Homeworld 2 Game Types

Mods & TC's

Top

Probably the first type of custom mod regular gamers may want to check out in Homeworld 2 (without seriously stuffing up their game install or meddling with its files) are Game Types. By default, Homeworld 2 only offers one type of multiplayer game: deathmatch. Its a situation that is somewhat, well, limited, as many of you might agree.

Fortunately, Game Types are available to extend your Multiplayer or Skirmish options. These mods don't affect anything but the starting conditions and a few overall rules in the game, and you can use them with the default game and switch between them with impunity. Most of the graphics, sound and game mechanics are largely untouched, so they are often very small to download. Game Types are sometimes referred to as Game Rules. The great thing about them is that you can install as many as you like without them interfering with each other: they simply add more ways of playing HW2 in multiplayer or Skirmish. Naturally, all players will need them installed to take advantage of them.

Game Types usually appear as .big files and are installed in the \Bin\Gamerules\ subfolder inside your Homeworld2 game install.

Homeworld 2 Custom Game Types

RTSC reckons: "This is well worth your while!"

Homeworld
Game
Modficiations

Homeworld Game Modifications hosts a great selection of custom Game Types to spice up Homeworld 2's lacklustre options for multiplayer. This is probably the best site to start with, actually. This site also provides a large selection of map and modding tools and utilities.

Bentusi Roulette: A simple mod that randomly grants up to seven randomly picked techs before a netgame, but also restricts up to seven random techs as well. Players have to make do with what they're given. Not a bad idea, actually. Current version: 1.33. See also: modDATABASE entry.

Deathmatch Plus: An enhanced version of the default Deathmatch Game Type found in Homeworld 2's standard multiplayer and Skirmish mode. This mod keeps everyone in the game until the very last production ship on the team snuffs it. Instead of players being rudely kicked the instant they die, the whole team can finally rally around the last Carrier or Shipyard and help out in the last stand. Go and download it now, and use it for your regular Homeworld 2 multiplayer. Current version: 1.12. This adds the option of selecting background music. There is also a set of converted Homeworld 1 maps (current version 1.43) to go with it.

Defined Roles Mod: Team oerientated game type where each team player adopts a different role for their side: Production/Capital, Strikecraft control, or Frigates, Resourcing and Platforms. You can browse its forums here. Current version: 1.11.

Homeworld Classic Rebalance: This mod is a continuation of the Homeworld Classic Mod, a one-off release originally posted by one of the Relic programmers. Its a port of the original Homeworld's game options that disappeared in Homeworld 2. Homeworld fans were somewhat appalled to find there was only one Homeworld 2 game mode - Deathmatch - and worse, offered bugger all options. With the Classic Rebalance Game Type, you get all the old game options: unlimited unit caps, disabled resourcing, disabled research., Carrier Only games, regular resource bonuses, bounties, floating crates, or the option of capturing capital ships as a win condition. The modding community picked up the project and refined it further. You get all the old game options: unlimited unit caps, disabled resourcing, regular resource bonuses, bounties, floating crates, and the option of capturing capital ships as a win condition. Don't forget to keep pressing the More Options button to cycle through all the different gameplay options. Current version: 1.52. See also: modDATABASE entry.

Special Fleets Mod: all player can start with different opening fleets, based on roles. You can start with "normal", "worker", "scientist", anti-fighter or a few other options. Current version: 1.2.

Tag Team Mod: Strange little Game Type idea where the game plays in rounds; one player from each team duels with another. The winner gets to play on, while the next team challenger receives all the RU's and research accrued in the previous round. Teams must all select the same race for their team so that techs can be carried across. There's a one minute delay at the start of each round to give new challengers the time to get their Resource Collectors out. Current version: 1.0. See also: RelicNews forum thread and modDATABASE entry.

IcePirate's Game Type
Mod Archives

IcePirate is another modder who worked to expand Homeworld 2's multiplayer options beyond simple deathmatching. His works in progress include:

MP Striker's Mod 2.0: A Strikecraft only mod: all Frigates, Destroyers and Battlecruisers have been banished from the game. See also: moddatabase entry.

MP Risk 2.0: Counterpointing the Striker's Mod, this is a Capital Ships only mod: only units Frigate sized or larger are available to your forces. Also: moddatabase entry.

Chess Mod 0.5: A tactics only game where all players start with predefined fleets and no building or resourcing is allowed. This may be indefinitely postponed - IcePirate feels the Homeworld 2 Fleets tactical mod is a more advanced and more finished version than the Chess Mod.

Multiplayer Flag Run: this is Capture The Flag for Homeworld 2: two teams must capture a set of five Hyperspace Gates (a.k.a the flags) to win a match.

Miners Game Type

This changes Homeworld 2 to an economic race to see who can extract and deliver the most resources to their Homeworld, or destroy the opposition. It does require a certain kind of map, though. Current version: 1.1.