-A Type (Peacetime, Prebattle, SoB, Trigger, Results). -A Recharge (Multiuse Daily, Single Use Daily, Every X weeks) -An Effect (which will generally fall into various Keywords - Removal, Manipulation, Intimidation, Damage, etc., and can have more than one) -A Targeting Parameter (Implemented in Draftmerx - Single Target, Multi Target, Teamwide, War Global, Peace Global in ascending order of AoE) -Timings on resolution (These being Declaration, Targeting, Hitting, and Resolution).
That's it. That's all that needs to be learned. Effects comprise the majority of the rules, but they are also the least important bit because you don't have to memorize them. In total you need to memorize the 18 definitions that comprise the rest of an ability's parts. Once you do that, you can tell with certainty what will happen every time an ability is used unless it requires an actual ruling (in which case, by all means ask an admin). Surely 'memorize these 18 things' isn't such a commitment to understand how to work the ability phase?
Maybe just make sure the effect/targeting parameter/timing/etc. are all completely clear in the abilities. Plus, things get more complicated when abilities are combined, and with those the answer definitely isn't usually as simple as "know definitions" ---
