all the same cycle

[Liam-K]

I was reading some article on wizards' site and they mentioned a pair of fictional cards in R&D, guys are sneaky and guys are scared.  The former is blue and makes your dudes unblockable.  The latter is red and makes it so your opponent's creatures can't block.  They're functionally identical.

It occurred to me that it would be sort of cool to make a full cycle of cards which are functionally identical (and if possible all use the same wording) but "feel" right in the colour they are purely based on name.  Obviously it would have to be a pretty minor effect as it has to be something we can give every colour, ideally at the same cost.  Probably uncommons.

Here's my initial take on the matter.


Imperious Glare  1W
Instant

Target creature does not untap during its controller's next untap step.  Draw a card.


Confuddle  1U
Instant

Target creature does not untap during its controller's next untap step.  Draw a card.


Despair  1B
Instant

Target creature does not untap during its controller's next untap step.  Draw a card.


Send Running  1R  (terrible name)
Instant

Target creature does not untap during its controller's next untap step.  Draw a card.


Entangling Roots  1G
Instant

Target creature does not untap during its controller's next untap step.  Draw a card.



These are so simple I'm reluctant to fall back on flavor text to push the colour justification concept, but suggestions for better names are welcome.  As far as I'm aware this is something all 5 colours can already do, though I'm not sure they all have cards that do it specifically and alone.   They seem maybe ok for limited...

Interesting idea?  Terrible idea?

[Anusien]

I'd be extremely disappointed to open two of these in the same pack, and I think have too many of these effects in the same environment would be lame.  I think it's a really awesome idea, I just think the execution falls short.

What about a 5 way split a la Who/What/Where/When/Why/How?  Keep them all the same text but with different names and CMC.