A good point to keep in mind concerning costs.

[Deathjester]

I'm sure most of us know enough about how costs work, anyway, but this makes things simple so it's good for beginners and refreshing your memory.

A cost, per se, is not part of a card's effect; it's merely what starts the effect or keeps it in play.

Makes sense, obviously. When Premature Burial is negated, you still pay 800 Life Points because it's a cost. When Jinzo is negating Imperial Order, you still must choose whether to pay during your Standby Phase because it's a cost to keep IO in play.

 

[woltarr]

but we have lots of exceptions aren't we?

example 1 ectoplasm -tribute a monster is part of the effect and not a activation cost

example 2 graverrober the 2000 is effect damage and not a activation cost

example 3- offerings to the doomed -Skipp the draw phase is backside of the card and not a activation cost

and we have much more to go

the main problem i see is the poor wording on the cards allied to a lack of regulations of the wordings

i will give the example of the NOMI monsters -until the review made by bishop , all beginner duelists ask over and over the same question on rules forums

"why i cant reborn it if i properly summoned it?"

we can wait a change in the text of these cards to reflect a better defintion of what is cost and what is not cost?

woltarr

 

[Blue-Eyes Black]

A cost always comes at the front of the card's effect (exception: "Special Summon" monsters like Chaos Emperor Dragon). It's what must happen in order for a card to be played face-up on the field (Spells and Traps) or activated (Monsters). If the first sentence is the card's effect (example: Offerings to the Doomed), then any "costs" after that are part of the effect and are not costs.

*NOTE: I do not know EVERY rule, so I'm sure there are exceptions that someone will bring up (and I greatly appreciate that if they do).

 

[Raijinili]

but we have lots of exceptions aren't we?

example 1 ectoplasm -tribute a monster is part of the effect and not a activation cost

This is a mandatory triggered effect. A triggered effect can't force you to pay a cost.

example 2 graverrober the 2000 is effect damage and not a activation cost

The card specifies that this is effect damage. Effect damage can't be a cost.

example 3- offerings to the doomed -Skipp the draw phase is backside of the card and not a activation cost

Backside? XD.

Well, it's a side effect. Skipping is typically a side effect.

 

[woltarr]

but we have lots of exceptions aren't we?

example 1 ectoplasm -tribute a monster is part of the effect and not a activation cost

This is a mandatory triggered effect.  A triggered effect can't force you to pay a cost.

example 2 graverrober the 2000 is effect damage and not a activation cost

The card specifies that this is effect damage.  Effect damage can't be a cost.

example 3- offerings to the doomed -Skipp the draw phase is backside of the card and not a activation cost

Backside?  XD.

Well, it's a side effect.  Skipping is typically a side effect.

as you can see , i am not asking since i provided the answer right away

what i am trying to pinpoint is that beginer duelists may find difficult know when a card has a activation cost and when it does not have

what i asking for is a generalization or a method to make the wording on the cards easier to recoginize

a example

what is
Confiscation
Attrib: Magic Card
Group: Magic
Pay 1000 Life Points to look at your opponent's hand. Select 1 card and discard it to the Graveyard.

could be the new wording

Confiscation
Attrib: Magic Card
Group: Magic
Pay 1000 Life Points as activation cost to look at your opponent's hand. Select 1 card and discard it to the Graveyard.

or
Confiscation
Attrib: Magic Card
Group: Magic
Pay 1000 Life Points(AC) to look at your opponent's hand. Select 1 card and discard it to the Graveyard.

AC=activation cost


got it?

woltarr