see these
mechanics with a different theme.
729
00:38:29,181 --> 00:38:32,860
I'm not super attached to the theme.
730
00:38:32,861 --> 00:38:34,660
However, I- - Scandalous.
731
00:38:34,661 --> 00:38:40,500
- I see how our group
refuses to play this without me.
732
00:38:40,501 --> 00:38:46,500
And that's very kind because you
guys know that I enjoy this theme
733
00:38:46,501 --> 00:38:51,260
and that there are other themes that don't
resonate with me the way this one does.
734
00:38:51,261 --> 00:38:58,420
So I love the opportunities to play with
this game and what the theme brings to it.
735
00:38:58,421 --> 00:39:04,180
You know, how we laugh about someone being
a cat or a popper or an American heiress.
736
00:39:04,181 --> 00:39:09,180
And I think those things all add
to our enjoyment of the game.
737
00:39:09,181 --> 00:39:14,180
But do I think it is a perfect
meld of mechanic and beam?
738
00:39:14,181 --> 00:39:18,340
It's just not quite a perfection for me.
739
00:39:18,341 --> 00:39:19,420
- I see.
740
00:39:19,421 --> 00:39:22,740
Well, we'll have to talk about
that one later behind your back.
741
00:39:22,741 --> 00:39:23,740
- Because I went with it.
742
00:39:23,741 --> 00:39:25,060
(laughing)
743
00:39:25,061 --> 00:39:26,220
It's a five, right?
744
00:39:26,221 --> 00:39:28,100
The theme is one sets this game apart.
745
00:39:28,101 --> 00:39:31,060
I really like the idea of
hosting these activities,
746
00:39:31,061 --> 00:39:33,140
but only if I have the
right staff for the event.
747
00:39:33,141 --> 00:39:36,420
And then if I only have enough
reputation to draw the right crowds,
748
00:39:36,421 --> 00:39:39,260
I mean, I just, I think
it's done a really good job
749
00:39:39,261 --> 00:39:41,700
of integrating the theme with
the mechanics that are there.
750
00:39:41,701 --> 00:39:46,020
And much I would go to six,
but it's definitely a solid five.
751
00:39:46,021 --> 00:39:48,900
- I just, I feel like I'm
watching one of those shows
752
00:39:48,901 --> 00:39:52,060
or movies or reading one of
those books every time I play.
753
00:39:52,061 --> 00:39:52,900
- Exactly.
754
00:39:52,901 --> 00:39:55,260
And apparently there are many
more books that I have to read.
755
00:39:55,261 --> 00:39:56,300
(laughing) All right.
756
00:39:56,301 --> 00:39:57,980
What's your favorite
player account?
757
00:39:57,981 --> 00:40:00,420
What's obsession best played at?
758
00:40:00,421 --> 00:40:01,260
Paul?
759
00:40:01,261 --> 00:40:03,140
- For me, it is two players.
760
00:40:03,141 --> 00:40:05,140
And we can talk about it later.
761
00:40:05,141 --> 00:40:07,460
There's a lot of variance in the game
762
00:40:07,461 --> 00:40:10,660
that make the two player
version extremely good.
763
00:40:10,661 --> 00:40:12,740
- We don't have a
separate variance section.
764
00:40:12,741 --> 00:40:14,940
- Oh, I guess it was in
house rules, but yeah.
765
00:40:14,941 --> 00:40:19,700
So variance, there's lots of
variance listed in the rule book.
766
00:40:19,701 --> 00:40:21,580
And they're actually given fun names
767
00:40:21,581 --> 00:40:24,620
like the Jane Austen
variant, the Charles
768
00:40:24,621 --> 00:40:26,220
Dickens variant, the
polite society variant.
769
00:40:26,221 --> 00:40:27,060
- Right.
770
00:40:27,061 --> 00:40:30,060
- So you can do things
like draft, starting guests.
771
00:40:30,061 --> 00:40:35,580
You can start the game with the blue
service tiles on the builders market.
772
00:40:35,581 --> 00:40:40,580
You can start the game with extra servants
so you don't have to fight over them.
773
00:40:40,581 --> 00:40:44,180
And my wife and I love to play
with the Jane Austen variant
774
00:40:44,181 --> 00:40:48,420
where the theme card is
unknown until the actual courtship.
775
00:40:48,421 --> 00:40:50,060
So it is always a surprise.
776
00:40:50,061 --> 00:40:51,060
- Oh, yikes.
777
00:40:51,061 --> 00:40:54,300
- And so we have to
constantly track our scores
778
00:40:54,301 --> 00:40:57,620
of all five colors to know
who's gonna win what theme.
779
00:40:57,621 --> 00:40:59,060
- If it comes up a certain way.
780
00:40:59,061 --> 00:41:00,340
- Leave it up to chance, right?
781
00:41:00,341 --> 00:41:03,700
- All right, so tell me about
the Charles Dickens variant.
782
00:41:03,701 --> 00:41:06,860
- It's similar to Jane
Austen, but you roll a die.
783
00:41:06,861 --> 00:41:10,220
And based on the die roll,
you reveal the theme card
784
00:41:10,221 --> 00:41:13,380
either at the beginning
of the season, at the end
785
00:41:13,381 --> 00:41:14,980
of the season, or one
of the turns in between.
786
00:41:14,981 --> 00:41:16,300
- Oh my, okay.
787
00:41:16,301 --> 00:41:17,900
- So it builds up the drama.
788
00:41:17,901 --> 00:41:20,180
- Right, it's not as hard
of course Jane Austen,
789
00:41:20,181 --> 00:41:23,860
but okay, Megan, how
about you, player count?
790
00:41:23,861 --> 00:41:27,860
- I'd say for me four, I
haven't played this to player.
791
00:41:27,861 --> 00:41:28,700
Oh, you know what?
792
00:41:28,701 --> 00:41:32,940
Maybe I have on BGA,
but I enjoy a four player.
793
00:41:32,941 --> 00:41:37,940
I like that those base game
families all are getting out there.
794
00:41:37,941 --> 00:41:42,500
I think there's a nice amount of
tension and competition with four.
795
00:41:42,501 --> 00:41:45,260
And yeah, it's been my preferred count.
796
00:41:45,261 --> 00:41:47,100
- Yeah, I would agree
with you as well on that one.
797
00:41:47,101 --> 00:41:50,060
I think now two is the only
one that I haven't played it at.
798
00:41:50,061 --> 00:41:51,780
I mean, out of one to five.
799
00:41:51,781 --> 00:41:53,820
And part of it is playing
with you all, right?
800
00:41:53,821 --> 00:41:56,700
So when four of us are sitting
down and playing this game,
801
00:41:56,701 --> 00:42:01,020
and we've played it at five, that
has been a wonderful experience,
802
00:42:01,021 --> 00:42:06,300
but as we will get to in the next question,
I prefer four over higher player accounts,
803
00:42:06,301 --> 00:42:08,820
which means the next
question, the least favorite player
804
00:42:08,821 --> 00:42:10,660
account for me, it's pretty
much anything beyond four.
805
00:42:10,661 --> 00:42:14,500
Five had too much downtime as it
was, so I guess six would be right out.
806
00:42:14,501 --> 00:42:20,700
- Well, six is a team game,
where it's three on three.
807
00:42:20,701 --> 00:42:24,460
And you have to have the upstairs downstairs
expansion to do that, but then five.
808
00:42:24,461 --> 00:42:25,620
- Yeah, I agree.
809
00:42:25,621 --> 00:42:27,940
Five would be my least favorite as well.
810
00:42:27,941 --> 00:42:30,820
Although, you know, I only
played the solo game to learn it.
811
00:42:30,821 --> 00:42:32,540
I don't really ever play it anymore.
812
00:42:32,541 --> 00:42:35,940
So I guess I could pick solo as
well, but it's because of the downtime,
813
00:42:35,941 --> 00:42:40,820
especially as Dave so rightly pointed
out, the downtime during courtship rounds,
814
00:42:40,821 --> 00:42:43,780
if you are the first person
before the courtship,
815
00:42:43,781 --> 00:42:46,540
you will pass the start
player marker to your
816
00:42:46,541 --> 00:42:48,820
left and be the last
person after the courtship.
817
00:42:48,821 --> 00:42:53,100
So in a five player
game, there'll be eight
818
00:42:53,101 --> 00:42:54,420
people take a turn before
you take another one.
819
00:42:54,421 --> 00:42:55,260
- Right?
820
00:42:55,261 --> 00:42:58,500
And didn't he say that his
downtime was around 40 minutes?
821
00:42:58,501 --> 00:43:00,500
(both laugh)
822
00:43:00,501 --> 00:43:02,700
I think he was exaggerating,
but yeah, it was a lot.
823
00:43:02,701 --> 00:43:04,180
- I don't know if he was, but okay.
824
00:43:04,181 --> 00:43:06,100
- Yeah, this is the one time this podcast
825
00:43:06,101 --> 00:43:09,980
we're all gonna agree because
I also said I have player.
826
00:43:09,981 --> 00:43:13,900
And for the same reasons,
it's just too much downtime.
827
00:43:13,901 --> 00:43:14,740
- Right.
828
00:43:14,741 --> 00:43:18,420
Okay, so while we're talking about time,
time, time, what's the actual playing time?
829
00:43:18,421 --> 00:43:19,780
Because boxes can lie.
830
00:43:19,781 --> 00:43:23,620
This one says it takes 30 to 90 minutes.
831
00:43:23,621 --> 00:43:26,540
- I can't imagine getting it down that low.
832
00:43:26,541 --> 00:43:29,060
My experience has been
about 30 minutes per player
833
00:43:29,061 --> 00:43:33,020
for the standard game and 45 minutes
per player for the extended game.
834
00:43:33,021 --> 00:43:34,100
- Even with two players?
- Yes.
835
00:43:34,101 --> 00:43:39,620
- So then at four players, standard game,
you're already looking at 120 minutes.
836
00:43:39,621 --> 00:43:40,460
- Right?
837
00:43:40,461 --> 00:43:42,700
- Which is what my BG stat says.
838
00:43:42,701 --> 00:43:43,940
- Yep, I would agree with that.
839
00:43:43,941 --> 00:43:50,420
So the meaningless playing time on the box
is for hyper fans who are very efficient.
840
00:43:50,421 --> 00:43:54,220
Expansions, there have been more
expansions to this game than I realized.
841
00:43:54,221 --> 00:43:58,300
And I think we may have even
been playing with more expansions
842
00:43:58,301 --> 00:44:01,020
than I realized until I was
getting ready for this pod.
843
00:44:01,021 --> 00:44:04,580
Paul, why don't you get us headed
off and talking about expansions?
844
00:44:04,581 --> 00:44:08,540
- Yeah, so we've been playing
with the Wessex expansion.
845
00:44:08,541 --> 00:44:09,380
- Right.
846
00:44:09,381 --> 00:44:11,300
- Minus the additional guests.
847
00:44:11,301 --> 00:44:12,140
- Okay.
848
00:44:12,141 --> 00:44:17,060
- I also included the card
corrections from the useful box.
849
00:44:17,061 --> 00:44:21,540
And the reason for that, and I
guess that's more of a house rule,
850
00:44:21,541 --> 00:44:25,020
is I'm worried about
bloating the deck of guests
851
00:44:25,021 --> 00:44:28,100
and making it more
variable or more chaotic.
852
00:44:28,101 --> 00:44:32,620
And so I chose not to add any additional
guests to the decks that we play with.
853
00:44:32,621 --> 00:44:34,500
- Interesting, we've
talked about that before
854
00:44:34,501 --> 00:44:36,620
with other games, so
that makes a lot of sense.
855
00:44:36,621 --> 00:44:41,140
- Yeah, there's also the upstairs
downstairs expansion that we played with.
856
00:44:41,141 --> 00:44:48,100
And again, I did not add any of the cards
because honestly, I was punching the game
857
00:44:48,101 --> 00:44:51,580
as you were setting up, so
that was the reason for that.
858
00:44:51,581 --> 00:44:54,100
But it was a lot of fun playing
with those supplemental servants.
859
00:44:54,101 --> 00:44:58,100
I think they make the game take
longer because they add more decisions.
860
00:44:58,101 --> 00:45:00,260
But with those supplemental servants,
861
00:45:00,261 --> 00:45:03,460
I would more than happily
play with the additional guests
862
00:45:03,461 --> 00:45:06,220
because the guests,
as well as the servants,
863
00:45:06,221 --> 00:45:09,580
add several ways to churn
through the deck faster
864
00:45:09,581 --> 00:45:12,100
and to discard cards
you don't want as well.
865
00:45:12,101 --> 00:45:15,300
- Right, that head house made
was just paying dividends for you.
866
00:45:15,301 --> 00:45:19,100
- Yes, I never put a negative
point guest in my hand.
867
00:45:19,101 --> 00:45:24,260
- Right, I think not just
that, you may also have
868
00:45:24,261 --> 00:45:25,380
gotten a better yield of
points from your guests.
869
00:45:25,381 --> 00:45:28,620
- Right, and then I
pre-ordered the character's
870
00:45:28,621 --> 00:45:31,380
expansion, so we'll have
to try that in the future.
871
00:45:31,381 --> 00:45:32,300
- Absolutely.
872
00:45:32,301 --> 00:45:36,420
One of the things that I
noticed about, I guess it's
873
00:45:36,421 --> 00:45:38,940
upstairs downstairs was we
got a new pass card, right?
874
00:45:38,941 --> 00:45:44,260
And on it, when you passed,
you now had the ability to hire staff.
875
00:45:44,261 --> 00:45:46,020
Is that a new feature?
876
00:45:46,021 --> 00:45:48,300
- Yes, that is for upstairs downstairs only
877
00:45:48,301 --> 00:45:51,940
because otherwise very
few people would wanna
878
00:45:51,941 --> 00:45:55,660
take the extra turns
to increase their staff.
879
00:45:55,661 --> 00:45:59,780
The game adds four unique
supplemental staff members
880
00:45:59,781 --> 00:46:03,020
for every player and it's
really a lot of fun to use them.
881
00:46:03,021 --> 00:46:07,700
So I'm happy the designer put it away to
make it much easier to expand your staff.
882
00:46:07,701 --> 00:46:10,340
- Well, and as we were talking
about at the start of the pod
883
00:46:10,341 --> 00:46:13,660
that this game feels
like every turn is essential
884
00:46:13,661 --> 00:46:17,460
and taking a turn to
hire staff with a butler
885
00:46:17,461 --> 00:46:21,320
who's then gonna go tromping
off to the left and take two
886
00:46:21,321 --> 00:46:24,220
turns to return, like it was
a major decision to hire staff
887
00:46:24,221 --> 00:46:26,460
and not something that
you would do very often.
888
00:46:26,461 --> 00:46:27,820
- It could be painful, yes.
889
00:46:27,821 --> 00:46:30,260
- I really enjoyed having that opportunity
890
00:46:30,261 --> 00:46:33,060
be more readily available with
the upstairs downstairs expansion.
891
00:46:33,061 --> 00:46:33,900
- Heck yeah.
892
00:46:33,901 --> 00:46:40,580
- I think that I originally looked at the
additional servants that were being added
893
00:46:40,581 --> 00:46:45,380
as part of upstairs
downstairs and didn't see the
894
00:46:45,381 --> 00:46:47,860
potential in them in the way
that it actually played out.
895
00:46:47,861 --> 00:46:52,660
And so I was somewhat
attempting to disregard them
896
00:46:52,661 --> 00:46:55,220
and just play the game
as I would without them.
897
00:46:55,221 --> 00:47:00,220
And my score showed
how faulty that thinking was.
898
00:47:00,221 --> 00:47:06,580
- Yeah, I think they added about 50
points to our scores, at least for Todd.
899
00:47:06,581 --> 00:47:07,420
- Yeah.
900
00:47:07,421 --> 00:47:11,860
- Once you're in the game, you have
to be making the best use of them.
901
00:47:11,861 --> 00:47:15,940
I got all four because
I had an objective card
902
00:47:15,941 --> 00:47:21,420
that gave me points for having
all four, but I was not making
903
00:47:21,421 --> 00:47:23,740
efficient use of them during
my turns the way I needed to be.
904
00:47:23,741 --> 00:47:27,620
So I'm hoping to play
upstairs downstairs
905
00:47:27,621 --> 00:47:29,300
again sometime to see
if I can improve on that.
906
00:47:29,301 --> 00:47:31,020
- Yeah, I agree with that.
907
00:47:31,021 --> 00:47:34,220
It was fun playing with
upstairs downstairs specifically.
908
00:47:34,221 --> 00:47:38,420
I didn't realize Wessex was an expansion
until I was doing the research for it.
909
00:47:38,421 --> 00:47:40,540
- Okay, you know, one
thing I want to point out
910
00:47:40,541 --> 00:47:46,100
about the Wessex expansion is it comes with
an Uber starting guest, Ms. Agnes Dansby.
911
00:47:46,101 --> 00:47:53,500
She gives you two lions of
reputation for no servants required.
912
00:47:53,501 --> 00:47:54,340
- Wow.
913
00:47:54,341 --> 00:47:58,580
- Yeah, so it felt a little swingy to me.
914
00:47:58,581 --> 00:48:00,740
And that's one of the reasons
we haven't been playing with it.
915
00:48:00,741 --> 00:48:05,020
But next time we play with upstairs downstairs,
I'm just gonna include all the cards.
916
00:48:05,021 --> 00:48:06,700
- Okay, I'm looking forward to that.
917
00:48:06,701 --> 00:48:09,140
And then of course,
the four new staff types,
918
00:48:09,141 --> 00:48:11,900
there was the head house
made, the hall boy, the cook.
919
00:48:11,901 --> 00:48:13,620
And it was funny, every
time you did an event,
920
00:48:13,621 --> 00:48:15,380
you're like, oh, I'm gonna
send my cookout on this.
921
00:48:15,381 --> 00:48:19,020
And you know, Tate,
what was it, extra money?
922
00:48:19,021 --> 00:48:21,260
- He would either give
you a reputation lion
923
00:48:21,261 --> 00:48:26,540
or he would lower the
reputation needed to invite guests.
924
00:48:26,541 --> 00:48:29,380
- Okay, and then of course,
there's that useful man
925
00:48:29,381 --> 00:48:34,420
who's tall and handsome in a
dusty black coat with a red right hand.
926
00:48:34,421 --> 00:48:35,420
(laughing)
927
00:48:35,421 --> 00:48:38,620
See that the servants are already
telling their own stories, right?
928
00:48:38,621 --> 00:48:40,260
(laughing)
929
00:48:40,261 --> 00:48:42,820
Okay, most recognizable comparison.
930
00:48:42,821 --> 00:48:47,100
What's the highest ranking game
that reminds you the most of obsession?
931
00:48:47,101 --> 00:48:49,260
Megan, I'm gonna give
you first dibs at this one.
932
00:48:49,261 --> 00:48:51,580
- Okay, well, that's fine.
933
00:48:51,581 --> 00:48:56,260
What I'm gonna say in
neither one, there's no chance
934
00:48:56,261 --> 00:48:57,780
that either one of you is
gonna say the same thing.
935
00:48:57,781 --> 00:48:58,780
- There's 100% chance.
936
00:48:58,781 --> 00:49:01,820
- And this is just a truly wild comparison,
937
00:49:01,821 --> 00:49:03,620
but I think it makes all
the sense of the world
938
00:49:03,621 --> 00:49:06,460
and it's just what my
brain just connected with.
939
00:49:06,461 --> 00:49:07,300
- Right.
940
00:49:07,301 --> 00:49:09,260
- I'm gonna go ahead and say love letter.
941
00:49:09,261 --> 00:49:10,260
- Yes.
942
00:49:10,261 --> 00:49:14,580
- Which mechanics wise, not there at all.
943
00:49:14,581 --> 00:49:15,420
- Pretty much the same.
944
00:49:15,421 --> 00:49:20,260
- But theme, theme, it's right there.
945
00:49:20,261 --> 00:49:23,940
I'm like, they could do
a little version of love
946
00:49:23,941 --> 00:49:26,220
letter where you're
trying to get the fair child.
947
00:49:26,221 --> 00:49:29,820
And you'd be like, oh yeah,
I get it, it fits right in, so.
948
00:49:29,821 --> 00:49:31,540
- That needs to happen.
949
00:49:31,541 --> 00:49:33,660
- Right, Paul, I'm worried
about you, what did you have?
950
00:49:33,661 --> 00:49:38,340
- So, doing my research, I
recall the game I used to love
951
00:49:38,341 --> 00:49:43,060
and haven't been able to play,
and that game is Colosseum.
952
00:49:43,061 --> 00:49:44,220
- Oh, yes.
953
00:49:44,221 --> 00:49:46,940
- It came out in 2007.
954
00:49:46,941 --> 00:49:49,580
Basically, you collect
tiles that represent people
955
00:49:49,581 --> 00:49:54,580
or animals or objects, and
then you also have these events
956
00:49:54,581 --> 00:49:59,980
that you're trying to put on, and you can
only put them on a show for the Colosseum
957
00:49:59,981 --> 00:50:03,580
if you have all the required
people and objects and animals.
958
00:50:03,581 --> 00:50:04,420
- Yes.
959
00:50:04,421 --> 00:50:08,500
- And you're gaining reputation,
you're gaining favor with the emperor,
960
00:50:08,501 --> 00:50:12,500
and you're trying to woo
senators to be your backup
961
00:50:12,501 --> 00:50:16,060
and vouch for you, so it has
so many similar elements.
962
00:50:16,061 --> 00:50:20,180
I had almost forgotten about it,
and now I realize, wow, it's so similar.
963
00:50:20,181 --> 00:50:21,100
- We should play that.
964
00:50:21,101 --> 00:50:21,940
- I agree.
965
00:50:21,941 --> 00:50:25,060
- And I have the original Days
of Wonder version of that game.
966
00:50:25,061 --> 00:50:27,140
- Yeah, that's the one I
played over and over again.
967
00:50:27,141 --> 00:50:29,780
- Right, and one of the
other things that happens,
968
00:50:29,781 --> 00:50:34,060
similar to wooing the favor of
the Fairchilds, is you're trying
969
00:50:34,061 --> 00:50:35,580
to put on the show when the
emperor's coming around the track
970
00:50:35,581 --> 00:50:38,380
and will be at your stadium
when you're putting on the show.
971
00:50:38,381 --> 00:50:39,220
- Yes.
972
00:50:39,221 --> 00:50:41,380
- That is a very good recommendation, Paul.
973
00:50:41,381 --> 00:50:42,220
Not that yours wasn't making.
974
00:50:42,221 --> 00:50:43,420
I thought of it too, and I laughed.
975
00:50:43,421 --> 00:50:47,060
I thought about, yeah, we're
gonna take a four heavy game
976
00:50:47,061 --> 00:50:50,260
and we're gonna compare it
to, but you're absolutely right.
977
00:50:50,261 --> 00:50:51,220
It feels very similar.
978
00:50:51,221 --> 00:50:53,340
We were trying to woo for somebody's favor.
979
00:50:53,341 --> 00:50:55,900
I had two games, and
they were both out there
980
00:50:55,901 --> 00:50:58,860
as far as ranking, so I
picked the higher of the two.
981
00:50:58,861 --> 00:51:00,580
But for me, it's Last Will.
982
00:51:00,581 --> 00:51:01,420
- That was my backup.
983
00:51:01,421 --> 00:51:02,260
- Was it?
984
00:51:02,261 --> 00:51:05,860
- I was afraid that it was gonna be
your less recognizable comparison.
985
00:51:05,861 --> 00:51:07,860
It's a little too high
for less recognizable,
986
00:51:07,861 --> 00:51:09,860
but if you're trying
to stay within this kind
987
00:51:09,861 --> 00:51:11,220
of theme, there aren't
a lot of candidates.
988
00:51:11,221 --> 00:51:13,500
And it's like obsession and reverse.
989
00:51:13,501 --> 00:51:15,980
Instead of trying to get
up to all of their prestige
990
00:51:15,981 --> 00:51:19,460
and everything, you start out with it,
and then you're trying to give it all away.
991
00:51:19,461 --> 00:51:20,780
- It's so true.
992
00:51:20,781 --> 00:51:22,220
(laughing)
993
00:51:22,221 --> 00:51:24,780
- So you're putting out the fancy events
994
00:51:24,781 --> 00:51:27,100
and you have your errand
boys that you're sending out,
995
00:51:27,101 --> 00:51:30,860
kind of like your staff, and you're trying
to spend the money down to zero, so.
996
00:51:30,861 --> 00:51:34,220
- Yeah, every time I play Last Will, I
think of the movie Brewster's Millions.
997
00:51:34,221 --> 00:51:35,860
- Yes, exactly.
998
00:51:35,861 --> 00:51:38,020
So then, Last Recognizable Comparison.
999
00:51:38,021 --> 00:51:42,420
What did you have for something
that isn't as high on the ranking charts?
1000
00:51:42,421 --> 00:51:43,500
- I'll let Megan go first.
1001
00:51:43,501 --> 00:51:48,620
- Okay, normally when we
were talking about games on
1002
00:51:48,621 --> 00:51:50,620
this podcast, it's coming,
we're even mentioning a game.
1003
00:51:50,621 --> 00:51:54,140
It comes with some sort
of recommendation to it.
1004
00:51:54,141 --> 00:51:59,860
- I cannot be more clear about
the fact that that is not what this is.
1005
00:51:59,861 --> 00:52:06,540
I am recommending you to stay so far
away from the game I'm about to share.
1006
00:52:06,541 --> 00:52:11,540
But the game I'm going to
say that it made me think of
1007
00:52:11,541 --> 00:52:17,620
that's less recognizable and for a very
good reason is called Ladies and Gentlemen.
1008
00:52:17,621 --> 00:52:18,980
- Oh. - And.
1009
00:52:18,981 --> 00:52:19,900
- I've heard of that one.
1010
00:52:19,901 --> 00:52:24,940
- I went to a game date that I
swear was put on by Days of Wonder.
1011
00:52:24,941 --> 00:52:28,220
But I looked on BGG and
it said this is from Asmadi.
1012
00:52:28,221 --> 00:52:31,060
So I'm like, maybe I'm misremembering
1013
00:52:31,061 --> 00:52:33,700
that the game day I went to
was Days of Wonder themed.
1014
00:52:33,701 --> 00:52:35,460
But anyway, went to a game date.
1015
00:52:35,461 --> 00:52:37,460
This came out in 2013.
1016
00:52:37,461 --> 00:52:40,660
The game actually has a
very interesting mechanic
1017
00:52:40,661 --> 00:52:43,500
to it that it's, you
play as part of teams.
1018
00:52:43,501 --> 00:52:45,500
When I played, I think
there were six of us.
1019
00:52:45,501 --> 00:52:47,740
So it was three two player teams.
1020
00:52:47,741 --> 00:52:51,140
And one person on the
team is playing the Lady.
1021
00:52:51,141 --> 00:52:53,060
The other is playing the gentleman.
1022
00:52:53,061 --> 00:52:55,980
And the way the game
works, it's asymmetric.
1023
00:52:55,981 --> 00:52:58,540
The gentleman is trying
to earn a bunch of money.
1024
00:52:58,541 --> 00:53:02,180
So he's doing a bunch of things
in the game to make lots of money.
1025
00:53:02,181 --> 00:53:08,140
And the Lady is trying to spend all of the
money on jewels and clothes and things.
1026
00:53:08,141 --> 00:53:09,620
So that the end is.
1027
00:53:09,621 --> 00:53:12,700
- There's not much, it's horrific.
1028
00:53:12,701 --> 00:53:15,940
It's horrific.
1029
00:53:15,941 --> 00:53:20,940
And then at the end,
it's who has the most
1030
00:53:20,941 --> 00:53:22,540
reputation and throws
the best party, whatever.
1031
00:53:22,541 --> 00:53:26,780
So it's one of those things that
there's a very clever mechanic to it.
1032
00:53:26,781 --> 00:53:29,220
If someone out there
has done like a re-theme
1033
00:53:29,221 --> 00:53:31,220
or something, I wouldn't
be surprised if someone has
1034
00:53:31,221 --> 00:53:35,980
because the way the theme is implemented
here is just so shockingly offensive.
1035
00:53:35,981 --> 00:53:39,380
But the mechanic is
actually very interesting.
1036
00:53:39,381 --> 00:53:42,660
And I would be curious to
see this kind of mechanic
1037
00:53:42,661 --> 00:53:47,140
in this sort of team
asymmetric play in other games
1038
00:53:47,141 --> 00:53:49,060
because it's not something
I've seen much of.
1039
00:53:49,061 --> 00:53:53,340
And I still remember this after playing
the game once over a decade ago.
1040
00:53:53,341 --> 00:53:58,260
It's something that really settled in my
mind and not just because I was so offended.
1041
00:53:58,261 --> 00:54:01,620
So there's something there in the mechanic.
1042
00:54:01,621 --> 00:54:04,420
That's why it came to mind
and why I'm even bringing it up
1043
00:54:04,421 --> 00:54:07,820
at all, but the theme is
atrocious, don't play it.
1044
00:54:07,821 --> 00:54:10,260
(laughing)
1045
00:54:10,261 --> 00:54:12,260
- Okay, I won't try to hunt that one down.
1046
00:54:12,261 --> 00:54:14,780
Paul, what did you have for
less recognizable comparison?
1047
00:54:14,781 --> 00:54:20,740
- You know, games I've never played but
reading up on them and learning about them,
1048
00:54:20,741 --> 00:54:24,460
they seem like good recommendations
for people who like obsession.
1049
00:54:24,461 --> 00:54:29,300
And so my recommendation is
Legacy, the Testament of Duke de Cersei.
1050
00:54:29,301 --> 00:54:30,140
- Okay.
1051
00:54:30,141 --> 00:54:36,740
- It is a card game where you play
as a French aristocrat pre-revolution
1052
00:54:36,741 --> 00:54:39,700
and you have a sense
that revolution's coming.
1053
00:54:39,701 --> 00:54:44,140
And so you're trying to prepare your family
to survive the next three generations.
1054
00:54:44,141 --> 00:54:48,540
And you have family,
friends, prestigious
1055
00:54:48,541 --> 00:54:50,580
things and you're
building out a family tree
1056
00:54:50,581 --> 00:54:53,660
and trying to arrange
marriages and collect
1057
00:54:53,661 --> 00:54:55,540
honor and basically
survive the revolution.
1058
00:54:55,541 --> 00:54:58,660
- Okay, I've seen it,
but I've never played it.
1059
00:54:58,661 --> 00:54:59,500
Interesting.
1060
00:54:59,501 --> 00:55:03,300
I went into the way back machine
for this one, all the way back to 1990.
1061
00:55:03,301 --> 00:55:07,300
Adele Verklichette or Hoidy Toidy,
for no other reason than the theme.
1062
00:55:07,301 --> 00:55:11,500
So the idea of boarding
the snowballs, collecting
1063
00:55:11,501 --> 00:55:12,700
things and then showing
them off seemed to fit right in.
1064
00:55:12,701 --> 00:55:15,620
And when we think of this
theme, I always think of that game.
1065
00:55:15,621 --> 00:55:21,780
So it was the inaugural winner of
the Deutre Spiele praise in 1990.
1066
00:55:21,781 --> 00:55:24,420
It also won the Spiele
de Jarris that same year.
1067
00:55:24,421 --> 00:55:29,520
It's really more of a prisoner's
dilemma game where you're
1068
00:55:29,521 --> 00:55:32,220
trying to take stuff versus
someone's gonna try to steal stuff
1069
00:55:32,221 --> 00:55:34,660
and someone else is
gonna try to stop the thieves.
1070
00:55:34,661 --> 00:55:36,460
Okay, house rules.
1071
00:55:36,461 --> 00:55:40,700
So beyond variance, do you have any ideas
about how you might improve this game?
1072
00:55:40,701 --> 00:55:44,460
- Well, I did already talk about how
I have not bloated the guest deck
1073
00:55:44,461 --> 00:55:47,340
with the extra cards that
came with the expansions.
1074
00:55:47,341 --> 00:55:48,180
- Yeah.
1075
00:55:48,181 --> 00:55:49,020
I remember we talked about that.
1076
00:55:49,021 --> 00:55:52,140
I think it was in Wingspan where it
would be great if someone went through
1077
00:55:52,141 --> 00:55:56,900
and was like our card, Somalia, and
like came out with a pared down version
1078
00:55:56,901 --> 00:56:00,620
that allowed you to experience the expansions
without diluting the deck too much.
1079
00:56:00,621 --> 00:56:02,880
And you basically have done that for us.
1080
00:56:02,881 --> 00:56:03,900
(laughing)
1081
00:56:03,901 --> 00:56:05,340
I mean, the designer did it.
1082
00:56:05,341 --> 00:56:07,980
I just decided not to
add any extras, but yeah.
1083
00:56:07,981 --> 00:56:09,140
(laughing)
1084
00:56:09,141 --> 00:56:12,260
But I will throw them in when
we play upstairs, downstairs again.
1085
00:56:12,261 --> 00:56:13,100
- Yep.
1086
00:56:13,101 --> 00:56:13,940
- Make any thoughts there?
1087
00:56:13,941 --> 00:56:17,780
- I mean, I think you are going
to enjoy this game the most.
1088
00:56:17,781 --> 00:56:23,140
And I know for sure I enjoy this game
the most when you get into the theme.
1089
00:56:23,141 --> 00:56:27,180
And so I think when
you aren't letting the
1090
00:56:27,181 --> 00:56:30,420
game just be mechanics,
but you are sharing,
1091
00:56:30,421 --> 00:56:37,620
oh, I'm bringing the CAD and the popper
to this event and oh no, I just got them.
1092
00:56:37,621 --> 00:56:40,940
And you know, we all laugh
now and I get an American heiress
1093
00:56:40,941 --> 00:56:42,740
because we know what
I'm going to do with there.
1094
00:56:42,741 --> 00:56:44,980
I'm going to use her in loser, right?
1095
00:56:44,981 --> 00:56:47,620
(laughing) So that is fun.
1096
00:56:47,621 --> 00:56:54,380
And so I think if I was going to house
rule anything, it's that you have to share.
1097
00:56:54,381 --> 00:56:57,620
Who are those guests that
you've invited to your home?
1098
00:56:57,621 --> 00:57:01,180
Who are the guests that you've
paired together for this activity?
1099
00:57:01,181 --> 00:57:05,660
And now you're imagining a
table of wist being played by,
1100
00:57:05,661 --> 00:57:11,060
you know, this unlikely duo or
whatever, or a four-sum and that's funny.
1101
00:57:11,061 --> 00:57:13,900
So I think that adds to the fun of it.
1102
00:57:13,901 --> 00:57:14,900
- I agree. - Perfect.
1103
00:57:14,901 --> 00:57:16,900
The one thing that I would suggest
1104
00:57:16,901 --> 00:57:19,460
and this would be interesting
to find the right balance,
1105
00:57:19,461 --> 00:57:22,460
but my RNG luck has
been great in the last couple
1106
00:57:22,461 --> 00:57:25,020
of games with the Fairchild's
doubling up on a theme
1107
00:57:25,021 --> 00:57:27,420
in which I was leading
and I'm not complaining,
1108
00:57:27,421 --> 00:57:29,860
but it would be
interesting if there was a
1109
00:57:29,861 --> 00:57:31,700
way to mitigate the
luck for those reveals.
1110
00:57:31,701 --> 00:57:34,580
So this would be the
opposite of Jane Austen,
1111
00:57:34,581 --> 00:57:39,420
but a variant where you turn one card
over and then you'd publicly discard one.
1112
00:57:39,421 --> 00:57:44,820
So if there are five types of activity and
each one has two cards in the theme deck,
1113
00:57:44,821 --> 00:57:50,340
that means that you're going
to see four out of 10 possibilities,
1114
00:57:50,341 --> 00:57:52,740
which means on the last
one, you have a one in
1115
00:57:52,741 --> 00:57:53,640
seven chance of knowing
what's gonna be there.
1116
00:57:53,641 --> 00:57:58,460
And if you at each courtship, you revealed
the next card and threw one away publicly,
1117
00:57:58,461 --> 00:58:02,820
you'd have a one in four chance of guessing
the right remaining one on the last turn.
1118
00:58:02,821 --> 00:58:04,900
I think that might be a
little more interesting.
1119
00:58:04,901 --> 00:58:06,000
- Okay, let's do it.
1120
00:58:06,001 --> 00:58:09,100
- Yeah, and I'm thinking
about there was a game back
1121
00:58:09,101 --> 00:58:14,940
in the early 2000s called La Chita or La
Sita, and you were building up these cities,
1122
00:58:14,941 --> 00:58:18,420
but part of the game
was favor of the people.
1123
00:58:18,421 --> 00:58:22,940
And if you had more buildings of a
certain type than your neighboring cities
1124
00:58:22,941 --> 00:58:25,060
and the people would
migrate towards your cities,
1125
00:58:25,061 --> 00:58:27,500
which then might cause
you infrastructure problems,
1126
00:58:27,501 --> 00:58:30,180
but the favor of the
people was being revealed
1127
00:58:30,181 --> 00:58:33,180
throughout the course of the
game before the next migration
1128
00:58:33,181 --> 00:58:35,660
happened, and that was
a really cool mechanism
1129
00:58:35,661 --> 00:58:37,860
that I remembered
enjoying from that game.
1130
00:58:37,861 --> 00:58:39,740
So if this game is being
played a game night,
1131
00:58:39,741 --> 00:58:43,180
then what do you
want to play afterwards?
1132
00:58:43,181 --> 00:58:44,060
- Go ahead, Todd.
1133
00:58:44,061 --> 00:58:48,520
- Well, it's dinosaur tea party, of course.
1134
00:58:48,521 --> 00:58:54,900
With all of the commensurate
role-playing that should go along with it.
1135
00:58:54,901 --> 00:58:58,060
- It's the same theme, just
rewind 100 million years.
1136
00:58:58,820 --> 00:59:02,260
(both laughing)
1137
00:59:02,261 --> 00:59:04,140
- For me, it's Village Green.
1138
00:59:04,141 --> 00:59:04,980
- Okay.
1139
00:59:04,981 --> 00:59:05,980
- I adore that game.
1140
00:59:05,981 --> 00:59:11,460
It's quick, and I feel like it's
something that these families
1141
00:59:11,461 --> 00:59:13,780
could be doing in between
their activities and gaining,
1142
00:59:13,781 --> 00:59:16,180
well, I mean, Village
Green is about gaining
1143
00:59:16,181 --> 00:59:17,820
reputation by having
the best Village Green.
1144
00:59:17,821 --> 00:59:19,180
- Yes, I like it.
1145
00:59:19,181 --> 00:59:22,500
- So instead of improving themselves,
they're improving Derby Shire.
1146
00:59:22,501 --> 00:59:23,340
- There you go.
1147
00:59:23,341 --> 00:59:24,180
And Megan?
- I said Wist.
1148
00:59:24,181 --> 00:59:29,100
(both laughing)
1149
00:59:29,101 --> 00:59:30,100
- That's a great choice.
1150
00:59:30,101 --> 00:59:33,660
- To be playing some
Wist, some old card games.
1151
00:59:33,661 --> 00:59:38,660
So you have, you know, it's easy enough
to gossip, and I think that fits right in.
1152
00:59:38,661 --> 00:59:40,020
- I like that one a lot.
1153
00:59:40,021 --> 00:59:43,660
It's very, what's the opposite of meta?
1154
00:59:43,661 --> 00:59:47,460
(both laughing)
1155
00:59:47,461 --> 00:59:49,940
All right, so what feature of
the game still stands out to you?
1156
00:59:49,941 --> 00:59:54,460
And obviously it was just released
in 2018, so it's relatively new.
1157
00:59:54,461 --> 00:59:55,740
What do you like the most about?
- Obsession.
1158
00:59:55,741 --> 00:59:57,420
Megan?
1159
00:59:57,421 --> 01:00:02,660
- Hmm, I think that the theme
is one that really appeals to me.
1160
01:00:02,661 --> 01:00:07,660
It delights me, and that
raises my enjoyment
1161
01:00:07,661 --> 01:00:10,820
of the rest of the
mechanics of the game.
1162
01:00:10,821 --> 01:00:15,580
And it's been fun having
our group enjoy the game.
1163
01:00:15,581 --> 01:00:20,740
Sometimes you like a game, but the rest
of the group isn't really clicking with it.
1164
01:00:20,741 --> 01:00:21,820
(both laughing)
1165
01:00:21,821 --> 01:00:22,660
- Good Imperium?
- Yeah.
1166
01:00:22,661 --> 01:00:27,460
- Oh, and so it's nice.
1167
01:00:27,461 --> 01:00:29,900
I mean, it's probably, this isn't a game,
1168
01:00:29,901 --> 01:00:33,220
I think that our whole
group unreservedly loves,
1169
01:00:33,221 --> 01:00:38,900
but it does seem for the
moment that it is a game that
1170
01:00:38,901 --> 01:00:41,260
our group likes, and there's
something fun about that too.
1171
01:00:41,261 --> 01:00:43,660
- Just to be clear, I'm on the
Love Doom Imperium side.
1172
01:00:43,661 --> 01:00:46,700
(both laughing)
1173
01:00:46,701 --> 01:00:48,500
- Yeah, I totally agree, Megan.
1174
01:00:48,501 --> 01:00:49,700
It's been a delight.
1175
01:00:49,701 --> 01:00:51,780
- And I will go ahead and agree also.
1176
01:00:51,781 --> 01:00:53,220
So we're in all agreement again.
1177
01:00:53,221 --> 01:00:56,020
The theme is what really
sets this game apart.
1178
01:00:56,021 --> 01:00:58,300
- Oh, I was just agreeing
with what Megan said,
1179
01:00:58,301 --> 01:01:03,300
but my answer for what stands
out is the interconnectedness.
1180
01:01:03,301 --> 01:01:06,220
Like the designer goes
out of his way to say
1181
01:01:06,221 --> 01:01:09,180
that he's addressed theme
at the cost of gameplay.
1182
01:01:09,181 --> 01:01:10,580
I don't think that's true at all.
1183
01:01:10,581 --> 01:01:12,700
The gameplay just shines for me.
1184
01:01:12,701 --> 01:01:17,860
The way that your hand of guests have to
be managed to interact with your servants,
1185
01:01:17,861 --> 01:01:23,460
which have to be managed to interact with
the buildings you buy is such a delight.
1186
01:01:23,461 --> 01:01:26,900
And for people who like to
solve puzzles, it's all there.
1187
01:01:26,901 --> 01:01:29,020
- Good answer, and I totally agree.
1188
01:01:29,021 --> 01:01:31,380
All right, so what feature of
the game now disappoints?
1189
01:01:31,381 --> 01:01:34,460
What maybe isn't as well done in obsession?
1190
01:01:34,461 --> 01:01:38,500
- Well, for me, it's the guest deck
and the variance in the guest deck.
1191
01:01:38,501 --> 01:01:41,220
There's not a consistent trade-off
1192
01:01:41,221 --> 01:01:46,020
between what they
require as far as reputation
1193
01:01:46,021 --> 01:01:48,100
and servants and what
they give you for favors.
1194
01:01:48,101 --> 01:01:50,820
And that totally fits with the theme.
1195
01:01:50,821 --> 01:01:54,940
It's just annoying when you
go to draw a bunch of guests
1196
01:01:54,941 --> 01:01:58,660
and you get a couple of
American heiresses in a cab.
1197
01:01:58,661 --> 01:02:04,140
But given that, I think that
upstairs, downstairs really
1198
01:02:04,141 --> 01:02:06,260
addressed that issue and
medicates it wonderfully.
1199
01:02:06,261 --> 01:02:07,100
- I would agree with that.
1200
01:02:07,101 --> 01:02:09,460
I had the other side of the random coin.
1201
01:02:09,461 --> 01:02:12,220
I had the way in which the
tiles were coming out, right?
1202
01:02:12,221 --> 01:02:16,500
Sometimes a tile that's perfect
for you comes out and someone
1203
01:02:16,501 --> 01:02:19,020
else snaps it up and then
you never even had a shot at it.
1204
01:02:19,021 --> 01:02:22,140
And like you said, it's not game-breaking
by any stretch, it's annoying.
1205
01:02:22,141 --> 01:02:25,940
But then we even recognize that
upstairs, downstairs, fix that one.
1206
01:02:25,941 --> 01:02:28,740
If you had the useful man,
right, you could discard him
1207
01:02:28,741 --> 01:02:31,740
and then just go bag
diving and pick out the one
1208
01:02:31,741 --> 01:02:36,260
that you wanted and put it in the 800 spot
and have a chance at buying it yourself.
1209
01:02:36,261 --> 01:02:37,900
- Yep, you can order him to build
1210
01:02:37,901 --> 01:02:40,140
whatever building you want
as long as it's not a monument.
1211
01:02:40,141 --> 01:02:44,260
- You can go have him evict whoever you
want out of the property you'd like, yes.
1212
01:02:44,261 --> 01:02:46,500
(laughing)
1213
01:02:46,501 --> 01:02:50,340
- To keep lighter strikes again.
1214
01:02:50,341 --> 01:02:53,660
- Yes, so did this game
replace a previous one for you?
1215
01:02:53,661 --> 01:02:55,500
- No, it made its own room for me.
1216
01:02:55,501 --> 01:02:57,020
- Right, I agree.
1217
01:02:57,021 --> 01:03:02,500
I mean, we didn't stop playing anything
else to start playing obsession instead of.
1218
01:03:02,501 --> 01:03:04,980
The one thing that I will
say is like in my headspace,
1219
01:03:04,981 --> 01:03:07,140
one of the other games
that reminded me of it,
1220
01:03:07,141 --> 01:03:09,500
even though they're
wildly different, was Trajan
1221
01:03:09,501 --> 01:03:12,660
because in that you're
trying to clear the tiles off
1222
01:03:12,661 --> 01:03:15,700
of your little Munkala
track and planning ahead
1223
01:03:15,701 --> 01:03:18,820
for how you're going
to get that tile feel
1224
01:03:18,821 --> 01:03:21,580
similar, but I can't
think of a situation now
1225
01:03:21,581 --> 01:03:23,940
where I would want to
play Trajan over obsession.
1226
01:03:23,941 --> 01:03:24,780
- Nice.
1227
01:03:24,781 --> 01:03:26,220
- So has this game since been replaced?
1228
01:03:26,221 --> 01:03:27,860
And if so, by what?
1229
01:03:27,861 --> 01:03:28,980
I'm gonna go ahead and say no.
1230
01:03:28,981 --> 01:03:31,260
- Yeah, possibly by its expansions.
1231
01:03:31,261 --> 01:03:32,100
- Right.
1232
01:03:32,101 --> 01:03:33,180
(laughing)
1233
01:03:33,181 --> 01:03:37,140
- Its evolution is replacing itself,
but it's still obsession everyday.
1234
01:03:37,141 --> 01:03:38,140
Okay, then soundtrack.
1235
01:03:38,141 --> 01:03:40,500
What music would you
want to listen to while playing?
1236
01:03:40,501 --> 01:03:45,420
- I have the Biden prejudice
2005 movie soundtrack.
1237
01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:50,020
Yeah, that soundtrack is
something that has gained popularity
1238
01:03:50,021 --> 01:03:52,460
than with people who
aren't fans of that movie,
1239
01:03:52,461 --> 01:03:57,460
but it's very memorable,
super fun, maybe not.
1240
01:03:57,461 --> 01:04:00,780
I actually, part of me
is like, you know what I
1241
01:04:00,781 --> 01:04:01,900
should have gone for now
that I'm thinking about this?
1242
01:04:01,901 --> 01:04:05,860
There's a really wonderful
adaptation of Mansfield
1243
01:04:05,861 --> 01:04:08,980
Park that came out maybe
around the same time
1244
01:04:08,981 --> 01:04:13,020
that involves characters
who are a bit more
1245
01:04:13,021 --> 01:04:16,060
manipulative and the
music reflects that a little bit.
1246
01:04:16,061 --> 01:04:20,140
So that might even be better, but
just because of ease of accessing it,
1247
01:04:20,141 --> 01:04:22,940
I'll still stick with that Pride
and Prejudice soundtrack.
1248
01:04:22,941 --> 01:04:25,140
- All right, I actually did some searching
1249
01:04:25,141 --> 01:04:29,660
and I found an album which
is classified as a soundtrack,
1250
01:04:29,661 --> 01:04:32,740
but it's basically a performance
by the Regency Players
1251
01:04:32,741 --> 01:04:35,940
and they titled it A Suitable
Wife Classic Romance Themes
1252
01:04:35,941 --> 01:04:43,100
from Period Drama and so they
recreate a bunch of favorite musical scores
1253
01:04:43,101 --> 01:04:46,740
from various TV shows
and movies of that theme.
1254
01:04:46,741 --> 01:04:49,100
- Okay, I like it and I'm gonna follow
1255
01:04:49,101 --> 01:04:52,220
in those footsteps as far
as TV shows and movies.
1256
01:04:52,221 --> 01:04:55,580
I mean, there are so many well-known themes
1257
01:04:55,581 --> 01:05:00,140
that we've heard, whether we're
talking about Downton Abbey or whatever.
1258
01:05:00,141 --> 01:05:04,220
I'm going to settle on Bridgerton
'cause they had some great music in there
1259
01:05:04,221 --> 01:05:06,820
and specifically they did
some baroque versions
1260
01:05:06,821 --> 01:05:10,500
of modern music, so I
always think it's kind of fun
1261
01:05:10,501 --> 01:05:14,500
to hear it's song in the background
and you realize, oh wait, I know that one.
1262
01:05:14,501 --> 01:05:17,260
That's a song by Nirvana,
but here it is showing up
1263
01:05:17,261 --> 01:05:20,900
in Victorian England, which
is a nice clash of culture there.
1264
01:05:20,901 --> 01:05:24,540
All right, rating on board game
geek scale of one to 10 now.
1265
01:05:24,541 --> 01:05:25,860
No decimals, please.
1266
01:05:25,861 --> 01:05:27,900
How would you rate obsession?
1267
01:05:27,901 --> 01:05:29,940
And Paul, we'll give you first tips.
1268
01:05:29,941 --> 01:05:33,660
- I currently rate it an eight, very good.
1269
01:05:33,661 --> 01:05:35,980
That is a very good rating from you, Megan.
1270
01:05:35,981 --> 01:05:37,420
- I bet it's a nine.
1271
01:05:37,421 --> 01:05:41,500
I really enjoy this game,
really enjoy the theme.
1272
01:05:41,501 --> 01:05:51,500
I have to reward anyone for not doing a
space theme, a colonial theme, a train theme.
1273
01:05:51,501 --> 01:05:54,900
(laughing)
1274
01:05:54,901 --> 01:05:57,380
So, yeah, I love it.
1275
01:05:57,381 --> 01:05:59,140
- I also had it down as a nine.
1276
01:05:59,141 --> 01:06:03,140
I've really enjoyed the
game, my plays of it and
1277
01:06:03,141 --> 01:06:05,940
the theme, so absolutely
well worth the nine.
1278
01:06:05,941 --> 01:06:10,020
Last question, is it replayable and
how soon would you want to revisit it?
1279
01:06:10,021 --> 01:06:11,380
Absolutely replayable.
1280
01:06:11,381 --> 01:06:13,460
I mean, I could play this
game again next week.
1281
01:06:13,461 --> 01:06:17,380
I'm enjoying going through and learning
about it and exploring the expansions.
1282
01:06:17,381 --> 01:06:18,300
What do you two think?
1283
01:06:18,301 --> 01:06:22,340
- I'll say I also think
this is for sure replayable
1284
01:06:22,341 --> 01:06:26,620
and I think once a month seems
like a good cadence for this.
1285
01:06:26,621 --> 01:06:28,940
- I also said absolutely like Utah.
1286
01:06:28,941 --> 01:06:31,500
Basically, anytime I
wanna return to the ideal
1287
01:06:31,501 --> 01:06:34,460
country side of Victoria
in England, I pull this out.
1288
01:06:34,461 --> 01:06:36,220
- How often does your wife ask to play it?
1289
01:06:36,221 --> 01:06:37,260
- About once a month.
1290
01:06:37,261 --> 01:06:39,260
- Wow, Paul and Megan are not married.
1291
01:06:39,261 --> 01:06:41,660
(laughing)
1292
01:06:41,661 --> 01:06:47,820
- Yeah, that wasn't a secret
spouse reveal there or anything.
1293
01:06:47,821 --> 01:06:52,860
- And so with that, we've
had our final ball of the season
1294
01:06:52,861 --> 01:06:56,380
and the fair childs have
granted their favor too.
1295
01:06:56,381 --> 01:06:57,460
We'll go with Megan.
1296
01:06:57,461 --> 01:06:58,300
Well done, Megan.
1297
01:06:58,301 --> 01:07:00,060
- Aw, thanks.
1298
01:07:00,061 --> 01:07:02,300
(laughing)
1299
01:07:02,301 --> 01:07:07,540
- For our next episode,
we are going to take on
1300
01:07:07,541 --> 01:07:10,700
another classic something
about royalty, I think.
1301
01:07:10,701 --> 01:07:13,340
I still need someone else to sign
up to be the third seed in that one.
1302
01:07:13,341 --> 01:07:14,860
Thank you both for being available today.
1303
01:07:14,861 --> 01:07:16,540
This was really enjoyable.
1304
01:07:16,541 --> 01:07:19,940
Make sure you pick up the party
favors on your way out the door.
1305
01:07:19,941 --> 01:07:22,300
- Thanks, dad.
1306
01:07:22,301 --> 01:07:23,780
- 'Til next time.
1307
01:07:23,781 --> 01:07:25,540
- Thank you for listening to replayable.
1308
01:07:25,541 --> 01:07:28,340
Support for our podcast
comes from listeners like you.
1309
01:07:28,341 --> 01:07:31,020
You can find us
online at replayable.
1310
01:07:31,021 --> 01:07:32,980
fm, on Twitter as replayable.
1311
01:07:32,981 --> 01:07:35,260
fm, and on Instagram
as replayable.fm.
1312
01:07:35,261 --> 01:07:38,820
You can also join our team
at patreon.com/replayable.
1313
01:07:38,821 --> 01:07:40,420
Thank you for your support.
1314
01:07:40,421 --> 01:07:44,020
We welcome your feedback, which is the
only way that we are going to get better.
1315
01:07:44,021 --> 01:07:48,180
You can get in touch with us via
email at feedback@replayable.fm.
1316
01:07:48,181 --> 01:07:50,020
And if you're interested in sponsoring us,
1317
01:07:50,021 --> 01:07:53,820
then please contact us at
sponsors@replayable.fm.
1318
01:07:53,821 --> 01:07:56,400
(upbeat music)
1319
01:07:56,401 --> 01:07:58,980
(upbeat music)
1320
01:07:58,981 --> 01:08:05,980
(upbeat music)
1321
01:08:05,981 --> 01:08:10,980
(upbeat music)
1322
01:08:10,981 --> 01:08:12,980
You
