Dominion Strategy Forum

Dominion => Rules Questions => Topic started by: AJD on April 13, 2015, 11:08:29 am

Title: "Naming" a card
Post by: AJD on April 13, 2015, 11:08:29 am
So when you name a card, you're not forced to name an actual card that's being used in the current game; this comes up, for example, when you play Mystic but and want to make sure you don't draw anything. You don't even have to name a card that could in principle be in your deck; you're free to say "the Knights randomizer" or "the Three of Clubs" or "Black Lotus" or whatever.

This has led to an assumption on these board that the instruction "name a card" is actually equivalent to "say some words", whether it's the name of a card or not—and if the words you say happen to be the name of a card, then you get the intended effect.

But with the introduction of Events, "name a card" can't just be "say some words", right?

If you play Contraband, and your opponent "names a card" by saying the word "Expedition", that doesn't actually block you from buying Expedition that turn, right? Because Expedition, the Event, isn't a card, and so your opponent hasn't actually succeeded in naming a card to block you from buying.

So I think, as a board, we need to revise our interpretation of what's covered by the instruction "name a card".
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GeoLib on April 13, 2015, 11:14:05 am
So when you name a card, you're not forced to name an actual card that's being used in the current game; this comes up, for example, when you play Mystic but and want to make sure you don't draw anything. You don't even have to name a card that could in principle be in your deck; you're free to say "the Knights randomizer" or "the Three of Clubs" or "Black Lotus" or whatever.

This has led to an assumption on these board that the instruction "name a card" is actually equivalent to "say some words", whether it's the name of a card or not—and if the words you say happen to be the name of a card, then you get the intended effect.

But with the introduction of Events, "name a card" can't just be "say some words", right?

If you play Contraband, and your opponent "names a card" by saying the word "Expedition", that doesn't actually block you from buying Expedition that turn, right? Because Expedition, the Event, isn't a card, and so your opponent hasn't actually succeeded in naming a card to block you from buying.

So I think, as a board, we need to revise our interpretation of what's covered by the instruction "name a card".

I don't think anything really needs to change.

Quote from: Contraband
Worth $3
+1 Buy
When you play this, the player to your left names a card. You can’t buy that card this turn.

Clearly this can only prevent you from buying cards, and since when you buy Expedition you don't buy a card, but rather an event (Donald made this clear somewhere in the events preview thread, I'm pretty sure) Contraband cannot possibly prevent you from buying it. Or perhaps I am misunderstanding what you think is the problem. I don't think Contraband is supposed to prevent you from buying events.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 11:32:19 am
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: DG on April 13, 2015, 11:33:04 am
Contraband says "you cannot buy that card this turn". From reading the events preview, it seems to me that events are not cards, so there is no confusion.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 11:36:58 am
And in case of ambiguity, obviously something that is also a card should be valid.  Fireball is a third level spell but also a card, Ragnaros is both a raid boss and a card, Nolan Ryan is a baseball player and a card, and so forth.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 11:41:09 am
And my post about ambiguity brings up a separate question:  If I have bought Inheritance and set my Estate token on a copy of Ironmonger, and I play Wishing Well, if I name Ironmonger, will I draw an Estate if it's the top card?  I suspect this has been answered elsewhere.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Deadlock39 on April 13, 2015, 11:43:38 am
I mean I think you could technically say that there is an "Expedition Card", and if it is named for Contraband, then it you can't buy that card this turn.  ...but you already can't buy that card, so it doesn't change anything.  The Expedition Card is just on the table to remind you that you can buy the Expedition Event this game.  No one can ever buy that card.  (Except for you, online or at your LGS when you pick up the Adventures expansion.)
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: WanderingWinder on April 13, 2015, 11:45:40 am
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.

I am going to make cards with those names just because.

Obviously what you say doesn't matter if it isn't a card in the (supply/your deck/wherever the card needs to be)
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Mic Qsenoch on April 13, 2015, 11:47:08 am
And my post about ambiguity brings up a separate question:  If I have bought Inheritance and set my Estate token on a copy of Ironmonger, and I play Wishing Well, if I name Ironmonger, will I draw an Estate if it's the top card?  I suspect this has been answered elsewhere.

No, the Estates get the type and abilities they don't get the name.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 11:47:35 am
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.

I am going to make cards with those names just because.

Obviously what you say doesn't matter if it isn't a card in the (supply/your deck/wherever the card needs to be)

Assignment: Create a game that actually uses Pentomino cards.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 11:49:44 am
I mean I think you could technically say that there is an "Expedition Card", and if it is named for Contraband, then it you can't buy that card this turn.  ...but you already can't buy that card, so it doesn't change anything.  The Expedition Card is just on the table to remind you that you can buy the Expedition Event this game.  No one can ever buy that card.  (Except for you, online or at your LGS when you pick up the Adventures expansion.)

But Events are specifically called out as not cards, even though they are cards.  They're both cards and not cards.

Excellent.  If you're carrying Expedition you should be able to visit Marvin on the Heart of Gold and talk to him.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Deadlock39 on April 13, 2015, 11:54:25 am
Of course. In the context of the game there is not a card you can buy.  There probably isn't anything in the rules that even refers to them as cards in the context of the game.  I was just suggesting that is reasonable, outside the context of the game, to call that thing the "Expedition Card".  Naming it effects the Dominion game state the same way naming "Ace of Spades" does.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: AJD on April 13, 2015, 12:01:48 pm
Sure. I just figure it'd be confusing if we end up in a situation where
1) Player A plays Contraband (legal move)
2) Player B names Expedition (legal move)
3) Player A buys Expedition (legal move).

I would much rather tell new players "You can't name Events for Contraband" than "You can name Events for Contraband, but it won't stop your opponent from buying them."
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Watno on April 13, 2015, 12:03:29 pm
But you can't name evens. You can only name cards that have the same name as the events.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Deadlock39 on April 13, 2015, 12:34:44 pm
For the sake of IRL play, I think you should say "You can't name Events for Contraband".

For the sake of technical rules pedantry (one of our favorite things here), all the things that were just discussed.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Rubby on April 13, 2015, 02:06:17 pm
My new house rule (inspired by AdamH) is that when you're told to name a card, you have to name it Kevin.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: iguanaiguana on April 13, 2015, 02:13:37 pm
I get really upset on goko when i want to name Charizard and it forces me to name something on the board instead. Its like, thanks goko, now my wishing well is never going to draw charizard into my hand :/
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 02:52:58 pm
I get really upset on goko when i want to name Charizard and it forces me to name something on the board instead. Its like, thanks goko, now my wishing well is never going to draw charizard into my hand :/

Goko will, however, let you name the Ace of Spades.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: iguanaiguana on April 13, 2015, 02:58:27 pm
How do you name ace of spades on goko?
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 13, 2015, 02:59:46 pm
How do you name ace of spades on goko?

When you go to the "all cards" button or whatever it is, called, it should be in there.  It used to be, at least.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GendoIkari on April 13, 2015, 05:34:15 pm
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.

I disagree. If Black Lotus is a card, then so is Expedition. Not the expedition from Dominion; that's not a card. But in the thousands of games with cards in them that exist, I'd be shocked if none of them have a card called "expedition". And if not, I'll write "expedition" on an index are right now, and now such a card exists.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: LastFootnote on April 13, 2015, 05:57:14 pm
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.

I disagree. If Black Lotus is a card, then so is Expedition. Not the expedition from Dominion; that's not a card. But in the thousands of games with cards in them that exist, I'd be shocked if none of them have a card called "expedition". And if not, I'll write "expedition" on an index are right now, and now such a card exists.

Right. But luckily naming it doesn't prevent you from buying the Dominion event named Expedition, since it's not a card.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Flip5ide on April 14, 2015, 06:18:50 am
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.

I disagree. If Black Lotus is a card, then so is Expedition. Not the expedition from Dominion; that's not a card. But in the thousands of games with cards in them that exist, I'd be shocked if none of them have a card called "expedition". And if not, I'll write "expedition" on an index are right now, and now such a card exists.

If you name a card, you are naming the card itself. You are not "saying the name of a card." Otherwise it would tell you to "say the name of a card."
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GendoIkari on April 14, 2015, 08:30:02 am
I think it's pretty clear that the thing you name must be a card, even if that card isn't part of the game.  Since Expedition isn't a card, you can't name it.

Similarly, while you can name the Ace of Spades, or Black Lotus, or Caravanseray, or Chennai, or Power Plant #25, you cannot name the T Pentomino, or Tobacco Plantation, or Waterdeep Harbor, or Yahtzee, or N-34, none of which are cards.

I disagree. If Black Lotus is a card, then so is Expedition. Not the expedition from Dominion; that's not a card. But in the thousands of games with cards in them that exist, I'd be shocked if none of them have a card called "expedition". And if not, I'll write "expedition" on an index are right now, and now such a card exists.

If you name a card, you are naming the card itself. You are not "saying the name of a card." Otherwise it would tell you to "say the name of a card."

I don't see how these are different... you are allowed to name "Ace of Spades", which is selecting Ace of Spades as the forbidden card. In the same way, you can select any card in existence, which means that you can select "Expedition" from the whatever game happens to have a card with that name, or the game you created in your head on the spot if no such published game exists currently.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Watno on April 14, 2015, 11:05:02 am
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GendoIkari on April 14, 2015, 11:24:00 am
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.

True.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: iguanaiguana on April 14, 2015, 11:29:58 am
If your opponent wants develop, and for some reason you also want him to have develop, and he plays contraband, and you then name develop, thinking 'this is of course in reference to develop from another board game entirely,' then you may very well officially be a real life troller. Same goes for expedition except for in that case it could feasibly matter, but only if the contraband player doesn't understand the rules.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: rspeer on April 14, 2015, 01:18:49 pm
The Naming of Cards is a difficult matter,
It isn't just one of your casual games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a card must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.

First of all, there's the name that the players use daily,
Such as Mystic, Cartographer, Bishop or Scout,
Such as Village or Pirate Ship, Pawn or Sir Bailey--
All of them sensible names to call out.

But I tell you, a card needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar and jokey and weird,
Else how can he keep up his text perpendicular,
And spread out his scrollwork, and cherish his beard?

Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Wandering Winder or Hot Air Balloon,
Such as Dukey, Dame Trasher, or things from Temporum--
Names that f.DS users will recognize soon.

But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that none but Donald X can discover--
But THE CARD ITSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.

When you notice a Sage in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:

His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: AJD on April 14, 2015, 02:32:12 pm
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.

True.

I don't think this is true! I can't name the Develop on the bottom of the supply pile and still allow my opponent to buy the Develop from the top of the supply pile—cards with the same name are treated as equivalent for the purpose of "naming a card".
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GendoIkari on April 14, 2015, 03:24:23 pm
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.

True.

I don't think this is true! I can't name the Develop on the bottom of the supply pile and still allow my opponent to buy the Develop from the top of the supply pile—cards with the same name are treated as equivalent for the purpose of "naming a card".

Hmm, I suppose you're right. Which kind of means that you really are just stating the name of a card, rather than selecting a specific card by naming it. This means that in a deck that has lots of Develops from Dominion AND lots of Develops from Race for the Galaxy, Wishing Well is even better!
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: werothegreat on April 14, 2015, 04:25:27 pm
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.

True.

I don't think this is true! I can't name the Develop on the bottom of the supply pile and still allow my opponent to buy the Develop from the top of the supply pile—cards with the same name are treated as equivalent for the purpose of "naming a card".

Hmm, I suppose you're right. Which kind of means that you really are just stating the name of a card, rather than selecting a specific card by naming it. This means that in a deck that has lots of Develops from Dominion AND lots of Develops from Race for the Galaxy, Wishing Well is even better!

But those Develops are a card type, not a card name.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Kirian on April 14, 2015, 04:32:22 pm
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.

True.

I don't think this is true! I can't name the Develop on the bottom of the supply pile and still allow my opponent to buy the Develop from the top of the supply pile—cards with the same name are treated as equivalent for the purpose of "naming a card".

Hmm, I suppose you're right. Which kind of means that you really are just stating the name of a card, rather than selecting a specific card by naming it. This means that in a deck that has lots of Develops from Dominion AND lots of Develops from Race for the Galaxy, Wishing Well is even better!

But those Develops are a card type, not a card name.

I had assumed he was talking about the role selection cards.  The card type is Development, not Develop.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GendoIkari on April 14, 2015, 05:54:29 pm
The points is that naming that card from some other game doesn't affect your ability to do anything.
If my opponent names the Develop card from RFTG, that doesn't stop me from buying the Dominion card develop either.

True.

I don't think this is true! I can't name the Develop on the bottom of the supply pile and still allow my opponent to buy the Develop from the top of the supply pile—cards with the same name are treated as equivalent for the purpose of "naming a card".

Hmm, I suppose you're right. Which kind of means that you really are just stating the name of a card, rather than selecting a specific card by naming it. This means that in a deck that has lots of Develops from Dominion AND lots of Develops from Race for the Galaxy, Wishing Well is even better!

But those Develops are a card type, not a card name.

I had assumed he was talking about the role selection cards.  The card type is Development, not Develop.

I assumed so too, but we can always get into if the role cards actually have "names" or not.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: chipperMDW on April 16, 2015, 10:12:29 pm
To avoid confusion in this regard, just declare a null Dominion card that has no physical representation and may not be used in any game of Dominion. Define it to have all names that are not names of other Dominion cards.  (It will, of course, lose names when new cards are published.)  Then require that a player name an actual Dominion card, including the null card, whenever any Dominion card instructs him or her to name a card.  Problem solved.

And hey, we get a new Dominion card for free that way.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Flip5ide on April 16, 2015, 10:45:54 pm
To avoid confusion in this regard, just declare a null Dominion card that has no physical representation and may not be used in any game of Dominion. Define it to have all names that are not names of other Dominion cards.  (It will, of course, lose names when new cards are published.)  Then require that a player name an actual Dominion card, including the null card, whenever any Dominion card instructs him or her to name a card.  Problem solved.

And hey, we get a new Dominion card for free that way.

Or you could just ask the player to your right to name a card which you cannot buy this turn. My pedant-o-meter is off the charts. It doesn't say that you aren't supposed to/can't say something like..

Quote
"The second card from the top in the pile of cards in the living room of Fred's house containing cards with the names of Develop, coming from the game Dominion by Rio Grande Games."

..If he simply says this we can eliminate all this confusion.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: liopoil on April 16, 2015, 10:46:27 pm
You mean, like, the Ace of Spades?

I think I am going to draw the Ace of Spades on one of my blanks now.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: sudgy on April 17, 2015, 01:25:11 am
There already is a card that's in Dominion that can't be in your deck.  The Trash card.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: GendoIkari on April 17, 2015, 01:51:42 am
There already is a card that's in Dominion that can't be in your deck.  The Trash card.

If the trash card counts as a card, then so do events. They're both things that are printed on cards, but not considered "cards" as far as rules go.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: enfynet on April 17, 2015, 02:45:50 am
The Knights randomizer card won't be available ever.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Flip5ide on April 17, 2015, 05:34:41 am
But do you really "buy" events or do you spend a buy to use its action? I don't think you keep the card, so therefore you did not purchase it.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: chipperMDW on April 17, 2015, 05:56:13 am
But do you really "buy" events or do you spend a buy to use its action? I don't think you keep the card, so therefore you did not purchase it.
You do buy events.  At least, one would presume that buying an event before Messenger would make Messenger not your first buy in a turn.  It's just that buying an event will result in following its instructions, where buying a card has always resulted in gaining the card (usually).
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: iguanaiguana on April 17, 2015, 08:27:35 am
Unless of course that card is band of misfits, in which case tis an ethereal mystery what you just gained.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: eHalcyon on April 17, 2015, 11:52:49 am
But do you really "buy" events or do you spend a buy to use its action? I don't think you keep the card, so therefore you did not purchase it.

Yes, it's something you buy.  It fully fits the Dominion definition of "buy".  It's just not something you gain.


An Event is something you can buy in your Buy phase that isn't a card. You pay your $, you use up a Buy, and something happens.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: swedenman on April 17, 2015, 04:29:45 pm
Now this is what I call in-depth Dominion analysis.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: Flip5ide on April 18, 2015, 10:16:24 am
But do you really "buy" events or do you spend a buy to use its action? I don't think you keep the card, so therefore you did not purchase it.

Yes, it's something you buy.  It fully fits the Dominion definition of "buy".  It's just not something you gain.


An Event is something you can buy in your Buy phase that isn't a card. You pay your $, you use up a Buy, and something happens.

To be honest it was almost an actual question. Donald's preview page was tl;dr at the time.

But you don't buy the card.. you buy the Event.
Title: Re: "Naming" a card
Post by: eHalcyon on April 18, 2015, 06:29:52 pm
But do you really "buy" events or do you spend a buy to use its action? I don't think you keep the card, so therefore you did not purchase it.

Yes, it's something you buy.  It fully fits the Dominion definition of "buy".  It's just not something you gain.


An Event is something you can buy in your Buy phase that isn't a card. You pay your $, you use up a Buy, and something happens.

To be honest it was almost an actual question. Donald's preview page was tl;dr at the time.

But you don't buy the card.. you buy the Event.

Yes.  But you still buy it. :P