Unfortunately, it doesn't cover a very impactful topic. The situation of buying Estate to trash Hovel comes up very rarely, and is often of minimal impact, so if you do it wrong, it won't even matter most of the time.
Depending on the card used to trash, it may be better to trash an Estate compared to a Hovel. You say you need a "definite" use, but that's not really true. Even if it's only a "potential" use, if you're not likely to use the Hovel ability later, you may still want to convert to an Estate.
Depending on the card used to trash, it may be better to trash an Estate compared to a Hovel. You say you need a "definite" use, but that's not really true. Even if it's only a "potential" use, if you're not likely to use the Hovel ability later, you may still want to convert to an Estate.
I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting I change the phrasing, or are you bringing up a subtlety or a situation I haven't considered? I do briefly mention Apprentice and Salvager, but there are other cards that belong on that list, and I could certainly address the issue more explicitly.
Depending on the card used to trash, it may be better to trash an Estate compared to a Hovel. You say you need a "definite" use, but that's not really true. Even if it's only a "potential" use, if you're not likely to use the Hovel ability later, you may still want to convert to an Estate.
I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting I change the phrasing, or are you bringing up a subtlety or a situation I haven't considered? I do briefly mention Apprentice and Salvager, but there are other cards that belong on that list, and I could certainly address the issue more explicitly.
But shouldn't this article be named "Save the Hovel" ?
People swap their Hovels for Tunnels and Silks a lot, and that's actually a more serious mistake because you're passing on a Silver or better. Swapping for a Great Hall or an Island is a more justifiable, since your deck really does get thinner. Maybe I should address these situations in the article?
But shouldn't this article be named "Save the Hovel" ?
You have a Hovel every game, hence "Hovels."
If you protest with a sign that says "Save the Whale!" then someone may join you with one that says "Learn the Englishs!"Nah, people with a sign "Save the Whale!" just want to save one particular whale, and don't care about the rest.
Those bastard.If you protest with a sign that says "Save the Whale!" then someone may join you with one that says "Learn the Englishs!"Nah, people with a sign "Save the Whale!" just want to save one particular whale, and don't care about the rest.
I'm afraid I don't really get the "keep your hovel" logic. It's a totally dead card that doesn't do anything in terms of actions, buys, cards, money, VP, it doesn't play well with trash-for-benefit, and it doesn't combo with cards like true victory cards do. Given 5/2 and no good 2's, I would usually trade my Hovel for an Estate. Anytime I draw that Estate, I would have just drawn my Hovel instead. Really no difference, except I now have 1VP extra and perhaps something to combo with my Crossroads or Baron (or God forbid, Scout). So what if I can trash the Hovel later with a more worthwhile victory card buy? Of course, taking the time to specially buy a victory card to get rid of the Hovel is probably a bad idea, but if you can do it early, why not?Let's just say the game ends on turn 16 and you buy your first Province on turn 9 and get to trash that Hovel. Depending on your deck size, you're probably avoiding a dead card 2-3 times, with trashing or card draw maybe four times. That's not a huge difference, but at least it's bigger than 1VP.
I suppose that ditching the Hovel late game could improve your future reshuffles, but how many more reshuffles do you really have once you've started greening? I feel like this would have more of an impact in slog games, where you might have more time to get the benefit of that efficiently-trashed Hovel. However, that 1 dead card card less in your deck won't matter as much in bigger decks, which is usually the case with slogs. I guess most games aren't decided by 1VP though, so the extra Estate is usually worthless in the end, and that extra card less *could* have made a big difference. After writing all this, I could see some benefit to keeping the Hovel, but only in games where I'm likely to have several reshuffles AFTER I've started buying endgame victory cards.
Well, you can't be guaranteed to trash your Hovel when you buy your first Province.
Why all the fighting? Lets make a compromise. Trash Hovel for a Ducky.
Why all the fighting? Lets make a compromise. Trash Hovel for a Ducky.
I feel like this would be really funny if I could understand it.
Why all the fighting? Lets make a compromise. Trash Hovel for a Ducky.
I feel like this would be really funny if I could understand it.
He means Duchy, which is between Estate and Province.
Quack quack quack.
So by saving the Hovel, you may get a mid-to-late-game free trash, with the opportunity cost of 1VP. This discussion makes me imagine a card with a "pay VP" mechanic.But this is worse than saving Hovel, since trashing an Estate gives you -2 VP and trashing a Copper is not as good as trashing an useless card, but you're still getting -1 VP.
Civil War
+1 Card
+1 Action
You may trash a card from your hand.
If you do, -1VP.
Ignoring the price point and all that, assuming you had it your deck, how often would you use the trash clause? Of course, it depends on the kingdom and the stage of the game and all, but I'm not sure I'd do it once I was buying Provinces.
Civil War
+1 Card
+1 Action
You may trash a card from your hand.
If you do, -1VP.
Nuclear WarIslands: the best way to protect yourself from a nuclear war.
You may trash your opponent's hand, his deck and his discard pile.
If you do, -30VP and the game ends immediately.
Nuclear WarIslands: the best way to protect yourself from a nuclear war.
You may trash your opponent's hand, his deck and his discard pile.
If you do, -30VP and the game ends immediately.
[snip]...and that extra card less *could* have made a big difference. After writing all this, I could see some benefit to keeping the Hovel, but only in games where I'm likely to have several reshuffles AFTER I've started buying endgame victory cards.
In a game I just played against Andrew I made quite the show of trashing my Hovel on T2 (opening Trading Post/Estate). A few turns later I draw the following hand:
Copper, Copper, Copper, Estate, Market Square
Oops :-[