Board Wargames Codexery

Root (board game)

An asymmetric wargame of woodland factions vying for control.

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Root is a 2018 asymmetric strategy wargame for 2-4 players where each player controls a different faction with unique abilities and scoring options.[1][2] Cole Wehrle created the game, Kyle Ferrin provided the illustrations, and Leder Games handled its publication.[1] Four expansions followed the initial positive reception of Root, and a digital adaptation became available in 2020.[1]

Making and release

Root was published by Leder Games in 2018.[1][3] The Vagabond controls just one piece and must complete quests and explore ruins to earn points, cards, and items.[4] Each round, the Eyrie Dynasties player places cards onto their Decree, which dictates a fixed sequence of actions that must be performed.[4] Failure to execute a Decree action causes the Eyrie to enter turmoil, resulting in a loss of points and a reset of their Decree.[4]

The Woodland Alliance begins the game with no pieces on the board; they use cards from their Supporters stack to place Sympathy tokens.[4] In 2018, the Riverfolk Expansion for Root was published, introducing the Lizard Cult and Riverfolk Company as new playable factions.[5][6] Dire Wolf Digital created a digital version of Root that launched on PC, iOS, and Android in September 2020; a Nintendo Switch port followed in November 2021.[1][7]

What the cited sources add

Theel noted that the game models geo-political instability beneath a pleasant facade.[8] Theel called the Eyrie's decree system "fascinating and one of the most rewarding factions," describing the Woodland Alliance as "a true guerilla force" with explosive power.[8][9] A GamesRadar review stated that Root is "one of the best board games," praising the accessible combat system and compelling asymmetry.[10][9] The same review noted that the experience difference between players matters almost as much as skill.[10]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Law, "Best new board game apps of 2020", Ars Technica, 26 December 2020 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Theel, "Root is a terrific—and fully asymmetric—woodland wargame", Ars Technica, 29 September 2018; Nakamura, "Root has cute animals and a vicious revolutionary uprising", Destructoid, 24 November 2017 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Patterson, "Review – Root: The Riverfolk Expansion", Geeks Under Grace, 1 February 2022. facts only, no text reused. geeksundergrace.com
  4. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Theel, "Root is a terrific—and fully asymmetric—woodland wargame", Ars Technica, 29 September 2018 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Patterson, "Review – Root: The Riverfolk Expansion", Geeks Under Grace, 1 February 2022 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Root: The Riverfolk Expansion", Leder Games; "The Riverfolk Expansion is sailing onto the digital version of Root this month", Dicebreaker, 2021-04-13 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Root digital is releasing on mobile later this month", Dicebreaker, 2020-09-14; Ornelas, "These aren't your ordinary forest creatures --- Root Digital Review", GAMING TREND, 2020-08-29; Law, "The Best Board Games of 2020", Vulture, 15 December 2020; Theel, "Acclaimed board game Root is a resounding success on Nintendo Switch", Polygon, 2021-12-03 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Theel, "Root is a terrific—and fully asymmetric—woodland wargame", Ars Technica, 29 September 2018. facts only, no text reused. arstechnica.com
  9. Wikipedia, "Root (board game)" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Theel, "Root is a terrific—and fully asymmetric—woodland wargame", Ars Technica, 29 September 2018; "Root board game review: "Grand strategy"", gamesradar, 2021-05-27; "Root Review", Tabletop Gaming, 2018-11-15; Nakamura, "Root has cute animals and a vicious revolutionary uprising", Destructoid, 24 November 2017; "Best Board Games: What to play in 2022", Dicebreaker, 2021-01-27; Austin, "The Best Strategy Board Games", The New York Times, 2022-12-05 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  10. "Root board game review: "Grand strategy"", gamesradar, 2021-05-27. facts only, no text reused. gamesradar.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Root (board game) (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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