***************************
8. WORD FROM PLAYERS
***************************
Andrew Traviss (ninja_squirrel_@hotmail.com) sent me this:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Great FAQ, it pointed out some things I didn't think about before. I never used a Defender before, and never realized how useful they are, I also didn't know that Ion Array Frigates could cloak, which would have helped, because I managed to hijack 5 of them.
Also, a point you might like to note is that Multi-Beam Frigates place a really low targeting priority on Salvage Corvettes, so it is easy to steal them. I stole 11. Imagine what theat did to fighter *evil grin*, though friendly fire is an issue with them, as they lack fine firing control.
You also misrepresented Repair Corvettes. They CAN repair capital vessels.
Also, Heavy Cruisers and Carriers require 6 Salvage Corvettes, don't they?
Speaking of all this hijacking, I did not experience the same error as you did on Mission 8, I was free to be a hijacker for the entire game -P
How did you beat Mission 14 so easily? It is proving impossible for me. I cannot seem to limit the enemy attacks to 4 or 5 ships. Every time I hit a portion of the sphere, almost the entire hemisphere comes after me.
In the formations section, I have something you might like to add The sphere formation is perfect for cloak generators. It is a special case.
Any group with a cloak generator in it puts the generator in the center of the sphere, regardless of other ship classes present.
Cloak generators are also useful for capturing enemy capital ships, by allowing salvage corvettes to latch on unfettered ^_^
I try to steal every capital ship I encounter, it saves resources for Strike Craft and Corvettes. In the end I had 2 Heavy Cruisers, 2 Destroyers, 1 Ion Cannon Frigate, 1 Missile Destroyer, 11 Multi Beam Frigates, 5 Ion Array Frigates, and a Resource Collector that weren't mine.
I might add that stealing the cloak generator from Mission 12. There are no proximity detectors among the enemies in that mission, so it is possible to take their carrier and frigates if you do it properly, and it also spares you the considerable 700 expense to build one.
Haha, that's a lot, I know. Have fun with it, I hope you found it interesting, and I hope I hear back from you sometime. I like to discuss this game, and I don't know many other players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
and this:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cool. I checked, by the way, and it is 5 salvage corvettes to grab a heavy cruiser or carrier. I should pay more attention lol.
Q: And how did you get the Ion Array Frigates to cloak? I tried and they won't do it.
A: In Homeworld Ion Array Frigates do not cloak, they do it in Homeworld: Cataclysm.
General question:
Q: I need to know the title of the end song from Homeworld and the group that did it.
Thanks.
A: It is performed by Yes, and it is called Homeworld: The Ladder. An original game should contain a small directory with few HMTL pages with a mini-interview, lyrics and overview of the song; it is also displayed at the very end of the credit movie.
Adam Craig Walter (mmaster@UDel.Edu) sent this:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mission 6
I never got the hang of maneuvering my force of capital ships here, so I
did this with a strong group of fighters, I blasted only those rocks
that would obviously collide with the mothership. I also placed a few
repair corvettes behind it to repair any collisions. Then I moved ALL of
my capital ships way above the asteroid field to keep them out of danger.
Mission 8
This is where I feel sorry for you. I would sometimes come out of the
nebula series of missions with 8to 10 multi-beam frigates. Oh well...
Mission 10
I went down the to kill the 5 frigates first, then came back to my
starting location and went in the main route, using this trick by hold
shift and alt while firing, my missile destroyers were able to target MINES
within the target box I assigned. So they minesweeped for me. Also, the
resources in this stage act just like the mineral debris fields to avoid
radiation; so I had my harvesters pick up all the resources they could
while still being protected by the other resources... once there were so
few rocks left the collectors took damage, I fast-docked and left.
Missions 11
Risk is all about this stage for me... by planning ahead with upwards of
15 salvage corvettes, I was able to come away with the heavy cruiser, 2
destroyers, and 3 frigates. It seems the capital ships like to break into
3 groups; the cruiser, the destroyers, and the frigates. Shoot any of a
group, and the rest of that group turns against you... so just have some
fighters harass the other groups while you first get the cruiser... you
get the idea.
Mission 13
I used stealth technology ). Using a trik where I have 3 stealth
generators, each running at different times, I can keep my ships cloaked
indefinitely. So I take my missile destroyers and a few fighters, cloak
them, move them around the outside of the map, and then slowly move them
towards the outpost... I used my destroyers to shoot the guns, and my
fighters to hit the anti-stealth generators once the guns are clear (and I
always make sure the dawg is on the other side of the map before going
near an anti-stealth generator)
Mission 14
Holy heck, it's time to get a HUGE force. Using cloaked capture-corvettes
and plasma bombers, I was able to capture SEVENTY (yes, you read that,
SEVENTY) ion frigates.
Step 1 save the game.
Step 2 shoot a probe
to the center of the map, to learn where the enemy jump gates will be.
Step 3 reload the game, and move forces to each gate.
Step 4 fire
another probe to open gates, which you promptly destroy.
Step 5 using
stealth generators, hide salvage corvettes to ride right up to and lock
onto a frigate, and have other salvage corvettes ready. Once you grab the
first frigate, others will move in. Let they follow you to your base; once
you are out of range of the other frigates, have your other salvage
corvettes grab some of the other frigates, and have plasma bombers hit the
rest. You can basically remove the entire front 1/2 of the sphere this
way without losing a ship. I had so many ships, that I didn't even get to
carry all of them over to the next stage.. but the war of 100 frigates and
other ships vs 100 frigates and other ships is a sight to behold indeed )
A mail from David Brower (David.Brower@oracle.com):
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first time I played the game, I found myself grossly outgunned
by the time I got to Hiigara. In retrospect, I decided the answer
was in two words aggressive salvage.
I've played through carefully a few times since then, giving the
following strategy that differs from the ones in most other
walkthroughs. I avoid combat, and don't kill as much as most others
do, and collect everything I can. One of the fun things is seeing the
different successful ways one can play through. I played both a 1.0
from the CD, and the 1.05 patch. They are different! I'll refer to
1.05 here.
1 - nothing to say.
2 - Outskirts
Don't listen to directions; harvest all you can before sending
a single salvette to investigate. guard it with 3 interceptors.
You can't kill the carrier, or capture it; let it go. guard around
the mothership and destroy everything that attacks.
It is handy to group the interceptors into 2 or 3 groups, so you
can have one being docked at all times.
Make sure you build 6 salvettes; keep them docked if you want.
Exit with 6 salvage corvettes, 1 collector, 15/16 interceptors.
Group the salvettes into a hot-key group, and the interceptors into
another.
3 - Return to Kharak
Entry collector, 6 salvettes, some interceptors.
Send your interceptors to the far side of the cryo trays, and have them
evasively attack the frigates. Then send the salvettes all at once
to capture all three. This works -- but you only get to keep 2 of
the assault frigates! Salvage the 6 trays, and harvest till all is gone.
Build another collector and a controller.
4 - Wastelands
Send the collectors, controller, frigates and interceptors
out to the resources. Build more interceptors and 6 more
salvage corvettes. Send the interceptors out to the collectors
to protect them. Take special care to defeat the group of missile
corvettes quickly -- they are very dangerous, and can't be captured.
You MUST get 12 salvettes as soon as possible. Park them a little
under the mothership. Take the Bentusi offer, but build NO ion frigates.
When the array frigates appear by the mothership, let them start
shooting a little, then select the salvettes and capture them. If
you send the salvettes before the frigates target the mothership,
they will blast the salvettes.
Have the group by the collectors retreat toward the mothership
if you like; you don't need to harvest after your salvettes are built.
You will have defeated all the attack craft, have 6 frigates being
captured, and face the carrier and two array frigates guarding it.
Capture the two frigates, and attack the carrier with everything
else. Feel free to let it close toward the mothership before attacking
it; it is harder for it to escape the closer it gets. You cannot
capture this carrier.
Exit with 8 ion array frigates, 12 salvettes, 34 interceptors, ~ 350 rus.
5 - Wastelands again
Send out your resourcers w/collector, with most of your interceptors
and all 8 array frigates to guard. Go half way up each leg of the Y
to get all you can before crossing the tripwire. Build more
interceptors and salvettes, as many as you can make. Keep a few
interceptors near the mothership. Keep the salvettes a little behind
the collectors. Use the interceptors to blast the attack craft, and
the array frigates to blast the assault frigates. Go ahead and
capture the enemy collectors, but not until you have taken out the
frigates. Retreat when you've got a dent in the frigates and attack
craft to delay contact with the supporting destroyers. Keep nibbling
the support, then use savlettes to capture the two destroyers, then
capture the carrier. Do not try to salvage too early -- the salvettes
are vulnerable to the attack craft. You will probably lose salvettes,
but you will have gotten some early access to high power.
harvest everything left.
End of battle with 1 carrier, 2 destroyers, 8 array frigates,
2 assault frigates, 16 salvettes, 4 collectors, 1 controller,
55 interceptors, about 7200 rus.
Build 16-20 attack bombers, trading in all your interceptors. Assign
destroyers, frigates and bombers to a group. Turn off auto-launch.
Build at least 4 field frigates.
6 - Diamond Shoals
Move fragile things behind the mothership. launch the bombers. Blow
stuff up. As you do blow stuff up, send the collectors out w/o
controller support. Sometimes they will say there is nothing left,
but keep sending them out. Do your research, but do not build
anything until the end. At the end, build as many destroyers as you
can. Why? You will capture more later, and these are the last you can
build. Why not earlier? They are hard to manage while blasting the
asteroids, and you dont' really need them.
Build as many bombers as you can - 50 if possible.
7 - Garden of Kadesh
This is hard. Guard collectors w/field frigates and send them off.
Attack the fuel pods with bombers, and have the heavies dust off
floating groups, but don't pay that much attention to them. Keep
bombers behind the needle ship, and blast pods as they arrive.
Build defenders, and protect the heavies with them.
At the end, do not hyperspace -- collect and build salvettes.
8 - Cathedral of Kadesh
Use your heavies on the needle ships. Capture the multi-beam
frigates, first on the right of the needle ship straight ahead,
then from above the mothership, then from the needle ship at the
800 position. The bombers are expendable, and will get expended
as you clobber fuel pods with them.
When you've killed two needle ships, secure the area around the
mothership. You might kill the third needle ship, or it might slip
away. Let it go for now. Build a support frigate. Pack up a
flotilla around your carrier, with your destroyers, frigates,
salvettes, bombers and defenders. Leave the array frigates. Go
forward and capture the group of 6 more multi-beam frigates, processed
by the carrier. Salvage abandoned pods. Attack the needleship with
the multi-beam frigates from behind. You'll have 15 or 16 of them.
Retire any captured pods and swarmers.
Harvest everything, and build a full complement of salvettes.
Exit with 1 carrier, 6 destroyers, 16 multi-beam frigates, 4-8 array
frigates, 4 field frigates, 2 assault frigates, 1 support frigate, 50
salvettes; a few bombers, a few defenders, and about 7000 rus.
9 - Sea of Lost Souls
Easy and fast (except the harvesting). Send all of your salvettes
directly underneath the alien ship, creeping up until things are
visible. Then salvage everything in one fast evasive attack.
Congrats, you have your first missile destroyer, plus 1 more array
frigate and two more assault frigates. Go ahead and retire all the
array frigates; they are no help any more, and they are slow.
Harvest; use the carrier to guard some collectors to speed it up.
Take the free Bentusi offer of the super heavy chassis, but you won't
build anything based on it.
Exit with 1 carrier, 6 destroyers, 1 missile destroyer, 16 mb frigates, 4
field frigates, 4 assault frigates, 1 support frigate, 50 salvettes,
5000 rus.
10 - Super Nova Station
The gold mine, for the patient.
Start one collector harvesting, and watch it occasionally. When it is
nearly done with the first clump, move it evasively to a protective
belt, and sit it there while you do other things.
Send the destroyers, the missile destroyer and the multi beam frigates
in a wall up the central shaft, blasting the mines and the mine
layers. Target mines with ctrl-shift. Help with the Follow them with
the carrier, all the salvettes, and the support frigate. When
approaching the opposing two destroyers and cruiser, keep the
salvettes behind the wall, then snatch all the heavies in one shot.
Load 25 of them into the carrier. Go down and snatch the 6 frigates
in front of the station, and return to the main belt. Return all the
salvettes from the catch, the two new destroyers and the cruiser.
Send a proximity sensor into the station. This will get the carrier
moving. Keep the salvettes behind the wall of destroyers. Use the
destroyers to take out all the carrier escorts, then capture the carrier.
In two trips, take all the heavies and take out the defenders in front
of the station. Don't target any of the frigates. Take the carrier
behind the station. Attack the station with the heavies, and capture
the frigates while moving the carrier up to the station. Retreat to
safety and the support frigate. Carefully harvest, watching the
health and radiation. Rebuild any salvettes lost.
Exit with 1 cruiser, 2 carriers, 8 destroyers, 1 missile destroyer, 16 multibeam
frigates, 3 ion frigates, 10 assault frigates, 4 field frigates, 4
collectors, 50 salvettes. etc.
11 - Tenhauser Gate
Well, stock us up. The trick here is to avoid taking losses while
capturing everything there. Do nothing until you get your salvettes
launched. Then, attack what is close with evasive destroyers. When
they engage, target everything for salvage with your 50 salvettes.
Target the destroyers on the cruiser until salvettes get near it, then
move the destroyers away so they don't shoot up your booty.
Exit with 2 cruisers, 2 carriers, 11 destroyers, 1 missile destroyer,
16 mb frigates, 6 ion frigates, 11 assault frigates, etc.
Group the destroyers and mb frigates together, and the cruisers.
12 - Galactic Core
Hard, but worthwhile.
Take out the left and center gravity well with the destroyer group,
and the right one with the cruiser group. Attach immediately with
the salvettes to get another missile destroyer, some attack frigates
and support frigates. Fight off attacks for a while, destroying
light attack craft, and capturing all larger vessels. Once the
attacks have died down, send out a group with a carrier, all the salvettes,
the destroyers and the missile destroyers. Destroy little things,
capture big things. Harvest everything.
Exit with 3 cruisers, 4 carriers, 11 destroyers, 2 missile destroyers,
12 assault frigates, 8 support frigates, 8 ion frigates.
13 - Karos Graveyard
You have the power, use it. Send all the mb frigates, destroyers and
cruisers in a sphere straight up the middle. When the Junkyard Dawg
shows up, blast it to bits, aggressively, with everything. When you
are all clear, then send an interceptor or a scout to the office.
Then, slowly go towards the office, clearing out a path; when it's
clear, send in an interceptor or scout. Harvest if you want, with
protection from things you missed.
14 - Bridge of Sighs
The mother lode, for the patient. Here we discover there is a limit
on the number of ships in the fleet! At all times make sure you have
your 50 salvettes.
Send a proximity sensor up to the sphere straight away; when the ion
frigates move, come back to the mother ship. This will result in
14-20 frigates following it, and they are stupidly dead set on getting
that sensor, ignoring all else. Put your salvettes in the way, and
capture them all. Do this 3-4 times, but not immediately adjacent to
each other, or the sphere can collapse. Punch big holes. Then clear
out the remainder of the front. When you have cleared out a lot, it's
time to start capturing destroyers and missile destroyers. Build two
gravity wells, and guard them with support frigates. Move them either
side of the gate, guarded by the two missile destroyers. Keep the 50
salvettes behind the destroyers, guarded by captured cloak generators.
Activate the wells, and make sure the support frigates are giving them
health. Attack the gate with an assault frigate. Two support
frigates will appear, and a bunch of attack craft will be caught in
the well. Leave the last attack craft, and salvage the support
frigates. Move the salvettes closer, and activate the cloak. Then
kill the last attack craft. Two aggressive destroyers and a missile
destroyer will appear. Capture them with cloaked ships. This is
tough, the missile destroyer can make life miserable. When they are
caught, they are reluctant and slow to move. Give your capturing
salvettes health, and then have one assault frigate attack each
captured ship until it starts moving at a reasonable speed. It takes
forever to get these captured. Protect them from attack with the
missile destroyers. Then go to the same at each of the other two
gates result, 3 more missile destroyers, and 6 destroyers. Again,
patience is rewarded; this takes forever.
Now it is time to nibble the sphere. Do NOT go inside! Move some
carriers up closer so this will take less time. Move around and take
holes out, dragging them around with proximity sensors as bait. Bring
them near a group of salvettes near a carrier. Make sure you have all
your salvettes available, some groups are 20 ion frigates, and you
need at least 40 to catch them all. Do not be short salvettes, or it
gets ugly. Guard from attack with missile destroyers. This takes a
long time.
You can end up with >150 ion frigates this way. Sometime here you
will run into the dreaded "maximum size of the fleet" complaint,
and you will need to retire some of them. Try to end up with about
100 ion frigates. (In 1.00, the game can lock if you try to
hyperspace with too many.)
Now it's time to move into the interior. Bring a group of carriers,
salvettes, missile destroyers and cloak generators. Destroy attack
craft with the missile destroyers, and capture the cloaked heavy craft
(several destroyers and a cruiser) with your own cloaked salvager.
Blow up the generator, and capture everything else.
Build a number of gravity well generators.
Exit with 4 cruisers, 5 carriers, 19 destroyers, 100+ ion frigates...
15 - Chapel Perilous
Why do they bother? Just more to capture.
Wait for them to come to you. Drag all your ion frigates forward past
the midline (they won't all be able to get into battle!). Move the
grav well generators about 15k in front. Move the cruisers to one
side, and the destroyers and missile destroyers to the other. Guard
the salvettes with cloaks. Activate the grav wells as the attack
craft approach, then blast them with missile destroyers and cruisers.
As they approach, take out the assault frigates with the destroyers
and ion frigates. Salvage the 4 destroyers. Attack the rock with the
cruisers and destroyers, keeping them on either side of it to avoid
being damaged.
Exit with 4 cruisers, 5 carriers, 23 destroyers, 100+ ion frigates...
16 - Hiigara
It's a question of how fast you can win.
Move the MB frigates and cruisers forward 8km and down 10km,
aggressive to attack the ion frigates coming from below. Send all the
destroyers and all the ion frigates, evasive, moving the way to the
far side. Move the cloaks just in front, then wait for the salvettes
to launch. Move the sensors halfway toward the resources on the
right. Move the missile destroyers up toward the carrier, aggressive.
right. Guard them with grav wells. Move the salvettes forward in
broad formation, cloaked, to capturer all the attacking heavies -- 4
destroyers, 2 missile destroyers, one cruiser, and a bunch of assault
frigates. As you blunt this initial attack, you will have destroyed
the ion frigates, captured the heavies, and destroyed the carrier and
its attack craft. Send out your collectors, it is now safe.
Form the forward destroyers and ion frigates into joint formation; I
like the sphere. When they run into contact, switch from evasive to neutral.
Move the missile destroyers, cruisers, mb frigates newly captured
heavies at carrier height behind the mothership. Move the cloaks near
them, and all the salvettes as they become free.
As the first reinforcement group approaches, have the heavies destroy
the assault frigates, and capture the heavies with cloaked salvettes.
Move your group of heavies down below the mothership to intercept the
second group of reinforcements, along with the cloaks and freed
salvettes. You can do the same to them if you want and the game lasts
that long.
Meanwhile, your forward group is approaching resistance. Crush it,
and keep moving forward. Their pitiful 4 cruisers are no match for
your devastating attack fleet. Destroy the support or the mothership
as you choose.
If you are fast, you can win the game before Captain Elson arrives
to help.