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GameGuides.com Presents Homeworld Game Guide

	Introduction Ship Management Resource Collection Movement & Combat Unit Strategies Walk-through Multiplayer

Resource Collection

Harvesting asteroids and dust clouds not only removes traffic hazards but, more importantly, gathers resource units for your building efforts. Gathering resources successfully is crucial in the single-player missions and is easy in comparison with the battles you'll encounter over resources in multiplayer.

Homeworld's Resource Model

Collecting resources in Homeworld is easy. Simply construct a resource collector and press the shortcut key H with the collector selected. The resource collector will automatically seek out the nearest patch of resources. The collector seeks out dust clouds and asteroids, collects them with its beam, takes the load back to the mothership or resource controller, and converts them into "resource units," which you use to construct units and build your fleet. Though the concept is much simpler than most real-time strategy games, there are certain things to keep in mind to maximize your gathering potential.

Both races (Taiidan and Kushan) feature resource collectors and resource controllers. Every time your resource collector gathers a full load of dust clouds and asteroids, it must return to the mothership, dock, and unload its materials. The resource controller simplifies that process. The controller can be positioned inside the resource patch, alongside the resource collector, and can serve as an unloading station. Many times the resource patch will lie a great distance from your mothership. By using the controller, the collector doesn't have to return to your mothership every time it snags a full load.

One of the smartest things you can do with your resource controller is set it to guard your resource collectors. That way, the controller follows your collectors around, which cuts down on the time it takes for your collector to return and unload its valuable payload. This is especially important in multiplayer games where resource advantage is vital to long-term success, particularly in gaining a military advantage over your opponent.

It could also be advantageous to construct multiple resource collectors. Just keep in mind that you're asking for trouble unless you protect them with some combat units. Resource collectors and controllers are quite expensive; not protecting them well could mean a loss of your resource units, your resource patch, and the resources it takes to get your economy rolling in again. If you're planning on building multiple collectors, particularly in resource-heavy maps, construct one controller per two or three collectors. If possible, cycle them so there's no downtime, meaning you never have a collector sitting around not collecting or not unloading.

Next: Resource Collection (cont.)

ALSO CHECK OUT
HOMEWORLD
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GAME GUIDE

Definitive ship and resource management strategies

Masterful movement and combat methods

Comprehensive unit information

Detailed campaign walk-through

Proven multiplayer tactics

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