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[Jack Rudd]

I love bishops. I frequently sacrifice a rook for one. Wait, wrong game.

At what point in a game should you normally get this?
How much of a drawback is the opponent's free trash?
What, other than Fortress, does it best combo with?

[enfynet]

Combos with Gold-Silver-Silver-Province?

[J Reggie]

Bishop is such a cool card! It's usually better as a payload card later in the game, especially when you have a way of gaining Gold out something. The drawback hurts worst earlier in the game, although if I'm playing a new player I'll often open Bishop because it makes the game more interesting.

I think Temple will take over the slot of early trashing while building up VP.

[Chris is me]

Bishop is a decent early trashing card, but only if it's the only trashing card on an engine board. Then you'll both go for it and you thin two cards a shuffle, which is acceptable.

As a payload it is kinda nifty, does all sorts of cool things with pricey cards that you can do to break VP ties and whatnot. If you have gains and actions you can skip greening altogether with it, but that's kind of rare.

Ultimately, it's a bit too situational to be a great $4 cost card, but it's really fun when it's good. That free trash for your opponent really bites.

[luser]

This is best indicator of weak players as they open bishop which is terrible(especially when I open sea hag.) Its one of worst openings as I win 90% of games versus that opening with almost any other.

Its because early bishop is terrible for your economy while great for opponents one. It makes unlikely to hit 5 on turns 4/5 as it acts as copper if you trash estate while opponent will likely get 5 and trash estate. Similarly on next shuffle opponent will get more 5 costs. That advantage is usually enough to win with 5 provinces or so

[math]

I agree with the comments saying you rarely open Bishop unless it's the only trashing; the benefit to your opponents is just too big.  Bishop gives enough points that it's almost always worth it later in the game, though, especially since your opponents can't use the trashing effect as much.

[singletee]

Even if it's the only trashing, opening Bishop is usually a mistake. If your opponent opens Bishop and you don't, you will both trash at the same rate. They will get a few more VPs, but you will be able to buy better stuff which will easily make up the difference.

[werothegreat]

I like Bishop, but I tend to underestimate the power of letting your opponents trash.

[Eran of Arcadia]

I love bishops. I frequently sacrifice a rook for one. Wait, wrong game.

Not necessarily. As you point out, sacrificing a Fortress is a great combo.

[Burning Skull]

Using Bishop as "my deck has a lot of junk, let's trash it so I can do stuff" kind of trasher is usually a bad idea.
Bishop is at it's best when
1. other trashing is available, so by the time you buy a Bishop most of the junk is gone from the decks, that mitigates the drawback of the penalty.
2. there is a way of repeatedly gaining relatively high-cost fodder (Rats, Peddlers, various Gold gainers etc)