I respectfully disagree. The current color identity rules are highly arbitrary. Why can't my Yeva deck use Yasova Dragon claw? She doesn't care about the theft effect, but would love to have a cheap, 3-mana 4/2 Trampler. Why can't Ezuri make use of Rhys the Exiled? He'd love another Wellwisher in his deck. What about Krenko bringing forth the Rise of the Hobgoblins? I admit, my wording isn't the clearest, but I was trying to accommodate as many corner cases as possible.
Any rule you come up with is going to be basically arbitrary. But as long as we're making arbitrary rules, it probably ought to be one that's easy to understand. There are flavor arguments to be had about the hybrids, but the simplest explanation is that hybrids are not mono-color cards in any way except how you (can) pay for them, and thus any rule you make to include them is going to be ridiculous. People can understand an "OR" state, but Magic doesn't support the "OR" state.
There are flavor arguments to be had about the hybrids, but the simplest explanation is that hybrids are not mono-color cards in any way except how you (can) pay for them, and thus any rule you make to include them is going to be ridiculous. People can understand an "OR" state, but Magic doesn't support the "OR" state.
Unless they tried to with hybrid and failed. Wouldn't it be funny if MaRo got worked up enough about Commander players not treating hybrid as an OR state to the point where he made a hybrid 2.0 that did? Not sure how it would work without a "This card can be treated as either color in Commander" clause. Hey we had that with planeswalkers this year... Commander 2015 anybody?
There are flavor arguments to be had about the hybrids, but the simplest explanation is that hybrids are not mono-color cards in any way except how you (can) pay for them, and thus any rule you make to include them is going to be ridiculous. People can understand an "OR" state, but Magic doesn't support the "OR" state.
Unless they tried to with hybrid and failed. Wouldn't it be funny if MaRo got worked up enough about Commander players not treating hybrid as an OR state to the point where he made a hybrid 2.0 that did? Not sure how it would work without a "This card can be treated as either color in Commander" clause. Hey we had that with planeswalkers this year... Commander 2015 anybody?
Well the problem with "OR" is that everything sort of has to occupy a steady state on the battlefield. i.e. can I terror your divinity of pride if you cast it for WWWWW? The only way it could work as a true "OR" is if it chose a color as it entered the battlefield or something, but even that doesn't resolve the problem of how it works while it's in your deck (or while you're deciding whether it's in your deck). He could get all un- and make scratch-off cards that are one of 2 things when you scratch off the card, but then you might as well just make 2 different cards.
I don't see the real problem with allowing phyrexian spells and the Lorwyn hybrids in all colors. That's the way they work in all other formats and it wouldn't really change EDH as a format. The rule about lands not producing colored mana is enough to force people to follow their generals color identity. The two big arguments allowing hybrids and company is that is greatly simplifies the rules and allows players to use cards the way the cards were intended to be used.
The biggest argument I see against it is "That's not how we do it right now!". Change should have a clear benefit and not just be done for changes sake. I think simplification and player demand is enough to warrant the change.
Even allowing phyrexian/2x hybrids (which I think is the only way to avoid making it totally ridiculous) I don't think it simplifies the rule much. Also you're forgetting about alternative costs - now any deck can play force of will? or daze off a fetched U/X dual?
I think the mana rule is much less iconic than the "you can't play cards with CI outside of your commander's CI" rule.
I think you knock down way too many restrictions with that model.
Not all deckbuilding restrictions are good or worth it.
Not all restrictions are bad.
There's a balance to be had between fostering fun, and fostering creativity.
OK.
A format with a bunch of needless and arbitrary restrictions may foster a lot of creativity, but I probably wouldn't play it if they were too annoying.
I am assuming you play this format, so the CI rules concerning hybrids must not be too annoying.
A lot of reasonable people think letting people use hybrid cards would make the game more fun.
A lot of reasonable people think the hybrid cards are perfectly fine where they are.
Even if someone came up with rules that weren't a total mess, playing off-color cards with your commander lessens the flavorful aspect and appeal of the format. It is difficult for me to understand why people want this.
There are flavor arguments to be had about the hybrids, but the simplest explanation is that hybrids are not mono-color cards in any way except how you (can) pay for them, and thus any rule you make to include them is going to be ridiculous. People can understand an "OR" state, but Magic doesn't support the "OR" state.
Unless they tried to with hybrid and failed. Wouldn't it be funny if MaRo got worked up enough about Commander players not treating hybrid as an OR state to the point where he made a hybrid 2.0 that did? Not sure how it would work without a "This card can be treated as either color in Commander" clause. Hey we had that with planeswalkers this year... Commander 2015 anybody?
Well the problem with "OR" is that everything sort of has to occupy a steady state on the battlefield. i.e. can I terror your divinity of pride if you cast it for WWWWW? The only way it could work as a true "OR" is if it chose a color as it entered the battlefield or something, but even that doesn't resolve the problem of how it works while it's in your deck (or while you're deciding whether it's in your deck). He could get all un- and make scratch-off cards that are one of 2 things when you scratch off the card, but then you might as well just make 2 different cards.
Ha! That's a great point. You could make it work by printing "This card cannot be any colors that aren't in your color identity" right there on the card. Again, Commander 2015? *troll face*
Though you could also do this in the rules. Here's a simple one. "Hybrid cards can be played in your deck if part of the hybrid mana is in your Commander's color identity or is colorless. It loses all colors that aren't in your Commander's color identity." Now that's a simple and intuitive rule. But like I've been saying, why bother? Without knowing if this was the flavor intention of hybrid, don't fix it if it ain't broke.
There are flavor arguments to be had about the hybrids, but the simplest explanation is that hybrids are not mono-color cards in any way except how you (can) pay for them, and thus any rule you make to include them is going to be ridiculous. People can understand an "OR" state, but Magic doesn't support the "OR" state.
Unless they tried to with hybrid and failed. Wouldn't it be funny if MaRo got worked up enough about Commander players not treating hybrid as an OR state to the point where he made a hybrid 2.0 that did? Not sure how it would work without a "This card can be treated as either color in Commander" clause. Hey we had that with planeswalkers this year... Commander 2015 anybody?
Well the problem with "OR" is that everything sort of has to occupy a steady state on the battlefield. i.e. can I terror your divinity of pride if you cast it for WWWWW? The only way it could work as a true "OR" is if it chose a color as it entered the battlefield or something, but even that doesn't resolve the problem of how it works while it's in your deck (or while you're deciding whether it's in your deck). He could get all un- and make scratch-off cards that are one of 2 things when you scratch off the card, but then you might as well just make 2 different cards.
Ha! That's a great point. You could make it work by printing "This card cannot be any colors that aren't in your color identity" right there on the card. Again, Commander 2015? *troll face*
Though you could also do this in the rules. Here's a simple one. "Hybrid cards can be played in your deck if part of the hybrid mana is in your Commander's color identity or is colorless. It loses all colors that aren't in your Commander's color identity." Now that's a simple and intuitive rule. But like I've been saying, why bother? Without knowing if this was the flavor intention of hybrid, don't fix it if it ain't broke.
But does it use its controller's or its owner's general for that ability? If I copy your Divinity of Pride in my Sakashima the Imposter deck, is it colorless? It still does no interact well. Compare this to simply removing rule 4 in deference to Celestial Dawn/Sen Triplets.
"I want to be able to cast this G/W spell in my monowhite deck because I can cast it with white mana but you shouldn't be able to cast a black spell or green spell in your monored deck because I care about color identity."
This is what you guys are essentially saying and it's really frustrating.
I've already said earlier that I don't like the idea of hybrid mana symbols showing up in decks, but you're definitely mis-characterizing people's arguments here.
Fracturing Gust is a G/W card. But it could easily have been printed either green or white, as most hybrids. From a flavor perspective, it doesn't make any sense for my mono green general to not have access to this stereotypically green spell. I think most people believe they'll have more fun in a hybrid enabled format (it would be a nice way to improve the relevance of mono color in this format, for instance). I think that's mostly people's arguments.
For instance, Master Warcraft was a completely new effect. When they decided to make it a hybrid, they decided to give that effect to both red and white, foreshadowing mono colored versions of the effect in the future.
Even if someone came up with rules that weren't a total mess, playing off-color cards with your commander lessens the flavorful aspect and appeal of the format. It is difficult for me to understand why people want this.
It's only difficult because you choose to make it so. Your difficulty with seeing the other side isn't really relevant anyways.
Even phyrexian and 2x hybrids. Just remove the rule text, don't replace it with anything. If someone want to run FoW, Foil and Daze in their extremely janky red deck (because to be honest, that sounds really bad) let them! If Phyrexian Metamorph becomes a semi staple, well we got a bunch of those already and it's far from a broken or game breaking card. Decks with the right colored mana will be able to use those cards much more efficiently and that sets them apart.
I think that kind of destroys one of the fundamental things that makes this format interesting. The "can't produce off-color mana" is by contrast a way less compelling rule, defining the format with that would be a big mistake imo.
But does it use its controller's or its owner's general for that ability? If I copy your Divinity of Pride in my Sakashima the Imposter deck, is it colorless? It still does no interact well. Compare this to simply removing rule 4 in deference to Celestial Dawn/Sen Triplets.
Always owner, the card is losing a color (indefinitely). Copying a card also copies its colors. The rule as I've worded it is succinct.
Even phyrexian and 2x hybrids. Just remove the rule text, don't replace it with anything. If someone want to run FoW, Foil and Daze in their extremely janky red deck (because to be honest, that sounds really bad) let them! If Phyrexian Metamorph becomes a semi staple, well we got a bunch of those already and it's far from a broken or game breaking card. Decks with the right colored mana will be able to use those cards much more efficiently and that sets them apart.
I think that kind of destroys one of the fundamental things that makes this format interesting. The "can't produce off-color mana" is by contrast a way less compelling rule, defining the format with that would be a big mistake imo.
I very much agree with this. Though I think it makes more sense to allow generating mana with lands that you steal or are donated, that causes a rules headache and opens up a can of worms with City of Brass et all.
"I want to be able to cast this G/W spell in my monowhite deck because I can cast it with white mana but you shouldn't be able to cast a black spell or green spell in your monored deck because I care about color identity."
This is what you guys are essentially saying and it's really frustrating.
What is frustrating? A lot of people feel this way, and by this statement, we see that you understand. We literally feel exactly how you typed that because by "G/W" you meant hybrid G/W which, to me, seems different enough to constitute a change. Color identity matters, but that doesn't mean that it is perfect right now. As someone else also said, there is a balance to these things, and I'd like to see some balancing with the hybrid cards.
I've already said earlier that I don't like the idea of hybrid mana symbols showing up in decks, but you're definitely mis-characterizing people's arguments here.
Fracturing Gust is a G/W card. But it could easily have been printed either green or white, as most hybrids. From a flavor perspective, it doesn't make any sense for my mono green general to not have access to this stereotypically green spell. I think most people believe they'll have more fun in a hybrid enabled format (it would be a nice way to improve the relevance of mono color in this format, for instance). I think that's mostly people's arguments.
For instance, Master Warcraft was a completely new effect. When they decided to make it a hybrid, they decided to give that effect to both red and white, foreshadowing mono colored versions of the effect in the future.
Fracturing Gist is a green AND white card because the comprehensive rules state that it is. Just because it could be printed in either of those colors doesn't matter. That's the problem you guys are trying to force a solution for.
Even phyrexian and 2x hybrids. Just remove the rule text, don't replace it with anything. If someone want to run FoW, Foil and Daze in their extremely janky red deck (because to be honest, that sounds really bad) let them! If Phyrexian Metamorph becomes a semi staple, well we got a bunch of those already and it's far from a broken or game breaking card. Decks with the right colored mana will be able to use those cards much more efficiently and that sets them apart.
I think that kind of destroys one of the fundamental things that makes this format interesting. The "can't produce off-color mana" is by contrast a way less compelling rule, defining the format with that would be a big mistake imo.
I think you'd find that limiting the colored mana you can produce is very effective at limiting the colors you can play. "Can't produce off colored mana" might not sound as flashy but produces the desired effect without rules garbage. Some few cards would see play in decks that can't pay the mana cost, but those cards were intended to be playable in decks without the ability to pay the mana cost. However, all those cards would be much better in decks that are able to pay their mana cost and therefor the format is still balanced imo.
Said it once, I'll say it again - the CI rule is not a functional rule. It's not there to balance the format. It's there for flavor purposes. And flavor-wise, it makes no sense for krenko to be casting force of will. At the least, it makes no more sense than him casting counterspell.
If you just want a mechanical format without regard to flavor you'd probably just do 5 color pick any legend.
I've already said earlier that I don't like the idea of hybrid mana symbols showing up in decks, but you're definitely mis-characterizing people's arguments here.
Fracturing Gust is a G/W card. But it could easily have been printed either green or white, as most hybrids.
I don't think this part is accurate. Most skew pretty far one way or the other. Like Spitting Image, and we cant opt in for some of them.
If people are sick of reading about stuff just stop taking part. You have 100% control over what you read. Simic Ascendancy isn't going to get banned just because you didn't tell someone to shut up on the internet.
Said it once, I'll say it again - the CI rule is not a functional rule. It's not there to balance the format. It's there for flavor purposes. And flavor-wise, it makes no sense for krenko to be casting force of will. At the least, it makes no more sense than him casting counterspell.
If you just want a mechanical format without regard to flavor you'd probably just do 5 color pick any legend.
But the flavor will still be there with the simpler rule set, more rules != more flavor. I think the desired flavor and mechanics can be reached by a simpler rule set, which improves format accessibility. A Krenko deck will have a very hard time casting FoW, this change wouldn't change the format very much at all. It's not near five color pick any legend, not in a mechanical or flavor perspective.
From a flavor perspective, I think there's a big difference between "Krenko is going to have a hard time casting X" and "krenko CANNOT play X".
Also, FoW is perhaps a bad example. A deck that focuses on reanimation (i.e. teneb) or casting without paying the costs (i.e. maelstrom wanderer) would happily and effectively play off-color bombs like jin-gitaxias, core augur for teneb or sepulchral primordial for Wanderer.
EDIT: I agree that simpler is better, but of the two I think the mana production rule is the better one to kill. I can't think of any major way it would disrupt the flavor or the mechanics, except for sunburst which is not especially playable anyway.
I've already said earlier that I don't like the idea of hybrid mana symbols showing up in decks, but you're definitely mis-characterizing people's arguments here.
Fracturing Gust is a G/W card. But it could easily have been printed either green or white, as most hybrids.
I don't think this part is accurate. Most skew pretty far one way or the other. Like Spitting Image, and we cant opt in for some of them.
At least as far as I've researched, there is design intent for hybrids to be of both colors. Sure, they get it wrong occasionally, but that's understandable. I'm pretty sure Spitting Image is the exception, rather than the rule.
Though, to be fair to your point, they do fudge it just a bit. An example would be privileged position, which flavor wise goes with the protecting your dudes aspect of both colors. They went with Hexproof for that, even though hexproof isn't technically a white thing, because it made sense "philosophically", and it was pretty minor.
Said it once, I'll say it again - the CI rule is not a functional rule. It's not there to balance the format. It's there for flavor purposes. And flavor-wise, it makes no sense for krenko to be casting force of will. At the least, it makes no more sense than him casting counterspell.
If you just want a mechanical format without regard to flavor you'd probably just do 5 color pick any legend.
But the flavor will still be there with the simpler rule set, more rules != more flavor. I think the desired flavor and mechanics can be reached by a simpler rule set, which improves format accessibility. A Krenko deck will have a very hard time casting FoW, this change wouldn't change the format very much at all. It's not near five color pick any legend, not in a mechanical or flavor perspective.
From a flavor perspective, I think there's a big difference between "Krenko is going to have a hard time casting X" and "krenko CANNOT play X".
Also, FoW is perhaps a bad example. A deck that focuses on reanimation (i.e. teneb) or casting without paying the costs (i.e. maelstrom wanderer) would happily and effectively play off-color bombs like jin-gitaxias, core augur for teneb or sepulchral primordial for Wanderer.
EDIT: I agree that simpler is better, but of the two I think the mana production rule is the better one to kill. I can't think of any major way it would disrupt the flavor or the mechanics, except for sunburst which is not especially playable anyway.
The reanimation examples you give are a bit extreme. I'm not arguing to allow off-color cards to be played in any deck. Maelstrom Wanderer should not be able to play Luminate Primordial. What I'm arguing for is to allow hybrids, cards whose abilities are supposed to be wholly in-pie for each of their respective colors (I.E. Master Warcraft being doable in mono-White OR mono-Red) to appear in decks that include either of those colors, not requiring BOTH.
The reanimation examples you give are a bit extreme. I'm not arguing to allow off-color cards to be played in any deck. Maelstrom Wanderer should not be able to play Luminate Primordial. What I'm arguing for is to allow hybrids, cards whose abilities are supposed to be wholly in-pie for each of their respective colors (I.E. Master Warcraft being doable in mono-White OR mono-Red) to appear in decks that include either of those colors, not requiring BOTH.
I was responding to someone else who DID advocate that. In fact I don't think I've said anything to you at all, so I'm not sure why you'd even think that comment was remotely directed towards you.
My criticism to the "2-color hybrids only, no phyrexian no 2x hybrids" crowd is that any rule that provides that is ugly and compromises the easy to understand benefit of the CI rule.
There is a clear flavor reasoning behind the current rule and changing the rule ignores that.
I wouldn't say there are no flavor reasons for hybrid cards. Enchanted Evening is something both a white mage and a blue mage could end up doing. It's in both slices of the color pie. So flavor wise, why do pure blue commanders not get access to it?
What's blue about Enchanted Evening?
It may be circular, but I think it's sound anyways: It is blue because it is hybrid mana. Wizards designs (or attempts to design) cards with hybrid mana to be within both colors. Compare gold cards, which usually take space that neither color on its own could do, or do two different things of each color.
When we are talking about CI, and so on, what about those splitted cards,such as Turn/Burn or cards with Fuse?
This would be yet another case that the current rules handle well that would require additional verbiage in any rules modification to how color identity works that allows "off-color hybrid" and/or Phyrexian mana, 2-brid mana, or any other corner case that such a rules modification would not explicitly cover.
There is a clear flavor reasoning behind the current rule and changing the rule ignores that.
I wouldn't say there are no flavor reasons for hybrid cards. Enchanted Evening is something both a white mage and a blue mage could end up doing. It's in both slices of the color pie. So flavor wise, why do pure blue commanders not get access to it?
What's blue about Enchanted Evening?
It may be circular, but I think it's sound anyways: It is blue because it is hybrid mana. Wizards designs (or attempts to design) cards with hybrid mana to be within both colors. Compare gold cards, which usually take space that neither color on its own could do, or do two different things of each color.
There are plenty of red cards prior to Master Warcraft which force creatures to attack. Things like Invasion Plans, Melee, and to a lesser extent Sorrow's Path can let the attacker dictate blockers. In fact, prior to Master Warcraft, I don't think any portion of its effect had precedent in white (although it's a rare effect, and Odric has cemented it into white's color pie). If you squint hard enough, dictating blockers fits into white's theme, as white already has the toughness-boosting where red has the power-boosting.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
I think the mana rule is much less iconic than the "you can't play cards with CI outside of your commander's CI" rule.
I think you knock down way too many restrictions with that model.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Not all restrictions are bad.
OK.
I am assuming you play this format, so the CI rules concerning hybrids must not be too annoying.
A lot of reasonable people think the hybrid cards are perfectly fine where they are.
Even if someone came up with rules that weren't a total mess, playing off-color cards with your commander lessens the flavorful aspect and appeal of the format. It is difficult for me to understand why people want this.
Though you could also do this in the rules. Here's a simple one. "Hybrid cards can be played in your deck if part of the hybrid mana is in your Commander's color identity or is colorless. It loses all colors that aren't in your Commander's color identity." Now that's a simple and intuitive rule. But like I've been saying, why bother? Without knowing if this was the flavor intention of hybrid, don't fix it if it ain't broke.
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]
But does it use its controller's or its owner's general for that ability? If I copy your Divinity of Pride in my Sakashima the Imposter deck, is it colorless? It still does no interact well. Compare this to simply removing rule 4 in deference to Celestial Dawn/Sen Triplets.
I've already said earlier that I don't like the idea of hybrid mana symbols showing up in decks, but you're definitely mis-characterizing people's arguments here.
Fracturing Gust is a G/W card. But it could easily have been printed either green or white, as most hybrids. From a flavor perspective, it doesn't make any sense for my mono green general to not have access to this stereotypically green spell. I think most people believe they'll have more fun in a hybrid enabled format (it would be a nice way to improve the relevance of mono color in this format, for instance). I think that's mostly people's arguments.
It's actually pretty interesting reading about the development of hybrid cards.
For instance, Master Warcraft was a completely new effect. When they decided to make it a hybrid, they decided to give that effect to both red and white, foreshadowing mono colored versions of the effect in the future.
It's only difficult because you choose to make it so. Your difficulty with seeing the other side isn't really relevant anyways.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]
cEDH: [G(U/R) Animar] - [(U/B)(G/W) Redless Wheels] - [(G/U)(W/B) Redless Pod] - [(B/G)W Ghave Metapod]
What is frustrating? A lot of people feel this way, and by this statement, we see that you understand. We literally feel exactly how you typed that because by "G/W" you meant hybrid G/W which, to me, seems different enough to constitute a change. Color identity matters, but that doesn't mean that it is perfect right now. As someone else also said, there is a balance to these things, and I'd like to see some balancing with the hybrid cards.
And once again, *Bump* to removing Rule #4
Fracturing Gist is a green AND white card because the comprehensive rules state that it is. Just because it could be printed in either of those colors doesn't matter. That's the problem you guys are trying to force a solution for.
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If you just want a mechanical format without regard to flavor you'd probably just do 5 color pick any legend.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Also, FoW is perhaps a bad example. A deck that focuses on reanimation (i.e. teneb) or casting without paying the costs (i.e. maelstrom wanderer) would happily and effectively play off-color bombs like jin-gitaxias, core augur for teneb or sepulchral primordial for Wanderer.
EDIT: I agree that simpler is better, but of the two I think the mana production rule is the better one to kill. I can't think of any major way it would disrupt the flavor or the mechanics, except for sunburst which is not especially playable anyway.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
At least as far as I've researched, there is design intent for hybrids to be of both colors. Sure, they get it wrong occasionally, but that's understandable. I'm pretty sure Spitting Image is the exception, rather than the rule.
Though, to be fair to your point, they do fudge it just a bit. An example would be privileged position, which flavor wise goes with the protecting your dudes aspect of both colors. They went with Hexproof for that, even though hexproof isn't technically a white thing, because it made sense "philosophically", and it was pretty minor.
The reanimation examples you give are a bit extreme. I'm not arguing to allow off-color cards to be played in any deck. Maelstrom Wanderer should not be able to play Luminate Primordial. What I'm arguing for is to allow hybrids, cards whose abilities are supposed to be wholly in-pie for each of their respective colors (I.E. Master Warcraft being doable in mono-White OR mono-Red) to appear in decks that include either of those colors, not requiring BOTH.
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My criticism to the "2-color hybrids only, no phyrexian no 2x hybrids" crowd is that any rule that provides that is ugly and compromises the easy to understand benefit of the CI rule.
EDH Primers
Phelddagrif - Zirilan
EDH
Thrasios+Bruse - Pang - Sasaya - Wydwen - Feather - Rona - Toshiro - Sylvia+Khorvath - Geth - QMarchesa - Firesong - Athreos - Arixmethes - Isperia - Etali - Silas+Sidar - Saskia - Virtus+Gorm - Kynaios - Naban - Aryel - Mizzix - Kazuul - Tymna+Kraum - Sidar+Tymna - Ayli - Gwendlyn - Phelddagrif 4 - Liliana - Kaervek - Phelddagrif 3 - Mairsil - Scarab - Child - Phenax - Shirei - Thada - Depala - Circu - Kytheon - GrenzoHR - Phelddagrif - Reyhan+Kraum - Toshiro - Varolz - Nin - Ojutai - Tasigur - Zedruu - Uril - Edric - Wort - Zurgo - Nahiri - Grenzo - Kozilek - Yisan - Ink-Treader - Yisan - Brago - Sidisi - Toshiro - Alexi - Sygg - Brimaz - Sek'Kuar - Marchesa - Vish Kal - Iroas - Phelddagrif - Ephara - Derevi - Glissa - Wanderer - Saffi - Melek - Xiahou Dun - Lazav - Lin Sivvi - Zirilan - Glissa
PDH - Drake - Graverobber - Izzet GM - Tallowisp - Symbiote Brawl - Feather - Ugin - Jace - Scarab - Angrath - Vraska - Kumena Oathbreaker - Wrenn&6
Let's go back to the original statement:
What effect does Enchanted Evening create which fits into blue's slice of the color pie?
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This would be yet another case that the current rules handle well that would require additional verbiage in any rules modification to how color identity works that allows "off-color hybrid" and/or Phyrexian mana, 2-brid mana, or any other corner case that such a rules modification would not explicitly cover.
Perhaps that was a bad example. I'm starting to think it was a new effect they gave to both blue and white, just like Master Warcraft was.
There are plenty of red cards prior to Master Warcraft which force creatures to attack. Things like Invasion Plans, Melee, and to a lesser extent Sorrow's Path can let the attacker dictate blockers. In fact, prior to Master Warcraft, I don't think any portion of its effect had precedent in white (although it's a rare effect, and Odric has cemented it into white's color pie). If you squint hard enough, dictating blockers fits into white's theme, as white already has the toughness-boosting where red has the power-boosting.
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