Root & The Riverfolk Expansion Review

Enjoy our review of the Root board game and The Riverfolk Expansion.

Music by:

Elaine

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[dplusmodifier]

Thanks for the review! Love your channel, glad you like my art!

[cammy]

Just discovered your channel. Amazing stuff. I bought root but finding 3 people that will I can teach 3 different factions at the same time has proven itself a impossible task. Sometimes I just sit and hold the box and look at it and imagine a forest world.

[patrickleder]

Thank you very much for the review. I rarely watch reviews completely but here I am rapt with attention. I like your wordsmithing. I am glad you enjoyed the game, sorry it took the depot so long to get it to you all.

[alonsohg]

"Playing the birds is the equivalent to frankesteining yourself with extra arms and legs until you have so many appendages that you can't no longer function, which is in fact an allegory if you think about it for how governments work"

pure wisdom

[Drewkas]

Great review, especially the fantastic opening sequence!!! While I personally love this game, I think your criticisms are spot on. In fact I love it so much I can't resist pointing out that the riverfolk are otters, not beavers! (phew! now i can sleep at night)

[mafiacat]

Totally agree with this. I love root because while mid-game, it can be AWESOME, but the end is always a bit..blah.
It's basically a journey game vs a destination one-the fun isn't inn finally conquering your opponent or setting up a perfect machine for success (like, for example brass), but rather in the fun ecosystem of the game.
Also yeah, the otters are so fun. You need at least two opponents with lots of pieces, but its a great prisoners dilemma for everyone else: If no-one buys your stuff, they all compete and you lose, if ONE person buys your stuff they get an edge and can win, but if *everyone* buys your things to keep up with everyone else buying your things you can swing an easy victory.

[CrisWhetstone]

Good review. You called out the exact things I've been telling people about Root. While we differ on our conclusions I appreciate reviewers that can analyze a game honestly and not be mere cheerleaders. Kudos.

[z-beeblebrox]

"Everyone's favorite mammal: birds."
I love this channel

[FranzBinder]

How come that this game is so highly rated on bgg but every reviewer has kind of a negative spin in its review?

[ethantowne]

This is the best review of Root I have seen yet. You both are at the top of your game.

Also, thank you Efka for the warning before the video. It is certainly appreciated by people like me. I saw you at SHUX but you always seemed busy so I never got a chance to say hi.

Anyways, thank you for what you do.

[tinstargames]

When is Elaine's album coming out?

[Mark-jagger]

They’re Otters! They’re not flipping Watched Su&Sd’s review right before this one and Quinns kept calling them Beavers too. Argh, they’re Otters! I’m from Canada, I’d know. Lol. Great review guys...

[tundranocaps]

I feel this warrants its own comment, expanded from elsewhere, in response to the "arbitrary ending is a common criticism of Root":

I think it's because it's actually the opposite of what people complain about, ironically enough. Efka said it, "If I had one more turn, then I would have won!" It's exactly because it's so close and people feel they had a chance that they feel it's sudden.

So the myth is so real, that it's missed. Because people think of how they could've won, rather than focusing on the tightness.

Think of a 100 meter race too. It's usually close. There's an arbitrary finish line. Because otherwise, people might just keep passing one another. The "earned victory" feeling tends to come when you crush opponents, because it's really your win, rather than anyone's win.

So the myth is so true, that it becomes a myth.

[banditbrothers]

I just love your reviews! Been checking them for the past 2 hours while working :P Keep it up!

[kubaniescierow]

Great review! I must admit that what I liked the most in it was... Blind Melon vinyl! Now I can't wait to play Root with "No Rain" playing in the background. :D

[osunievogden]

My last 7 games were 7 of these promised carrots. :P

I tasted the carrot.

It was everything I hoped it would be.

And I want of it.

[fnorddiscord]

Great video! You guys are so inventive and clever. Thanks for the reliably awesome content!

[ScovaNotia]

This review was absolutely entertaining. I like your (non)sensibilities and rapid fire delivery.

[diogopires]

This was an awesome review, loved your intro, continue with your great work, have a great 2019

[IslanKleinknecht]

I keep on struggling to understand exactly what makes Root's 30 VP insta-win condition feel arbitrary as opposed to other games. Like Twilight Imperium, in that game as soon as you reach 10 VP, you also win. What really makes Root different?