function game_state_get_cards(gs, current_pile, lane)
{
	var state = gs.s;

	if(current_pile == piles["ATTACKER_DECK"])
		return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state.a));
	if(current_pile == piles["ATTACKER_DISCARD"])
		return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state.xa));

	///so eg gets state.hd0 if we are d0
	///or if its the enemy, gets all their cards
	if(current_pile == piles["ATTACKER_HAND"])
	{
		var all_cards = card_list_make();

		for(var i=0; i < 16; i++)
		{
			var str = "ha" + i;

			if(state[str] == null)
				continue;

			var tcl = make_card_list_from_generic(state[str]);

			if(str == gs.player_hand)
			   return card_list_make_face_up(tcl)

			all_cards = card_list_merge(tcl, all_cards);
		}

		if(gs.pid == player_t["ATTACKER"])
		{
			return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state[gs.player_hand]));
		}

		return card_list_make_face_up(all_cards);
	}

	if(current_pile == piles["DEFENDER_HAND"])
	{
		var all_cards = card_list_make();

		for(var i=0; i < 16; i++)
		{
			var str = "hd" + i;

			if(state[str] == null)
				continue;

			var tcl = make_card_list_from_generic(state[str]);

			if(str == gs.player_hand)
			   return card_list_make_face_up(tcl)

			all_cards = card_list_merge(tcl, all_cards);
		}

		if(gs.pid == player_t["DEFENDER"])
		{
			return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state[gs.player_hand]));
		}

		return card_list_make_face_up(all_cards);
	}

	if(current_pile == piles["LANE_DISCARD"])
		return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state["x" + lane]));
	if(current_pile == piles["LANE_DECK"])
		return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state["l" + lane]));

	if(current_pile == piles["DEFENDER_STACK"] && gs.pid == 1)
		return make_card_list_from_generic(state["d" + lane]);

	if(current_pile == piles["DEFENDER_STACK"] && gs.pid == 0)
		return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state["d" + lane]));

	if(current_pile == piles["ATTACKER_STACK"])
		return card_list_make_face_up(make_card_list_from_generic(state["a" + lane]));

	return card_list_make();
}