RootJam:
I have participated in the annual RootJam multiple times, where designers are given a theme and have 2 weeks to design a custom fan-faction for the board game Root.
Click the images for more details and Print and Play files.
2026 (Very Important Piece) - The Peacock Parade
The Spore Stratagem- A mushroom/fungal themed faction based around spreading mind-controlling spore tokens that they use as both their action economy and point scoring.
“Roam the woodland with your parade setting up carnivals to delight the denizens.”
As the Peacock Parade, you aim to spread joy through as many clearings as possible. You score victory points by celebrating in clearings with your Carnivals and any number of your warriors. Prepare your Carnivals into your Party Supplies, ready to arrange across the Woodland.
You have a Parade which benefits from Protection for the Parade, ensuring it cannot be battled or removed by enemies. As you move your Parade, your Party Spreader ability lets you automatically place matching carnivals from your Party Supplies into clearings you move into.
2025 (The Swarm) - The Spore Stratagem
The Spore Stratagem - A mushroom/fungal themed faction based around spreading mind-controlling spore tokens that they use as both their action economy and point scoring.
“This fungal growth aims to spread through the woodland as far as possible, relentlessly spreading its mind-controlling spores…”
As the Spore Stratagem, you want to spread your spore tokens throughout the woodland. You score points by removing spores from clearings which have 2 or more. You will have to strategise carefully though, as you also remove spores to take actions in clearings.
Spread your spores from your Spore Chamber, using your Mind Infectionability to temporarily gain control of enemy warriors as you do. Ruling clearings allows you to spread spores without needing to discard matching cards.
Build Mushrooms to increase your spore generation each turn and use your Death Burst after battle to destroy your own pieces and generate even more spores.
2024 (You Must Sacrifice) - The Guild of Canard Crafters
The Guild of Canard Crafters - A duck themed faction based around sacrificing cards to craft other cards and monument buildings which grant points.
“These master craftsmen have gained a reputation for only crafting the most premium wares, no matter the sacrifice...”
As The Guild of Canard Crafters, you'll be aiming to create a crafting empire spread across the Woodland. As Master Artificers, you score extra points for whenever you craft. The core of your infrastructure are your Duck Depots, which will provide you with more cards and actions every turn. More cards will allow you to Sacrifice for Supplies to help you craft even more.
You have the ability to craft valuable Monument Buildings which will earn you points over time, however if destroyed these Monuments can never be rebuilt. You will also have to manage your Fragile Supply Lines, which will require you to discard cards to deal hits as defender in clearings that don't contain your buildings.
2023 (Stack The Odds) - Cirque du Mallard
Cirque du Mallard - A duck/circus themed faction based around placing event tokens, each of which grant different abilities, and promoting them to increase their effectiveness and score points.
"Showmen who make the world their stage, the Cirque plan to make conquering the forest their greatest performance yet…"
As travellers from a far off land, you start your turn as the Cirque du Mallard by placing 2 warriors on opposite sides of the board.
In Daylight you may craft using placed events, then use up to 3 actions to place events in clearings you rule, move warriors (and optionally an event with them) or promote an event by removing a warrior from the same clearing.
In Evening you battle by discarding cards matching clearings then activate events in order. First Gladiator Arena gives points if hits were dealt in its clearing, then Circus lets you recruit extra warriors in its clearing by discarding a matching card then Gambling House lets you draw extra cards at the end of your turn. After activating an event, it must be moved to an adjacent clearing if possible (ignoring rule).
The Cirque perform combat best in front of an audience, with their House Edge ability giving them an extra hit if their die shows on odd number as attacker in clearings with an event. They also gain 1 point for each promoted event per turn.