Codenames: Critical Role Adventures – Vox Machina Expansion Pack
Codenames: Critical Role Adventures – Vox Machina Expansion Pack Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Keyleth
Keyleth starts the campaign with 1 Root Token and unlocks the second one as she levels up.
A Root Token can be placed during the guessing phase before any hero's guess, but a guess must be made afterwards (by any hero able to guess by standard rules).
If a tile is placed over a word with a Root Token, move the Root Token on top of the tile.
The detection power of Whispering Roots considers only the inherent effects of the tiles, possibly modified by the mission's special rules; not tokens, abilities, or items.
We recommend placing other heroes around a Root Token first, since they can gain an XP in case of an exceptionally good roll result (remember, Whispering Roots are only used after Keyleth's guess).
The Verdant Eruption ability can be used repeatedly during a single mission, but not after a loss condition has already been met.
Keyleth only gains XP for Root Tokens on words that were actually needed to win the mission (i.e. were placed on the words the party would have had to cover to win).
Hero Sheet: Root Tokens
- MISSION START: Place all unlocked Root Tokens onto this sheet.
- BEFORE ANY HERO'S GUESS: You may place up to 2 Root Tokens from this sheet onto words.
- ANYTIME: Discard 1 Root Token from a word or tile to prevent 1 Damage to anyone standing around it. This is the only way of discarding a Root Token from a word or tile.
- Do not remove the Root Token when stepping on it or covering the word it is on with a tile.
The sheet also shows a diagram of the spaces around a token, labelled "Around".
Hero Sheet: Whispering Roots
After Keyleth's guess is resolved
- You may move 1 Root Token to any uncovered word.
- Roll the d20.
| Roll | Effect |
|---|---|
| 20+ | Anyone standing around at least 1 Root Token gains 1 XP (max). Also resolve the roll effect below. |
| 13–19 | The GM tells you how many spaces around each Root Token (separately) would deal Damage when guessed (disregard any tokens). |
Hero Sheet: Verdant Eruption
Anytime
The GM tells you if guessing any words with a Root Token would fulfill the mission's win condition.
- If not, continue playing.
- If yes, you win immediately. Keyleth gains 1 XP for each Root Token that helped win the mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens when a hero steps on a Root Token? A: Nothing. Root Tokens aren't picked up or resolved by stepping on them the way other tokens are.
Q: Is 1 Damage to all heroes standing around a Root Token prevented by discarding the token? A: No, the ability prevents exactly 1 Damage to 1 hero.
Q: Does a Root Token prevent Damage to the hero standing on top of it? A: No, the Root Token only protects the spaces around it.
Q: Is there a way to get the discarded Root Token back during the mission in which they were used to prevent Damage? A: No, they only return to Keyleth's sheet at the start of every mission.
Q: What kind of Damage can be prevented? A: Any, unless the instructions say otherwise. The source of the Damage doesn't matter – it can be a result of an unsuccessful guess, a Prank Token triggered, an effect of a special rule or a blue tile, or even Damage from an item (such as Manacles of Sacrifice).
Q: What counts as "damage-dealing space" for the purpose of Whispering Roots? A: All the spaces that would deal Damage to a hero when stepped on due to their inherent nature (e.g. gray words, burgundy words), considering further modifications by the special rules of the mission. Disregard items, hero tokens, and damage that could come from hero abilities (including ranged guessing by Percy). If any of the tiles provides a choice about whether to take damage (usually blue tiles), it is considered "damage-dealing".
Q: Can Root Tokens prevent Damage assigned "after the guessing phase ends" or "before/after checking the win condition"? A: No, that kind of Damage cannot be prevented by Root Tokens as the hero standees have been returned to the hero sheets by then, and Root Tokens only prevent Damage to heroes standing around it.
Q: What happens when Verdant Eruption is used and one of the Root Tokens is placed on a black tile? A: Nothing – only the win condition is checked. You cannot lose the mission as you do not actually guess any of the words.
Q: Can Verdant Eruption also be used after an incorrect guess? A: Yes, but only if one of the mission's three loss conditions wasn't met already during that guess. You can use it after a gray or a burgundy word was guessed and covered, and there is still at least one burgundy tile left in the stack. (However, if a hero was knocked out by the guess result, the mission is lost immediately). If the win condition isn't met after using Verdant Eruption, the round continues with the Advance Time phase.
Q: What happens with Root Tokens when a rule instructs us to "remove all tokens from words or tiles"? A: Return those Root Tokens to Keyleth's sheet – they can be placed onto words again later during the same mission. However, those that were already discarded by the party to prevent Damage remain "spent" and cannot be used in the same mission.
Tips & Tricks
- Be sure to spread Root Tokens out soon to start using their powers!
- Whispering Roots are activated only after Keyleth's guess – it is wise to use Keyleth after other heroes of the party have already made their guess in case a 20+ result is rolled, so that they get the XP bonus if standing around at least one Root Token.
Specific Mission Interactions
Potential Spoilers!
- If only 1 tile remains to fulfill the mission's win condition, both Root Tokens are placed on gold words and Verdant Eruption is used, Keyleth only gets 1 XP (for completing the minimum condition needed to win).
- If Verdant Eruption is used in a skull boss fight while the Root Tokens are placed on the last gold word and the black tile, the win condition is fulfilled (i.e. the party wins).
- Campaign 2, Mission 5A: If Verdant Eruption is used, the gold words with Root Tokens on them do not lower the Total Damage, since they are not covered with a tile.
- Campaign 3, Mission 3: If all heroes are at 1 Heart, blue tiles still count as "damaging" for Whispering Roots.
- Campaign 3, Mission 4B-1: If 0–1 tile of a given color has been covered and there are tiles of that color around a Root Token when using Whispering Roots, all tiles of that color are considered not "damage-dealing". If 2 tiles of a given color are already covered, all tiles of that color are "damage-dealing".
- Campaign 3, Mission 5: The GM cannot lie about Verdant Eruption even if Keyleth is standing next to a skull icon.