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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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2. Reveal Cards

• All players reveal their chosen cards at the same time

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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)

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4. Update Spoons

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

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5. Pass Hands

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

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6. Repeat

• Continue until all cards are played

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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

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Self-Care Cards

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

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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.

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Stress Cards

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

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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.

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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

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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