Are there any other wording formats/structures other than these three, and did I get the resolution rules correct? If yes, what is the difference between 1] and 2]?

1] Do X to Do Y. (X must resolve fully and completely in order to do Y).

2] Do X, then Do Y. (X must resolve fully and completely in order to do Y)

3] Do X. Do Y. (Separate effects, no dependency.)

dh098017 said:

In 1, doing X is a cost. You MUST do X to even initiate the action. If you can't do X, you can't even trigger this ability.

In 2, you may play the action whenever you are allowed to. Attempt to do X. If you successfully did X, then do Y.

In 3, you're right. Attempt to do X. Attempt to do Y. It doesn't matter if one, both, or neither is successful.

It's also important to know at which point the effect can be canceled. There is the initiation of the effect, then Save/Cancel responses, and then Resolution of the effect.

"Do X, then do Y" - I believe the time to cancel this effect is after X(Initiation) and before Y(Resolution).

"Do X to do Y" - I believe the time to cancel this effect is after both X(Initiation) and the Y(Initiation) effect has taken place.

Normally we may make a decision to cancel may be based on the targets chosen during the Y part of the effect. If that is the case, it is an important difference in the card text.

One prime example is the plot "Condemned by the Realm".

"When revealed, choose an opponent. Then, that opponent must choose and kill a character he or she does not control, if able."

X = "Choose an opponent."

Y = "That opponent must choose and kill a character he or she does not control, if able."

The time to cancel is after an opponent is chosen as that is the Initiation of the effect. You cannot cancel this after that opponent chooses and kills a character because that is part of the Resolution of the effect which is after Save/Cancel responses.

So basically, the then effect is not something you can cancel. This must be done before it gets to that point. You of course can cancel the effect to keep it from getting to the "then" effect though.

And you can use saves in response to the then effect.

Bomb said:

Don't all targets have to be chosen before the save/cancel window is opened? Otherwise how could you _save_ the character that's going to die to the plot?

Maester_LUke said:

Are we talking about "then" effects specifically here? With the special save opportunity to "then" effects granted by the latest FAQ update.

Yeah, that was what I had in mind: there's a special save oppurtunity created when a then effect is initiated (saves are allowed, but not cancels).

Maester_LUke said:

This was a problem with understanding "then" effects. If all targets have to be chosen before the save/cancel window is opened, then not having one of those targets available when the effect initiated should make it such impossible to initiate that effect, right? But it was specifically ruled by FFG that if an effect said "then, choose...," not having a legal choice available did not prevent you from initiating the effect as a whole. That would mean that in a "then, choose..." situation, the target for the "then" effect was not chosen until we were sure the part before the "then" was successful. (Example: When you play Game of Cyvasse, you do not have to indicate which character you plan to return to hand if you "win" the knelt character STR comparison. The person who actually wins chooses the character after it is determined that they have knelt the strongest character.) So, how do you save a victim of a "then, choose..." effect? That's what the new FAQ entry is trying to clarify.