We iterated a lot to get to the proper set size and the specifics of the draft format right, but Corey's going to cover some of that and a bunch more in his article, which covers the set design and play design processes in depth
If an effect allows you to cast instant spells from your graveyard, you could cast Valakut Awakening, but you couldn't play Valakut Stoneforge
Grizzly Ghoul I pretty much only want to use Grizzly Ghoul in a deck where I can chain an infinite combo (Ruthless Ripper, for example), cast this zombie bear to gain infinite +1/+1 counters, then fling it at an opponent
This style of game allows players to battle each other with decks of cards constructed from a pool sold in blind packs
Being combined with tempo cards of the day like Winter Orb, they'd make the cut in powerful decks called "Frozen Fish" and then after the first typal set ever printed, Fallen Empires pushed the Merfolk creature type as a supported group even more
Cards like Loxodon Smiter play for the early game, while Trostani wants to go long
