game setup and how to play

1. Make your game pieces

You will play as either Kelp or Centro (sea urchins).

• Spend a few minutes making your own game piece.

• You can use playdough, pipe cleaners, ribbons, matchsticks, or other craft materials.

• If you prefer:

  • Use pom poms to represent Centro.

  • Use shells to represent kelp reef habitat, which supports species like abalone and periwinkles.

2. Form teams

• Divide players into two teams:

  • Kelp team

  • Centro team

• Each player makes one game piece for their team.

• Each board can have up to 8 players per team.

3. Set up the board

• Place the Kelp team at the Great Southern Reef end of the board.

  • Kelp pieces start in the reef.

  • Kelp uses the 6-sided die.

• Place the Centro team at the Urchin Barren end of the board.

  • Centro pieces start in the barren.

  • Centro uses the 8-sided die.

• The 8-sided die represents the unfair advantage Centro have by moving and reproducing faster.

4. Starting the game

• The Kelp team goes first, because kelp was here first.

• All pieces start behind the black and white start line.

5. Taking turns

• One player rolls the team’s die and moves their piece forward the number of spaces rolled.

• If you land on:

  • A blank space: your turn ends.

  • A challenge space: follow the instructions shown in the purple bubble.

6. Important challenge rule

• Challenges only apply if you land on them directly from a die roll.

• If you land on a challenge space because of a consequence move, ignore that challenge.

7. Continuing play

• Teams take turns rolling.

• Players within each team take turns rolling their die.

• Play continues until one team meets the win condition.

8. Winning the game

The winning team is the first team to have all their pieces cross the finish line into the other team’s habitat:

• All kelp pieces enter the urchin barren, or

• All Centro pieces enter the Great Southern Reef.