Root App Review - with Tom Vasel

Tom Vasel takes a look at the app version of the board game Root!

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[danielkeim]

Been on the fence with Root for a while but this was all I needed to hear. 10 bucks vs 50-60 plus it has great tutorials? Yes please!

[fishizer]

Was always interested in playing Root, but never got the chance. Now I can!

[marshall]

This app actually made me get the physical game. It really helped me learn how to play.

[jasonnewell]

Keep in mind the Cats' field hospital mechanic is different to the board game (or at least it was last time I checked) where instead of triggering immediately after a cat is lost and then being placed immediately in the keep clearing, it instead triggers at the start of the cats' turn. This hurts the cats' playability and allows other players to do rolling assaults and knock the cats out fairly easily. Especially the Ranger Vagabond, who can kill their way through the cats early game and rack up continual points.

[vendetta]

I love Root, but like others have been saying, this online version is still full of significant glitches. I bought it on steam and had game changing glitches in 2 out of 3 games. One game as the vegabond it put all the coins, teas, and bags I got from ruins and aiding directly in my satchel and then forced me to permanently discard 3 of them because I didn't have room for all my items.

[Friariello]

0:22 *The cats, not the foxes.
I like the app, very well done and useful to refresh the rules after a while you don't play. Not the best for learning it from zero, because something still is slightly different from the board game (I know it's a little thing and would've difficult to reproduce it faithfully, but cats' hospital works differently on the app). My only complain is they're slow to add latest expansions on the digital version.

[gml]

I've been playing this on Steam. I love to board game, but always had trouble getting it on the table. Got it through steam, have played it several times. Mostly good experiences. I have a problem with how the Eyrie programming moves are played versus my interpretation of the rules. Also, there has been a couple of glitches that meant my program had to go do disarray. Also, I had gotten booted from the game a couple times, though that might be on my end. Overall, very pleased with this, and look forward to playing more.

[randalladkins]

Would love to see Tom’s reviews of Armello and Northguard, even if they don’t have board game counterparts.

[FishyAshB]

Great review. I'll chime in with my on 2c regarding the online multiplayer:

Been playing it with a couple of friends over asynchronous multiplayer (3 day turn timer). I have the game on both steam and Android. I really like that the game sends you push notifications, and every time you boot up the game, it replays the turns your opponents made after your turn, which is enough to give you a good idea of the board state in case you forgot anything. Makes playing the game very convenient as well.

I've done simultaneous multiplayer as well, with the same friends. I did it with my friends while we used voice chat, otherwise I would advise against it. As you mentioned I can see it easily get boring while you're sitting at your phone waiting for them to do their turns if you're not able to interact with them.

Playing the app reminded me about how much I loved the board game though, I really can't wait until I meet with my friends again to play it, especially the expansions.

[MTGEDH]

I can't wait for the expansion so I can play my favorite the Duchy

[TheGamingEntity]

I think Dire Wolf should release the tutorial portion of the app for free as a demo. It'll get people learning the board game.

[Sebastian-rtqf]

I knew you would rate this game the highest marks, but I was still curious what amount of pizzaz points would be given out. Man you were not greedy ;-) Review wise I totally agree. And for the AI mark, I am 100% sure you will nudge that one point up, one you've played medium and hard mode.

[lastburning]

It has online multiplayer against other players right? Why didn't Tom mention that when talking about multiplayer? It's only the most important feature of the game. Or does only the Steam version have online multiplayer?

[jasonm]

Great video. Helps me out a lot. I have never kickstarted but I started feeling this way once andromedas edge videos started being released. I eventually bought a cheaper game now as supposed to paying big money and waiting 16 months

[wicaksonoadi]

It has the UNDO button for a month now! This app is definitely the best board game adaptation after Through The Ages.

[marastarbreaker]

I agree with Tom. I just have 1 minor remark. The battle animation takes way too long (on Steam) . If they could shorten that it would be

[Rezgarfia]

Right now is $4, I'm gonna buy it.

[misomiso]

dont think you ever did an Armata Strigorie review!

[michaelhastriter]

Love the root game despite the bugs I keep encountering but I have to disagree with one thing. They should definitely keep the online 3day turn based option.

[typatterson]

I respectfully disagree with Tom's AI rating. I would rate it 1/5. Even the hard AI does really dumb things. But, I would still suggest getting it.