I'd be all for a WUBRG Dominaria/Weatherlight/Coalition deck helmed by Gerrard. Ideally, he'd be a RW legend with a WUBRG ability.
I feel like this suggestion would be very "on theme" with how they have been visualizing Commander product design space lately. Heck, I have considered making a jank deck of some sort to fill this particular concept (sadly with a random 5 color commander).
The "Plane Themed" idea is also interesting. It would allow for multiple unique planes, each with unique flavor and mechanics, to be seen and the design space explored outside of Standard. I feel like this would almost necessitate a "global" enchantment for each plane that alters the rules according to each plane's nature. That last concept, however, sounds a lot like Planechase which I guess is another option - blending the Planechase and Commander IPs (which I have heard some playgroups do as a subformat?). IMO, a Planechase / Commander official varient could be dang fun too if properly supported.
I hope at least some of them do something unseen before and/or are open ended enough to allow for new type of deck. Not just a new commander that can helm an already well established deck or another race/class lord. I want Zedruu level novelty.
This.
MaRo stated that they used the past couple commander sets to make cards for previous story characters that never received a card, or niches that needed filled. Fantastic! A lot of the community really likes that. However, the designers shouldn't let that stop them from coming up with some new, truly inventive cards like Zedruu.
Since Azor sacrificed his spark to create a powerful artifact, ... What if a spark imprisoned in an artifact was unaffected by the changes of Mending? What if it is still capable to transform someone in an old-type planeswalker if they were to merge with it? Wouldn't that explain Bolas's plan?
I have pondered this question as well. Did the Immortal Sun lose or change power with the Mending? If not, it would still contain the same "magnitude" of "power" that an old-walker spark contained (or was originally used to create it). Seems like something that could be potentially pretty good to have if you could have it for yourself, right?
One thing about this possible new set name that sticks in my mind is the specific diction. It's Spark, not Sparks. Marketing and storyboarding should be very particular in how they choose words if indeed this is the set name.
To me, that means Bolas is after one spark in particular. Is is probably an old-walker spark, or something similar to it? Very likely.
Could Bolas be attempting to pop the sparks out of a bunch of new-walkers and fuse them into something larger? Perhaps. Although I am unsure if that is possible with how the Mending changed their nature. We'll see.
Alternately, Bolas is in possession of an object that contains the manifested essence of an old-walker. The Immortal Sun, Azor's spark, who just happens to have a very strong connection to Ravnica and the incredibly powerful system of gov't therein. Could cracking that object and breaking the new guildpact release enough energy for Bolas to absorb like the Maelstrom? Maybe... It's certainly less obvious than the "I'm going to steal their essences! (Insert evil laughter)" angle. The same things would be required: Jace present (and thereby the Gatewatch), a war between guilds, and protection (Eternals) while he did whatever he needed to do personally...
I guess we'll see. I, for one, hope for a more creative angle though I'm not betting on it.
I confess to being interested in seeing the print quality on Ulasht, with a Gruul set symbol no less. The Guildpact printing wasn't that great for a lot of the images, IMO, so maybe it will look better.
Colorless seems like low hanging fruit, but I would like to see the designers attempt something different with it than the usual Karn or Titan builds.
One option is a pre-sparked Ugin. It has been noted by MaRo that this was missing previously so this could be a flavorful choice. It will probably exist eventually anyway.
While the "eat your face" nature of the existing titans are interesting to some people, I feel there is fertile design space in a low-powered legendary Eldrazi (or mutated Eldrazi-human from Innistrad?) with some type of Devoid mechanic or Devoid enabler could be fun. Something like:
"[Name], Scion of the Dying Broods (Mana cost TBD)
Legendary Creature - Eldrazi
2/2
Devoid spells of any color identity may be included in this deck.
You may cast spells with Devoid by paying {C}{C} for any 1 colored mana.
Whenever you cast a spell with Devoid, create a 0/1 Eldrazi drone token with "sacrifice this creature, add {C}""
Or something like that or a combination. I mean, balancing that would be a chore but it's an idea for a direction for colorless that isn't currently explored.
I feel like this suggestion would be very "on theme" with how they have been visualizing Commander product design space lately. Heck, I have considered making a jank deck of some sort to fill this particular concept (sadly with a random 5 color commander).
The "Plane Themed" idea is also interesting. It would allow for multiple unique planes, each with unique flavor and mechanics, to be seen and the design space explored outside of Standard. I feel like this would almost necessitate a "global" enchantment for each plane that alters the rules according to each plane's nature. That last concept, however, sounds a lot like Planechase which I guess is another option - blending the Planechase and Commander IPs (which I have heard some playgroups do as a subformat?). IMO, a Planechase / Commander official varient could be dang fun too if properly supported.
This.
MaRo stated that they used the past couple commander sets to make cards for previous story characters that never received a card, or niches that needed filled. Fantastic! A lot of the community really likes that. However, the designers shouldn't let that stop them from coming up with some new, truly inventive cards like Zedruu.
I have pondered this question as well. Did the Immortal Sun lose or change power with the Mending? If not, it would still contain the same "magnitude" of "power" that an old-walker spark contained (or was originally used to create it). Seems like something that could be potentially pretty good to have if you could have it for yourself, right?
Totally... Only these are something like the LSD gummy bears that Cheryl Tunt eats. Definitely "elevating" if you get my drift.
To me, that means Bolas is after one spark in particular. Is is probably an old-walker spark, or something similar to it? Very likely.
Could Bolas be attempting to pop the sparks out of a bunch of new-walkers and fuse them into something larger? Perhaps. Although I am unsure if that is possible with how the Mending changed their nature. We'll see.
Alternately, Bolas is in possession of an object that contains the manifested essence of an old-walker. The Immortal Sun, Azor's spark, who just happens to have a very strong connection to Ravnica and the incredibly powerful system of gov't therein. Could cracking that object and breaking the new guildpact release enough energy for Bolas to absorb like the Maelstrom? Maybe... It's certainly less obvious than the "I'm going to steal their essences! (Insert evil laughter)" angle. The same things would be required: Jace present (and thereby the Gatewatch), a war between guilds, and protection (Eternals) while he did whatever he needed to do personally...
I guess we'll see. I, for one, hope for a more creative angle though I'm not betting on it.
Colorless seems like low hanging fruit, but I would like to see the designers attempt something different with it than the usual Karn or Titan builds.
One option is a pre-sparked Ugin. It has been noted by MaRo that this was missing previously so this could be a flavorful choice. It will probably exist eventually anyway.
While the "eat your face" nature of the existing titans are interesting to some people, I feel there is fertile design space in a low-powered legendary Eldrazi (or mutated Eldrazi-human from Innistrad?) with some type of Devoid mechanic or Devoid enabler could be fun. Something like:
"[Name], Scion of the Dying Broods (Mana cost TBD)
Legendary Creature - Eldrazi
2/2
Devoid spells of any color identity may be included in this deck.
You may cast spells with Devoid by paying {C}{C} for any 1 colored mana.
Whenever you cast a spell with Devoid, create a 0/1 Eldrazi drone token with "sacrifice this creature, add {C}""
Or something like that or a combination. I mean, balancing that would be a chore but it's an idea for a direction for colorless that isn't currently explored.