Review: Root: The Roleplaying Game
Root: The Roleplaying Game, based on the popular Root board game by Leder Games, immerses players in a war-torn Woodland filled with political factions, rebel uprisings, and opportunistic vagabonds. It’s a beautifully crafted RPG that delivers on every promise of intrigue, adventure, and choice. The game is powered by the Powered by the Apocalypse (PBTA) system, which gives it a dynamic, narrative-driven style of play that fits perfectly with the woodland setting. The PBTA system is known for emphasizing storytelling and character actions over mechanics, which makes it ideal for exploring the political landscape of Root.
The setting of Root is as charming as it is cutthroat. The Marquise de Cat, with her legions of soldiers, has asserted control over the Woodland, but the Eyrie Dynasties, with their rigid traditions and proud history, refuse to go quietly. Meanwhile, the Woodland Alliance stirs from below, promising to liberate the common creatures from all tyranny. It’s in this tense environment that you and your fellow vagabonds—mice, foxes, rabbits, and more—make your living. Whether you take jobs from the powerful factions, undermine their efforts, or simply look out for yourselves, your actions will shape the future of the Woodland.
The game’s PBTA engine excels in Root because it focuses on narrative consequences over crunch-heavy mechanics. The playbooks each represent a different archetype, allowing for varied approaches to adventuring. Whether you’re a cunning thief, a battle-hardened soldier, or a wandering scholar, each character is designed to interact deeply with the world and its politics. You aren’t just playing out individual adventures; your choices have lasting impacts on the broader conflicts.
One of the standout features is how Root: The RPG integrates its political intrigue. Just like in the board game, players need to be keenly aware of the factions at play. The vagabonds, while independent, must navigate between these powerhouses. The system handles reputations in a clever way, tracking how different factions perceive you, and this can open—or close—many doors. Forming alliances, betraying allies, or playing both sides are all on the table, and each choice has narrative weight.
Root: The RPG also adds innovative mechanics that make the gameplay fresh and engaging. Equipment and combat decisions are tactical, with mechanics that force players to weigh their actions carefully. The game’s focus on roguish feats, resource management, and the stakes of each encounter makes even the smallest jobs feel meaningful. One wrong move could lose you the favor of an entire faction—or worse, put a target on your back.
The book also offers excellent support for Game Masters. The section on running Root is filled with helpful advice on crafting scenarios, managing faction politics, and creating gripping combat scenes. The included setting, Gelilah’s Grove, provides a ready-to-play clearing that’s both detailed and adaptable, making it easy for GMs to jump right in. This flexibility, combined with the rich lore of the Woodland, gives the GM tools to create a truly memorable experience for players.
For fans of the Root board game, the RPG expands the universe, allowing you to dive deeper into the world you love. The familiar factions, characters, and conflicts are all present, but now you’re at the center of the action, determining how the Woodland’s story will unfold.
Personally, I find the political elements of Root: The RPG to be its most thrilling aspect. The balance of power is fragile, and as vagabonds, players are in a unique position to influence the world. The combination of tactical decision-making, faction intrigue, and the freedom to carve your own path makes for an RPG that is as intellectually engaging as it is fun.
There is a ton of supplementary material for Root as well. There are multiple quick start guides to rapidly get you into the game, introducing new clearings to explore with pregenerated characters. The Clearing Booklet introduces even more clearings to expand the world. Travelers & Outsiders brings in new factions and new playbooks.
In addition, a Kickstarter for a new supplement, Ruins & Expeditions, is live now, with a few days left as of the publication of this post.
Root is a masterpiece of narrative-driven play, wrapped in a world of woodland creatures and political machinations. Whether you’re looking for a game of personal heroism or one steeped in complex intrigue, Root: The RPG delivers. For fans of the board game or those new to the world, this is one RPG you’ll want to play again and again.
