XXX (not sure about the name yet)
Types: Action - Victory
Cost:
+1 Card
+1 Action
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0 VP
When you trash this, +1
While this is in the supply, it costs less.I am not sure yet about whether the price should be 0 or 1. Probably doesn't make a big difference except for Upgrade and in case a lot of +buys are in the Kingdom.
I am also not sure about whether I want to add an overpay thingy ("When you buy this, you may overpay for it.
For each 2 you overpaid, gain a Coin token.) as I already something similar on
a card of mine and as this is similar to
Asper's Conserve which turned out to be too strong. Plus formatting could be an issue (complexity is definitely no reason against it as the card is fairly simple).
I briefly considered to make it an Action-Treasure-Victory with the Treasure part just being a Copper but this is obviously too gimmicky.
The basic idea behind the card is that of a cheap cantrip with some boni. There are already some cheap cantrips but they all have an on-play boni. Compared to them this is cheaper and worse during play. Like all cheap cantrips you want it for Conspirator, Peddler and Scrying Pool. Furthermore this is good with trash for benefit as you get a VP token and as it is worth 5$ when you trash it. Thus is also acts as a defense against Knights and Saboteur. Like all hybrid cards it interacts with Ironworks, Ironmonger and Tribute. There could exist some other combos I am not aware of right now.
If this version doesn't work (if so probably because the Peddler-esque buy/trash price spread is too large and thus too strong with trash for benefit) I might go for:
XXX
Types: Action - Victory
Cost:
+1 Action
Look at the top 2 cards of your deck. Put one of them into your hand and discard the other
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0 VP
When you trash this, +1 VP.This is inspired by
Gubump's Search Party. If this were a pure action card without the on-trash bonus it would probably be a good 2$ (cantrip sifter sound better than Pearl Diver and is probably more often than not better than Vagrant) which is why I guess that 3$ is the right price.