The Thug card reads:
"Before acting, you may either banish a boon or attempt a Strength, Charisma, Diplomacy or Melee 4+# check. If you fail the check, suffer 1d4 Combat damage."
I feel like the intent is for me to do one of the other, in which case it should omit the words "you may." As it reads now, I can opt to either banish a boon, or I can opt to make the check, but I don't have to do either if I don't want to. And since there's no upside to the check, why would I choose either of those first two options?
Am I overthinking this?
Little bit of a guess here, but I would hazard that the reason it's worded that way is to indicate that you can banish the boon and be done. Or you can take the check, however if you take the check and fail, bad things happen.
Either way, I kind of love that for a Thug, give me your stuff or prove you are better than me, if not, I'm going to beat you up. Hilarious!
