With Sedge Sliver and Juzam Sliver, it seems probable that there will be a cycle of rare Slivers with abilities that make themselves (and other Slivers) into creatures from the Reserve List. Looking at other creatures on the list (for White, Blue, and Green), I could see a version of Old Man of the Sea for Blue and Veteran Bodyguard or Argivian Archaeologist for White. Green has slim pickings, most likely Ifh-Biff Efreet.
These cards are cool, since, by themselves, without any other Slivers, they are functionally the same as their Reserved counterparts.
Although I think only the last one wouldn't break the Core Set right in the middle.
The Tutor vote, to me, isn't overly broken. Neither is nearly as good as either Demonic Tutor or Vampiric Tutor, and both are on=par with Diabolic Tutor, which WotC thinks is appropriate for the Core Set.
I believe Phyrexian Negator is on the Reserve List. It would be more likely to be Nantuko Shade versus something like Drinker of Sorrow, or Greater Harvester, or Laquatus's Champion. (The Shade will win all of these matchups, but still...)
I think WotC thinks that Diabolic Edict is too powerful; hence Cruel Edict. I could see Cruel Edict versus Smother, though.
Cranial Extraction is Arcane. They won't print an Arcane card in a base set. I highly doubt that this one would be possible. Plus, Extraction is not exactly a card that is friendly to newer players who don't know the names of all the cards. With Persecute, they at least should know the colour that their opponent is playing by turn four.
I can reasonably see a cycle of rare Legendary creatures being printed in 10th Edition, one for each colour. Perhaps the Onslaught pit-fighter legends (Silvos, Rogue Elemental, Rorix Bladewing, Arcanis the Omnipotent, Jareth, Leonine Titan, and Visara the Dreadful). Each brings out the flavour of the colour it represents, and none are so mind-numbingly overpowered as to be unprintable. Plus, they are all rather simple cards, especially when compared to some of the 9th Edition cards, like Storage Matrix.
Now all they need is some good reminder text for the cards.
I highly doubt that Ice Age will be released on MTGO. There is one card that cannot be put in... Amulet of Quoz
I do believe that they will update the Oracle for some creature types, but possibly only for the cards that are reprinted in the theme decks.
My $.02 on the extra cards: one rare for each of the Guildpact guilds (to synch up the numbers), two 5-card cycles (with one card per color at two different rarities, like the Magemarks and Leylines), one five-color card (maybe some Legendary card from the Dissension novel?), and one artifact (my guess - the guild insignia stone). This makes the most sense to me, while tying up many loose ends we've discovered during RAV block.
Golgari: True Neutral
Selesnya: Neutral Good
Boros: Lawful Neutral (read Wojek Embermage to see why Lawful Good doesnt fit)
Dimir: Neutral Evil
Izzet: Chaotic Neutral
Gruul Clans: Chaotic Neutral
Orzhov Syndicate: Lawful Evil
Simic: True Neutral
Rakdos: Chaotic Evil
Azorius Senate: Lawful Neutral (I'm not convinced that they are good - they just uphold the laws, regardless of good/evil)
Only one "Good" guild, and Selesnya COULD be considered True Neutral...
I'm putting my money on Centaur Archer and Cremate.
Seconded.
If this info is any bit accurate, these two make the most sense. The other black cantrips are pretty bad (anyone remember Gravebind?) and Savage Twister is just a crappy Starstorm. Plus both ae flavourful, mechanically sound, and in the colour pie.
Thrulls are nice, but what about Orcs? Orcish Artillery is getting lonely being the only Orc still in print! Orcs do sound like a good creature type for Gruul, as does Cyclops.
But how does Kaho, Minamo Historian interact with X-spells? Can you remove a Blaze with Kaho's ability, and then pay, let's say, 8 mana to cast a 7 point Blaze?
These cards are cool, since, by themselves, without any other Slivers, they are functionally the same as their Reserved counterparts.
EDIT: Maybe Weatherseed Treefolk?
Art vote: Sketch A, because Sketch B only shows one bat. Vampire Bats is supposed to be a swarm of bloodthirsty creatures, right?
Flavour text vote: Don't care, but I believe that Choice A will win. Emily Dickinson poetry just feels weird on Air Elemental.
Vesuvan's Oracle text is quite long, and it is not exactly the simplest card. Clone is similar, but a bit more iconic and a heck of a lot simpler.
I think a 'base set iconic creature list' would have to include Serra Angel, Sengir Vampire, Shivan Dragon, Clone, and Verdant Force.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=magic/products/ReprintPolicy
It's from Urza's Destiny backwards. Negator is on there, along with other powerful Urza block cards like Metalworker, Opalescence, and Donate.
And I do agree that the Shade would beat it, hands down. Now Shade versus Hypnotic Specter, that would be closer...
The Tutor vote, to me, isn't overly broken. Neither is nearly as good as either Demonic Tutor or Vampiric Tutor, and both are on=par with Diabolic Tutor, which WotC thinks is appropriate for the Core Set.
I believe Phyrexian Negator is on the Reserve List. It would be more likely to be Nantuko Shade versus something like Drinker of Sorrow, or Greater Harvester, or Laquatus's Champion. (The Shade will win all of these matchups, but still...)
I think WotC thinks that Diabolic Edict is too powerful; hence Cruel Edict. I could see Cruel Edict versus Smother, though.
Now all they need is some good reminder text for the cards.
Amulet of Quoz
I do believe that they will update the Oracle for some creature types, but possibly only for the cards that are reprinted in the theme decks.
Selesnya: Neutral Good
Boros: Lawful Neutral (read Wojek Embermage to see why Lawful Good doesnt fit)
Dimir: Neutral Evil
Izzet: Chaotic Neutral
Gruul Clans: Chaotic Neutral
Orzhov Syndicate: Lawful Evil
Simic: True Neutral
Rakdos: Chaotic Evil
Azorius Senate: Lawful Neutral (I'm not convinced that they are good - they just uphold the laws, regardless of good/evil)
Only one "Good" guild, and Selesnya COULD be considered True Neutral...
Seconded.
If this info is any bit accurate, these two make the most sense. The other black cantrips are pretty bad (anyone remember Gravebind?) and Savage Twister is just a crappy Starstorm. Plus both ae flavourful, mechanically sound, and in the colour pie.
R.I.P., Eddie. You will be missed.
You forgot Golgothian Sylex .
Personally, I like Orcish Settlers , Orcish Librarian , and Goblin Gardener (both versions, especially th 7th Edition one).