Homelands: Difference between revisions

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(just as the last set in a block's expansions is listed in the third/last position, Homeland as the last set in the "early non-block expansions" should be listed in the last position)
 
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{{Expansion Nonblock |
{{SubTabs
  Expansion Name    = '''''Homelands''''' |
|sub1 = Trivia
  Symbol  = Homelands.gif|
  Symbol Description = |
  Design Team = [[Kyle Namvar]] and [[Scott Hungerford|Scott "Scooter" Hungerford]]|
  Development Team = [[Charlie Cantini]], [[Skaff Elias]], [[Jim Lin]], [[Joel Mick]], [[Dave Pettey]]|
  Release Date      = October 1995 |
  Mechanics          = None new|
  Keywords          = None new |
  Size= 140 cards |
  Previous Set      = '''''[[Ice Age (set)|Ice Age]]'''''|
  This Set          = '''''Homelands''''' |
  Next Set          = '''''[[Alliances (set)|Alliances]]''''' |
}}
}}
'''Homelands''', released in 1995, is the seventh [[Magic]] expansion. It was the second expansion of [[Ice Age (block)|Ice Age block]] until July 2006, when it was replaced by [[Coldsnap (set)|Coldsnap]] in this role. The mechanics found throughout the [[Ice Age (block)|Ice Age block]], such as [[Snow]] lands and [[Cumulative Upkeep]], were absent from '''Homelands'''. This and the fact that it didn't follow the [[Ice Age (block)|Ice Age block]] storyline made it a poor fit in its former block. It was sold in 8-card booster packs, each bearing the same image.
{{Infobox set  
 
  |image = HML logo.gif
====Mechanics and Themes====
  |image_bgcolor = white
 
  |symbol_description = Planet globe
'''Homelands''' introduced no new mechanics to the game. It had a number of themes, including a large number of real-world creature types, clockwork [[artifact]] [[creature|creatures]], Legendary creatures, and a number of "tribal" effects that enhanced only one creature type.
  |design = [[Kyle Namvar]]<br/>[[Scott Hungerford|Scott "Scooter" Hungerford]]
 
  |development = [[Charlie Cantini]]<br/>[[Skaff Elias]]<br/>[[Jim Lin]]<br/>[[Joel Mick]]<br/>[[Dave Pettey]]
'''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.
  |art = [[Sandra Everingham|Sandra (Everingham) Garavito]]
 
  |release = October 14, 1995  
====Notable Cards====
  |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
<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.
  |size= 115 cards<br/>{{curmb|25|47|43}}
 
  |code_expansion = HML (previously HM)  
<c>Merchant Scroll</c>, reprinted in [[Eighth Edition]], is a blue tutor card that remains a passable card in many formats.
  |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
<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>.
  |first = The Dark
 
  |second = Fallen Empires
====Storyline====
  |third = Homelands
 
  |previous = Renaissance
The [[planeswalker]] [[Feroz]] came across Homelands, the once-beautiful [[plane]] now destroyed by the [[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. Feroz died during its creation, however, 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.
  |next = Alliances
 
}}
====Design & Development====
{{For|the comic|Homelands (comic)}}
'''Homelands''' was developed, as many of the earlier sets were, without much comunication between designers of various sets. It was devloped with a flavor-first design philosophy, which, along with its separate story line, resulted in its stark difference from the [[Ice Age (set)|Ice Age]] and [[Alliances (set)|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 recieve 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"[http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=mtgcom/daily/mr97].
'''''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]]
====Cycles====
 
'''Homelands''' has one cycle:
 
*Tri-color land cycle: <c>Aysen Abbey</c>, <c>Wizards' School</c>, <c>Castle Sengir</c>, <c>Koskun Keep</c>, and <c>An-Havva Township</c> are each [[uncommon]] [[land|lands]] with "T: add 1 to your mana pool. 1,T: Add C to your mana pool. 2,T: Add D or E to your mana pool." where D and E are the allied [[color|colors]] of C.
 
====Creature Types====
 
'''Homelands''', like many early expansions, has many [[creature type|creature types]] 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, Minotaur, and Vampire. The best supported creature types were Minotaurs Dwarves, and Faeries.
 
The following creature types are introduced in this expansion: [[Albatross]], [[Alchemist]], [[Ambush-Party]], Autocrat (later changed to [[Human]]), [[Badger]], [[Bureaucrat]], [[Caravan]], [[Carriage]], [[Constable]], [[Crusader]], [[Ferret]], Folk of An-Havva (later changed to [[Townsfolk]]), [[Hound]], [[Inquisitor]], [[Lizard]], [[Mist]], [[Narwhal]], [[Noble]], [[Oyster]], [[Pony]], and [[Speaker]].
 
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]], [[Gargoyle]], [[Ghost]], [[Hero]], [[Lycanthrope]], [[Minotaur]], [[Paladin]], [[Serpent]], [[Ship]], [[Spider]], [[Troll]], and [[Wolf]].
 
====Points of Interest====
 
*<c>Prophecy</c>, <c>Jinx</c>, <c>Headstone</c>, and <c>Renewal</c> almost form a cycle of [[common]] [[cantrip]] spells, except there is no red cantrip spell in '''Homelands'''.
 
*<c>Serra Aviary</c>, <c>Mystic Decree</c>, and <c>Koskun Falls</c> are the only three [[World]] [[enchantment|enchantments]] in '''Homelands'''.
 
*<c>Abbey Gargoyles</c> and <c>Sea Sprite</c> are the first creatures with both [[flying]] and [[protection]] from red. Abbey Gargoyles was the largest creature with protection from red until <c>Sabretooth Nishoba</c> and the largest creature with both these abilities until <c>Iridescent Angel</c>.
 
*<c>An-Zerrin Ruins</c> is the first card that allows a player to choose a creature type and truly began the continuing crusade to change creature types into more useful types.
 
*<c>Apocalypse Chime</c> is the last "expansion hosing" card to be printed. Others include <c>City in a Bottle</c> and <c>Golgothian Sylex</c>.
 
*<c>Autumn Willow</c> was the first creature with the inability to be targeted by [[spell|spells]] or [[ability|abilities]].
 
*<c>Aysen Crusader</c> has only three Heroes to power it up: <c>Benalish Hero</c>, <c>Kjeldoran Warrior</c> and <c>Beast Walkers</c>.
 
*<c>Aysen Highway</c> gives all white creatures [[landwalk|plainswalk]], which is unusual due to the rarity of plainswalk in comparison to other landwalk abilities.
 
*<c>Baron Sengir</c> does not have the Vampire creature type, but it does have a superpowered Vampire ability and the ability to regenerate other Vampires. Unfortunately, there were no Vampires printed in '''Homelands''' and only <c>Sengir Vampire</c> and <c>Krovikan Vampire</c> at the time.
 
*<c>Beast Walkers</c> is the last Hero to be printed, which is unfortunate for <c>Aysen Crusader</c>.
 
*<c>Chandler</c> and <c>Joven</c> mirror each other as 3/3 red Legendary creatures with a [[converted mana cost]] of 5 and an [[activated ability]] to destroy either artifact creatures or non-artifact creatures.
 
*<c>Clockwork Gnomes</c> is the first artifact Gnome and does not have the typical clockwork mechanic of adding and removing +1/+1 counters despite its name.
 
*<c>Clockwork Steed</c> is a miniature version of <c>Clockwork Beast</c> that also cannot be blocked by artifact creatures.
 
*<c>Clockwork Swarm</c> is a miniature version of <c>Clockwork Avian</c> that also cannot be blocked by Walls.
 
*<c>Didgeridoo</c> is an Aborigineal instrument that creates a deep droning sound.
 
*<c>Dwarven Sea Clan</c> has an ability that, like <c>Desert</c> can only be used during the [[end of combat]] step.
 
*<c>Dwarven Trader</c>, in the style of <c>Mons's Goblin Raiders</c>, is a creature that depends upon other cards that care about Dwarves to be of much use.
 
*<c>Feroz's Ban</c> was reprinted although it was (mistakenly) on the [[Reserved List]] at the time.
 
*<c>Ghost Hounds</c> is the only black creature with [[Vigilance]].


*<c>Heart Wolf</c> was named in homage of the [[Throat Wolf]] legend.
==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>


*<c>Ihsan's Shade</c> was one of five uncommon former [[Ice Age (block)|Ice Age block]] Japanese language cards offered as a promotion in Japan. The Ice Age block was not released in Japan.
''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).  


*<c>Ironclaw Curse</c> references the ability of <c>Ironclaw Orcs</c>.
The Homelands lands have a unique teal colored text box.


*<c>Jinx</c> was named as part of an inside joke, referencing one of the "words of power" in "[[The Game]]," played by members of the Research and Development team.
===Marketing===
[[File:Homelands Gathering event badge.jpg|thumb|right|Homelands Gathering event]]
[[File:Homelands advertisement.jpg|thumb|right|Homelands advertisement]]


*<c>Joven's Ferrets</c> shares the "doesn't untap next turn" mechanic found on many Snakes in the [[Kamigawa (block)|Kamigawa block]].
''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.


*<c>Labyrinth Minotaur</c> is the only blue Minotaur.
===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.


*<c>Leeches</c> is the only card in '''Homelands''' to reference poison counters. In fact, this card removes poison counters, and yet the expansion contains no means for a player to gain poison counters.
==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.


*<c>Memory Lapse</c> was designed as part of the reverse-cantrip cycle in the [[Mirage (set)|Mirage]] expansion and was moved to '''Homelands''' after another card was removed from the set.
''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.


*<c>Mystic Decree</c> is apparently designed to pair with <c>Island Sanctuary</c>, making the controller of this combo incapable of being attacked.
==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.


*<c>Primal Order</c> is the second card to reference nonbasic lands and the first green card to do the same.  
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.


*<c>Root Spider</c> is the first of only a few Spiders to have [[power]] equal or greater than its [[toughness]]. Others include <c>Plated Spider</c>, <c>Goliath Spider</c> and <c>Aquastrand Spider</c>.
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).


*<c>Roots</c> is the only green Aura to give the enchanted creature the "doesn't untap during its controller's untap step" drawback, which is normally a blue mechanic.
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]].


*<c>Shrink</c> introduced the power reduction mechanic in green, which was later moved to blue.
==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>


*<c>Soraya the Falconer</c> became more powerful when Falcon and other creature types were condensed to Bird.
==Cycles==
''Homelands'' has one [[cycle]] and one partial cycle:


*<c>Timmerian Fiends</c> is the ninth and final card created to have an effect on [[Ante]]. <c>Jeweled Bird</c> would later be reprinted in the [[Chronicles (set)|Chronicles]] set as the final Ante card printed.
{| 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.
|-
|}


*<c>Trade Caravan</c> was named in honor of the "WotC Caravan Tour," an early promotional tour of [[Wizards of the Coast]] employees and contracted artists to stores in order to promote [[Magic]].
==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 best 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]].


*<C>Veldrane of Sengir</c> is the only monoblack creature to even have activatable [[landwalk|forestwalk]].
==Trivia==
{{Main|Homelands/Trivia}}


*<c>Winter Sky</c> is a unique card with the coin flip mechanic because both of its potential effects are symmetrical.
==References==
{{reflist}}


====Outside Links====
==External links==


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


{{Set-stub}}[[Category: Sets and Expansions]]
{{Sets|state=collapsed}}
{{Ulgrotha}}
[[Category:Magic sets]]

Latest revision as of 21:46, 28 April 2024

Homelands
 
Trivia
 
Homelands
[[File:{{#setmainimage:HML logo.gif}}|250px]]
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description Planet globe
Design Kyle Namvar
Scott "Scooter" Hungerford
Development Charlie Cantini
Skaff Elias
Jim Lin
Joel Mick
Dave Pettey
Art direction Sandra (Everingham) Garavito
Release date October 14, 1995
Plane Ulgrotha[1]
Themes and mechanics Flavor. creature type tribal, legendary creatures, cantrips
Set size 115 cards
(25 commons, 47 uncommons, 43 rares)
Expansion code HML (previously HM)[2]
Early non-block expansions
The Dark Fallen Empires Homelands
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
Renaissance Homelands Alliances
For the comic, see Homelands (comic).

Homelands, released in October 1995, is the seventh Magic 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.

Homelands booster

Set details

Homelands was developed as a separate expansion from the current Ice Age block at the time.[3] 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 creatures. 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.[4]

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

Homelands Gathering event
Homelands advertisement

Homelands is the last expansion to be printed on only two sheets and sold in eight-card booster packs (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 Internationale Spieltage SPIEL in Essen, Germany, the Lucca Comics convention in Lucca, Italy, and other locations.

Storyline

The planeswalker Feroz came across Ulgrotha, the once-beautiful plane now destroyed by the 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 creatures, Legendary creatures, and a number of "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

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 types 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".[5] 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.[6]

Cycles

Homelands has one cycle and one partial cycle:

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

Notable Cards

Trivia

Main article: Homelands/Trivia

References

  1. ↑ Wizards of the Coast. "Dominian FAQ (archived)". wizards.com.
  2. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (August 02, 2004). "Ask Wizards - August, 2004". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ Christopher Ferris (August 22, 2011). "Homelands: The Making of a Magic Expansion". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Brady Dommermuth (October 31, 2006). "Ask Wizards". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Mark Rosewater (November 10, 2003). "Make No Mistake". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 10, 2014) "Drive to Work #87 - 1995"

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