Timing fo rewards

[cmage]

I have a timing question on rewards from mission. The card is Garbage Scow, Reward: you may upgrade 2 of the Basic Characters used for this mission to cards from starbase costing up to 2 more. I had not used my search yet this turn so I searched 1st then traded in my basic character cards. 1 player stated I could not use my search 1st, I had to do the reward before doing anything else. Is that true the reward is done 1st or loss it?

[Forlorn_Wolf]

If you know you can complete the mission, use up your searches. You shouldn't be able to twist up the effects of cards how you want, and I don't think things stack like they would in Magic: the Gathering. So if you complete the mission, you need to resolve it (do what it says). Then you will be able to do another task.

[qurgh]

I've been under the impression that if a card says "you may do X" then you can choose when to do it (ie Worf, "you may upgrade ...." doesn't have to be done when you play him, but at anytime during a turn when it hasn't been used). If the card has an order on it "Draw a card", "upgrade X" without the "may" then you do it right away.

My impression is based on the way cards have been explained, I don't know if the "may rule" is actually a thing, but it seems to have worked out that way.

Timing seems to be one of the biggest issues I've had with this game. When I'm used to Magic's very defined stack based resolution (or other games that resolve one at a time as you play them), Star Treks lack of defined timing has lead to a few arguments in my group (mainly people playing things, and then not sure if they have to use them right away or if they can wait until they want to do it).

[MajorOracle]

Rewards are applied when the mission is completed. So, if you know you are going to complete a mission, use your search(es) before you spend your explore to complete the mission.

[AnimeFanZone]

The simplest way to understand the timing in this game is simple put:

Resolve whatever just happened before moving on to the next action/card/etc.

It's also very important that you READ the card and similar to Magic and other card games, understand what the card is saying. Like in games like Magic the Gathering, a card can say "target creature" or "any creature" as an example. In that example, words like "target" or "any" give completely different meaning to what that card can and cannot do. Since some abilities like Hexproof state a creature in Magic cannot be the "target of spells or abilities your opponents control", the difference between "target", "any" or "all" creatures completely changes everything.

Star Trek DBG requires you resolve anything that happens before moving on to the next thing. So read the cards closely and carefully.

1. Some effects will state you "may" do something, which means its optional and you "may" do it or choose "not" to do it.

2. Other cards have one time effects that must happen as soon as they are played, which boils down to "use it or lose it" effects which you cannot later choose to use.

3. Some cards have ongoing effects, which can happen all the time (+2 Shields added to your Starship is an effect which is constant each turn and refreshes with the start of each new turn).

4. And other cards have effects that can be done at any time you choose to use them as stated on the card (might be anytime during your turn, anytime this card is on the bridge/hand).

[Alex_Bandai]

As some have stated, you must resolve effects at the time they occur. Simultaneous effects can be resolved in any order. The only EXCEPT is effects that say "During your turn,..." which can be activated at anytime you can play a card during the turn they are played.