The studio that made you scheme, backstab and wage asymmetric war in Root is working on something almost suspiciously sweet. Leder Games has revealed Kart, a racing board game about piloting a rickety homemade soapbox cart down a hill, powered by nothing but gravity and nerve. After a decade of merciless strategy games, a wholesome, war-free racer is a real change of lane for the Minnesota studio.
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Find events near youHere is the twist that makes it more than a novelty. Your kart has no engine, so once you crest the hill you keep gathering speed for the whole one-lap race, and the faster you go the harder your ramshackle kart is to control. You will be dodging mud, crash hazards and a slow build-up of damage while grabbing pick-ups along the way, chugging an energy drink for a burst of speed or lobbing a water balloon at the rival ahead. Catch enough air off a ramp and you can pull a stunt. It is built for 2-4 players and runs around 90 minutes, which puts it in middle-weight territory rather than quick-filler land.
Leder made its name on Root, Oath and Arcs, boxes better known for cornering opponents than for good clean fun, so Kart is a deliberate swerve. The studio has not said yet who is designing it, though founder Patrick Leder himself is a fair bet, and a planned 5-6 player expansion promises extra maps and unique racers, hinting the studio's love of asymmetry has not entirely gone away.
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See how it worksThere is a Kickstarter preview up now, though Leder has not locked in a launch date or price yet. If your group has worn out its welcome with cutthroat area control, this looks like the palate cleanser, and when it lands you will want a full table, so round up your regulars.
Sources: Wargamer | Leder Games | Kickstarter
