Would you really not run any backrow, or any S/T at all? Not much you can do with the Crystal Beasts as their stats are pretty low. Not much you can do either way. It only clogs your entire field.
Well, I didn't say it would work WELL lol. It's sad but Crystal Beasts just probably won't be competitive in the speed format. But as far as I can tell, Crystal Beasts don't have anything better to fill their field spell zone, so I don't see why they can't give them this card and allow the 1~3 effect. (Even if no one would actually want to completely clog their S/T zone most of the time.)
It would have to be an ability for Jessie that'll expand his S/T Zones to 5 and have Ancient Ruins as the 1st card in his hand (to be fair).
But otherwise, as I've said before, The Crystal Beasts absolutely can not use their full potential in Duel Links. Which begs the question as to why Jessie & the CBs where added w/o a way to maximize them.
ironically the "5" effect is one of the two effects on the card meant to unclog your S/T zone....and yet said effect most likely won't be available in DL.
I don't think it would ~have~ to be what you described, since they amended the card text of Emerald Tortoise so they could put it in DL. Interested to see if they did this for Rainbow Ruins, though. I do agree with your sentiment, regardless.
They'll have to do quite a big revamp on this card's effect, bigger than what they did on Emerald Tortoise, if they want to make this card be available in DL.
The problem is, the 5+ effect is important because it's one of 2 effects that helps you unclog your backrow lol
IMO the easiest change would be to change the "in your Spell & Trap Card Zone" in the first sentence into "on your side of the field" (so it counts both backrow and frontrow).
This would completely change the effect tho. They probably do the same with Tortoise: Just delete the effects that cannot work in this game. Even without the 4+/5 effects this card would still be decent.
Or they could add a skill which simulates the 4+/5 effects. I mean, they did the same for destiny board (somehow)
I could see them giving us a skill that lets you start with Rainbow Ruins (removing the final two effects) and having an additional effect to Special Summon a Crystal Beast from your backrow. (Either once per Duel, or due to LP loss like the Draw Senses.) I doubt it'll ever be a standalone card, though.
Redneck
Anoymous
