# Obsession: Useful Box ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2021 - **BGG Rating**: 8.4 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 2) - **Duration**: 30-90 min - **Weight**: 2.50 / 5 - **Designers**: Dan Hallagan - **Artists**: Dan Hallagan - **Publishers**: Kayenta Games - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game, Post-Napoleonic - **Mechanics**: Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Open Drafting, Solo / Solitaire Game, Tile Placement, Worker Placement, Worker Placement with Dice Workers ## Verdict If you already love Obsession, the Useful Box is the missing upgrade, adding fresh cards and polish that smooth out the experience.Fun promo cardsNew improvement tilesRobust solo modeHelpful errataCards remain in EnglishNeeds translation sheetNot a standalone gameRECOMMENDED ## Description Obsession: Useful Box arrives as an upgrade pack for fans of the Obsession universe. It adds promo Gentry cards, new improvement tiles, and rule cards that introduce extra content, plus solo opponent cards tailored for the Upstairs and Downstairs expansions. The box also contains numerous updates and errata for the base game, Wessex, and the two expansions, ensuring that deck, bag and pool building, open drafting, tile placement, and worker placement (including dice workers) run smoother. The core goal remains managing your aristocratic family in Regency‑era England, balancing investments, alliances and rivalries. Components slot directly into the original game: place the new tiles, cards and tokens where indicated and follow the added rules. A solid solo mode is included, letting a single player face an automa driven by cards—ideal for short sessions or solo enthusiasts. While the cards are still in English and may need translation, the boost in content and clarity more than makes up for it. In short, Useful Box acts as a premium patch, enriching the experience without altering the core of the base game. ## How to Play Objective of the Game Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Preparation (Setup) Components from the Useful Box The Useful Box includes several components that either correct errors from previous printings or introduce new content: Six (6) Gentry Cards: These include corrected versions of Thomas MacMillian, Esq, Miss Eleanor Brassington, and Alexander Pinder, Esq, which replace their original counterparts. New promotional cards are Lady Ethel Fairchild (for the Obsession prestige guest deck), Mr. William Darby (for the Obsession casual guest deck), and Miss Prudence Baker (for the Obsession casual guest deck). Six (6) Improvement Tiles: These include corrected Housekeeper’s Room tiles (2 copies) which replace originals, ensuring both sides reference 1VP. New tiles are the Business Room (2 copies), which are added to Obsession and available for Builders’ Market initial population, and West Terrace (2 copies), which optionally replace the base game's West Terrace tiles. One (1) Unique Rules Reference: This card summarizes unique rules for Lady Ethel Fairchild, the Business Room, and the West Terrace. Twenty-Three (23) Player Aids: These correct previous printings that lacked enough aids for each family box. They include updated Passing Flowchart/Special Actions (6), Servant Icons/Round Track Icons (2), Tile & Card Icons/Victory Point Icons (2), and new Seasonal Flowchart/Dismissing Guests (6) for the base game. For Upstairs, Downstairs, there are updated Passing Flowchart/Milestone Symbols (6) and Upstairs, Downstairs Servants (1). One (1) Obsession Cloth Tile Bag and One (1) Upstairs, Downstairs Small Cloth Bag: These are replacements with improved stitching. One (1) Cook Meeple: This provides a dedicated Cook for the Howard family, ensuring all six family boxes have a Cook without needing to raid another box. Six (6) Solo Opponents: These are for using the base game solo mode with Upstairs, Downstairs servants, with three for Standard Play and three for Extended Play. One (1) Dynamic Solitaire AI Card: A new solo and co-op Dynamic AI card for more challenging solo opponents. Integrating New Components Replace the original Gentry Cards for Thomas MacMillian, Esq, Miss Eleanor Brassington, and Alexander Pinder, Esq with their corrected versions from the Useful Box. Integrate Lady Ethel Fairchild into the Obsession prestige guest deck. Integrate Mr. William Darby and Miss Prudence Baker into the Obsession casual guest deck without special rules. Replace the original Housekeeper’s Room tiles with the corrected versions (2 copies). Add the Business Room tiles (2 copies) to Obsession and make them available for the Builders’ Market initial population. Optionally replace the base game's West Terrace tiles with the new West Terrace tiles (2 copies). Replace all existing Passing Flowchart/Special Actions player aids with the 6 updated aids. Add the 2 Servant Icons/Round Track Icons aids to the existing 4. Add the 2 Tile & Card Icons/Victory Point Icons aids to the existing 4. Distribute the 6 new Seasonal Flowchart/Dismissing Guests aids, one per family box. Replace all existing Upstairs, Downstairs Passing Flowchart/Milestone Symbols aids with the 6 updated aids. Add the 1 Upstairs, Downstairs Servants aid to the existing 5. Use the new Obsession Cloth Tile Bag and Upstairs, Downstairs Small Cloth Bag as replacements for any faulty stitched bags. Place the dedicated Cook Meeple in the Howard family storage box. For solo play with Upstairs, Downstairs servants, select one of the six Solo Opponents (three for Standard Play, three for Extended Play). The Dynamic Solitaire AI Card can be used for the base solo game with or without Upstairs, Downstairs servants. Flow of the Game Solo Play with Upstairs, Downstairs Servants When playing solo with the addition of Upstairs, Downstairs servants, two specific rule changes apply: Player Board Selection: The solo player must draft a servant at the same time they choose their family board. Consult the Upstairs, Downstairs servant draft rules for specific details on this process. New Pass/Hire Rule: The solo player will use a new passing rule that allows them the option of hiring servants during a pass turn. Refer to the Upstairs, Downstairs Hiring Rule for comprehensive details on this new rule. All other aspects of the solo game remain identical to the base game solo mode. Actions and How to Play New Gentry Cards Lady Ethel Fairchild: This new prestige guest card grants a new favor: courtship advice. Her close relationship with Elizabeth provides insight into Elizabeth's heart and tastes, and she enjoys sharing confidences. Consult the Unique Rules Reference for specific details on this favor. Mr. William Darby: This new casual guest card can be integrated into the Obsession casual guest deck without any special rules. Miss Prudence Baker: This new casual guest card can be integrated into the Obsession casual guest deck without any special rules. New Improvement Tiles Business Room: This tile is in the ESSENTIALS category and introduces the idea of the family investing in the burgeoning tea trade. Consult the Unique Rules Reference for specific details on its rules and utility. West Terrace: This tile, optionally replacing the base game's West Terrace, is a Prestige Rating 5 tile in the ESTATE category. It grants a powerful dismissal action as an ongoing ability, similar to service tiles purchased from the market. Note that this West Terrace tile is not a monument. Consult the Unique Rules Reference for further details. Dynamic Solo AI The new Dynamic AI card for solitaire play introduces more "intelligence" to your solo opponents. It preferentially scavenges valuable tiles, making solo opponents more difficult. This card can be used with or without the Upstairs, Downstairs servants. End of Game and Scoring Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. Tips for Winning Consulte o manual para detalhes sobre esta seção. ## FAQ ### How many players can use the Useful Box? It supports 1 to 6 players, just like the base game. ### How long does a game take with the box? Playtime ranges from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on player count and solo mode usage. ### Do I need to know English to play? The cards are printed in English, so a translation sheet or basic language skills are recommended. ### Can I use the Useful Box without the Upstairs and Downstairs expansions? Yes, but the solo opponent cards designed for those expansions require them to be present. ### What new components does the box add? Promo Gentry cards, improvement tiles, rule cards, solo opponent cards, and various errata tokens. ### Does the box change the game’s complexity? Complexity stays low (weight 2.5), merely adding more strategic options. ### Is it good for solo players? Absolutely, the solo mode is enhanced with new card‑driven opponents. ## Price Comparison ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.73 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3432643&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/40673/obsession-useful-box?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com