I get what you are saying, and on I see the overpoweredness you are stating. Thanks for the feedback!
I don't think that netting 3VP is too much to ask for 3 action uses that may never happen, because during that time you could be using your woodcutter, or playing your silver with that spot that is taken up with Vassal. Considering the strength, I think we can pretty safely chop off the bonus cantrip ability when you successfully trash a VP card.
I think this card is comparable to Island. Island costs $4 which works out to be a little more than Vassal. It is always worth 2VP, no matter if it leaves your deck or not. This removes 2 cards from your deck when used, and Vassal removes one, and only green cards. Vassal will grab you two VP points if you connect it with Duchy or Province, and one for Estate, and will reduce the green of your deck. If you get many bad draws you can end up scoring no points from this card, whilst Island will always be worth 2VP. However it can be used effectively in many situations also.
The thing that seems to be the main problem is the 3VP for trashing another Vassal with Vassal. However there are a maximum of 8 cards in 2 player which is a maximum of 24VP points if one player trashes all their Vassals with Vassal. This is not an easy task on a large amount of boards, due to poor trashing. Then if both of the 2 players are going for Vassal and get 4 cards each, a maximum of 9 points can only be scored from them, 18 in total. It would probably be quicker to just buy a province and a duchy in big money and a board with no villages, for the same points. But in situations where an engine can be established, especially with Duchy gainers, this card can shine.
Less Vassals also means less chance of joining Vassals. Trashing Vassals for VP also reduces the potential for trashing other green cards in your deck, to score more points. Comparing this card to another $3 VP card, like tunnel is interesting too. I am not trying to prove that my card is terrible haha, just when you look at it this way, it doesn't look over-powerful...
Adding cost to this card is a double edged sword, as it gains more VP when trashed as its price goes up.
doubled overpay amount, read Asper's post and was enlightened.
Reworked:
Vassal: $3+ Action/Victory
0VP.
You may trash a VP card from your hand. If you do gain VP tokens
equal to the cost.
- You may overpay for this. +1VP for each
$2 you overpay.
As for Aristocracy, after your input rethinking from your input, I do think this needs some reworking. I thought of this, but will give more thought later. Not sure if I am 100% happy with new:
Aristocracy: $7 - Action
Choose one: +1 action, +2VP, gain a copper.
Or +3VP, trash a card from your hand.
- When this is in the game, VP tokens may be used as coin tokens.
Shall edit the OP when I decide on changes.
Thanks for the link Asper, that looks interesting, shall check it out!
Edit: Deleted comment on overpay, added comment, Asper posted and changed overpay.