Cross Country Spoon
Item needed:
open
Min players:
4
Max players:
∞
Required age:
12
Average cost:
$3.73
Game duration(Mins):
5 - 10
Everyone’s played spoons right? The beauty of this game is that you can make it as hard or easy as you like. It involves all the same rules as normal spoons, except instead of lining the spoons up in the centre of the group, find a place far away and put them there! It’s preferable to place obstacles between the playing area and the spoons, and probably better played outdoors (but maybe you’d like to mix it up? like start indoors, with the spoons outside!) Could even get messy, bit of commando action even!
Game Overview
Cross Country Spoon is a fun and adventurous twist on the classic card game Spoons. Players must follow the same rules as traditional Spoons but with an added challenge of retrieving spoons placed far away, often with obstacles in the way. This game is ideal for outdoor play and can be tailored to different difficulty levels.
Game Rules
Objective
- Collect a spoon from the designated location when a player gets four of a kind in their hand. The last player to get a spoon is eliminated.
Setup
- Playing Area: Choose an outdoor area with obstacles (trees, rocks, bushes) between the playing area and the spoons’ location. Alternatively, mix indoor and outdoor spaces.
- Players: A minimum of 4 players. There is no maximum number of players.
- Equipment:
- Standard deck of cards
- Spoons (one less than the number of players)
- Optional obstacles (cones, ropes, etc.)
How to Play
- Initial Setup: Place the spoons at a far location from the playing area. Ensure there are obstacles or challenges between the playing area and the spoons.
- Dealing Cards: Deal four cards to each player. Place the remaining deck in the center.
- Starting the Game: Players pick up one card from the deck, discard one card, and pass it to the next player.
- Getting Four of a Kind: The goal is to get four of a kind (e.g., four kings).
- Running for Spoons: Once a player gets four of a kind, they silently run to the location of the spoons. Other players must notice and race to get a spoon.
- Elimination: The player left without a spoon is eliminated.
- Repeat: Remove one spoon and repeat the game until one player remains, who is the winner.
Additional Rules
- Boundaries: Players must stay within the designated playing area and path to the spoons.
- Safety: Ensure obstacles are safe and not too challenging to avoid injuries.
- Fair Play: Players must not interfere with others while retrieving spoons.
Strategies
- Focus: Pay attention to other players’ actions to know when to run for a spoon.
- Speed: Be quick and agile to navigate obstacles efficiently.
- Disguise: Try to silently get four of a kind to surprise other players.
Game Variations
- Timed Rounds: Set a timer for each round to add urgency.
- Messy Obstacles: Include water, mud, or other fun obstacles for a messier game.
- Team Play: Play in teams where one player retrieves the spoon while others assist.