Root: The RPG

The Woodland comes alive in this PBtA RPG based on the hit board game. Play vagabonds navigating factions as cats, mice, foxes, and birds. Gorgeous art, faction politics, and woodland adventure.

At-a-glance

PBtA lineage • 2d6 mechanics • Faction-based • Anthropomorphic woodland • 3-5 players + GM • Campaign play • 2-4h sessions

Root: The RPG

What is Root: The RPG? Root: The RPG is a Powered by the Apocalypse game published by Magpie Games in 2020, based on Leder Games' wildly popular board game of woodland warfare.

Theme and Setting

It transforms the board game's factional conflict into a narrative RPG where players become vagabonds—travelers and adventurers caught between the Woodland's warring powers. The game preserves the board game's distinctive aesthetic: cute woodland creatures engaged in serious political conflict.

How Play Feels

But where the board game focuses on territory control, the RPG explores what life is like for the ordinary (and extraordinary) individuals living in this contested world. The Woodland: A World at War The setting is a forest realm where multiple factions vie for dominance: The Marquise de Cat —An industrializing feline empire clear-cutting the forest for resources.

What Makes It Distinct

Organized and powerful, but stretched thin. The Eyrie Dynasties —Birds restoring their ancient monarchy.

Where It May Not Fit

You want denser mechanical crunch or build complexity You want combat and action to drive most of the session.

Decision guide

What this game is about

Key facts
Players
3-5 players + GM
Session
120-240 minutes
Prep
Medium
Play profile
Complexity
2/5
New GM Fit
4/5
Roleplay Focus
4/5
Combat Focus
2/5
Tactical Depth
2/5
Campaign Depth
3/5
Who it suits
Best for
Groups that want fantasy adventure with a clear play identityGroups already comfortable with fiction-first move-based playPlayers who want character, atmosphere, or story to matter more than pure tactics
Avoid if
You want denser mechanical crunch or build complexityYou want combat and action to drive most of the sessionYou want the system to stay almost invisible at the table

A strong fit for groups that want fantasy adventure with a clear play identity, with powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) helping define the experience.

Agent data

Structured data and an explicit decision profile JSON document are available for remote agents.

Open agent JSON