I seriously believe that this line of questions could lead to a clear, concise and understandable explanation of the rule of the game. However, sometimes where I have asked several questions I have only discerned one answer.
Perhaps there is a way to express a series of Axioms that can be combined with a set of rules regarding the Order of Evaluation that would make everything clear.
1. Are the following axioms?
i Only allies that are summoned may have their on-summon abilities evaluated.
ii Only allies that are alive may have their in-play abilities evaluated.
iii Only allies that have just been killed can have their on-death abilities evaluated.
1b) What are the other axioms?
2. Are the following part of the Order of Evaluation?
i Each ally is evaluated in the order that it was played.
ii Allies' in-play abilities must be evaluated before their on-death abilities.
iii Allies on-death abilities must be evaluated before they are sent to their final destination.
2b) What are the other parts?
What I wish to avoid is the vague and fuzzy quality where it seems some cards are evaluated
A-in-play, B-in-play, C-in-play
A-on-death, B-on-death, C-on-death
while others appear to be evaluated
A-in-play, A-on-death,
B-in-play, B-on-death,
C-in-play, C-on-death.
If these are both held to be true, under various circumstances, this leads to:
3. What are the classifications of circumstances?
3b) What are their axioms?
3c) What are their orders of evaluation?
If each card was evaluated top-down, then
Tidal Wave would kill an ally with Holy Shield, because
Tidal Wave is the instigator of the evaluation. It clearly states that all allies are killed, it doesn't quantify an amount of damage equal to the allies' health, nor even suggest damage.
4. Are the details of the evaluation Wulven's secret Intellectual Property?
If so, I'll stop asking about them, but may lose interest in this inscrutable game.
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