Root was one of the highest rated games of 2018 and one of the surprise experiences for me when I sat down to play it. It is a strategic wargame in disguise and has already had a successful expansion in the Rivefolk Expansion box. Today we look at the newest expansion for Root and see how it stacks up!
Root: The Underworld Expansion
- Designer:Patrick Leder, Cole Wehrle
- Artist:Kyle Ferrin
- Publisher:Leder Games
Overview
Root is wargame adventure in which players will take the roll of one of the multiple factions in the Woodland to see who is the ruler of them all!
As a review, Root is played over three phases for each player’s turn. The three phases are Birdsong, Daylight and Evening. Each player takes their turn and then play s passed to the left. Players will accumulate victory points as they go and can win in one of two different ways. You win by being the first player to 30 points or to finish a dominance card.
To play, each player will take one of the factions and all of their appropriate pieces. All VP scores are set to zero and each player will start with three cards. Each players Faction board has a specific setup that can be followed to prep your character.
The Map is set up in the middle of the gameplay area and pieces are placed according to the Faction boards. The Map has clearings the can hold buildings. Other tokens can also be placed in those spots as well. Cards can be used to craft items or give you a persistent effect in the game.
Players will Battle on the board against each other, trying to displace their pieces and gain control of regions. Cards can allow for extra hits, ambushes or other changes to combat.
The Underworld Expansion
This expansion introduces two new Factions and two new maps. Each Faction brings a different look to the game and can be added in and mixed with existing Factions.
New Faction: The Underground Duchy
The first one is the Underground Duchy. The Duchy recruit Warriors throughout the Burrow which is a unique location that actually starts off of the map. It connects around the board with a tunnel token to every Clearing. If a certain amount of the Duchy buildings are removed their is a Price of Failure that must be payed. They lose one of their Swayed Ministers and their Minister’s Crown. Let’s look at the Duchy and their 3 phases:
Duchy-Birdsong
In Birdsong the Duchy will place one Warrior and one extra for each uncovered on their board in the Burrow.
Duchy-Daylight
Here you can take two actions from the following selections: Build, Recruit, Move, Battle or Dig. After taking the the actions you may act with any of your Swayed Ministers. Then players may try to sway an Unswayed Minister. To do so you reveal cards where you have pieces and take that Minister cards and place it above your board.
Duchy-Evening
All cards revealed are returned to your hand but Bird cards are discarded. Crafting occurs and you can draw cards and discard down to five cards.
New Faction: Corvid Conspiracy
The other new Faction in the game is the Corvid Conspiracy. This Faction comes with 8 Plot Tokens, 4 kinds with two of each. These are flipped in Birdsong and are how the Corvid will score points. Each Plot Token as an effect when revealed as well. Opponents can remove your Plot Tokens just like another token but they can also attest to remove them by guessing what they are before they draw cards in the Evening. They have to chance a card while doing so.
These birds have the ability to move around with Nimble which allows them to ignore rule while moving. Their Facedown Tokens will allow them to deal extra hits even in a defenseless region.
Corvid-Birdsong
Plot Tokens will allow for Crafting, then you can flip them where you have at least one warrior. Each time you flip a Plot you score a Victory Point for each face-up Plot on the map. You also resolve its action if there is one. You may also spend a card to place a Warrior in the matching clearing.
Corvid-Daylight
Here you can take up to three actions from the choices of Plot, Trick, Move and Battle. Plot is how you will place the Plot Tokens, and it requires removing Warriors to place new tokens on the board.
Corvid-Evening
Here you have the option of drawing cards or to take an extra Daylight action instead if you chose not to draw cards.
New Maps
The expansion also comes with two new maps, the Lake and Mountain. This is a double sided board.
The Lake map has the normal amount of 12 clearings and you randomize the suit markers to start the game. There is a Ferry piece that is placed at the bottom corner of the lake in front of that clearing.
The Ferry is able to take you to any other clearing that is on the lake.
Impressions
Root is a game I recommend for anyone interested in wargaming and combat driven games that maybe isn’t as interested in the standard troupe of warriors or soldiers. The whimsical setting and characters lend for a more unique and “cute” approach to the genre, something we don’t see in other war/combat games.
The gameplay can be a bit daunting for newer/inexperienced gamers so keep in mind this isn’t a beginner game. That being said, a newer player or young player is able to follow along well with the provided 2 turn walk through that helps players get a handle on all the ins and outs of the game. Also Leder Games once again provides very helpful information about the individual factions, how to best play them and how to play against them. This information can help you strategize your best approach in the game.
The Underworld expansion is a great addition to the game, adding two unique factions in the Corvid and the Duchy. I especially liked the mystery behind the Covid and what they may be doing around the map in a sneaky way. The characters really shine well in the mix of the others from the base and previous expansion.
Also the extras in the map with the lake and ferry add some different elements to the game that are a nice changeup from the previous games. It keeps the game familiar while also seeking to make it fresh.
Overall I will continue to give Root my stamp of approval and add the Underground expansion to my list of must-haves for your Root collection. This expansion gives you a lot in the box and you will not be disappointed with what they have come up with to add to this magical world. The new characters, maps and gameplay will definitely keep you coming back to the table for more!
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