Editing Homelands

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|sub1 = Trivia
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{{Infobox set 
  |image = HML logo.gif
  |image_bgcolor = white
  |symbol_description = Planet globe
  |design = [[Kyle Namvar]]<br/>[[Scott Hungerford|Scott "Scooter" Hungerford]]
  |development = [[Charlie Cantini]]<br/>[[Skaff Elias]]<br/>[[Jim Lin]]<br/>[[Joel Mick]]<br/>[[Dave Pettey]]
  |art = [[Sandra Everingham|Sandra (Everingham) Garavito]]
  |release = October 14, 1995 
  |plane = [[Ulgrotha]]<ref name="FAQ">{{WebRef|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030218051826/http://www.wizards.com:80/magic/generic/storyline/faq.asp|title=Dominian FAQ (archived)|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|publisher=wizards.com}}</ref>
  |mechanics = [[Flavor]]. [[creature type]] [[Tribal (theme)|tribal]], [[legendary]] creatures, [[cantrip]]s
  |size= 115 cards<br/>{{curmb|25|47|43}}
  |code_expansion = HML (previously HM) 
  |code_expansion_ref= {{DailyRef|ask-wizards-august-2004-2004-08-02|Ask Wizards - August, 2004|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|August 02, 2004}}
  |series =  Early non-[[block]] [[expansion]]s
  |first = Fallen Empires
  |second = Homelands
  |third = 
  |previous = Renaissance
  |next = Alliances
}}
{{For|the comic|Homelands (comic)}}
'''''Homelands''''', released in October 1995, is the seventh ''[[Magic]]'' [[Set#Expansions|expansion]]. It was the second expansion of the [[Ice Age block]] until July 2006, when it was removed and ''[[Coldsnap]]'' was added to the block. ''Homelands'' is frequently panned as ''Magic's'' all-time low in game design, though it has also been praised for the quality of its setting and [[flavor]].
[[File:HML booster.jpg|thumb|right|''Homelands'' booster]]

==Set details==
''Homelands'' was developed as a separate expansion from the current [[Ice Age block]] at the time.<ref>{{DailyRef|feature/homelands-making-magic-expansion-2011-08-22|Homelands: The Making of a Magic Expansion|Christopher Ferris|August 22, 2011}}</ref> The set introduced no new mechanics or keywords, but used some of the mechanics of ''Ice Age'', most notably the [[cantrip]] ability and single-color [[legendary]] [[creature]]s. Each color had at least one legend, with some colors having as many as five. The absence of mechanics found throughout the Ice Age block, such as [[Snow]] lands and [[cumulative upkeep]], and the fact that it didn't follow the Ice Age block storyline, made it a poor fit in its former block. The [[expansion symbol]] of the set is a simplified globe of [[Ulgrotha]], the plane where ''Homelands'' was set.<ref>{{DailyRef|ask-wizards-october-2006-2006-10-02|Ask Wizards|[[Brady Dommermuth]]|October 31, 2006}}</ref>

''Homelands'' was printed on 121 card sheets.  The set's [[rarity]] breakdown is 46 commons (25@C4, 21@C1) and 69 uncommons (26@U3, 43@U1).  The U1 are considered the "rares" of the set.  Because of the relative number of uncommons to commons in a pack, C1 and U3 cards are of equal rarity despite being printed on different sheets, and are considered the uncommons of the set.  Each of the C4 commons has 2 versions of art by the same [[artist]].  Most collectors consider these variants to be distinct cards, and therefore a full set to be 140 cards.  If the art variants are treated as distinct, there are 71 commons (50@C2, 21@C1). 

The Homelands lands have a unique teal colored text box.

===Marketing===
[[File:Homelands Gathering event badge.jpg|thumb|right|Homelands Gathering event]]
[[File:Homelands advertisement.jpg|thumb|right|Homelands advertisement]]

''Homelands'' is the last expansion to be printed on only two [[print sheet|sheets]] and sold in eight-card [[booster pack]]s (two cards from the uncommon sheet and six cards from the common sheet). Each booster bears the same green background image. ''Homelands'' was the first simultaneous international release. German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian versions were being launched around the same time as the English version, and there were release events, called ''[[Magic: The Gathering I]]'' in New York City, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiel Internationale Spieltage SPIEL] in Essen, Germany, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca_Comics_%26_Games Lucca Comics convention] in Lucca, Italy, and other locations.

===Storyline===
The [[planeswalker]] [[Feroz]] came across [[Ulgrotha]], the once-beautiful [[plane]] now destroyed by the [[Great War|Wizards' Wars]]. At the last unspoilt oasis on this plane he met fellow planeswalker [[Serra]], whom he married. Together they worked to restore the plane, and to protect it, [[Feroz's Ban]] was created. Later, Feroz died during a lab accident, and the grief-stricken Serra abandoned the plane. In her absence the isolated civilizations of the plane fight amongst each other while the [[vampire]] [[Baron Sengir]] plots to take control of the plane under the fading Ban of Feroz.

==Mechanics and themes==
As mentioned, ''Homelands'' introduced no new mechanics. It had a number of themes, including a large number of real-world creature types, clockwork [[artifact]] [[creature]]s, Legendary creatures, and a number of "[[Tribal (theme)|tribal]]" effects that enhanced only one creature type.

''Homelands'' explored popular characters including Sengir and Serra and had a strong flavor, meaning that the cards were designed to fill specific roles. The [[flavor text]] on the cards can also be used to piece together parts of a story.

==Creature types==
[[File:Homelands-Ferrets-Duelist-7 Heather Hudson.jpg‎|thumb|alt=Ferrets of [[Ulgrotha]], as depicted by Heather Hudson in Duelist #7.|Ferrets of [[Ulgrotha]], as depicted by [[Heather Hudson]] in [[the Duelist]] #7.]]
''Homelands'', like many early expansions, has many [[creature type]]s that are unique to the creatures they are found on. Many of these are real-world animals and types of people, grounding this expansion more in the real world than other expansions.

There are a few cards in this expansion that reference specific creature types, but most of these are not well supported, often with only one creature in this expansion with the referenced creature type. Those that are referenced are [[Dwarf]], [[Faerie]], Falcon (later changed to [[Bird]]), Hero (later changed to [[Soldier]] and [[Warrior]]), [[Minotaur]], and [[Vampire]]. The best supported creature types were Minotaurs, Dwarves, and Faeries.

The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: Albatross (later changed to Bird), Alchemist (later changed to [[Cleric]]), Ambush Party (later changed to [[Rogue]]), Autocrat (later changed to [[Human]]), [[Badger]], Bureaucrat (later changed to [[Advisor]]), Caravan (later changed to [[Nomad]]), Carriage (later changed to [[Horse]]), Constable (later changed to Human), Crusader (later changed to [[Knight]]), [[Ferret]], Folk of An-Havva (later changed to [[Townsfolk]], then Human), [[Hound]] (later changed to Dog), Inquisitor (later changed to Cleric), [[Lizard]], Mist (later changed to [[Elemental]]), Narwhal (later changed to [[Whale]]), Noble (later changed to Faerie), [[Oyster]], Pony (later changed to Horse), and Speaker (later changed to Cleric).

The following creature types are used in this expansion but also appear in previous sets: [[Bat]], [[Bear]], Bodyguard (later changed to Minotaur), [[Cleric]], Dwarf, Faerie, Falcon (later changed to Bird), Fiend (later changed to [[Horror]]), [[Gargoyle]], Ghost (later changed to [[Spirit]]), Hero (later changed to Soldier or [[Beast]] Soldier), Lycanthrope (later changed to [[Werewolf]]), Minotaur, Paladin (later changed to Knight), [[Serpent]], [[Ship]] (later changed to [[Pirate]]), [[Spider]], [[Troll]], and [[Wolf]].

==Design & Development==
''Homelands'', on average, had an unexpectedly low power level compared to previously released expansions. The expansion was created, as many of the earlier sets were, without much communication between designers of various sets. It was made with a flavor-first design philosophy, which, along with its separate story line, resulted in its strong difference from the ''[[Ice Age]]'' and ''[[Alliances]]'' expansions to which it was related in time. This flavor-first design also led to oddities in abilities. For example, many abilities were found in colors that normally do not receive them, such as [[flying]] in green or [[vigilance]] and [[trample]] in black, although this philosophy was not as developed in 1995 as it is today. [[Mark Rosewater]] wrote that "Homelands was a poorly designed set".<ref>{{DailyRef|making-magic/make-no-mistake-2003-11-10|Make No Mistake|[[Mark Rosewater]]|November 10, 2003}}</ref> [[R&D]] at the time ([[Richard Garfield]] and the [[East Coast playtesters]]) didn't want to print the set, but [[Peter Adkison]] overruled them because he wanted to keep his promise to the two designers. As a result, the developers didn't put much work in it.<ref>[http://media.wizards.com/podcasts/magic/drivetowork87year1995.mp3 Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2014) "Drive to Work #87 - 1995"]</ref>

==Cycles==
''Homelands'' has one [[cycle]] and one partial cycle:

{| class="wikitable" 
! Cycle name
! {{W}}
! {{U}}
! {{B}}
! {{R}}
! {{G}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''Incomplete cantrips cycle'''
|{{card|Prophecy||HML}}
|{{card|Jinx||HML}}
|{{card|Headstone||HML}}
|
|{{card|Renewal||HML}}
|-
|colspan="5"|[[Common]] [[cantrip]] spells. There is no red common cantrip (the only red ''Homelands'' spell that allows the caster to draw one card is {{card|Winter Sky||HML}}).
|-
! Cycle name
! {{W}}{{U}}{{G}}
! {{U}}{{W}}{{B}}
! {{B}}{{U}}{{R}}
! {{R}}{{B}}{{G}}
! {{G}}{{W}}{{R}}
|- 
|rowspan="2"|'''[[Triple land|Tri-color lands]]'''
|{{card|Aysen Abbey||HML}}
|{{card|Wizards' School||HML}}
|{{card|Castle Sengir||HML}}
|{{card|Koskun Keep||HML}}
|{{card|An-Havva Township||HML}}
|-
|colspan="5"|[[Uncommon]] [[land]]s with "{{T}}: add {{C}}. {{1}},{{T}}: Add M. {{2}},{{T}}: Add N or O." where N and O are the allied [[color]]s of M.
|-
|}

==Notable Cards==
*<c>Serrated Arrows</c> saw tournament play not only as a result of the high prevalence of cards like <c>Order of the Ebon Hand</c> in [[Standard]] at the time, but also because of a short-lived rule requiring constructed tournament decks to include at least five cards from each legal set.
*<c>Merchant Scroll</c>, reprinted in ''[[Eighth Edition]]'', is a blue [[tutor]] card that remains a passable card in many formats. 
*<c>Ihsan's Shade</c> is among the iconic and flavorful [[legendary]] creatures of the set. Others include <c>Autumn Willow</c>, <c>Eron the Relentless</c>, and <c>Baron Sengir</c>.
*<c>Memory Lapse</c>, despite being unpopular at first, would go on to become considered one of the better cards in the set.
*<c>Apocalypse Chime</c> was the last expansion-hosing card to be printed.
*<c>Timmerian Fiends</c> was the last card to mention [[ante]].

==Trivia==
{{Main|Homelands/Trivia}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

*{{Oldprodpage|Homelands|Homelands|Homelands}} (old)
*[http://magic.wizards.com/en/game-info/products/card-set-archive/homelands Homelands product information page] (new) 

{{Sets|state=collapsed}}
{{Ulgrotha}}
[[Category:Magic sets]]