For example:
-getting locked under an opponent's turn 3 Blood Moon before I can cast a Cultivate in my hand
-getting my board removed by a turn 4 Wrath of God before I can draw a card off Mentor of the Meek
-hitting a non-blue opponent with Thada Adel, Acquisitor and stealing a Sol Ring before they can play a three mana blocker
These benefits can be less pronounced in a longer game, but as a general rule, being the first player to act is always an advantage. This benefit particularly bothers me because of three factors:
-it comes up in every game played (someone has to go first)
-players have little control over it (first player is usually random)
-it is extremely unlikely that new cards will be printed to deal with it
Anyway, in the interest of generating discussion:
-how do people feel about the first-player advantage?
-are there actions which could be taken to mitigate this advantage?
103.7. The starting player takes their first turn. 103.7a In a two-player game, the player who plays first skips the draw step (see rule 504, "Draw Step") of their first turn. 103.7b In a Two-Headed Giant game, the team who plays first skips the draw step of their first turn. 103.7c In all other multiplayer games, no player skips the draw step of their first turn. 103.7c (new) In all other multiplayer games, the player who plays first skips the draw step of their first turn. They may instead scry 1 at the beginning of their first upkeep.
To WotC: make more cards like Surveyor's Scope which benefit players later in the turn order
To players: keep an eye out for situations where turn order matters, and incorporate who goes first into your threat assessment