Lore-wise, I imagine that not all planes have exactly equal amounts of mana. I like to imagine it's like different planets/solar systems in the real world having different compositions of elements, like 12% nitrogen vs 8% nitrogen or what-have-you (not exact since I'm not an astrononmist, but you get the idea).
I think it would be interesting if WotC reflected this in their set design. It's been a long time since WotC has explored uneven color distribution in the sets. I think the last time might have been with Torment/Judgement, which has always impressed me as a very daring and unique design.
This wouldn't be quite so dramatic as Torment/Judgement, but more subtle. For example, I imagine that Kaladesh might have slightly more blue mana, so it could have 3-4 more blue cards. I feel like Amonkhet probably has less Green mana, so it would lack that color a bit more...and then a jump in UBR particularly during Hour of Devestation, representing the ascendancy of Bolas's power. Dominaria is such a vast and varied world that it probably doesn't have much of a color imbalance, and the same with Ravnica. But if they visit Kaldheim in the future, that might be weighted towards red.
One possible negative of this is that it would impact Limited. If the imbalance was kept at the Uncommon and up rarities, though, it would barely impact Limited. It also wouldn't have a huge impact on Constructed, since everything would trend towards balance. But I think loosening the color balance of set design could add a lot of the flavor and resonance of the card pool.
According to their design articles for GRN, they're doing something like this with the two upcoming Ravnica sets. GRN will have 2-Bolas controlled Guilds, while the second will have 3-Bolas controlled guilds, making it feel like his power is increasing. I think it would capture the feeling even more if GRN was slightly more GW and the second set a bit more UBR.
I’m sure each plane isn’t perfectly balanced, I’d expect most planes aren’t really. But from a set standpoint I don’t expect them to dip their toes into that, it’s simply not good for gameplay.
Well, there's always Shards of Alara if you want planes with weak or missing colors! And in Dark Ascension, GW didn't have a member of the Captain cycle, because humans were in that color and they were the underdog.
Private Mod Note
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Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
EDH/Commander
UBR Sedris RG Omnath, Locus of Rage UB The Scarab God RUG Maelstrom Wanderer WU Dragonlord Ojutai
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I think it would be interesting if WotC reflected this in their set design. It's been a long time since WotC has explored uneven color distribution in the sets. I think the last time might have been with Torment/Judgement, which has always impressed me as a very daring and unique design.
This wouldn't be quite so dramatic as Torment/Judgement, but more subtle. For example, I imagine that Kaladesh might have slightly more blue mana, so it could have 3-4 more blue cards. I feel like Amonkhet probably has less Green mana, so it would lack that color a bit more...and then a jump in UBR particularly during Hour of Devestation, representing the ascendancy of Bolas's power. Dominaria is such a vast and varied world that it probably doesn't have much of a color imbalance, and the same with Ravnica. But if they visit Kaldheim in the future, that might be weighted towards red.
One possible negative of this is that it would impact Limited. If the imbalance was kept at the Uncommon and up rarities, though, it would barely impact Limited. It also wouldn't have a huge impact on Constructed, since everything would trend towards balance. But I think loosening the color balance of set design could add a lot of the flavor and resonance of the card pool.
According to their design articles for GRN, they're doing something like this with the two upcoming Ravnica sets. GRN will have 2-Bolas controlled Guilds, while the second will have 3-Bolas controlled guilds, making it feel like his power is increasing. I think it would capture the feeling even more if GRN was slightly more GW and the second set a bit more UBR.
Corrupt Control B | Burn R | UG Turbofog UG | White Weenie W | GW Tethmos WG | BG Cycling Combo BG
Enchantress GBW | Colorless Tron C | Red Deck Wins R | UG Madness UG | Mono-G Tron G | UR Puzzlehorns UR
Rhystic Tron WU| WU Prowess WU | BR Reanimator BR | Mono-R Control R | Stompy G | Temur Tron URG
Mardu Infinite Priest WBR | 85-Card Dredge BRG | Elves GU | Boros Bully RW | Jeskai Familiars RWU
UBR Sedris
RG Omnath, Locus of Rage
UB The Scarab God
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer
WU Dragonlord Ojutai