Cooperative Play

Note: we haven't done a lot of play testing on these cooperative rules, so we'd love to hear feedback and suggestions. 

An alternative set of rules may be played for those who wish to play cooperatively instead of competitively. This may be a good option for young people. It is somewhat simpler, but still allows players to learn the bird names, the Hawaiian terms, and the ecological relationships of habitats, threats and protections. 

The object of this game is for all players to work as a team to try to get the highest possible point value of nesting bird colonies. Sets are laid down in a common area in the center of the table.  Any player may play on any existing Habitat, regardless of who originally played the Habitat. 

Separate the Threat cards from the rest of the deck and place them in their own pile. 

Deal a total of 36 cards from the main deck to all players. (If there are 5 or 7 players, deal 35 cards). 

Players play open handed, placing their cards down on the table in front of them. 

Each player in turn:

1. Draw one card from the main draw pile.

2. Take one card from any other player’s hand (optional); or draw a second card.

3. Lay down any sets (Nesting pair with a habitat, or on an existing habitat with capacity); and play any protection cards.

Every four players, after that player’s turn, draws one Threat card. If the Threat can be played, it must be played. It must be played on the highest value bird pair that is in a vulnerable Habitat.  If there are multiple options, the player drawing it may choose where to play it. If Habitat Loss is drawn, it must be played on the most valuable vulnerable habitat. If Sea Level Rise is drawn, it must be played.  If the threat can’t be played (there are no vulnerable habitats), then it is discarded. 

Each player on their turn, after drawing one card, can choose, instead of taking a card from another player’s hand, to play a Protection card.

Once a total of 36 turns have been played (or 35 turns with 5 or 7 players), the game is over. (Keep track of each round, e.g. with 4 players, 9 rounds will be played; with 5 players, 7 rounds, etc.)

The players then total up the points of all their bird habitats that aren’t canceled by threats.

The object of this game is to try to get the highest score possible as a group. Keep track of your scores and try to best them!