Playing a Character

[Timmer]

Hello! Another clarification request.

The Gearsmith have a card (Slingerang?) that requires a token be placed upon it whenever "opposing player plays a character".

My question is on the "plays a" key phrase. I am assuming playing means "put into play" from the players hand on to the table. I just want to be sure it does not mean uses it offensively or defensively in some way (I think this would be phrased as "puts a character into play" if I got the wording right).

Thanks!

[doc8466]

This card enters play with 3 tokens on it.

If your opponent plays a character, you may remove a token from this card.

Cheap Shot
Cost: Use this only if no tokens are on this card and only if your opponent played a character this turn. Destroy this card. Pick a character.
Effect: Destroy the character.

Put into play, and plays are 2 very different terms. You only take a token off when your opponent plays a character (pays for it) not when it gets put into play (from a card effect like Pluck or Shocking Reappearance).