[Fury]

To create a minefield, just position the corvette where you want the mines to be laid, then hit Z button and it will begin spitting mines out from it's belly.

Homeworld can be a little hard when you're playing it the first time. I know it inside out so I can prepare myself ahead of time which makes the game quite easy.

As for resource collecting, build a resource controller or two and you have a resource drop off very close to the resources. I usually set the controllers to guard collectors so they follow the collectors to where the resources are.

[Unknown Target]

One major thing in Homeworld was the Resource Controller. Assign one of those babies to gaurd your collectors, and it'll follow them all over the place.
See, HW required a lot less orthadox "build and rush" thinking. You could play many different ways, so the whole game didn't just devolve into people building as many units of a certain type that they could.

[Descenterace]

See, HW required a lot less orthadox "build and rush" thinking. You could play many different ways, so the whole game didn't just devolve into people building as many units of a certain type that they could.

Yep, that's why I liked it.  I prefer siege tactics.  I start off keeping well out of the way, spreading gently but not challenging any players.  I build up my defences until I control sufficient space and resources.  Then I build up an attack fleet.

Then I strike at the enemy's resource fields, just enough to slow them down.  When they counterattack, my strike force retreats and lures the enemy into my defensive fleet (which reduces the enemy to wreckage).  Then I repeat.  Eventually, the enemy runs out of equipment with which to defend the resource field, and I mop up any remaining units there.

Repeat with other resource fields.

Eventually, they're left with a small cache of resources and a fortified base. I sit outside, pick off defences, repair my units, and slowly whittle away their mobile weapon systems.  Once all defences are down, I crush them.

This works with most games.  StarCraft with modded maps (50000 minerals to a crystal patch) is an example of one game where this doesn't work.  Warzone 2100 is a shining example of a game where this ALWAYS works, unless you get picked on at the beginning or the enemy is doing the same thing.

I don't like taking casualties, even if I have over a million more units to throw at the enemy.  Except when playing StarCraft.  There's something fun about sending 150 Hydralisk to swarm over an enemy base, even if they all get smeared.  You just do it again...


And I intended this to be a short post, but I tend to rattle on about games for unreasonably long periods of time.

[Flipside]

I loved Warzone2100, still think it is one of the best ground based RTS's money can buy The sheer variation in the Research tree made the game last for ages And the fact that strategy was VITAL, your uber powerful Howitzers could be pulverised by a little jeep with a rocket launcher if you weren't careful. And the use of automated Air and Ground Radar attacks made planning pretty important as well (Head for the High Ground!)

The resouce field will work if you aren't playing against a skirmisher, your tactic is similar to skirmishing, fire and withdraw, but be careful not to get led into attacking the Enemy MShip only to find a couple of destroyers Hypering in behind your own MShip, that can ruin your day

Personally, I am similar to you, I defend, build a massive fleet and then just charge, I usually win or lose the game with my first assault. HW2 doesn't allow that though, you'll suddenly find you are losing ships to attrition and that you cannot harvest fast enough to replenish your losses Also, if your enemy attacks your own resource fields, you have to split your forces, and the hard part is keeping them balanced when you do it

Oh yes, and finally, Gamespy really is a pain in the Butt

Flipside