This shows a lot of your deck to your opponent. I'm wondering if you could have the ability only occasionally trigger:
Leaf Collector 1G
Creature - Elf Druid
Common
When ~ enters the battlefield, explore. If you reveal a land card, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. (To explore, look at the top card of your library, and if it's a land card you may reveal it.)
2/1
Sage of the Seas 4U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard
Uncommon
When ~ enters the battlefield, explore. (To explore, look at the top card of your library, and if it's a land card you may reveal it.)
Whenever you reveal a land card by exploring, tap target creature an opponent controls.
3/3
It's likely that Hour has a variant on Cycling (such as Wizardcycling, Basic-landcycling etc)
That's why they start the block with normal cycling.
Cycling without discard sounds too complicated, and we have a valid reason for that wording: Newer players might misinterpret "whenever you discard" and not notice it includes cycling.
Well it would be nice to have type-cycling, as they've had land-cycling before, but that's already happened. Specific creature-type cycling would creature issues similar to Transmute, and besides, the only Amonkhet tribe with multiple sources of support (sorry Neheb, the Worthy and Regal Caracal) is Zombies, several of which can't be cycled for as they're only zombies when embalmed.
I must admit, one thing going against Lifecycling is the wording of "Whenever you cycle or discard [a/another] card...", which implies that it must be a card and technically cannot be a permanent. They could always adjust the meaning of 'card' as used in this context without it getting too confusing. I imagine if they did use Lifecycling it would only go on creatures, though I could see lands as being considered to have life in them (Nissa says yes creatively and functionally).
I think cycling from the battlefield (2, Sacrifice CARDNAME: Draw a card) would be the right move. The "cycling or discard" wording makes more sense, and MaRo has stated several times that he wishes he'd keyworded 'cycling from play' in Urza's block.
This mechanic feels more Selesnya than Boros. Boros is the quick-hitting guild which gets your team to attack in squads (Radiate attempted this and Battalion achieved this). This mechanic is slower and requires you build up gradually. By giving similar keywords it also serves the purposes of making your team all feel similar, which fits better with the flavour of the Selesnyan cult.
It's quite simplistic but I can see why it's rare. Think of this card (which in several ways is worse than Mouth // Feed, though not strictly worse):
2G
Creature - Hippo
~ enters the battlefield with an aftermath counter on it. 3G, Remove an aftermath counter from ~: Draw a card for each creature you control with power 3 or greater.
3/3
The Setting:
Elysium - A dreamlike world of fairytales. On the surface things are joyful and pleasant, but underneath the illusion there is treachery afoot.
The Themes:
Auras (enhancement of oneself and manipulation of the world about), suddenness (flash, flickering, bouncing), dream-state (tapped for benefits)
Returning Planeswalkers:
Tamiyo (storyteller) and Ashiok (nightmare)
Returning Mechanic:
Flashback, Echo or Investigate
The Story: Ashiok, in search of new fuel for their nightmare magic, encounters the mystical plane of Elysium. They realise that the inhabitants vary wildly from being easily drawn into nightmares one moment, then having protection from them the next without any recollection of the bad dreams. Intrigued, Ashiok seeks to peel away the fabric of this world to discover more. Meanwhile Tamiyo, recently recruited into the Gatewatch, arrives to discover more about Elysium. She finds many stories to fill her spell-scroll, yet is confused when those stories then disappear or seem to rewrite themselves. She investigates further to determine the true nature of this plane.
The wording o f"whenever you cycle or discard a card" makes me think the innovation for cycling in Hour of Devastation will be to cycle from play. MaRo often spoke about how he wished he'd keyworded this in Urza block, and it would fit well with the Bolas theme.
Aetherborn don't use a gender pronoun. That is made abundantly clear in the storyline. Please refrain from using 'she' because it makes little sense to Yahenni's character.
Yahenni's greatest skill is their ability to drain life. I'm wondering about something like:
[quote from="Honor Basquiat »" url="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/creativity/custom-card-creation/764196-what-would-the-color-mana-cost-and-rarity-be-for?comment=1"]Here are some cards I designed that I am having trouble placing within the color pie. What color(s) do you believe these cards would be along with their mana cost and rarity?
Create - Good idea to name this action, and especially in this set.
Vehicle / Crew - Very cool mechanic! I've seen many people in the custom card creation forums try to come up with mounts or ships or what have you. This is the most elegant version I've seen. While appearing quite simple it does allow for some interesting combat. I especially like how having multiple Vehicles is not redundant as the smaller ones can activate the bigger ones. First time I've ever seen 'crew' used as a verb. Then again, Magic was the first time I heard 'instant' or 'permanent' used in their forms, so what the hey.
Fabricate - Nice and malleable mechanic which creates several options, especially in limited. Why be forced to go wide or go tall? This will very much help Vehicles and help to restock your board. I'm assuming most cards will be Fabricate 1 so as not to lead to too many board stalling situations in limited.
Energy - This is fantastic and reminds me a lot of Gold counters from Theros block. I'm really curious to see what comes of this mechanic, because I think it has amazing potential. If Vehicle is the top-down mechanic of this set, Energy is the bottom-up mechanic.
I would love to see Proliferate come back for the sequel as it would fit well with both Energy and Fabricate. Obviously it's better for the second set as it encourages you to play more Energy-creating cards on their own right, and because it skews Fabricate towards the "go tall" option. Of course, Populate could always come back too.
Two-brid mana is the other mechanic I'd love to see return. It would just slip into the set so easily and would push towards playing colours rather than just focusing on colourlessness. Let's see what the rest of the set brings anyhey.
Leaf Collector
1G
Creature - Elf Druid
Common
When ~ enters the battlefield, explore. If you reveal a land card, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. (To explore, look at the top card of your library, and if it's a land card you may reveal it.)
2/1
Sage of the Seas
4U
Creature - Merfolk Wizard
Uncommon
When ~ enters the battlefield, explore. (To explore, look at the top card of your library, and if it's a land card you may reveal it.)
Whenever you reveal a land card by exploring, tap target creature an opponent controls.
3/3
G
Sorcery
Put up to two Forest cards from your hand onto the battlefield.
This is extremely powerful in older formats, and even though Summer Bloom gives you some greater flexibility, it costs twice as much.
Zenpuku would be really cool if it could animate lands, or do a Doran impression by using its toughness offensively. I like the design though.
Well it would be nice to have type-cycling, as they've had land-cycling before, but that's already happened. Specific creature-type cycling would creature issues similar to Transmute, and besides, the only Amonkhet tribe with multiple sources of support (sorry Neheb, the Worthy and Regal Caracal) is Zombies, several of which can't be cycled for as they're only zombies when embalmed.
I must admit, one thing going against Lifecycling is the wording of "Whenever you cycle or discard [a/another] card...", which implies that it must be a card and technically cannot be a permanent. They could always adjust the meaning of 'card' as used in this context without it getting too confusing. I imagine if they did use Lifecycling it would only go on creatures, though I could see lands as being considered to have life in them (Nissa says yes creatively and functionally).
Plus, sacrificing things feels very Bolas-y.
2G
Creature - Hippo
~ enters the battlefield with an aftermath counter on it.
3G, Remove an aftermath counter from ~: Draw a card for each creature you control with power 3 or greater.
3/3
The Setting:
Elysium - A dreamlike world of fairytales. On the surface things are joyful and pleasant, but underneath the illusion there is treachery afoot.
The Themes:
Auras (enhancement of oneself and manipulation of the world about), suddenness (flash, flickering, bouncing), dream-state (tapped for benefits)
Returning Planeswalkers:
Tamiyo (storyteller) and Ashiok (nightmare)
Returning Mechanic:
Flashback, Echo or Investigate
The Story: Ashiok, in search of new fuel for their nightmare magic, encounters the mystical plane of Elysium. They realise that the inhabitants vary wildly from being easily drawn into nightmares one moment, then having protection from them the next without any recollection of the bad dreams. Intrigued, Ashiok seeks to peel away the fabric of this world to discover more. Meanwhile Tamiyo, recently recruited into the Gatewatch, arrives to discover more about Elysium. She finds many stories to fill her spell-scroll, yet is confused when those stories then disappear or seem to rewrite themselves. She investigates further to determine the true nature of this plane.
Yahenni's greatest skill is their ability to drain life. I'm wondering about something like:
1BB
Lifelink
3BB: CARDNAME deals 2 damage to target creature.
2/3
Card 1 - Great Un-card, but would never work in regular Magic. I'd put it at 3WWUU as it's a Silence, Time Stop, Fog and Sudden Disappearance all in one.
Card 2 - Super-Processor! 3UB I think, with an ETB draw a card rider, though you could argue for 4UU or 4BB depending upon set flavour.
Card 3 - 4WU; it seems like an angel creating a magical ban, though not sure why it's legendary.
Card 4 - I'd like this at 2UU and change destroy to exile.
Card 5 - UB sorcery which affects only opponents?
Card 6 - You could make it an Eldrazi at say 8, but I'd prefer 4WB and ETB trigger.
Card 7 - 5WU or 5UB, depending on the set flavour.
Vehicle / Crew - Very cool mechanic! I've seen many people in the custom card creation forums try to come up with mounts or ships or what have you. This is the most elegant version I've seen. While appearing quite simple it does allow for some interesting combat. I especially like how having multiple Vehicles is not redundant as the smaller ones can activate the bigger ones. First time I've ever seen 'crew' used as a verb. Then again, Magic was the first time I heard 'instant' or 'permanent' used in their forms, so what the hey.
Fabricate - Nice and malleable mechanic which creates several options, especially in limited. Why be forced to go wide or go tall? This will very much help Vehicles and help to restock your board. I'm assuming most cards will be Fabricate 1 so as not to lead to too many board stalling situations in limited.
Energy - This is fantastic and reminds me a lot of Gold counters from Theros block. I'm really curious to see what comes of this mechanic, because I think it has amazing potential. If Vehicle is the top-down mechanic of this set, Energy is the bottom-up mechanic.
I would love to see Proliferate come back for the sequel as it would fit well with both Energy and Fabricate. Obviously it's better for the second set as it encourages you to play more Energy-creating cards on their own right, and because it skews Fabricate towards the "go tall" option. Of course, Populate could always come back too.
Two-brid mana is the other mechanic I'd love to see return. It would just slip into the set so easily and would push towards playing colours rather than just focusing on colourlessness. Let's see what the rest of the set brings anyhey.