Playing Root Digital Until I Like Root

Man I don't like Root the board game, but maybe the digital edition can help ease me in? In this video I use my Nintendo Switch to play a bunch of Root digital to see if I can grasp all the crazy faction asymmetry better! And while the gameplay is easier to grasp when playing at my own pace digitally instead of over a tabletop, there's still a slew of digital issues like having trouble viewing my opponents' hand of cards or icons/text being too small. I did find myself enjoying the military factions like the Marquise cats and Eyrie birds, but my god the Vagabond and Woodland Alliance are ridiculous annoying to battle against. So now that I better understand the strategies, combos, and faction abilities in Root, how does my opinion change on personally scoring Root?

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Table of Contents:
Intro & Overview - (0:00)
Root Digital Quick Analysis - (1:09)
Life After Root Digital (7:00)
Root is an Anomaly - (10:42)
Ashton’s Final Personal Thoughts (13:07)

Links to our other stuff:

Stuff Used:

Root OST - Menu Theme
Root OST - Overworld Theme

#boardgames #tabletop #root

[metalrock]

I own 130+ board games and Root is my favorite game of all time. Only discovered it in February this year. I tested it with the app first and then got the game. I became absolutely obsessed with it. I have also taught a TON of people how to play the game. Largely - choosing the right faction and feeling like you have strong control over the game is critical. And for that reason, I found that for people decently good a picking up rules should go with the underground duchy first. They are a strong faction and have very unique systems. My brother first played root as the cats and gave it a 5/10. His second game was with Duchy and then he changed his rating to a 8or9/10. Also the other factions and people playing should be very explicit about what they are doing and someone really needs to explain the advantages and disadvantages of factions in the middle of the game. That person should be the most experienced and explain what you can do to stop each faction. That level of politics makes the game great. I literally spent a game explaining what new players can do to stop me and I ended up losing and still had a lot of fun.

Also a random side note - I have the exact reverse opinion about TI vs root. There is way too much going on in TI for me to enjoy as much and the other issue is that it takes 5x as long to play. I don’t feel like I have as much control over the game with so many moving pieces and luck events. Plus it is worse when the game is so much longer. Haha. But to each their own - I just found it interesting and respect you opinion. I do think enjoy, ent over the theme is critical too and you may not like the game as much for that too.

[ZedEdd]

The switch has a garbage touchscreen. The Root app looks and plays great on the iPad

[pinoypc]

A review of digital board games sounds like a good idea if it’s something you guys want to do. Not a lot of board game reviewers dive in digital games such as this. Thanks for the review!

[digitalsublime]

its great that you guys actually play the games enough to properly talk about them... refreshing. keep it up!

[BryceChristiansen]

You are a champ for doing this. I love the game but can understand why it's not a fit for you. I love that your content helps people get that though. No one coming to this is getting the thoughts of someone sharing what they felt after one play of the game. This game takes multiple plays, lots of learning, and prep to see it at its intended potential. And some people get there faster than others.

I was lucky to play with a group that learned and grasped all its nuances quickly. We loved it even after one play. But I can not fault you after all the effort you've put in and still not enjoying it. Root is divisive, but you and Daniel have probably put together the most thoughtful and helpful review on the game so far.

[Lavoye]

I didn't like Root at first, then learned to play it correctly and it became one of my favorite games. It's a heavy game to learn since every faction is a different game as everything is mixed together. Everything plays so differently, yet they all work on the same board, using all the same assets, it's a masterpiece of asymetry. The digital version is pretty much perfect as well.

[KMReviews]

I would LOVE to see you review Eclipse, Second Dawn for the Galaxy!! Wayyy shorter than twilight imperium, tighter and faster, but super organized euro aspects but with the amerotrash dice rolling battles, asymmetry but not in to crazy of a way.

[victornguyen]

ROOT really needs a table of people who are equally competent and invested at the game to flourish. When people are doing things to just shaft other players and when players aren't policing factions when they need to, the experience gets incredibly soured.

A lot of variables include whether your faction gels with you, whether you're doing ADSET, playing with Despot Infamy, using Hirelings, the list goes on. All subtly but meaningfully altering the experience.

Honestly when looking at Root, it really does feel like a shrunken down sped up version of the more lengthy games like TI4 which is probably why it feels like things swing heavily. It's a similar experience that uses complexity to make up for the condensed amount of time it takes to complete.

One of my favourite things about ROOT is that I get to play the way I want to, and everyone else does too, and we're given a vehicle for those play styles to go head to head despite being so different. There's this careful management of who in the forest is making too much progress, making allies and enemies as necessary to keep people in line while moving your own interests forward. At a real table, you can be happy that you still had the opportunity to make a big difference even at a loss.

[nitrorev]

Root definitely isn't for everyone but I'm surprised Ashton doesn't dig it given how similar the overall scope is to TI4.

I think a good teach is vital for a good experience since how you explain the game can make it way more complicated than it needs to be. It does feel like the 4 factions are 4 different games tied together by one core system but since I know dozens of games already, it doesn't feel like a heavy lift to learn the 4 factions individually in order to play Root.

As far as dealing with the 2 insurgent factions, yes, battling WA is annoying because of their defence advantage, but battling them isn't the best way to handle them. Spread Martial Law (3 of the same warriors in a clearing) to slow their growth or park a stack of warriors on top of them to keep them from leaving the base. With Vagabond, you need to have discipline and withhold crafting too many items early or you'll just give them the game. Also send Vagabond to the woods early when it matters most, of you wait too long then way more damage is needed to really slow them down enough.

As for Digital, unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch version doesn't have a chat (think about the children) but there's a chat for mobile and steam users. The AI is universally agreed to be terrible to the point of it being a meme but AI is really just there to help you learn. It's integral to start playing against humans who actually think and can be reasoned with. The app isn't perfect, none are but it's a fantastic implementation and a lot of expansion content is available which massively improves the experience (the Exiles and Partisans deck removes the Favour cards which is much better IMO).

I think Root is the best game of all time but like I said, it's not for everyone. No need to feel pressured to like it and don't let us Root Stans shame you for not liking something.

[WatchItPlayed]

I really want us to play a COIN game together.

[anders]

You may not like Root, but I LIKED your vid cause I like and respect you guys. Also, you’re at least trying to play it again!

[vinnieyang]

Have you tried playing it at two players with just the Cats and Birds?
It removes a LOT of the mental overhead of remembering the rules for basically half the game and any political meta gaming as well so that you can focus on just the mechanisms of two factions.
It's actually my favourite way of introducing the game to new players because it becomes super simple to teach the win conditions, movement, and battle.
The rest is outlined on the player boards and plays much quicker to be able to see and comprehend a full game arc.

[benjaminloyd]

Like you, I've never been able to get into the physical game, but find the digital game more approachable. Glad I am not the only one.

[ThiccChoncc]

Can't wait for you guys to review more digital boardgames such as Everdell or Gloomhaven!

[arthursimsa]

I really don’t think it’s as complicated as you make it to be. I am surprised that a TI4 fan would not enjoy Root. But by now you made your opinion for sure ^^

[robertthurman]

It's OK to not like a game. My all time favorite is Arkham Horror card game and a lot of people don't like it. I don't like politics/negotiation or hidden traitor mechanics, lots of people love those games. I'm just glad there are so many games to chose from today.

[revbrentcolby]

I’m literally doing the same thing with the app right now! Started this week. I’m about 5 hours in.

Thanks for the fun and honest review!

My reason for playing the app is that I’m intimidated to learn and teach the physical game with my group. Everyone tends to like lighter, less cutthroat titles. I hear so much praise for the gameplay that I want to check it out.

Many of your critiques for the app seem to relate to the switch. I didn’t have any of those issues playing on an iPad.

[jasonjjj]

I'm just learning the game on digital and quickly discovering that you should learn one faction at a time, but when learning a faction your going to keep loosing if you don't know how the other factions work. It's a bit of a conundrum, but I'm kinda getting around it by playing 1v1 with each character starting on easy mode and working my way up. It's a bit of a chore. If there is a better way to learn then let me know.

[kether]

Hi from Italy! Looks like you keep doing videos on Root even if you don't like it, but I think there is a reason and that is you would like it to be a better game because it deserves it. When I first played it I noticed that feeling of uneveness and that fact that sometimes there are factions that you really can't stop. At first you may realise that you need experience, but that's not the solution: Root needed some adjustments. Well, looks like that now there are hirelings out and I'm hearing from many players that they solved that problem so add them to your next games (not on digital version, they're not implemented yet) and tell me after.

[spitfire]

The Root app done a ton of heavy lifting for me in learning Root. That was after trying the board game version a few times and knowing what the game was going for. I can see the asymmetry not being clearly explained being a major issue in learning from digital first. All said I would say Digital is a side compliment to the game and not a complete alternative. The app is still one of the best boardgame adaptations out there. Wingspan as well that app is great.