Spoons (and Knives)

Spoons is a game for 3-6 (or more) players in a loose circle. The objective of each round is to get a spoon from the center, of which there is one less than the number of players. A player may only grab a spoon if they either have four-of-a-kind or if another player has grabbed a spoon (unless only two remain, in which case either may grab the remaining spoon the moment either has four-of-a-kind). Players may reach for a spoon at any time, but touching a spoon before you have four-of-a-kind or someone else has taken a spoon will cause the player to be eliminated. Not having a spoon once all spoons have been claimed from the middle also causes that player to be eliminated. When a player is eliminated, spoons are returned to the middle (always numbering one less than the number of players), the cards are shuffled, and a new round is dealt.

Each player is dealt four cards at the start of the round, and the dealer begins play by drawing one card from the deck into their hand and then passing a card from their hand to the player on their left. That player then passes a card from their hand to the player on their left until the last player is reached who then discards to the discard pile (if the deck runs out before the round is over, flip the discard pile over and continue play). It is not necessary for the dealer to wait for all other players to finish passing before drawing a new card. They can draw a new card the moment they have passed a card to the next player.

Players may not have more than five or less than four cards in their hand at any time. However, they may still pass to the next player even if that player has five cards, simply setting the card next to that player for them to pick up when they can. Thus a slow player may build up a large pile to go through.

A player who has collected a spoon is free to continue playing (while maintaining their four-of-a-kind if they were the first to grab one) so long as there are spoons in the middle left to claim. Just to mess with their fellow players.

So, what does the Heckadeck add, aside from more cards? How about the Suit of Knives?

Knives add a special rule to the game. When a card bearing the Suit of Knives (including the Diamond/Knives Traveler and Hunter) enters a player's hand (i.e. drawn from the deck by the dealer or passed from another player for anyone else as detailed in the above rules), they must discard four cards (any four cards, including the Knives card) to the discard pile and draw four new ones from the deck before continuing play. If you prefer, you may instead have players discard and draw three, two, or even just one card.

Jokers are not wild, but they can make four-of-a-kind with each other. Same with Hunters, Travelers, Arrows, and Talismans.

The Watcher, Crone, Darkness, and Omnihedron can also form four-of-a-kind with each other (though the Watcher also counts as a card bearing the Suit of Knives!).