Root

Officially Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right

Asymmetric wargame with cute forest animals. Designed 2018 Cole Wehrle. Leder Games. 2-4 players, 60-90 min. Each faction plays completely different rules (Marquise de Cat controls territory; Woodland Alliance uses guerrilla revolts; Eyrie birds have programmed decrees; Vagabond adventures solo). Kyle Ferrin's cute art masks brutal wargame. Cult favorite; multiple expansions.

📐Woodland map (12 clearings + forests)⏱~75 min🌤indoor

What is Root?

Root is 2018 ASYMMETRIC WOODLAND WARGAME designed by COLE WEHRLE + published by LEDER GAMES (USA). Illustrator KYLE FERRIN's ADORABLE ANIMAL ART masks BRUTAL WARGAME MECHANICS. 2-4 players (best 3-4 base; expansions add to 6). Each faction plays COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RULES: (1) MARQUISE DE CAT — bureaucratic industrialist controlling territories building sawmills + workshops + recruiters. (2) EYRIE DYNASTIES — birds with STRICT PROGRAMMED DECREES (must play cards each round or crash). (3) WOODLAND ALLIANCE — revolutionary underdogs building sympathy + spreading revolts. (4) VAGABOND — LONE ADVENTURER completing quests + questing alone. EXPANSIONS ADD: (5) RIVERFOLK COMPANY (mercantile hippos, RIVER trade). (6) LIZARD CULT (religious lizards). (7) UNDERGROUND DUCHY (mole tunnels). (8) CORVID CONSPIRACY (crow spies). GAMEPLAY: each faction has UNIQUE VICTORY POINT PATH — Cats score by building; Eyrie by decrees; Alliance by sympathy; Vagabond by quests. First to 30 VP wins (or Domination card triggers alternate win). Won GOLDEN GEEK Best Strategy 2018. TOP-20 BGG ranked. Digital version on Steam + iOS. Considered PINNACLE ASYMMETRIC design — comparable to Vast + Sidereal.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Reach 30 Victory Points via faction-specific scoring; or trigger Dominance win.

Rules

Basic rules

Each faction has completely different rules
Cats build; Eyrie decree; Alliance revolt; Vagabond quest.
Turn order: Cat → Eyrie → Alliance → Vagabond
Fixed order regardless of players.
Score VP via faction-specific paths
First to 30 VP wins.
Combat when factions meet in same clearing
Roll 2 dice; higher = damage inflicted; ambush cards + item effects apply.
Dominance cards can trigger alternate win
Control 3 of 4 corner clearings same suit = instant win.
Item deck shared; ruins provide free items
Common resources drive minor economy.

Scoring

Faction-specific VP paths. First to 30 wins. OR Dominance card triggers alternate win (3 corner clearings same suit).

Action	Points
Cat: build workshop/recruiter/sawmill	VP printed per building spot cleared
Eyrie: cards in decree resolved	VP per matching action + roost placement
Alliance: place sympathy tokens	1-4 VP per token; more per suit sympathized
Vagabond: complete quest cards	1 VP per quest + 1 VP per hit inflicted + hostile faction bonus
Dominance win	Instant win if activated + condition met

Win condition · First to 30 VP OR Dominance card triggered + condition met.

Playing area

Called

Woodland map (12 clearings + forests)

Dimensions

single-piece game board

Clearings connected by paths; forests separate clearings; ruins provide items.

Equipment

Base game (4 factions + map + cards)
€60 retail
Faction-specific components
Each faction has unique boards + tokens + rules
Shared item deck + dominance cards
Common resources
Cute Kyle Ferrin animal art everywhere
Signature aesthetic

Strategies

Learn ALL factions to counter them
Playing 1 well requires understanding 3 others' plans.
Never let 1 faction snowball
Alliance sympathy + Cat buildings + Vagabond quests all exponential — attack when 1 pulls ahead.
Vagabond as king-maker
Alliance/hostile with certain factions massively affects Vagabond scoring.

Terminology

Clearing: Territory space on map (12 total).
Sawmill / Workshop / Recruiter: Cat buildings scoring VP when placed.
Roost: Eyrie's core building.
Sympathy: Alliance revolutionary presence tokens.
Quest: Vagabond task cards for VP.
Decree: Eyrie's programmed action list (must resolve or crash).
Dominance card: Alternate win condition trigger.
Item: Sword/bow/torch/boot/tea/coin/hammer — provides actions + Vagabond track.

Major competitions

Root World Championship (online)
annual · worldwide · since 2019
Golden Geek Best Strategy 2018 (won)
annual · worldwide · since 2018

Where it is played

Governing bodies

Leder Games (publisher)
Founded 2014 · USA (Minnesota)

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Cole Wehrle (USA, b. 1985) — Designer; also Pax Pamir, Oath, John Company
Kyle Ferrin (USA) — Signature illustrator (all Leder Games)
Patrick Leder (USA) — Leder Games co-founder

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Watch faction-specific tutorials on YouTube
'Watch it Played' covers all factions.
2
First game 3-4 players
2p possible but less strategic; 3-4p ideal. Expect 2-3 hour first game.
3
Play Marquise de Cat OR Alliance first
Simpler than Eyrie or Vagabond.

intermediate

1
Play all 4 factions across 5+ games
Understand asymmetry deeply.
2
Add Riverfolk expansion
2 new factions + mercantile mechanics.

advanced

1
Root Digital Ranked Play
Global ranking + tournaments.
2
Full expansions (6 factions playable)
Deep asymmetric mastery.

Frequently asked

What is Root?+

ASYMMETRIC WOODLAND WARGAME (2018) designed by COLE WEHRLE. 2-4 players play COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FACTIONS: MARQUISE DE CAT (build territory), EYRIE DYNASTIES (programmed decrees), WOODLAND ALLIANCE (guerrilla revolts), VAGABOND (solo adventurer). Cute Kyle Ferrin animal art masks BRUTAL WARGAME. First to 30 VP wins (or Dominance card triggers alternate win). 60-90 min. Cult favorite; TOP-20 BGG. Considered pinnacle asymmetric board game design.

How is Root different from other wargames?+

TRADITIONAL WARGAMES (Risk, Axis + Allies) = all players play SAME rules with different armies. ROOT = each faction has RADICALLY DIFFERENT RULES — Cats compare to Eyrie is like different game. This creates NEED TO UNDERSTAND all factions to counter them. Requires MORE MENTAL LOAD but creates UNIQUE ASYMMETRIC EXPERIENCE. Sister games: VAST (2016), OATH (2021), SIDEREAL CONFLUENCE (2017).

Is Root good for 2 players?+

PLAYABLE but NOT IDEAL. Root shines at 3-4 players where table-talk + alliances + kingmaking create dynamic tension. 2 PLAYER often reduced to direct competition without asymmetric benefits fully expressed. If 2p only: HEAD-TO-HEAD Cat vs Alliance recommended (opposite mechanics). Add CLOCKWORK EXPANSION for AI opponents = simulates 3-4p feel. RIVERFOLK EXPANSION also adds Mechanical Marquise/Eyrie AI. Best experience: 3-4 human players.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Root— Wikipedia
BoardGameGeek — Root— BGG

Last verified 2026-08-25.verified