Category: Documentation

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Spoon Buffet (Revised Rules)

Players: 2–4
Time: 15–20 minutes

Goal

Manage your daily energy (“spoons”) and finish the game with the most remaining—without burning out or going into debt.

What Are “Spoons”?

Spoons represent your mental, emotional, and physical energy.
Each day you have a limited amount, spend it wisely, recover when you can, and avoid burnout.

Card Types

  • Task Cards (Work, School, Chores)
    → Cost spoons, earn points
  • Self-Care Cards (Sleep, Exercise, Mindfulness)
    → Restore spoons
  • Support Cards (Friends, Therapy, Family)
    → Protect or assist against stress
  • Stress Cards (Anxiety, Overcommitment, Events)
    → Drain spoons or create negative effects

Setup

  • Shuffle all cards into one deck
  • Each player starts with:
    • 10 spoons (this is your max)
    • 0 Spoon Debt tokens
  • Deal 7 cards to each player
  • Keep spoon counts visible

Round Structure 

Each round follows these clear steps:

1. Choose Cards 

  • Each player selects 1 card from their hand
  • Place them face down

Important:

  • You may play up to 1 card per turn
  • If you play 1 card, you must be able to afford all the spoon costs

2. Reveal Cards

  • All players reveal their chosen cards at the same time

3. Resolve Cards 

Resolve cards in this order for clarity:

  1. Support Cards (protection is set up first)
  2. Stress Cards (apply or attempt to counter)
  3. Task Cards (pay costs, gain points)
  4. Self-Care Cards (restore spoons last)

4. Update Spoons

  • Apply all spoon gains and losses
  • If you drop below 0 → trigger Spoon Debt (see below)

5. Pass Hands

  • Pass remaining cards:
    • Left on odd rounds
    • Right on even rounds

6. Repeat

  • Continue until all cards are played

Card Rules 

Task Cards

  • Cost 1–3 spoons
  • Worth +1 point each (tracked immediately or at end)
  • If you cannot afford the cost, you must:
    • Still resolve the card
    • Take Spoon Debt

Self-Care Cards

  • Restore 1–3 spoons
  • Cannot exceed 10 spoons (your max)
  • If you play multiple, effects stack

Support Cards

  • Played before Stress resolves
  • Can:
    • Reduce spoon loss
    • Cancel Stress effects
    • Help another player (if specified)

Clarification:
You may only use Support cards the turn they are played, unless stated otherwise.

Stress Cards

  • Cause spoon loss or negative effects
  • Some require interaction:
    • Example: another player may help you
  • If no one helps → penalty increases

Spoon Debt (Burnout Mechanic)

If your spoons drop below 0:

  • Take 1 Spoon Debt token
  • Reset your spoons to 0 immediately

Penalty

  • Each token = –2 points

👉 This reinforces the theme: pushing too hard has consequences.

End of Game & Scoring

After all rounds:

  • +1 point per remaining spoon
  • +1 point per completed Task card
  • –2 points per Spoon Debt token

Highest score wins

Quick Turn Example

  1. You play:
    • 1 Task (cost 2)
  2. Resolve:
    • Pay 2 spoons
  3. Net change = -2 spoons to your number of spoons hand in hand
Posted on

Game Maker’s Observations – Spoon Buffet

Based on the players who tested and responded to Spoon Buffet

Player Playtest Observations:

  • Clarify rules about card usage
    • Confusion on whether players can play one card or multiple cards per turn
    • Some cards imply multi-card play, while rules say otherwise → inconsistency
  • Simplify rule instructions
    • Players struggled to understand how to play cards from their hand
    • Rules should be more step-by-step and explicit
  • Align card text with the rulebook
    • Card instructions and official rules need to match exactly
    • Remove any wording that suggests mechanics that aren’t allowed
  • Consider allowing multiple card plays per turn
    • Multiple players expressed wanting this option
    • Could improve strategy, engagement, and flow
  • Improve clarity of gameplay flow
    • Players weren’t always sure what to do on their turn
    • Add a turn structure guide (ex., draw → play → resolve → discard)
  • Increase player interaction
    • Add mechanics that encourage interaction between players
    • Currently feels like a missed potential in this area
  • Clarify the game’s message/theme
    • “Balancing life” is somewhat present but not obvious
    • Strengthen how mechanics connect to the theme
  • Reduce overall confusion
    • Multiple players reported feeling confused
    • Could be addressed through:
      • clearer rules
      • Examples of play
      • possibly a quick-start guide
  • Add visual/physical aids
    • Suggestion: use real spoons or stronger visual elements
    • Helps with understanding and immersion
  • Ensure the intended gameplay experience is clear
    • Players felt unsure if they were playing “correctly.”
    • Include example turns or sample scenarios
Posted on

Prototype/Ruleset Game #1 – iteration 1

Limitation

Objective:
To make it back across the starting line together

Materials:
4-6 players
6 age cards (with rules for movement and limitations)
6 dice of different
Your body, mind, and creativity

Setup:
Each player randomly chooses an age card and a dice
Players choose a space to line up (like at a race starting line)

Gameplay:
Each movement is determined by individual dice rolls (in front of each person on the floor or any flat space near you)
Follow the instructions on you age card to see how many steps you can take. Players all roll dice at the same time but don’t roll again until everyone has moved at least one step.

Continue rolling dice and making movements until you have made it to a determined end point and then turn around and make it back to your starting position. The starting position becomes the finish line.

This is essentially a relay race but with limitations

The catch is you must all cross the finish line together to win

Work together to help slower players and give up your movements so you can all successfully make it across the finishing line

Winning/Losing:

When all the players complete the “relay” together they win

If more than one players cross the finish line before the others, you all lose and the players who went alone can be shamed and booed for leaving their fellows behind