A digital board game of woodland warfare
Root is the digital adaptation of the tabletop board game where 2 to 4 players battle for control of a vast wilderness. The Marquise de Cat has seized the great woodland and is harvesting its riches, while other factions push back for their own share of the forest. The game is turn-based and plays out on a top-down map of clearings and woodland paths. You pick a faction, follow its own rules for scoring victory points, and try to outmaneuver the other players as the contest decides who ultimately takes root.
How your group plays together
This is a game of asymmetrical warfare, so every player at the table commands a faction that works differently from the rest. Online PvP lets you face each other across the table, and cross-platform play means your group can join the same match. Asynchronous multiplayer is supported, so a match can keep going even when players take their turns at different times. The touch-friendly interface works for play on a phone or tablet as well as at a desk.
The four factions and what they do
The Marquise de Cat plays a game of engine building and logistics. She collects Wood to build Workshops, Sawmills, and Recruiters, scoring victory points each time she builds, with more of the same building on the map meaning more points. She has the largest army, but she must keep a strong, interconnected Wood economy running and avoid spreading her forces too thin.
The Eyrie Dynasties once ruled the wood and aim to retake it by capturing territory and building Roosts. Each leader brings different specialties, and the right leader at the right time can carry you to victory. The Eyrie score in the Evening based on their number of Roosts, but they are bound by their Decree: an ever-growing list of mandated actions from their leader. Take every action on the Decree each turn or fall into turmoil.
The Woodland Alliance starts slowly and can become a late-game powerhouse through guerrilla warfare. Placing sympathy tokens scores points, and the more sympathy you have on the map, the more you gain. Supporters fuel that sympathy and can also be spent to incite revolt, which establishes a base. Bases let the Alliance train officers, raising its military strength and flexibility.
The Vagabond is an adventurer who moves through clearings and dense woods alike, exploring ruins to find items. You can trade and lend aid to the warring factions to complete secret quests. The Vagabond scores by improving relationships with other factions, removing hostile warriors, and finishing quests, and must manage a pack of items to keep moving and acting effectively.
Before you start
Each faction scores victory points in its own way, so expect a different game depending on which side you take. Learning how your faction builds its economy or military takes some time, and the other players will be working toward their own goals at the same time. The match runs until one player's faction takes the woodland, so plan your turns with that end state in mind.