We've had Alara and Tarkir, both of which have ended up changed to the point where they can't easily do tricolor again. I was thinking about how they might possibly be restored, but decided that I'd prefer a new world which could support ally and enemy combinations. Furthermore, this allows each set to mix them up so they aren't treated as "ally" and "enemy," like in Ravnica.
Here's what I've got for a color distribution over two sets:
SET 1: BRG GWU URW RWB BGU
SET 2: WUB UBR RGW WBG GUR
I figure it would be good to also include a small number of two-color cards. Each set will use the two-color combos that are present in two of the tricolor combos.
SET 1 WU BR BG RW GU
SET 2 UB RG GW WB UR
As far as mechanical identities, I'm a bit stuck. I have some vague ideas, but I want them to be at least somewhat different from the existing factions in Alara and Tarkir. So I'm thinking that the two-color combos will be the more defined ones, and the tricolor combos will act like the combinations of those strategies.
WU and RW, for example, would come together to make tempo-style effects. BR and BG would form a sort of graveyard-flicker kind of deck, thriving on recurring death triggers and such. Etc.
To clarify, each set's gold cards will be mostly three colors. I'm thinking two cycles in common and uncommon each will be two-color. The three-color designs will just be informed by the interaction between their component two-color combos. For example:
Many-Minded OneXGWU
Creature - Hydra (R)
0/0
As ~ enters the battlefield, draw X cards. Then you gain life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
~ gets +1/+1 for each card in your hand.
or
Vindictive BerserkerRWB
Creature - Berserker (R)
5/2
Haste
When ~ dies, if it was attacking, destroy target permanent.
Here's what I've got for a color distribution over two sets:
SET 1:
BRG
GWU
URW
RWB
BGU
SET 2:
WUB
UBR
RGW
WBG
GUR
I figure it would be good to also include a small number of two-color cards. Each set will use the two-color combos that are present in two of the tricolor combos.
SET 1
WU
BR
BG
RW
GU
SET 2
UB
RG
GW
WB
UR
As far as mechanical identities, I'm a bit stuck. I have some vague ideas, but I want them to be at least somewhat different from the existing factions in Alara and Tarkir. So I'm thinking that the two-color combos will be the more defined ones, and the tricolor combos will act like the combinations of those strategies.
WU: Disruption
BR: Sacrifice
BG: Recursion
RW: Aggro
GU: Ramp
WU and RW, for example, would come together to make tempo-style effects. BR and BG would form a sort of graveyard-flicker kind of deck, thriving on recurring death triggers and such. Etc.
To clarify, each set's gold cards will be mostly three colors. I'm thinking two cycles in common and uncommon each will be two-color. The three-color designs will just be informed by the interaction between their component two-color combos. For example:
Many-Minded One XGWU
Creature - Hydra (R)
0/0
As ~ enters the battlefield, draw X cards. Then you gain life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
~ gets +1/+1 for each card in your hand.
or
Vindictive Berserker RWB
Creature - Berserker (R)
5/2
Haste
When ~ dies, if it was attacking, destroy target permanent.
What do you guys think?