Kelp: Shark vs Octopus

Setting up Kelp involves placing the central board between the two participants. One player assumes the role of the shark, while the other takes on the octopus. Each player receives their specific components, including action cards, tracking tokens, and special markers. The octopus player secretly places hidden tokens and marks their initial position on the board, while the shark player sets up their starting position and prepares their dice and purchasing tiles. All components are arranged neatly to ensure hidden information remains concealed throughout the setup phase.

The primary objective depends entirely on the chosen role. The shark player aims to hunt down and devour the octopus four times or fill the shark's end-game track before time runs out. Conversely, the octopus player strives to survive by feeding four times, successfully evading the shark, or filling the octopus's end-game track. Both roles require entirely different strategic mindsets, blending hidden movement, deduction, and tactical resource management.

Turns follow a strict alternating sequence, always initiated by the octopus player. The octopus plays cards from their hand to move, reveal or swap terrain tiles, and manage hidden tokens or gain knowledge. Afterward, the shark player rolls dice to determine movement and actions, chasing the octopus, searching adjacent zones, or executing attacks based on dice values and strategic deductions. Each player must carefully balance their available actions to outmaneuver their opponent.

Kelp does not utilize a traditional point-scoring system. Instead, success and progression are tracked directly on the board via feeding tracks and end-game markers. Successful attacks by the shark or successful feedings by the octopus advance their respective progression markers toward victory, while failed attempts or wasted actions fill the timer and end-game tracks.

The game concludes immediately under specific trigger conditions: either the shark successfully devours the octopus four times, the octopus completes four successful feedings, or either player completely fills their respective track before the other accomplishes their goal. The player who fulfills their win condition first is declared the winner of the asymmetrical duel.