I'm a novice player, and I don't understand "timing" the way others do.

I had Kulda firing at a ship that was in both bullseye and regular firing arc.

My veteran opponent (who apparently didn't know the universal bullseye firing arc rules anyway ) said he was entitled to spend his focus and evade tokens on Kulda's attack (he had one of each) BEFORE Kulda's ability (remove all focus and evade or suffer 1 damage) was able to trigger, effectively nullifying the ability.

Now, I realize that we were both wrong about the basic ability of a bullseye arc. But setting that aside, how does timing work in such a situation?

After the attack is when the attack is finished and done, so yes, if he could, he would be able to spend the token before the ability trigger. But he can't spend them, so...

46 minutes ago, heliodorus04 said:

But setting that aside, how does timing work in such a situation?

If by setting it aside you mean what would happen if bullseye did nothing? Then in that world full of lines on bases that do nothing, he would be right and could spend them, the natural effect of bullseye is the only thing preventing that particular shenanigan.

1 hour ago, heliodorus04 said:

I'm a novice player, and I don't understand "timing" the way others do.

I had Kulda firing at a ship that was in both bullseye and regular firing arc.

My veteran opponent (who apparently didn't know the universal bullseye firing arc rules anyway ) said he was entitled to spend his focus and evade tokens on Kulda's attack (he had one of each) BEFORE Kulda's ability (remove all focus and evade or suffer 1 damage) was able to trigger, effectively nullifying the ability.

Now, I realize that we were both wrong about the basic ability of a bullseye arc. But setting that aside, how does timing work in such a situation?

All the steps for the attack are unchanged. The defender gets to his modify steps, and if he's in your bullseye arc, he can still modify as long as it doesn't involve spending focus or evade tokens. Resolve the attack as normal, then when you get to Step 8, Torani's ability triggers and he strips any focus and evade tokens, or forces the defender to suffer a single damage.