Bad: Due to its slowness, in order to get any sort of reliability out of CotR, you need to stagger them, like Durations, which means you need to buy twice as many of them. So, to support 5 terminals, you really should be buying 4 (which is how many Villages you'd be buying anyway).
Okay, who wants to play some Skype CotR games with me?
Okay, who wants to play some Skype CotR games with me?
I would, but it seems you're not on Skype. :p
That, and I have to go to college. D:
I've skimmed your article. I have several critiques and can quote several things you've said in the article that I flat-out disagree with and/or think are misleading, but I'm at work right now so I can't realistically type that out in a thoughtful, constructive way until tonight at the earliest (and it may be even longer, I can't promise that I'll have it done by the end of the weekend, TBH, though if you want me to do it I will make sure it happens).
How do I use it?
In general, Coin of the Realm's Reserve nature means that you'll never "waste" it as a Village - playing Village, then Smithy, only to draw a bunch of Treasures and Victory cards is not exactly optimal. That Village has now be used for the shuffle, and so you've in a sense lost your ability to support one of the terminals in your deck until you reshuffle, which is why it can often be good to get a couple more Villages than your deck actually needs. If that were a Coin of the Realm instead, you'd be able to hold onto it until you actually had a collision in your hand. With CotR on your Tavern mat, you can play terminal draw with impunity, knowing you can support up to two more Actions if you draw any, and still being perfectly happy if you don't. Without terminal draw, you can almost overload on terminals, since a single CotR can handle three terminals colliding in your hand - in this case, again, unlike with normal Villages, there's no chance of "wasting" CotR if you only draw one terminal.
To get into more detail, let's look at two cases: boards without other villages, and boards with them.
Coin of the Realm as the only village
Here, CotR should be one of your earliest purchases. Be willing to spend $3 on it, though perhaps not at the expense of an opening Silver, unless you're aiming for $4 terminals instead of $5's. You want CotRs on your Tavern mat as soon as possible, so that you can start calling them as soon as you start getting terminal collisions.
It's at this point that we need to address CotR's major advantage, and major disadvantage:
Good: CotR gives 1 Action more than most other Villages, since it doesn't require an Action to get its effect. Therefore two CotRs can support 5 terminals, whereas 2 Villages can only support 3.
Bad: Due to its slowness, in order to get any sort of reliability out of CotR, you need to stagger them, like Durations, which means you need to buy twice as many of them. So, to support 5 terminals, you really should be buying 4 (which is how many Villages you'd be buying anyway).
...
All in all, is an engine possible with CotR as the only Village? Yes, but it can be a little finicky at times.
Coin of the Realm with other Villages
In these cases, CotR is often ignorable. Getting $2 is not usually a happy turn, and you'd often rather pick up a drawing Action Village. In these cases, if you get CotR at all, it will be as a supplement, something you pick up with an extra buy to help smooth out your engine. When paired with other Villages, CotR kind of feels like Cartographer: not something that's really going to be essential to your strategy, but it certainly has a net positive effect on your deck if you happen to pick one up. It can also add some reliability to your deck - as mentioned before, CotR doesn't have to worry about being drawn with your terminal draw card, as it's already there, on your mat, waiting to be called. In these cases, picking up one or two CotRs can help ensure that your engine fires every turn.
What does it work well with?
CotR likes +Buy. It's a perfect "sure, why not" purchase when you have $2 left to spend, and certainly helps your deck more than Pearl Diver. The best version of this is terminal draw +Buy - Council Room, Margrave, Ranger - that way your CotRs can help support their play, and then you can pick up another draw card along with another CotR, or whatever other payload you feel like snagging.
Of course, we can't not mention the two cards that play Treasures during your Action phase - Black Market and Storyteller. While I wouldn't go so far as to call either of these a "combo" with CotR, the synergy is certainly strong here. Being able to play and call CotR on the same turn completely gets rid of the slowness disadvantage, and almost doubles the terminal capacity of your deck.
Conclusion
A solid card, both in its role and its price point, though it shines more if it doesn't have any Village competition.
What is the wisdom I gained from hundreds of games, where I'm beating my opponents because I'm outplaying them with this card, and I can finally put my finger on it, put it into an article, and communicate that to someone to actually improve their game?
If the answer to that question is compelling, you're going to have an article that is much more respected.
Deadlock39's Turn 1:
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Mine
Deadlock39 gains Mine
werothegreat's Turn 1:
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat buys Coin of the Realm
werothegreat gains Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39's Turn 2:
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 gains Coin of the Realm
werothegreat's Turn 2:
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat buys Remodel
werothegreat gains Remodel
Deadlock39's Turn 3:
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 buys Remodel
Deadlock39 gains Remodel
werothegreat's Turn 3:
werothegreat plays Remodel
werothegreat trashes Copper
werothegreat gains Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat buys Woodcutter
werothegreat gains Woodcutter
Deadlock39's Turn 4:
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Workshop
Deadlock39 gains Workshop
werothegreat's Turn 4:
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat buys Woodcutter
werothegreat gains Woodcutter
Deadlock39's Turn 5:
Deadlock39 plays Workshop
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Mine
Deadlock39 trashes Copper
Deadlock39 gains Coin of the Realm
werothegreat's Turn 5:
werothegreat plays Woodcutter
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat buys Smithy
werothegreat gains Smithy
Deadlock39's Turn 6:
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Estate
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 gains Coin of the Realm
werothegreat's Turn 6:
werothegreat plays Remodel
werothegreat trashes Copper
werothegreat gains Moat
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat buys Coin of the Realm
werothegreat gains Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39's Turn 7:
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 buys Market
Deadlock39 gains Market
werothegreat's Turn 7:
werothegreat plays Woodcutter
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat buys Cellar
werothegreat gains Cellar
Deadlock39's Turn 8:
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Estate
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Mine
Deadlock39 trashes Copper
Deadlock39 gains Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 gains Coin of the Realm
werothegreat's Turn 8:
werothegreat plays Woodcutter
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Remodel
werothegreat trashes Copper
werothegreat gains Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat buys Smithy
werothegreat gains Smithy
Deadlock39's Turn 9:
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Estate
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 buys Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 gains Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 buys Smithy
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
werothegreat's Turn 9:
werothegreat plays Smithy
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Smithy
werothegreat plays Moat
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Cellar
werothegreat discards 2 cards
werothegreat draws 2 cards
werothegreat plays Remodel
werothegreat trashes Estate
werothegreat gains Milita
werothegreat plays Woodcutter
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat buys Mine
werothegreat gains Mine
Deadlock39's Turn 10:
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Workshop
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Mine
Deadlock39 gains Market
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 buys Market
Deadlock39 gains Market
Deadlock39 buys Milita
Deadlock39 gains Milita
werothegreat's Turn 10:
werothegreat plays Woodcutter
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Woodcutter
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat buys Market
werothegreat gains Market
Deadlock39's Turn 11:
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Copper
Deadlock39 gains Cellar
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Milita
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 buys Market
Deadlock39 gains Market
Deadlock39 buys Market
Deadlock39 gains Market
werothegreat's Turn 11:
werothegreat plays Remodel
werothegreat trashes Estate
werothegreat gains Smithy
Deadlock39's Turn 12:
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Workshop
Deadlock39 gains Market
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Milita
werothegreat reveals Moat
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Province
Deadlock39 gains Province
Deadlock39 buys Market
Deadlock39 gains Market
werothegreat's Turn 12:
werothegreat plays Smithy
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Smithy
werothegreat plays Moat
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Smithy
werothegreat plays Market
werothegreat plays Remodel
werothegreat trashes Woodcutter
werothegreat gains Market
werothegreat calls Coin of the Realm
werothegreat plays Cellar
werothegreat discards Curse
werothegreat draws 1 card
werothegreat plays Milita
Deadlock39 discards 2 cards
werothegreat plays Mine
werothegreat trashes Copper
werothegreat gains Silver
werothegreat puts Silver into his hand
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Copper
werothegreat plays Silver
werothegreat plays Coin of the Realm
werothegreat buys Province
werothegreat gains Province
Deadlock39's Turn 13:
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Market
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Remodel
Deadlock39 trashes Cellar
Deadlock39 gains Smithy
Deadlock39 calls Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Milita
Deadlock39 plays Smithy
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Coin of the Realm
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 plays Copper
Deadlock39 buys Market
Deadlock39 gains Market
Deadlock39 buys Province
Deadlock39 gains Province
Deadlock39 buys Estate
Deadlock39 gains Estate
Disclaimer: I am not claiming to be an expert on the coin of the realm. I will try to give incite on things it works well with.Worth emphasizing that another reason CotR is good with big draw cards is because the coin itself can be drawn and played easily with Terminal Draw. So if you're short on actions during a turn, it may be worth playing terminal draw as the last action just so you can set up CotR on the mat for next turn. In fact, it seems vital to me to do this because you need to play CotR as a treasure on a previous turn before you can use it for actions.
Coin of the realm is a card that in an engine you almost always want one or two on your tavern mat. Coin boosts your early economy as well as provide a strong village later in the game.
Things it works well with.It works well with cultist chains because in most cultist game you will often not have a village in your hand and you will probably still want to play some key actions at the end of your cultists chain. It works well with + buy because you can pick up it up with another engine component. It works well in big decks because in big decks you might not have a village in hand. I think that it's need to be staggered is negated by it's cheapness.
- Terminal draw especially cultist chains
- +buy
- Big decks
- 5/2
Coin boosts your early economy
Really Early like when you have 3 estatesCoin boosts your early economy
Gonna disagree with this part. It's a Copper, which hurts your economy more than it helps.
Really Early like when you have 3 estatesCoin boosts your early economy
Gonna disagree with this part. It's a Copper, which hurts your economy more than it helps.
I might not be correct but whatever
But early on it boosts economy and then it disappearsReally Early like when you have 3 estatesCoin boosts your early economy
Gonna disagree with this part. It's a Copper, which hurts your economy more than it helps.
I might not be correct but whatever
Even then, if economy is the thing you care about, you're better off buying nothing at all. The Copper on play should be thought of more as a penalty, not a bonus.
But early on it boosts economy and then it disappearsReally Early like when you have 3 estatesCoin boosts your early economy
Gonna disagree with this part. It's a Copper, which hurts your economy more than it helps.
I might not be correct but whatever
Even then, if economy is the thing you care about, you're better off buying nothing at all. The Copper on play should be thought of more as a penalty, not a bonus.
But the main reason you bought coin of the realm is not to boost your economy so all this argument is moot.But early on it boosts economy and then it disappearsReally Early like when you have 3 estatesCoin boosts your early economy
Gonna disagree with this part. It's a Copper, which hurts your economy more than it helps.
I might not be correct but whatever
Even then, if economy is the thing you care about, you're better off buying nothing at all. The Copper on play should be thought of more as a penalty, not a bonus.
Only on a 5/2 opening (otherwise, you also should consider Silver instead) where your 5 buy doesn't help economy. Most of the time, the Copper is hurting your economy. You might buy it anyway because you want the +actions ready asap, buy the Copper on play is lowering money density, not boosting it.
Edit: actually, I take it back. It does increase coin density by a bit in 5/2 if the $5 is only, say, +$2. But the boost is kind of inconsequential, and calling it a boost is pretty misleading overall. I just think it would be more helpful to explain it as the penalty it is from the start. But you're right, it is technically a boost at the very start, in the same way that a normal Copper is. :P
But the main reason you bought coin of the realm is not to boost your economy so all this argument is moot.
Coin of the realm is close to being (minus the interesting parts) and action that is
+3 actions
+$1
Whether you call that extra $1 an economic booost or not depends on whether you're comparing it to hamlet or to silver. Most of you seem to compare it to silver because it's a treasure, but others are comparing it to villages and seeing that it does help you get to $5 more often than Necropolis. Surely just because moat is not a good card doesn't mean masquerade's card draw is a penalty just because it's worse compared to getting a smithy. In fact, I think I've read an article here saying that masquerade is a great trasher precisely because of the economic boost it gives alongside it's trashing power.