# Root: Underworld Hirelings Pack ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2022 - **BGG Rating**: 8.3 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 60-90 min - **Weight**: 3.14 / 5 - **Designers**: Cole Wehrle, Joshua Yearsley, Nick Brachmann, Patrick Leder - **Artists**: Kyle Ferrin - **Publishers**: Leder Games, 2Tomatoes Games, CrowD Games, Fox in the Box, Matagot, MeepleBR, MS Edizioni, Portal Games, Spielworxx, YOKA Games - **Categories**: Expansion for Base-game ## Verdict Essential spice for those wanting more chaos and tactical options in the Woodland!Amazing new strategic layersGreat player count scalingIncreases map tensionVariety of new alliesRequires the base gameAdds extra complexityRECOMMENDED ## Description If you already think the Woodland is a dangerous place, get ready to crank up the chaos! The Root: Underworld Hirelings Pack arrives to inject an extra dose of unpredictability and new tactical layers into your gaming sessions. The concept is simple yet brilliant: you can now hire mercenaries to fight by your side, but of course, there's always a price (and plenty of gold involved!). This pack introduces six unique new allies, such as the Corvid Spies and the Mole Artisans, which can completely shift the momentum of a game. The coolest part is how this expansion scales with your player count. If you are playing with fewer players, the hirelings act as new pieces on the map, creating extra points of tension and forcing everyone to rethink their routes and defenses. It's exactly the kind of dynamism that keeps the board from feeling too static. On the other hand, if the table is full, things get even more interesting: some hireling cards feature a 'flip' mechanic, revealing special abilities and hidden powers that only emerge as the game progresses. This opens up a wealth of strategies you might not have even imagined with your existing factions. Ultimately, this isn't just about adding 'more stuff' to the game; it's about providing new tools for interaction and fresh paths to victory. Whether you're looking to give a boost to a faction that's falling behind or to complicate the life of the current leader, these underworld hirelings are the spice needed to make your Root games even more intense and varied. Just make sure your gold reserves are ready, because in the Woodland, nobody works for free! ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Root: Underworld Henchmen Pack, players take on the roles of factions in a forest in conflict. The goal is to accumulate victory points to become the supreme leader. The Henchmen are mercenaries that change loyalty as the game progresses, offering strategic advantages to the players who control them. The game ends when a player reaches 30 points or when a dominion card is activated. Setup To set up the game with the Henchmen, follow the steps below: Gather and Position Pieces: Gather the 12 control markers and the control die next to the map. Position the 3 henchmen markers (marked with “4”, “8”, and “12”) on the corresponding spaces on the scoring track. Choose the Henchmen: Shuffle all the henchmen cards, reveal 3, and gather their pieces into a supply. Return the remaining henchmen cards and pieces to the box. Demote the Henchmen: Randomly, flip the henchmen cards to the Promoted or Demoted side, based on the number of players: 2 Players: 3 Promoted 3 Players: 2 Promoted, 1 Demoted 4 Players: 1 Promoted, 2 Demoted 5 or more Players: 3 Demoted Prepare the Henchmen: Starting with the last player in turn order and proceeding counter-clockwise, each player prepares one henchman, following the instructions on the henchman card. Gameplay Flow The game proceeds in turns, where each player performs their actions. At the end of each turn, players may receive Henchmen if they reach the required points on the scoring track. Henchmen start without any player's control and are acquired upon reaching 4, 8, or 12 points. At the end of the turn, the player must roll the control die to determine how many control markers they receive. Actions and How to Play The Henchmen offer various actions and abilities: Acquisition Action: Performed when taking control of the henchman. Ability: Always active, with specific effects described on the card. Dawn Action: Performed at the start of the dawn. Once Per Day Action: Can be performed once during the day. Henchmen count toward ruling clearings, but their pieces are separate from the player's pieces. Consult the manual for details regarding this section. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when a player reaches 30 points or when a dominion card is activated. Points are counted according to the rules of the faction you are playing. Henchmen do not grant points directly by removing enemy pieces, but they can influence clearing control and other strategic actions. Tips for Winning Control the Henchmen: Prioritize reaching the points necessary to acquire Henchmen, as they can offer significant advantages. Use Strategic Abilities: Take advantage of the Henchmen's unique abilities to influence clearing control and other players' actions. Manage Control Markers: Maintain control over the Henchmen's control markers to prevent them from changing loyalty. ## FAQ ### Do I need the base game to use this pack? Absolutely! This is an expansion pack and only works if you already own the Root base game. ### Does the game get much harder with the hirelings? It adds complexity and new variables, which increases tension, but doesn't necessarily make the rules harder to learn. ### Does it work well with only 2 players? Yes! In fact, with fewer players, the hirelings help fill the map and keep the game dynamic. ### How many new characters/allies are included? The pack includes six new hirelings, each with distinct abilities. ### Does it significantly increase playtime? There might be a slight increase due to new interactions, but it should stay within Root's typical range. ### Is this a new faction expansion? No, these are mercenaries that can be used by any of the existing factions in the game. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Modo Avião Board Games**: R$ 86,33 (https://modoaviaobg.com.br/produtos/root-pacote-de-capangas-do-submundo/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **MeepleBR **: R$ 94,90 (https://www.lojameeplebrjogos.com.br/root-pacote-de-capangas-do-submundo?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/root-pacote-de-capangas-do-submundo ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4673462&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4890387&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.48 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5389484&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.48 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5474753&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4053638&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4819434&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.00 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6092691&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.41 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=6723333&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3901074&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 17.12 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=5342807&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/42471/root-underworld-hirelings-pack?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com