Parley-ment
Democracy runs on disagreement done well. Real debate is hard to achieve because the desire to win often gets in the way of arriving at the best outcome for everyone. Too often, debate either drowns in jargon or devolves into chaos. Parley-ment nurtures a sweet spot: win by making the best argument, persuading your opponent, and changing the jury’s mind. How do we save democracy? Through understanding and persuasion. How do we teach effective debate? Parley-ment.
Upon starting high school, I wanted to learn how to properly debate and form strong and persuasive arguments. I joined all the usual clubs like Model UN and Debate Club, but something seemed off. Arguments had to be rigid, grading rubrics were technocratic, and most importantly, nobody seemed to be listening to one another. Something had to change, and one thing I love is card games. So I decided to create a debate-based card game that would help teach and promote the type of empathetic, persuasion-centered argumentation I believe in.
How it Works
The game turns a debate into a fast-paced contest between two rival teams, the Ayes and the Noes, while one player serves as the Jury. Each team presents claims, challenges the other side, and defends its position in timed rounds based on the topic’s complexity. After every clash, both teams must fairly explain their opponent’s argument, rewarding not only strong persuasion but real understanding. The Jury scores the debate and the summaries, and the team with the most points at the end wins.
What's Next?
Parley-ment is now available on Amazon, open for anybody to learn about persuasive debate and better society with more empathetic, effective argumentation. Additionally, Parley-ment is competing in numerous competitions, including the Tabletop Creator Summer Contest and the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards. The goal of this game is to encourage a fundamental shift in the attitude and approach towards debate, not just in small forms and games, but in the world itself.
