New card type: Preserve cards.
After thinking about it, I decided there was no point in not putting the looter type on my cards that use ruins. Then, after thinking about it some more, I decided, cards like Archaeologist and Excavation don't really seem appropriate to call 'looters'. And I've had ideas floating in my head for a while now for 'special ruins'. So, my cards that give out ruins (like Vandal and Blackmailer) will be 'looters', but certain other cards will use the 'preserve' type instead.
Preserve type rules: If a card with the Preserve type is in the kingdom, include both the ruins and special ruins in the supply. Whenever you would gain a ruins (except by buying one), you may discard a card to gain a special ruins instead. The ruins and special ruins count as being from the same pile. Whenever a special ruins is gained, trash a normal ruins from the supply. Include 6 special ruins per player.
The special ruins:
Haunted Vault
Cost $2 - Action - Attack - Special Ruins
+$1. Each other player with 5 or more cards in hand puts a card from their hand on top of their deck.
Engraved Pathstone
Cost $2 - Action - Special Ruins
Look at the top three cards of your deck. Put one in your hand and discard the rest.
(Yes, I got the idea from Hearthstone.)
Abandoned Dungeon
Cost $2 - Action - Duration - Special Ruins
This turn and next: Discard a card. If you do, +2 cards. Discard another card.
Sacrificial Cenote
Cost $2 - Action - Special Ruins
Trash up to three cards from your hand or from play.
-
Worth -2VP. When you trash this, gain a curse and set it aside till the end of the game.
Places used for human sacrifice are accursed and you can't easily trash a
cenote.
Ruined Drawbridge
Cost $2 - Action - Reaction - Special Ruins
+1 Card.
-
When another player plays an attack, you may discard this. If you do, +1 Card, and gain a silver putting it on top of your deck.
Ruined Throne
Cost $3 - Action - Special Ruins
Play any card from your hand. If it costs less than $3, play it again. If it costs at least $3, you may trash it. (If the card is not an action or treasure, its effect is +1 card when played by this.)
Include 6 special ruins per player. There are
three copies of each for 24 total.
EDIT: I've pruned them down to six types with four copies of each. Eight or nine types of special ruins seemed a little excessive.
already cut:
Unholy Monument
Cost $2 - Action - Victory - Special Ruins
+$1. +1VP.
-
Worth -2VP.
Pedestal
Cost $3 - Victory - Reaction - Special Ruins
When you discard this other than during clean-up, +$1 on your turn. When you trash this, gain a non-victory card costing up to $4.
-
Worth 1 VP.
Carved Image
Cost $2 - Action - Attack - Special Ruins
Reveal the top 2 cards of your deck. Put the action cards back on your deck in any order, and put the rest in your hand. If you didn't put any cards in your hand, each other player gains a ruins.
Now Archaeologist and Excavation will be a little stronger (both seemed a bit weak before):
Archaeologist
$5 - Action - Duration - Preserve
+1 Card, +1 Action.
Now and next turn: You may discard a card. If you did, or if the ruins pile is empty, gain the effect of the top special ruins, then put it on the bottom of its pile. Otherwise, gain the effect of the top ruins, then put it on the bottom of its pile.
Excavation
$2 - Action - Preserve
+1 Action. If the ruins pile is empty: +$1. Otherwise: +$2. Gain a Ruins, putting the gained card into your hand. You may play an Action card from your hand costing up to $3.
(by jamespotter from the Dark Ages contest. Keep in mind the rule that whenever you would gain a ruins (except by buying one), you may discard a card to gain a special ruins instead.)
hmmm, and maybe this:
Restored Village
Cost 4 - Action - Preserve
+2 Actions. Discard a card. Draw up to 5 cards in hand.
-
When you buy this, gain a ruins.
I wasn't satisfied with the drawback as it was (depending on unused actions). I like this much better (and yes, it does need a drawback).
Pioneer and Ancient Temple will also get the preserve type. Or maybe I'll just make it a ~1/4 chance to include special ruins (with the Preserve rules) whenever any Resurgence cards are in the kingdom.