Interesting concept! I tend to favor blue as a very aikido'esque color. White also has aikido like elements. Perhaps some form of pillowfort featuring cloning/redirecting type effects. Cloning, isn't inherently aggressive and simply mimics. Bouncing effects also to represent reversals and rendering attack futile. The question is then how do you win, because aikido is inherently about avoiding conflict, because conflict revolves around enemies and enemy seeking, in which case aikido does not believe in the enemy (the only "enemy" or conflict is in the Self). However, you don't have to aim to "win" in this sense, since there is no competition. Maybe Azami style deck as well? Azami can be built many ways, but as an indirect combo that is nonviolent with lab maniac, you are not hurting anyone.
I really love the 2 drop cards that draw. I don't see much maze of ith, but i always have spreading seas, tsabos web etc lying around in case they pop up again. One little gem I added mainboard is pithing needle. Easily tutored up by trinket mage, resettable after a Brago hit if needed, and cmc 1 makes it ideal. The fact it can really stop a niche card is valuable. A more recent thought was to add storm cauldron. The cost may be too high for Cedh though, but I wanna try it out as an additional way to punish mana sources. I keep trying to make it so there is a TON of redundancy, not only to relieve one or two lock pieces from being leaned upon so heavily, but also so it makes less likely a collapse will occur if removal hits too often. Really, I keep thinking about ways to force players to tap down mana sources, but I want it to be all opponents not just one. Like a Turnabout effect but for all my adversaries. Then I can proceed to drop a Stasis/Winter Orb/Hokori etc. I see you removed Lavinia a while ago. I know she is cmc 5, a lot to be sure, but her ability to shut off opposing mana rocks is amazing when winter orb is out or even after a resolved armageddon. I will be adding RIP+Helm as well, I just wanna win immediately after lockpieces are in place even for a turn.
I played some Brago this evening. Still pretty awesome lol. I find it to be a little tedious at times, since my meta is become hostile to Staxx/Prison so I am seeing a lot more artifact/enchantment removal overall, but honestly, that is to be expected. One thing, kinda off topic is perhaps another General would be more apt to Staxx. I know Brago is pretty awesome at Syaxx but the continual problem at times is that Brago often gets countered/removed and since he is the hub of the wheel so to speak, it can become insurmountably more difficult knowing he is the centerpiece and driving cog in the Staxx machine. I know Grand Aribiter, but he just has a terrible reputation, and for what it's worth that matters, because being an immediate target makes Cedh very hostile quickly. I thought about perhaps Hanna, ship's navigator as she is a bit more innocuous, and her recursion ability is quite powerful for Staxx for obvious reasons, and she is low cmc. I tried her IN Brago Staxx but I didn't care for the cursed totem dissynergy, as that was quite annoying lol. Plus, perhaps it might be a bit easier to close out games with Hanna as you can use Luminarch Ascension or some token producers to finish.
I think the assessment of planeswalkers in general, one must consider the archtype they are played in. I think Tezz should be rated higher, just because of the fact when in an artifact based deck, untapping mana rocks or tutoring up a key piece is bonkers powerful. I also think JTMS being rated kinda low is....off. Everyone kinda ssumes he will die in a turn, why? It's not like JTMS is being jammed into any deck with blue mana. If you play him in a deck where his strengths are utilized and he can be protected by countermagic, mass removal or pillowfort cards snd shuffle effects, then he is justifiably powerful. Fatesealing an adversary, brainstorming with shuffle effects repeatedly is powerful, even in edh. I think to correctly assess any card, it shouldn't be examined in a vacuum but in relationship to deck strategy and complimentary cards.
This is why I added SFMystic, to grab LGreaves/Whispersilk Cloak. Half the battle is just like you stated, hitting land drops/mana rocks and protecting Brago from removal. If you can, I would proxy SFMystic, she is REALLY good just because she is low cmc and repeatable.
I played her in Cap Sisiay alongside gaddock teeg. I set her at 2 against cyclonic rift and teeg versus wraths. Only thing left was sacrifice and toxic deluge, which left angel of jubilation and sigarda host of herons. So, even then sanctum prelate was only a slight obstacle, but as a compliment to a hatebear strategy, she is essential.
I love the Parallax cards (Wave,Tide). Repeatable removal for creatures or protection from mass removal and another way to ramp is quite powerful. Also, if you like peregrine drake and cloud of faeries, might I suggest treachery, as it is a free control magic and ramp with Brago. I think the Rishadan pirates are good but really only in a Staxx type build since they work extremely well in tandem with resource denial like Staxx. If you like equipment stoneforge mystic is excellent as a repeatable equipment tutor with Brago. Lastly, I don't see strionic resonator, which is a bit odd. Strionic resonator and a 2 mana producing rock creates infinite blink triggers (and if you have the parallax cards or reality acid that's game over).
Still loving Sydri, but I changed the deck a lot since I last posted. I changed mostly because the meta became very boardwipe heavy, making me go from a creature strategy to a Staxx approach. Staxx works well, mostly because it not only disrupts but Sydri can animate the Staxx pieces and swing, which is something no other Staxx general can do. Although, I did add aetherflux reservoir for a combo finish. Of course I know this strategy makes players frowny facey but my group really upped the power level, and I still wanna play Sydri, so this is how the deck next leveled.
I had a similar result, the only difference was I chose Stoneforge Mystic instead of steelshaper's gift, mostly because she is repeatable with Brago. I only play lightning greaves and swiftfoot boots in Staxx anyway, but still.
I think it is a nigh fruitless effort honestly. EDH should be house/group ruled in my opinion. Because most of the time, your playgroup(s) will dictate what kind of games they enjoy and what is considered acceptable compared to that criteria. A generic ban list really doesn't work too well, even now. Sure, in the context of Stores and random strangers playing EDH, I suppose a generic base ban list is required. However, even considering THAT, you never know what kind of games you're jumping into, as it could be combo paradise or creature feature or a mix etc. I think if EDH had been strictly monitored and specifically and purposely tailored for Casual Play only, many of these dilemmas wouldn't even have arisen, but I digress.
I have some more recent changes, so take them for you think they are worth! I have found I prefer to be able to have different option in which to attack with (excluding combos). I play both Bident of Thassa,Coastal Piracy and Well of Lost Dreams. Having permanents that draw cards allow you build around them, and they are continuous not one shot draw (which I find inherently more powerful). I Do play with Magister Sphinx, mainly because I win soley by beatdown, so his ability to shrink someone's life total to 10 is a tremendously valuable threat. I play some countermagic (about a handful) because I really don't want to lose to silly stuff if I can help it. Not every creature in my deck has the subtext "artifact", which I find to be an advantage. Some creatures offer utility that I want or other powers like evasion, life drain, or even recursion. Examples would be Vela the Night-Clad (she offers MASS evasion, which works wonderfully with Bident and Coastal Piracy, and she punishes sweepers), Vizkopa Guildmage to help drain all my opponents life totals, so I don't have swing out versus everyone, Chainer, Dimentia Master, for some recursive power alongside Sharuum, Leonin Abunas along with Padeem and some token generators like Skeletal Vampire, (again more evasive guys for Bident and CPiracy).
I LOVE Sydri Oh, def add Grand Architect. His pump plus the ability to tap blue creatures for mana that can be used to cast artifacts or activate their ability is awesome. Master Transmuter absolutely. I would say Magister Sphinx, but that depends, because he is considered to be rather cheesy. If you wanna win by beatdown then absolutely add Cranial Plating. Sculpting Steel is also amazing if just to copycat artifacts. I also have some equipment in the deck aside from Cranial Plating, mostly because it can be animated in case their is a board wipe or suited up on a thing to go ham. Def get Well of Lost Dreams because this deck needs as much card draw as possible. Oh and the beloved Caltops, being able to stop armies is swell lol. I tend to shy away from too many token producers, even in lieu of Skullclamp, mostly because tokens don't generate enough value on their own, (although IF you play a lot of "Lord" effects that could make a token strategy a lot more powerful). I can see Myr Turbine since is makes token at instant speed and isn't a creature that can be board wiped away (and to me that matters). I do concede to Sharding Sphinx since he gives ALL your creatures his ability, which is amazing. I also have recently added Bident of Thassa because the potential to draw a lot of cards is just too good to pass. You're right though, finding the perfect balance of creatures and non creature artifacts in Sydri has always been the challenge. Keep the suggestions coming, I am SO happy I found a live Sydri Thread!
This is an about average list for Azami, Lady of Scrolls.