Root RPG: Travelers and Outsiders

Root RPG: Travelers and Outsiders

Root RPG: Travelers and Outsiders is the essential expansion for fans of Root: The Roleplaying Game, bringing new dimensions of adventure, intrigue, and woodland politics to your tabletop. Published by Magpie Games and based on Leder Games’ award-winning Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right, this supplement expands the root role playing game universe by introducing the first four faction expansions from the board game into the RPG system. The basic idea of Root RPG centers on woodland conflict, where various factions vie for control, and players take on unique roles that shape the unfolding story within the forest. If you’ve explored the clearings, navigated tense situations, and built your reputation in the core root rpg, then Travelers and Outsiders will open the forest to entirely new possibilities.

The Expansion that Opens the Forest

In the root rpg, your player characters take on the roles of vagabonds, woodland wanderers, and cunning agents, each with their own goals, skills, and allegiances. The forest is already teeming with factions vying for control—originally dominated by the three factions: the Eyrie Dynasties, the Marquise de Cat, and the Woodland Alliance. Travelers and Outsiders builds on this foundation by increasing the stakes and adding four new expansion factions from the board game:

1. The Riverfolk Company – Masters of commerce, trade, and strategic manipulation of resources.

2. The Lizard Cult – Fanatical devotees whose religious fervor can shift the balance of power in any clearing.

3. The Grand Duchy – A noble power seeking to bring order to the chaotic woodland.

4. The Underworld Duchy – Ruthless subterranean schemers working to claim territory and influence.

With these factions in play, the root role playing game shifts from a local skirmish to a grand, multi-faction drama where alliances form and break as swiftly as leaves fall in autumn.

Built on the Powered by the Apocalypse (PBTA) Framework

Just like the root rpg core book, Travelers and Outsiders is a pbta game, drawing on mechanics and design choices from other pbta games. It emphasizes collaborative storytelling, narrative-driven action, and dynamic resolution mechanics. Players attempt moves—such as a roguish feat—by rolling dice (specifically 2d6) and applying modifiers from their stats, with partial successes generating complications that make the story richer and more unpredictable.

This expansion introduces new basic moves, weapon moves, and special moves that tie directly to the new factions and setting possibilities. For example:

• Positive Reputation and Negative Reputation mechanics have expanded tables for these factions, influencing how NPCs react to you and what opportunities or dangers arise.

• Reputation Moves provide concrete mechanical effects for your standing with a faction—whether you’ve won their trust or stirred their hatred.

• Vicious Strike and other advanced combat options let you explore the grittier side of woodland conflict.

Whether you’re creating new character natures—which influence your actions and how you manage exhaustion—or enhancing existing roguish feats, the pbta game system keeps the focus on narrative drama while ensuring tactical decision-making matters.

New Playbooks and Character Options

One of the most exciting parts of root rpg expansions is the new playbooks. Travelers and Outsiders adds fresh archetypes that reflect the unique flavor of the incoming factions, allowing for even more diverse party compositions. Several of these new playbooks introduce unique weapon skills, giving characters specialized combat techniques and moves that set them apart in battle. If you’ve mastered the art of the Scoundrel, Vagrant, or Tinker from the core game, these new roles will give you fresh tools for storytelling:

• Characters who thrive in commerce and negotiation now have faction-specific moves to navigate trade disputes, broker alliances, or manipulate prices.

• Those aligned with religious causes may find themselves drawn into the fervor of the Lizard Cult, where trust fate becomes more than just a move—it’s a calling.

• Noble characters in the Grand Duchy can use advanced social moves to influence clearing governance, enforce order, or rally loyal subjects.

The character creation process in this expansion offers more than just a stat block—it integrates with the lore of each new faction so your player’s backstory has an organic connection to the greater world.

Enriching the World of Root

A defining feature of the root role playing game is its living, breathing woodland, filled with political tension, shifting alliances, and personal ambition. The clearing booklet and location generation tools from the core book still serve as the backbone of the setting, but Travelers and Outsiders layers on new political and cultural detail for each faction’s presence in a clearing.

For example:

• A clearing controlled by the Riverfolk Company might have a bustling marketplace, high tariffs, and under-the-table smuggling operations. After a recent struggle, the area could appear broken, with damaged docks and scarred trade posts.

• One swayed by the Lizard Cult could have daily rituals, zealous guards, and a dangerous distrust of outsiders. The clearing may look broken, with burned shrines and remnants of past purges marking the landscape.

• A stronghold of the Grand Duchy might display its banners proudly, hosting regular tournaments and enforcing rigid laws. Yet, after intense conflict, the clearing could be left broken, with shattered walls and evidence of recent battles.

These elements don’t just color the story—they directly affect your game mechanics, from faction moves to available resources and quest hooks.

Tense Situations and High Stakes

The PBTA system excels at making every action meaningful, and with Travelers and Outsiders, the stakes get higher. Players might find themselves mediating between factions, navigating double-crosses, or leading a daring raid on a fortified clearing. The root rpg travelers and outsiders supplement encourages GMs to draw on faction motivations to craft tense situations where no choice is without consequence. The mechanics clearly define what can happen as a result of player actions in these moments, ensuring outcomes are driven by the rules and narrative.

These scenarios make the most of:

• Special Moves that escalate political conflict.

• Faction-specific tables for determining reactions to player actions.

• Expanded combat rules for when negotiations break down.

Whether your party is stealthily infiltrating enemy lines or standing boldly in a public forum, every scene has potential to change the balance of power in the forest.

Seamless Integration with the Core Book

While Travelers and Outsiders is brimming with new content, it’s designed to integrate perfectly with the root rpg core book. That means you can drop the new factions and moves into an ongoing campaign without rewriting your world from scratch. The two different natures of old and new factions—rooted in the original board game expansions—ensure that they feel authentic and naturally integrated into the existing political landscape.

The rules section provides clear guidance on how to merge new and existing faction mechanics, adjust for campaign balance, and keep the pacing tight when introducing multiple new elements. It also explains the difference in reputation thresholds and mechanics between the original and new factions, highlighting how reputation points and tracker visuals may vary depending on which faction is involved.

For Players and GMs Alike

Players can expect new opportunities for social interaction, strategic moves, and meaningful decision-making, with engaging gameplay elements such as reputation-based interactions and reputation-moves that enhance role-playing and decision complexity. Players will find new ways to explore their characters’ ambitions, while GMs gain a wealth of inspiration for story arcs, faction intrigue, and setting depth. Travelers and Outsiders also comes with expanded advice for GMs on how to:

• Weave faction goals into the core story loop of the game.

• Manage reputation systems across multiple factions.

• Use the new moves to create natural escalation in the narrative.

The expansion even includes example situations, form and attack templates, and quick-reference tables to keep the action moving without bogging down in rule lookups.

A Must-Have for Root Fans

If you already love the root role playing game, then Travelers and Outsiders is a natural next step. It adds depth, variety, and replayability, letting you tell bigger, more complex stories in the woodland. If you are interested in engaging stories and innovative game mechanics, this expansion is designed to capture your curiosity and enhance your experience.

If you’re new to the root rpg, you can still enjoy this expansion—though you’ll need the core book to make full use of the content. Think of this as the next chapter in your ongoing saga, one where the stakes are higher, the politics more treacherous, and the adventures more rewarding.

The Woodland at War

At the heart of the Root roleplaying game lies the ever-shifting conflict known as the Woodland at War. This is not just a backdrop, but the living, breathing engine that drives the story forward. The three main factions—the industrious Marquise de Cat, the proud Eyrie Dynasties, and the rebellious Woodland Alliance—each bring their own ambitions and strategies to the table, vying for dominance over the forest’s clearings.

As player characters, you step into this tense setting as Vagabonds, navigating a world where every clearing could be a battleground and every alliance is fraught with risk. The choices you make—who you aid, who you betray, and where you draw the line—can tip the balance of power between these factions. The Woodland at War is more than just a game mechanic; it’s a dynamic story engine that ensures no two campaigns are ever the same.

The struggle for control shapes every aspect of the game, from the missions you undertake to the relationships you forge. Whether you’re negotiating with the Marquise de Cat for safe passage, rallying support for the Woodland Alliance, or playing factions against each other for your own gain, the setting is rich with opportunities for intrigue, adventure, and roleplaying. In Root, the war for the Woodland is always evolving—and your characters are at the center of it all.

Art and Design

One of the most striking features of the Root roleplaying game is its art and design, which instantly sets it apart from other tabletop experiences. Kyle Ferrin’s whimsical yet evocative illustrations breathe life into the woodland world, giving each character, faction, and setting a distinct personality. The art style captures both the charm and the underlying tension of the forest, drawing players into the story from the very first page.

The design of the game’s components is equally impressive. The core book, clearing booklet, and character sheets are all crafted with usability in mind, featuring clean layouts, thoughtful typography, and plenty of whitespace. This attention to detail makes it easy for players to find the rules they need and stay focused on the game, rather than getting lost in dense text. The visual clarity extends to the setting itself, helping players imagine the world of Root in vivid detail.

This commitment to high-quality art and design has earned Root praise from both players and critics, making it a standout in the world of roleplaying games. Whether you’re flipping through the core book or referencing the clearing booklet during play, the visual presentation enhances every aspect of the experience, ensuring that the world of Root feels as real and immersive as the stories you create within it.

Accessibility

Root: The Roleplaying Game is designed with accessibility at its core, ensuring that players of all backgrounds and experience levels can dive into the woodland adventure. The core book offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to both the setting and the mechanics, making it easy for newcomers to learn the ropes while still providing depth for seasoned roleplayers. The rules are presented in a straightforward manner, with helpful examples and summaries that keep the focus on play rather than on deciphering complex systems.

The game’s design also considers the needs of players with disabilities, featuring large print and high-contrast layouts that improve readability. This thoughtful approach extends to the structure of the game itself, which supports a variety of group sizes and play styles. Whether you’re running a one-shot with friends or embarking on a long-term campaign, Root’s mechanics and setting are flexible enough to accommodate your needs.

By emphasizing storytelling and collaborative roleplaying, Root ensures that every player has a chance to contribute meaningfully to the game, regardless of their experience level. The accessible design and inclusive community make Root a welcoming choice for anyone looking to explore a rich, engaging world through the lens of a roleplaying game.

Community

The Root roleplaying game is more than just a set of rules and a setting—it’s the heart of a passionate and creative community. Magpie Games, the publisher behind Root, actively supports players through a robust online presence, including forums, social media, and regular blog updates. This creates a space where fans can share their stories, ask questions, and connect with others who love the game.

Beyond the official channels, the Root community thrives on creativity and collaboration. Players and third-party creators alike contribute custom adventures, new characters, and unique settings, expanding the possibilities of the game far beyond the core book. This spirit of sharing and innovation fosters a strong sense of connection among players, making it easy to find inspiration and support as you create your own stories in the woodland.

Whether you’re a veteran roleplayer or just discovering the world of Root, the community is welcoming and inclusive, always eager to help newcomers find their footing. With its active support, wealth of resources, and vibrant sense of camaraderie, the Root roleplaying game community is the perfect place to deepen your connection to the game and to fellow adventurers.

Product Features

• Official Expansion for Root RPG by Magpie Games.

• Introduces four new factions from the board game expansions: Riverfolk Company, Lizard Cult, Grand Duchy, and Underworld Duchy.

• New playbooks, moves, and character creation options.

• Expanded reputation systems with faction-specific positive and negative effects, using points to track reputation changes.

• Additional combat rules, roguish feats, and special moves.

• Features for managing the rest state of factions or clearings during gameplay.

• Introduces new bits of lore, mechanics, and modular content to enhance your campaign.

• Integrated lore and mechanics for enriching your campaign’s setting.

• Compatible with all existing root rpg expansions.

Why This Expansion Stands Out

Unlike generic supplements, Travelers and Outsiders isn’t just a collection of extra content—it’s a carefully crafted narrative and mechanical enhancement to the root role playing game. The expansion delivers on what it is supposed to provide, meeting expectations for both narrative and mechanical depth. The expansion understands what makes Root special: the interplay of politics, personal ambition, and the ever-changing balance of power in the forest.

Whether you’re roleplaying a cunning trader, a zealous cultist, a noble defender of order, or a sly underworld operative, this expansion ensures your character has the tools, moves, and setting depth to thrive.

Final Thoughts

The root rpg travelers and outsiders supplement is more than an expansion—it’s an invitation to explore the forest in ways you’ve never imagined. With its combination of new factions, expanded mechanics, and immersive lore, it enriches every session, offering players and GMs alike endless opportunities for storytelling.

If your campaign is ready for bigger challenges, richer politics, and unforgettable moments, then it’s time to bring the travelers and the outsiders into your woodland. Your next adventure awaits.