The two we have so far imply a doubling effect (double damage, double natural draw), so I could see a double life gain effect for white, double mana effect for green, and double life loss for black.
I think the design is less about doubling and more about getting the best end of a symmetrical effect. I don't see it being lifegain for white, I'm not sure how you'd make it symmetrical. Rule of Law at 2WW makes more sense, flash it in as they play something and catch them off-guard by not letting them play anything else.
Maybe black is something like Necrogen Mists, but 1BB and discard a card at end of turn instead of during your upkeep? You usually already get the better end of "sacrifice a creature" enchantments like Call to the Grave.
So we've got Dictate of Kruphix (1UU flash Howling Mine) and Dictate of the Twin Gods (3RR flash Furnace of Rath), so it looks like we've got a 5 card-cycle here.
It seems like they're going to be effects that benefit you first by dropping them at the end of your opponent's turn. I'm thinking some kind of Heartbeat of Spring card with flash for 4GG? What would White or Black get?
So isn't strive just a less versatile kicker?
Most likely only appearing on creatures or spells that target?
Also, does constellation mean that all enchantments with it as a mechanic wil have enter the battlefield abilities?
If so, then its just a matter of time before Pod gets new toys:D
Strive can be better than kicker if you have something that cares about mana-cost (Manaplasm), potential inter-block synergy with the fall set maybe?
Kamigawa and Masques weren't completely horrible in terms of power-level. Masques had Daze and Brainstorm (and probably several other cards that I'm not remembering right now) while Kamigawa had Kiki-Jiki, Umezawa's Jitte, Goryo's Vengeance, Through the Breach, Disrupting Shoal, Blazing Shoal, Pithing Needle, Gifts Ungiven, Azusa, Glimpse of Nature, Sensei's Divining Top, Ninja of the Deep Hours, Kira, Sowing Salt, Lava Spike, Boseiju, Peer Through Depths, Eiganjo Castle, and Desperate Ritual.
Champions was great, and Betrayers was mediocre, but Saviors of Kamigawa is the worst. It has nothing worthwhile in it save Pithing Needle (and that's been reprinted, so there's even less reason to care about the set).
Theros and Born of the Gods are lightyears ahead in comparison.
In the Theros Podcast Maro was talking about about his "original block idea" that got canned. It didn't happen because the creative team said they wouldn't be able to do that.
What is really hard to do? 3 Worlds a year. (yeah, they did more with Shards of Alara but they didn't have to define every shard in a large set setting)
So what would need 3 planes? A big Phyrexian conquest. Showing 3 different worlds + how phyrexia adapts to that worlds is A LOT of stuff to do.
So maybe they spend extra time during Theros to start working on that.
So 3 different planes that year, everyone attacked by the Phyrexians.
Okay question time: Huey is "Warlords of Khanar" right? So the Warlords are fighting amongst themselves and against Phyrexia? Might not work.
But would need a "unique Block structure".
[Speculation end]
It would be interesting to see an "Nemesis" Block, three large sets, one on New Phyrexia (they find a way to escape the plane?), one in Zendikar (Eldrazi jaibreak?), and Bolas finally making a move (on Dominaria?).
Then all-Multiverse breaking loose Time Spiral-style in the following block as these forces collide
Now that we know enchantment creatures are a thing, is it possible that we have a set where every card is an enchantment?
All the colors are in play, we've seen Enchantment Artifacts, Nyx is the place where all the cool enchantments hang out. Enchantment Lands seem possible (see Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth for an example of an enchantment-like effect for lands). Maybe a new Seal cycle to get that spell-like effect going?
I think people are understating how good Scry is when you can do it repeatedly. A land here, a spell there, a Thassa here and a gorgon there... it adds up over the course of a game.
Maybe activating Ember Swallower won't be so hard after all... great googly moogly what a card. Just getting the tokens would have been fine, but Haste is bananas.
Elspeth seems like the best 6-mana walker they've made. If you can get off her +1 then her -3 I don't see you having many issues cleaning up from there.
Nykthos is fantastic as well. Want that land in my Commander decks for sure.
Read the bones is a ridiculous spell for 2B. Play that over Sign in Blood any day of the week.
Still think it's too soon unless Phyrexians start pouring in or something.
Kinda scared at what the rest of the cycle is gonna be, yikes.
I think the design is less about doubling and more about getting the best end of a symmetrical effect. I don't see it being lifegain for white, I'm not sure how you'd make it symmetrical. Rule of Law at 2WW makes more sense, flash it in as they play something and catch them off-guard by not letting them play anything else.
Maybe black is something like Necrogen Mists, but 1BB and discard a card at end of turn instead of during your upkeep? You usually already get the better end of "sacrifice a creature" enchantments like Call to the Grave.
It seems like they're going to be effects that benefit you first by dropping them at the end of your opponent's turn. I'm thinking some kind of Heartbeat of Spring card with flash for 4GG? What would White or Black get?
Strive can be better than kicker if you have something that cares about mana-cost (Manaplasm), potential inter-block synergy with the fall set maybe?
Yup, I bet this is what we're dealing with.
You thought Control Magic was Dumb - 5UU
Sorcery
Gain control of target permanent. This effect doesn't end at end of game.
Also maybe a Condemn that puts the card on the bottom of YOUR library
Champions was great, and Betrayers was mediocre, but Saviors of Kamigawa is the worst. It has nothing worthwhile in it save Pithing Needle (and that's been reprinted, so there's even less reason to care about the set).
Theros and Born of the Gods are lightyears ahead in comparison.
It would be interesting to see an "Nemesis" Block, three large sets, one on New Phyrexia (they find a way to escape the plane?), one in Zendikar (Eldrazi jaibreak?), and Bolas finally making a move (on Dominaria?).
Then all-Multiverse breaking loose Time Spiral-style in the following block as these forces collide
edit: Never mind, the Red one hits creatures and planeswalkers too, so maybe it is a cycle in more than one way...
+ ability: Explore (land fetch)
- ability: Vaporize (bounce ala Vapor Snag?)
- ability: get the fatties (kinda like Nissa's ultimate?)
Mounts, no. Banding, get in
All the colors are in play, we've seen Enchantment Artifacts, Nyx is the place where all the cool enchantments hang out. Enchantment Lands seem possible (see Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth for an example of an enchantment-like effect for lands). Maybe a new Seal cycle to get that spell-like effect going?
Nykthos is fantastic as well. Want that land in my Commander decks for sure.
Read the bones is a ridiculous spell for 2B. Play that over Sign in Blood any day of the week.