Root: The Law of Root

Introduction

• Root contains two rulebooks: a rules reference and a learning-to-play guide.
• Learning Guide: For those who prefer a conversational style with examples.
• Rules Reference: For those who prefer formal rules.

1. Golden Rules

• Rules Conflicts:
  • If a card conflicts with The Law, follow the card.
  • If Learning to Play conflicts with The Law, follow The Law.
  • Faction rules take precedence if conflicts arise.
• Use of "Cannot": Absolute and cannot be overridden unless specified.
• Simultaneous Effects: Current player chooses the order unless instructed otherwise.
• Use of "Treat": If prompted to treat something as another, it assumes all properties of the latter.
• Public and Private Information: Number of cards is public; specific cards in hand are private unless specified.
• Negotiation and Deals: Discussions and agreements are non-binding.
• Game Structure: Each turn has three phases: Birdsong, Daylight, Evening.

2. Key Terms and Concepts

• Cards:
  • Suits: Bird, Fox, Rabbit, Mouse.
  • Birds Are Wild: Can substitute for other suits.
  • Ambush Cards: No crafted effect, used in battle.
  • Dominance Cards: Changes victory conditions.
• Clearings and Paths:
  • Adjacency defined by paths.
  • Each clearing has a suit, slots, and possibly ruins.
• Rivers and Forests:
  • Rivers usually not paths unless stated.
  • Forests are areas enclosed by paths and clearings.
• Pieces:
  • Include warriors, buildings, tokens.
  • Limited by game contents.

3. Victory

• Win Conditions: First to 30 victory points or by activating dominance cards.
• Scoring: Remove enemy buildings/tokens, craft items.

4. Key Actions

• Crafting: Craft cards for effects during Daylight.
• Move: Move warriors, need to rule either origin or destination.
• Battle: Choose a clearing, attacker and defender roles defined.
  • Ambushes, dice rolls determine hits.

5. Setup

• Assign factions and starting player.
• Draw starting hands, place ruins.

Factions Overview

• Marquise de Cat: Occupies Woodland, focuses on building and scoring through construction.
• Eyrie Dynasties: Restore control, score through roosts, suffers turmoil if Decree not followed.
• Woodland Alliance: Gathers sympathy, scores with sympathy tokens, incites revolts.
• Vagabond: Plays independently, engages in quests, builds relationships.
• Lizard Cult: Focuses on ruling through gardens, uses rituals.
• Riverfolk Company: Engages in commerce, establishes trade posts.
• Underground Duchy: Sets up outposts, sways ministers.
• Corvid Conspiracy: Engages in plots, strong use of misdirection.

Appendices

• Faction Combinations: Reach values determine viable game setups.
• Components: Lists of components for the game and expansions.

Credits

• Game design by Cole Wehrle, illustrations by Kyle Ferrin.
• Development by Leder Games and various contributors.

Key References and FAQs

• Craft, Move, Battle: Summarized steps and rules.
• FAQs: Clarifications on rules interpretations and actions.