While the deck excels at getting ahead on mana via a plethora of ramp spells, its true power comes from Pantlaza, Sun-Favored and his "discover" ability
There are a few fundamental abilities to look for when selecting a commander for a lifegain-themed deck
For one green mana, Helix Pinnacle is a card that can completely change your objective and approach to winning a game of Commander
Typical early examples include Thraben Inspector (When this creature enters the battlefield, investigate.) or Tamiyo's Journal (At the beginning of your upkeep, investigate.)
You wont be sad to topdeck it since it replaces itself, which makes it similarly unaffected by board wipes
And even in parts where players are less familiar with the games story, the actual gameplay more than makes up for that gap, with powerful combos and synergy