With the addition of Menagerie, I have noticed that a certain type of card plays differently—the reaction card. This might be a bug report and less of a question about how the game works. Bottom line up front, some reaction cards do not activate on draw even if their condition/rule is met on the online client. Is this a client bug or should the cards be reworded?
With the addition of menagerie, there are reaction cards that allow you to draw cards, which can allow you to chain cards that continue to allow you to draw cards. For example, sheepdog on gaining a card can be played to draw a sheepdog and repeat, just as black cat with curses. This is possible in earlier editions as well with Caravan Guard.
Ignoring menagerie reactions and caravan guard, I noticed that other reaction cards do not operate the same. For example, if your opponent plays an attack card that forces you to draw a card (I discovered this with Margrave on the board) and you draw a reaction card (for me it was horse traders), you are not given the option to do the reaction portion of horse traders.
“when another player plays an attack card…” of horse traders should be met even if the attack card forced you to draw a card, but it isn’t. I believe this is a bug (or am asking for guidance) because the language of black cat or sheepdog are virtually similar “when another player gains a Victory Card,” (black cat) or “when you gain a card,”.
I had this experience happen with Margrave and horse traders…I haven’t looked at all the cards and tested other possibilities, but I did a quick glance to see if this was replicable with other attack cards and reaction cards.
I imagine Diplomat, Horse Traders, Beggar, and Secret Chamber should all operate as black cat/sheepdog does if the opponent’s previous action is sufficient. Am I reading something wrong?
Additionally, I believe if an opponent plays Soothsayer, I gain a curse, and I draw watchtower that I should be able to use the reaction portion of watchtower on the gained curse. For the same reasons as sheepdog/black cat, the “when you gain a card” is still met even though you later drew the card.
I am just a nerd that fell in love with this game and I am the rules gatekeeper for my friend group when we play with the actual cards. Would appreciate understanding how this is intended.