Root (board game)

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Root
Root board game.jpg
DesignersCole Wehrle
PublishersLeder Games
Publication2018; 4 years ago (2018)
Players2-4
Playing time60-90 minutes
Age range10+

Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right is a 2018 asymmetric board game designed by Cole Wehrle and published by Leder Games. A digital version, developed by Dire Wolf Digital, was released in 2020.[1]

Gameplay[]

In Root, 2-4 players compete in an asymmetric wargame to control a forest. Each player controls a different faction, each of which has different gameplay elements, tactics, and point scoring options. In the base game, 4 factions are present: the Eyrie, Marquise de Cat, Woodland Alliance, and the Vagabond. While there is a common set of rules for movement, hands of cards, and battling each other, every faction adds an additional layer of rules complexity.[2][3]

Players who select the Eyrie take their turns by planning their actions in a specific order as part of the decree, requiring them to take specific actions in specific areas of the board. Each round the player adds new cards to the decree, until they are unable to take a prescribed action, which causes them to lose victory points and reset their decree to the minimum. The Marquise de Cat requires its player to construct buildings across the board - gaining wood via sawmills to construct other types of buildings and add combat units to the board. The Woodland Alliance starts with no units on the board, instead adding sympathy tokens, gaining supporter cards, and adding a small number of warriors to the board when given the opportunity. Unlike the other factions, the Vagabond has no warrior units, instead controlling just one piece around the board. The Vagabond player can purchase items from other players and either befriend or attack them to earn victory points.[2]

Four expansions have been created for the game, primarily adding new playable factions.[4]

Reception[]

In a 2017 preview of the game, Destructoid commented favourably on the game's artwork; especially the contrast between cartoon animals and the mature themes of the game.[3] Ars Technica praised both the game's visual and rules design in their review, describing it as having "astounding depth".[2]

Root won the 2018 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year award.[5][6]

In the 2019 Origins Awards, Root won Game of the Year, Best Board Game and Fan Favourite Board Game.[7][8] Root also won the American Tabletop Awards Complex Game award[9] and the Spiel Portugal Jogo do Ano.[10]

In their list of the best board games of 2020, Vulture named the digital version of Root as the best board game app, complimenting the animations, AI, and in-game tutorial.[11]

Expansions[]

Root: The Riverfolk Expansion was released in 2018. The expansion adds two new factions (the Riverfolk Company and the Lizard Cult), the ability to play with a second Vagabond, and the ability to play with a bot version of the Marquise de Cat. [12][13]

Root: The Underworld Expansion was released in 2020. The expansion adds two new factions, the Underground Duchy and the Corvid Conspiracy, as well as two additional maps.[14][15]

Root: The Clockwork Expansion was released in 2020. The expansion allows players to play against bot versions of all four of the factions that were included in the base game.[16][17]

Root: The Exiles and Partisans Deck was released in 2020. This deck can be swapped with the deck from the original game to add variety.[18][19]

Root: The Vagabond Pack was released in 2020. The pack includes seven new vagabond playing pieces as well as three new character cards for the Vagabond.[20] [21]

Root: The Marauder Expansion to be released in 2022.

See also[]

  • Pax Pamir, another boardgame designed by Cole Wehrle

References[]

  1. ^ Law, Keith (26 December 2020). "Best new board game apps of 2020". Ars Technica.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c Theel, Charlie (29 September 2018). "Root is a terrific—and fully asymmetric—woodland wargame". Ars Technica.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b Nakamura, Darren (24 November 2017). "Root has cute animals and a vicious revolutionary uprising". Destructoid.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Carter, Chase (3 February 2021). "Root's Warlord expansion launches Kickstarter this month, adds two-player rules and minor factions". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. ^ Hall, Charlie (4 April 2019). "The best board games of 2018, as chosen by the Board Game Geek community". Polygon.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ St. Neal, Anthony (24 February 2020). "ON SMALL BUSINESS: The business of games ; A roll of the dice pays off big for a St. Paul board game creator". Star Tribune.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ STAFF. "Root dominates winners at 2019 Origins Awards". tabletopgaming.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Origins Awards 2019 Winners". icv2.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  9. ^ "Root". www.americantabletopawards.com. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Jogo do Ano". Spiel Portugal. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  11. ^ Law, Keith (15 December 2020). "The Best Board Games of 2020". Vulture.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Root: The Riverfolk Expansion". Leder Games. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  13. ^ "Root: The Riverfolk Expansion". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  14. ^ "Root: The Underworld Expansion (Retail Edition)". Leder Games. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  15. ^ "Root: The Underworld Expansion". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  16. ^ "Root: The Clockwork Expansion". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  17. ^ "Root: The Clockwork Expansion". Leder Games. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  18. ^ "Root: The Exiles and Partisans Deck". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  19. ^ "Root: The Exiles and Partisans Deck". Leder Games. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  20. ^ "Root: The Vagabond Pack". Leder Games. Retrieved 2021-07-16.
  21. ^ "Root: The Vagabond Pack". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 2021-07-16.

External links[]

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