Superconductor
25th Sep 01, 4:04 PM
I have recently returned to playing Homeworld (had other priorities for a while: work, kids, wine, women and song), but I remember some of my previous strategies (and mistakes) from the first time I ran through this game. That said, it is good to play the game again.
One of the things I failed to do effectively (until mission 14) was make effective use of my salvage corvettes. This time around, I am capturing everything I can get my greedy little 'vettes on, instead of blasting them into their constituent atoms. Which, although satisfying, leaves you with a smaller fleet.
Anyway, back to mission 14. The way I handled this was to first build two cloak generators at some point after they become available. I then built about 5 scouts, set them to evasive and then had them guard one of the cloak generators. Then I either built or had left over from previous missions (can't remember which) 10 salvage corvettes, set them to sphere formation and had them guard the cloak generator.
In this particular game, I had built two carriers and captured and/or built a couple of missile destroyers. I set the missile destroyers to guard one carrier and then moved it somewhat closer to the sphere of ion frigates guarding the gate. Now I was ready to begin my pilfering.
The first step is to move the cloak generator (that has the salvage corvettes and scouts guarding it) a little bit in front of the carrier. Next, I'd send the five scouts out to attack (briefly) an ion frigate. After a couple passes, I focused on the cloak generator, selected the scouts with a hot key and then sent the scouts to guard the cloak generator. At the same time, I started moving the cloak generator (with corvettes in tow) towards the ion frigates. The frigates will attempt to chase the scouts, but obviously won't catch them.
When the frigates have moved out about halfway between the carrier and sphere, activate the cloak generator. The frigates will come to a stop and just sit there. If there is more than one frigate, position the cloak generator so that it is equidistant from all of the frigates.
Once you're in position, you need to send in the salvage corvettes quickly, as time is running out on the cloak. What I would do is pause the game, band two of the salvage 'vettes, unpause and send it after a frigate, pause and repeat for any remaining frigates. I would recommend sending the first team after the most rearward facing frigate, so it doesn't shoot the 'vettes attaching to the forward one(s).
Once you've snagged all the frigates, the corvettes will take them back to the carrier for conversion (assimilation for you Star Trek fans :) ). Once all the frigates are captured, you can leave them there or send them back to the mother ship. I usually sent them back to the mothership in groups of 10 so I that I would have (albeit temporary) some additional firepower to augment the two missile destroyers.
After all frigates have exited the carrier, send the salvage 'vettes and scouts in for repair and refueling and once that is done, put them into a sphere formation and have them guard the other cloak generator. The reason you have two is to make this process that much quicker, as it takes them a while to fully recharge the cloak energy. And basically, lather, rinse, repeat until you have all the ion frigates you want. I think I managed to score about 90 of them this way.
One thing I have learned from reading other forums is that the sphere will contract if you send anything inside the sphere (probes, scouts, etc.) The problem this creates is that you cannot reach some of those frigates. But with what I caught, the rest of the missions were a breeze.
You can even use a variation on this technique to capture the missile destroyers that appear later on in the mission via the hyperspace portals. My thinking is, why build when you can capture? :) I hope this helps, although I'm sure most of those who have played this game for a while already have techniques of their own. Just thought I'd share how I did it.
Superconductor
One of the things I failed to do effectively (until mission 14) was make effective use of my salvage corvettes. This time around, I am capturing everything I can get my greedy little 'vettes on, instead of blasting them into their constituent atoms. Which, although satisfying, leaves you with a smaller fleet.
Anyway, back to mission 14. The way I handled this was to first build two cloak generators at some point after they become available. I then built about 5 scouts, set them to evasive and then had them guard one of the cloak generators. Then I either built or had left over from previous missions (can't remember which) 10 salvage corvettes, set them to sphere formation and had them guard the cloak generator.
In this particular game, I had built two carriers and captured and/or built a couple of missile destroyers. I set the missile destroyers to guard one carrier and then moved it somewhat closer to the sphere of ion frigates guarding the gate. Now I was ready to begin my pilfering.
The first step is to move the cloak generator (that has the salvage corvettes and scouts guarding it) a little bit in front of the carrier. Next, I'd send the five scouts out to attack (briefly) an ion frigate. After a couple passes, I focused on the cloak generator, selected the scouts with a hot key and then sent the scouts to guard the cloak generator. At the same time, I started moving the cloak generator (with corvettes in tow) towards the ion frigates. The frigates will attempt to chase the scouts, but obviously won't catch them.
When the frigates have moved out about halfway between the carrier and sphere, activate the cloak generator. The frigates will come to a stop and just sit there. If there is more than one frigate, position the cloak generator so that it is equidistant from all of the frigates.
Once you're in position, you need to send in the salvage corvettes quickly, as time is running out on the cloak. What I would do is pause the game, band two of the salvage 'vettes, unpause and send it after a frigate, pause and repeat for any remaining frigates. I would recommend sending the first team after the most rearward facing frigate, so it doesn't shoot the 'vettes attaching to the forward one(s).
Once you've snagged all the frigates, the corvettes will take them back to the carrier for conversion (assimilation for you Star Trek fans :) ). Once all the frigates are captured, you can leave them there or send them back to the mother ship. I usually sent them back to the mothership in groups of 10 so I that I would have (albeit temporary) some additional firepower to augment the two missile destroyers.
After all frigates have exited the carrier, send the salvage 'vettes and scouts in for repair and refueling and once that is done, put them into a sphere formation and have them guard the other cloak generator. The reason you have two is to make this process that much quicker, as it takes them a while to fully recharge the cloak energy. And basically, lather, rinse, repeat until you have all the ion frigates you want. I think I managed to score about 90 of them this way.
One thing I have learned from reading other forums is that the sphere will contract if you send anything inside the sphere (probes, scouts, etc.) The problem this creates is that you cannot reach some of those frigates. But with what I caught, the rest of the missions were a breeze.
You can even use a variation on this technique to capture the missile destroyers that appear later on in the mission via the hyperspace portals. My thinking is, why build when you can capture? :) I hope this helps, although I'm sure most of those who have played this game for a while already have techniques of their own. Just thought I'd share how I did it.
Superconductor