Lunar Cycle

Lunar Cycle is a trick-taking card game where the value of the lowest card increases after each trick--aligning with the phases of the moon. There are 5 suits of 8 cards. One suit randomly becomes the "Exchange" suit. This suit cannot be played but a player holding exchange cards may swap them with cards in a pool on the table. Standard trick-taking rules apply with the addition of 4 Comets that are always Atout (French for trump) that can be played at any time. The dealer selects the Atout Suit after looking at their cards. At the end of each trick, the Moon Phase changes and the lowest card becomes the highest (1 becomes a 9 at the end of the 1st trick, 2 becomes a 10 after the 2nd, etc.). At the end of 8 tricks, players earn 3 points for each trick they have taken. Players that have taken no tricks are given 2 points from each player that has taken tricks. After 4 hands, high score wins. —description from the designer