I read your series today and I really liked them. Your opinions are well supported, and your analysis covers each keyword from many different aspects in a broad view.
I have one correction to make though. Suspend wasn't the first ability to use the exile zone in a way that no other card could, imprint in Mirrodin block did it first (albeit in an unexciting and not very memorable way). This mechanic still has quite a lot of untapped design space.
I don't have an idea what the first keyword would be. Trample is one of the most beloved mechanics of all time, that plays well and has history. However, it's not very innovative - many attacking/blocking mechanic have been made alongside it from the very beginning, and it's not as resonant as flying.
OTOH I definitely know what will make the worst ten keywords of all time: Shroud!
Edit: now I found it: Rock Jockey's ability. It feels a lot more green then red.
Legendary Creature — Human Assassin
Thorn elemental's ability (keyworded)
You can’t play ~ unless you played a land this turn.
Play this creature instead of a land drop (I don't know how to write it)
Imperiosaur's ability (Pure/Ancient)
Troll Ascetic's ability (keyworded)
Heads (Two headed dragon or so)
Phantom (keyworded)
Fungusaur's ability
Penumbra
Swarm 1 (This creature gets +1/+1 for each creature spell played this turn.) (Pharmalade's idea).
Orochi "doen't untap at its controller's next untap step" (keyworded)
Reseed X (When this is put into a graveyard from play, add X to your mana pool. This mana doesn't empty from your mana pool as phases and turns end. Spend this mana only to play creature spells.) ( Scuirimancer's idea).
Poisonous.
I keep ideas for mechanics I see in threads. Most of the abilities above are only partially green, but I included them anyway.
White: countless disenchants, ***.
Blue: no special means, just counters and bounce. However, this card is not that strong against control deck that will just wait to produce more tokens with Urza's factory/sacred mesa.
Black: Damnation and Drain life effects. That card is the most potent against mono black control, but its the shared enemy, after all.
Red: At this point, he will just burn your head.
Green: Has a lot of creatures himself, and a lot of naturalize effects.
This card can be played in the mirror match, but in that case, the one that creates more tokens wins already.
It is really strong card in multiplayer, but at constructed I don't think at 5 CMC this is playable.
Great idea for flavor text.
Copperhoof Vorrac and Wilderness elemental mixed.
Temporal Cascade. Blue has got discard in PC, and that's a card that could fit there.
It really does.
It doesn't affect creatures that CIP after him, but I discovered too via playtesting that he is broken.
Do the ability work if he isn't in play?
You can sacrifice him to scorched rusalka. He is a dead card in draft (The worst 4th drop in quite a time) or generally in limited.
Change to trigger at the beginning of the upkeep.
White gets +0/+X or +X/+X. Green gets -X/+X or +X/+X.
I said above that his P/T and mana cost should be changed. Its mana cost can be dropped by :1mana:, isn't it?
The big drawback of utility creatures that token producers don't have is ***. And you still need more utility creatures than them. It is unlikely that one evasive guy will kill the opponent if it doesn't protect itself or you have counters to protect it.
Creature — Beast (R)
~'s power is equal to the number of untapped permanents your opponents control.
*/2
Refreshing Thought :1mana::symu::symu:
Sorcery — Charm (C)
Each player shuffles his or her hand into his or her library.
Reversed Chaos :1mana::symr::symr:
Instant — Transmutation (R)
Change the target of target spell with a single target.
If that spell is transmutation, ~ deals damage to its controller equal to its converted mana cost.
Prophet of Might :2mana::symg:
Creature — Human Druid (C)
When ~ comes into play, put a +1/+1 counter on each other creature you control.
2/2
Morthian Bandit
Creature — Human Rogue (R)
Haste, Double strike
At the beginning of the upkeep of your fourth turn, you lose the game.
Are you desperate enough?
1/3
I will up the mana cost by 1 then.
And by the way, I'm not deep into standard. Is glare that strong?
Green has Giant Badger, Tyrranax, brushwagg. But the second ability can be red. I think in R/G it would be underpowered and less useful, so I left it black.
Great idea. However, the card says your life total becomes 30 and you lose 1 life whenever you draw a card, which is at least once a turn.
The drawback was the idea behind the card, I don't want to change it. The P/T and casting cost should be changed then.
Equal to its power (3).
Fixed.
Fixed.
Sorcery
Choose one - Deal 4 damage to target creature or player, that damage can't be prevented; ...
Creature — Djinn (R)
Other creatures you control come into play with 3 time counters and gain Vanishing.
When ~ comes into play, put 3 time counters on each creature you control. Those creatures gain Vanishing.
6/5
Stick Together :3mana::symg::symw:
Enchantment — Charm (R)
Each player who controls less creatures than you can't attack.
Blackwood Dryad :1mana::symg::symb:
Creature — Dryad (C)
Whenever ~ becomes blocked, it gets +2/-2 until end of turn.
Whenever ~ blocks, it gets -2/+2 until end of turn.
3/3
Psychic Endurance :2mana::symu::symw:
Enchantment — Abjuration (R)
If you would be dealt damage, put that many cards from the top of your library into your graveyard instead.
Goblin Charger :2mana::symr::symr:
Creature — Goblin Warrior (U)
~ can't block.
Sacrifice ~: ~ deals damage to target creature equal to its power.
3/1
Deadly Mummy :2mana::symb:
Creature — Zombie (R)
Whenever ~ deals combat damage, it deals double that much damage to you.
Trample
5/5
Most thought otherwise, and I agree with them. You will almost never need to counter 2 spells, even in multiplayer.
Sorcery — Abjuration (R)
Search your library for a card, reveal it, then remove it from the game.
Mob Leader
Creature — Human Barbarian (R)
~ gets +1/+0 for each other attacking creature you control.
0/1
Auramancer Seer :1mana::symw:
Creature — Human Wizard (U)
Enchantments you control have shroud.
1/1
Sculpt Spell :1mana::symu::symu:
Instant — Conjuration (R)
You may discard a conjuration card from your hand rather then pay ~'s mana cost.
Copy target instant or sorcery spell. You may choose new targets for the copy. If that spell is a conjuration, you may draw a card.
That's my card!
If you have seven or more cards in your hand, you may play ~ without paying its mana cost.
It is a free counter if you are second, which is strong, but during the rest of the game it becomes less strong.
Craven Elemental is a huge creature for his color, although not a good one drop. Its balanced.