An opponent's Homefront can be a real annoyance if you were planning on using your HQ for some free reporting.  So why would you ever want to seed this card on your own homeworld?  Because there are ways of using it to your advantage.

    The other advantage is preventing any player from attempting the mission without 4 Security on planet.  "But wait," you say, "isn't that a problem?"  Well, most of the time you'll have 4 Security before you're ready to attempt a mission, especially if you know you'll use Homefront and stack your deck accordingly.  If you're waiting to draw a HQ: Secure Homeworld, you're in no rush to redshirt the mission anyway.  The real good news is that you no longer have to worry about Tora Ziyal, Quark Son of Keldar or the Sisters of Duras tripping Sheliak at your headquarters 1st turn.  It's more difficult to trip Altonian Brain Teasers at Bajor, too.  Yes, Return Orb has other problems now, but Dabo decks will find Homefront to be a more useful ABT counter than Ultimatum.  VCM decks don't need to fear an opponent stealing Espionage Mission too easily, which a big improvement for a mission that can't be protected by Fair Play or HQ: Defensive Measures.

    Homefront also creates more risk for an opponent attempting your homeworld.  There can only be one away team (per player) on a planet's surface.  If you're compatible with the HQ, you can hide the 4 Security inside and keep them safe from the mission attempt.  If your opponent wants to attempt your homeworld, they will either need lots of non-aligned (unless playing the same affiliation) security inside your HQ, or a landed ship, or they have to risk their Security during the attempt.  It's like self-seeding a wall dilemma at your homeworld, plus you get the download ability as a bonus.

Chris 'Rom' Brennan
Rom@wnohgb.com