Coral Quarrel (Prototype)

Welcome to ‘Coral Quarrel’, a print-and-play card game by Paper Lantern Games. In this asymmetrical 1v1 game, two players, the Ecologist and the Capitalist, face off in a struggle over the coral reefs and oceans at large. 

Each card is divided into two halves, one for each faction. The Ecologist earns points by aligning coral fragments at the card edges to form complete coral structures, thereby restoring the coral reefs. The Capitalist accumulates wealth by gathering coins on the cards, but must ensure they aren’t lost as the board shifts and cards are discarded.

Background

The zenith of climate change is nigh. Coral reefs and an entire ecosystem hang in the balance, as the reefs occupy just 0.01% of the ocean floor, yet support 25% of oceanic life. The reefs are bleached and damaged as the effects of decades of economic growth accumulate.

As the Capitalist, you love the good life, and how can you live the good life without the good money? The oceans are naturally a great place to fish out some coins, so get out your fishing pole, or rather your oil rigs and trawlers! Just beware the Ecologist, who will try to interfere with conservation efforts. Stay off the kelp and keep your earnings safe from their meddling legislation.

As the Ecologist, you’ve seen enough of the ramifications of the industries that strip the oceans. Bleached reefs and collapsed fish populations. Your adversary, the Capitalist, will do all they can to ensure profits continue increasing, so you’ll need to fight equally hard to advocate for change in a world seemingly blind to their own decay. Your conservation efforts must not be discarded by greed.

So, what do you choose: environmental restoration? Or economic growth?

And let the Coral Quarrel begin!

Preparations

• (Optional) Print the rulebook.
• Print cards (20).
• Cut the indicated lines to separate the cards.
• Prepare items (15) that can symbolise coins.
• Find a pal to play, (2 players).
• Read the rules.

Paper Lantern Games

We are team of 3 participants of the 2025 Umeå Game Jam hosted by Arctic Game.

Natalie @nataliie01

Remi @melancholism

Linus @Ciliegi