Enchanted Plumes is a new card game from Calliope Games. In this game players compete to earn the most points by building peacock plumes. We’re sharing our quick thoughts (plus a special code for you!) on this lovely card game we keep coming back to evening after evening.
How Do You Play Enchanted Plumes?
In Enchanted Plumes, you’re competing to earn the most points from the peacock plumes you create before the game ends when the Peahen is revealed from the deck.
In the deck there are 100 feather cards, numbered 0-9 in 10 unique colors. On their turn, players will play 1 or 2 feather cards from their hand into plumes they’ll build on the table in front of them.
Plumes are created by building rows of cards from top to bottom filled with matching colors from row to row. There is no limit to how large the top row of your plume can be, however, the top row of your plume will be scored as negative points. All other rows are scored as positive. Once a second row is started, no other cards can be added to the top row and all rows below it must have colors matching those in the top row.
New plumes can be started at any time. Plumes do not need to be completed to start a new plume or contribute to your score.
After playing into your plumes, players must then either draw two cards from the Feather deck, swap two cards from their hand with two Feather cards from the Train on the table, or a combination of the two.
Play continues this way until the Peahen is revealed from the Feather deck. At this point, the game ends immediately and scores are tallied.
Players earn points for their plum, taking the total of all positive rows and subtracting the top row from that. Completed Plumes also earn bonus points equal to the total number of cards that make up the plume.
The player with the most points is the winner and is bestowed with the luck of the Peacock!
What Do We Think?
Enchanted Plumes feels both familiar and modern.
The simplicity of its rules makes way for an elegant game that is as calming as it is addicting. The cards are also incredibly beautiful. I absolutely love how the plumes look all fanned out on the table.
One thing I have really enjoyed is how interesting the cards values are to the game.
Because your top row counts against your plumes total, you work hard to place lower valued cards into the top row. You certainly don’t want a top row filled with 5, 6, or higher cards. This seems like a simple goal, yet you’re also trying to fill the top row with unique colored feather cards. More colors means more options for points but it also means more cards in the top row. This can be both positive and negative. Negative because you might have a harder time completing the plume. Positive because, if you do, your bonus points will be higher!
Once you lock in that top row, 0, 1s, and 2s are no longer a welcome site in your hand. You want the highest cards you can to rack up points!
This makes for such a fun shift in thinking. You swing from wishing for 0s in your hands to then looking for any chance to get rid of them. This happens frequently throughout the game. Sometimes from turn to turn!
To Stall or Accelerate?
The draw phase is also an interesting element of your turn.
Once the Peahen is revealed from the bottom of the deck, the game ends immediately. Depending on your placement in the game, you may feel less inclined to draw 1 or 2 cards from the deck — hoping to stall the game so you can finish your plumes. I love this balancing act. Often at this point in the game I have a hand full of feather cards I may not need but my opponents do! The last thing I want to do is trade them out into the center, but I also don’t want to draw from the deck.
Similarly, if you think you’re in the lead, you may want to draw as often as you can to speed up the end!
This part is where the game feels so familiar to me and harkens to classic card games. It reminds me of games like Canasta where you must discard but know that there’s a high likelihood you’ll discard something that gives your opponent the win. It a simple, yet difficult decision that makes Enchanted Plumes feel like more than just a pretty card game.
Great for All Ages
This is a game that I will reach for to play with just about anyone; young or old. It’s perfect for those non-board gaming friends or family that feel more comfortable with a less intimidating game. It’s also incredibly easy to teach!
Enchanted Plumes also allows players to build something, so even if you lose, there’s still a consolation prize of looking upon the beautiful plumes you’ve built.
Summary
Enchanted Plumes has been living on our kitchen counter and for good reason! It is the perfect grab-and-play game to enjoy over your morning coffee, after dinner, or any time you want to relax and enjoy each others company.
The beautiful cards and interesting choices provided in this simple game make it an instant recommend for anyone who loves the classic draw of a great card game.
If you’d like to pick up a copy for your family, use my code TABLETOPFAMILY21 for 20% off of this and all games on the Calliope web store! This code will expire August 31, 2021.
A special thank you to our friends at Calliope Games for sending us a copy of Enchanted Plumes for review. As always, our thoughts and opinions are our own.
Game Info:
Title: Enchanted Plumes
2-5 Players Ages 8+
Designer: Brendan Hansen
Publisher: Calliope Games
Find all our favorite card and board games on our Amazon Storefront!
If You Liked This Post You May Also Like:
Mass Transit
Ship Shape
5 Card Games You Should Own
