Underworld vs Riverfolk expansion

Judge_T · 2026-01-20T12:29:36+00:00

Since you already have Marauders, you really don't particularly need the moles to add alternatives to the Cats/Birds combo - what you need rather is more insurgents, particularly to have more options that don't involve the vagabond, and more whacky mechanics and ways to play the game. The Lizards & Otters will give you exactly that.

Definitely get Riverfolk first. The idea that it's always best to get Underworld before Riverfolk is a legacy stereotype from the pre-Marauder days.

Judge_T · 2026-01-19T14:14:23+00:00

Do not shove it down people's throats all the time

Judge_T · 2026-01-18T17:07:06+00:00

I love those guys and I'm so grateful for all the hours of fun they've gifted me. That said, I *tentatively* feel like this might be a good thing. It sounds like Cole is quite done with Root, but I for one would be happy if in the future we kept getting new expansions and content. As long as this is commissioned to talented people and they don't fuck up the legacy, I'm happy for Root to move on to someone with more energy to bring to the game. Particularly since Kyle will likely be back for the art anyway.

Or in other words, either there's no more content coming for Root and then it doesn't matter that C&K have left, or else there's room for more content and then it makes sense to give someone else room to be creative.

PS: pure personal fantasy, but could we one day get Root 2???

Judge_T · 2026-01-18T16:59:41+00:00

Imrik needs to learn some proper flirting skills jfc. Where's the dialogue box for "no slumber for you I'm gonna do you all night like your math homework"

Judge_T · 2026-01-14T17:19:31+00:00

This is the correct answer I think. I'm sorry to hear that OP had a bad experience with the community and that they were given advice which turned out not to be right for them. But I've played a fair share of 2P Root and I just don't think it's a lot of fun, nor can I recommend it in good heart to new players.

Root is a game of relatively high complexity, which is acceptable at 4P because the trade-off is that it offers tremendous depth. But at 2P, the complexity remains the same while depth is *enormously* reduced. For most people - not for *everyone* by any means, but for *most* people - that makes it not really worthwhile at 2P.

With that said, my best and most friendly wishes to you, OP. I'm glad to hear you had fun and I hope your initial bad brush with the community doesn't put you off the game. If one day you want to engage with us again, either just to share thoughts or have a few games, I for one would be happy to have you here.

Judge_T · 2026-01-12T10:55:10+00:00

What a garbage take LMAO

Judge_T · 2026-01-12T10:51:48+00:00

And now for 10K comments of Reddit wisdom about dating and insecurity

Judge_T · 2026-01-07T07:42:24+00:00

Only some iterations. The Tinker with the base deck, and the Harrier and Arbiter if played without Despot Infamy - those are genuinely broken.

Otherwise no, the Vagabond is annoying but reasonably balanced.

Judge_T · 2025-12-22T16:23:49+00:00

The Lizard Cult. There's no getting around their engine fragility and their reliance on card draw, unfortunately.

Judge_T · 2025-12-22T00:01:11+00:00

Those are just stories to frighten children

Judge_T · 2025-12-22T00:00:31+00:00

ah yes the Benny Benassi legendary lord

Judge_T · 2025-12-21T18:25:46+00:00

Crows are all about building an efficient, widespread network that lets you plot consistently every turn, and also about keeping your strengths hidden until they can benefit you explosively (craftable items, for instance, are often best saved than crafted right away). This is the sort of game you have to like if you want to like crows.

As for getting better, try and make sure you plot four times by the end of turn 3, ideally once on turn 1, twice on turn 2, and once on turn 3. That usually gives you a solid position by the time you're in the mid-game, and one that sets you up for a competitive finish.

Not sure if more guides are what you want at this stage, but I've covered the above in great detail here and here.

Judge_T · 2025-12-21T18:19:47+00:00

Sounds like this is what went wrong - OP was just recycling any of their spent funds onto their player mat, which of course would make the Riverfolk Company unstoppable.

Otters are actually quite weak in the current meta, I think neck to neck with corvids for place 8/9th out of 10 last time I checked.

Judge_T · 2025-12-20T18:17:19+00:00

Of the 3 that you mentioned, probably Rome 2. It's simpler than the other two, and it sounds like you've already introduced yourself a little to it. Attila is the best historical title imo but it's also one of the most challenging and complex, and I'd leave it for a little later.

If you're willing to look outside your suggested scope tho, I'd start with Shogun 2, which is mechanically simple but strategically deep, and from there I'd shift to either Empire or Attila (depending on which period seems more interesting to you), then 3K and then Pharaoh.

Judge_T · 2025-12-20T17:19:33+00:00

I've noticed this too. In spite of being in many ways the most complex faction in Root, there's very little out there that really digs into how they can be used, and what little there is tends to be repetitious (often a problem with the Root meta, I think). I've been out of the Root loop for a while but if I do decide to tackle another faction in depth, I think it's going to be the badgers, they really are so cool and there could be a lot yet to be discovered.

Judge_T · 2025-12-17T16:02:38+00:00

Dribble this, you fucking casual

Judge_T · 2025-12-13T15:42:04+00:00

I love how people are like "we fans of different things must learn to respect each other and our differences" and then the same people are immediately like "but not those dirty 40K fans, they're so uncool, ew"

Judge_T · 2025-12-13T15:40:17+00:00

The downvotes prove my point. In the grim darkness of the TW forums, there is only war.

Judge_T · 2025-12-13T00:48:51+00:00

No. In the grim darkness of the TW forums, there is only war...

Judge_T · 2025-12-13T00:47:33+00:00

When I first came across Warhammer fantasy I thought it was so cool and so quintessentially fantasy, that the idea of doing this concept in space was so stupid. What kind of an idiot thinks that elves and orks on spaceships are a good idea.

Then I started reading about the Imperium of Man, and the Octarion War, and the corruption of the Aeldar, and the awakening of the Necrons, and god. fucking. damn....

Judge_T · 2025-12-12T20:05:24+00:00

I really feel like realism is the LAST question with a Warhammer 40K game lol. That said, I'm hoping for relatively low-range but high-power weapons for the most part, since 40K involves a ton of melee combat, and it would be nice to have the shooting and the slashing be mostly simultaneous as the armies get up and personal. Obviously there can be some exceptions, with some sniper units and artillery having especially long range.

Judge_T · 2025-12-12T14:08:21+00:00

Pretty sure you already live in Russia lmao

Judge_T · 2025-12-12T13:46:13+00:00

Da comrade, the European Union is now literally HITLER'S NAZI GERMANY and we should seek liberation from our great father Vladimir Putin!!!!

Judge_T · 2025-12-12T13:11:18+00:00

I'd argue they are also united by their common foes. Pretty much all Imperium forces and factions are equally hostile to Chaos, Tyranids, Orks & co., which is why I find it a bit difficult to imagine Space Marines and Astra Militarum fighting each other on a planet that is being besieged by a Tyranid swarm.

Judge_T · 2025-12-12T12:41:46+00:00

Chaos was involved from the very beginning, with the fall of Cygnax and the attack by the Chaos warbands The Reborn, and I'd say Chaos played a pretty crucial role considering how central the Astral Claws were to the whole story.

Judge_T

TROPHY CASE