Homeworld 2 - Codes & Secrets

This Guide provides Cheat Codes & Secrets for Homeworld 2 (Classic Version).

1. Command Line Codes

To work these codes, right-click on your Homeworld2 shortcut. Go to where it says Target, and type in the code to achieve the stated effect.
1024x768 Resolution = /1024
1280x1024 Resolution = /1280
16-bit Colours = /d16
1600x1200 Resolution = /1600
24-bit Colours = /d24
36-bit Colours = /d36
640x480 Resolution = /640
8-bit Colours = /d8
800x600 Resolution = /800
All feedback you recieve is stored in a text file in the main HW2 directory = /textfeedback
All ships become boxier = /boxes
Allows you to play a LAN game with other versions = /forceLAN
Auto-skips all cutscenes /disableAVI
Computer players are more determined; makes for harder matches = /determcompplayer
Debug mode; useful after a crash = /debug
Disables 3rd Mode Error = /nodebugInt
Disables AI retreat tactics = /noretreat
Disables all voices = /noSpeech
Disables bi-linear Filters = /noFilter
Disables end-of-match text reports /captaincyLogOff
Disables front-end textures = /NoFETextures
Disables KNI = /disableKatmai
Disables Multiplayer Logs = /logOff
Disables polygon smoothing; may improve game performace = /noSmooth
Disables the hints from the SM = /nohint
Disables the packed textures = /disablePacking
Disables wallpapers = /niltextures
Disables window borders = /noborder
Eliminates all CPU players = /noCompPlayers
Enables slow screen blips = /slowblits
Enables the Stats text files; use in conjunction with the above cheat. = /statlogon
Enables the text files after a battle = /captaincyLogOn
Enables the text files after a multiplayer match = /logOn
Enables verbose logging files = /logonverbose
Focuses the camera at the center of the map when Home is pressed = /smCentreCamera
Forces OpenGL = /gl
Gathers statistics = /gatherstats
Global memory size heap setter; set (x) to a number in MB = /heap (x)
Light lines are shown in debug mode = /lightlines
Logs AI player data in text files = /aiplayerlog
Logs data files loaded = /logfileloads
Makes an integer 3 when a sync. error occurs = /intonsync
NIS testing = /testNIS
NIS testing using the SCRIPT files = /testnisscript
No backgrounds are shown = /noBG
Output converted to WAV = /waveout
Overrides Alt+Tab command when process is running = /noMinimise
Overrides BIG files for mods = /overridebigfile
Plays a demo = /demoplay
Plays packet recordings = /packetplay
Records a demo used in conjunction with the above cheat = /demorecord
Records packets and autosaves frequently = /debugsync

Records packets during multiplayes skirmishes used in conjunction with the above cheat =
/packetrecord

Resets renderers to default settings = /sw
Reverses stereo- Left becomes Right and vice versa = /reversestereo
Same as above = /ignorebigfiles
Sets path to CD x is name of CD drive = /cdpath x:\ path
Sets path to open files x is name of drive = /prepath x:\path
Ships will not show damage effects = /noshowdamage
Shows docking lines - is on by default = /docklines
Shows the target line - is on by default = /gunlines
Starts the game in a full screen - is on by default = /fullscreen
Starts the game in a window = /window
Stipples renderer alpha = /stipple
Subtitled Cutscenes = /closeCaptioned
The game will not be auto-paused when Alt+Tab or the WinKey is pressed. = /noPause
Use F11 to toggle edge-of-screen pan (overrides all Function commands) = /freemouse
Use KNI = /forcekatmai
Uses 24-bit colour with sharper rendering = /truecolour
Uses direct 3D = /d3d
Uses direct sound driver = /dsound
Uses RGL device = /device (sw|fx|d3d)

2. Any ship on Any level (Including Sajuuk)

This cheat may spoil a minor detail of the game.

Since this is an exploitation of the code in the game, there are many bugs that develop from using this glitch.

Homeworld keeps track of what ships you start out with on every level in a LUA file in your campaign folder. By copying and pasting the LUA file contents into, say, the LUA file for level two, effectively you can get the fleet you have on the last level, which includes Sajuuk and the Dreadnought, in any level you want. As a bonus, the effect carries over into the next level, so that you don't have to repeat this with every level.

The safest way to use this cheat is to go to your LUA file, as described in the above cheats, go to level 15, and copy all the contents. Copy level two, put an extra copy somewhere for safekeeping, in case something goes wrong, then paste your level 15 LUA into your level 2 LUA.

Now here's the tricky part. For levels 1-14, there is a defeat trigger that will cause you to automatically lose if you don't have a mothership. Since you have no mothership in level 15, you will have to go to the level 14 LUA file, and find the line of coding that gives you the mothership. It can be identified by this line somewhere in there.

type = HGN_MotherShip

Be sure you include the mothership and all of it's attachments in the coding. Then all you have to do is paste this above the coding for your ships in the LUA file for level 2, and below shiphold = something.

Sounds confusing? It is. The code is far too long for me to paste down here in this cheat, but if you e-mail me, I will reply to you with the coding you need, and instructions to install it.

There are some freezing/crashing glitches associated with this cheat, but most of them can be overcome. The upside is that having the raw destructive power of Sajuuk in the first couple of missions can be thrilling!

3. Start A Mission With (Almost) Infinite RU's

How to start with almost infinite Resource Units: Browse your Homeworld 2 directory til you reach the Acension subfolder (usually \Homeworld2\Bin\Profiles\Profile1\Campaign\ASCENSION).

In here you will find a list of your data. Depending on the level you've reached, you will see a persistx.lua where x stands for the autosave start for each level. After you've started a level, exit the game and browse to the above folder. Open the lua file for your current level with notepad and at the bottom you will find your current standing RU's.

},
RUs = 3249,
}

Change this to any number you wish (i.e. 99999) and when you return to the Single Player Screen, choose to now start playing your level. When you begin you will have your entered amount of resource units.

4. Unlock All Missions/Free Ships

How to unlock all the missions:
Go into the Profile folider in the homeworld directory
ex. C:\Games\Homeworld2\Bin\Profiles\Profile1
In this folder there is a file called ''playercfg'' it should be a lua file. Open it up with notepad, and scroll down just a bit till you see ''maxmission = x'' obviously x will be differnet for everyone but if you want to be able to play all the levels the just type 15 here. This will open all the missions, just to let you know though it bases your starting fleet off your last completed mission, so if you try this in the very beginning you get jack crap to start off with (use next code to fix this though). This is good however for skipping a difficult mission...like 4...

To change the numbers of ships you start off on a mission
Go into the Acension folder in the homewolrd directory mine for example is
ex. C:\Games\Homeworld2\Bin\Profiles\Profile1\Campaign\ASCENSION
In this folder there are files named ''persist'' there should be one for every mission you have played (this means you have to at least have loaded the mission and stayed for the first cutscene) Which ever mission you want to add more starting ships to lets say 4 for example, you would look for persist4 then. Open the file up with notepad and search for a string of lines like this:
shiphold = {
},
name = '''',
teamColourHandle = 0,
hotkey = 67108872,
},
{
tactic = 1,
type = ''Hgn_AssaultFrigate'',
subsystems = {
},
buildjobs = {
},
size = 1,
shiphold = {
},
name = '''',
teamColourHandle = 0,
hotkey = 67108872,

Ok there is alot of information here that you dont really care about the important part is the
type =''Hgn_assault_frigate'' part, this tells you what ship is in the ship hold, if you want more of it just copy the entire string ie.
{
tactic = 1,
type = ''Hgn_AssaultFrigate'',
subsystems = {
},
buildjobs = {
},
size = 1,
shiphold = {
},
name = '''',
teamColourHandle = 0,
hotkey = 67108872,
},
and paste more...this will give you one more ship for each one pasted.....so you can create a huge fleet if you want, please note that if you make alot of ships that ''fly'' out of the mothership in the beginning then you have to wait for all of them....this could be a while if you make 50 or so, so try to stick to frigates since they warp in seperatly.

5. Research Tree

This is a list of all available researches in the game, along with the level in which you will first gain access to them.

Ship Type: These technologies will allow you to build the corresponding ship from the build manager. Certain ships can only be built from certain shipbuilders (battlecruiser from shipyard only, etc).

Ship Defense / Speed: These will boost the armour or speed capabilities of the ship.

Ship Upgrade: These will apply some new and unique feature to the ship's abilities. Unlike in the two previous games, your ships no longer have to dock or even halt in order for new upgrades to take effect.

Levels which contain no new ships or upgrades have been left out.

5-1. Research Tree - Level 1

NA

5-2. Research Tree - Level 2

Ship Defense/Speed:
Interceptor (Speed 1) Bomber (Speed 1) Gunship (Defense 1, Speed 1) Pulsar Gunship (Defense 1, Speed 1) Mothership (Defense 1, Speed 1) Resource Collector (Defense 1)

5-3. Research Tree - Level 3

Ship Type:
Proximity Sensor Probe

Ship Defense/Speed:
Interceptor (Speed 2) Bomber (Speed 2) Flak Frigate (Defense 1, Speed 1) Collector (Defense 2)

Ship Upgrade:
Bomber (Improved Bombs): Bombers do much more damage to the subsystems on enemy ships.

Collector Repair:
Gives resource collectors the ability to repair damaged friendly ships. Very slowly.

5-4. Research Tree - Level 4

Ship Type:
Minelayer (Minelaying)

Ship Defense/Speed:
Torpedo Frigate (Defense 1, Speed 1)

5-5. Research Tree - Level 5

Ship Defense/Speed:
Gunship (Defense 2, Speed 2) Pulsar Gunship (Defense 2, Speed 2) Ion Frigate (Defense 1, Speed 1) Gun Platform (Defense 2) Ion Beam Platform (Defense 2)

Ship Upgrade:
Improved Torpedoes: Allows torpedo frigates and destroyers to launch improved torpedoes against capital ships.

Enhanced Sensors:
Scouts can ping the area to reveal enemy ships.

5-6. Research Tree - Level 6

Ship Type:
Defense Field (Defense Field Frigate) Sensor Distortion Probe

Ship Defense/Speed:
Mothership (Defense 2, Speed 2) Carrier (Defense 2, Speed 2) Mobile Refinery (Defense 2)

Ship Upgrade:
Improved Manufacturing: Increases construction speeds in the mothership, carriers and shipyard by 30%.

EMP:
This is an upgrade for scouts, used to temporarily disable enemy ships.
The bigger the ship, the more scouts are needed.

Anti Mover Weaponry:
This upgrades all your ships to greatly increase their combat effectiveness against the enemy movers in levels 6 and 7.

5-7. Research Tree - Level 7

Ship Type:
Destroyer (Destroyer Chassis)

Ship Defense/Speed:
Flak Frigate (Defense 2, Speed 2) Destroyer (Defense 1, Speed 1)

5-8. Research Tree - Level 8

Ship Defense/Speed:
Torpedo Frigate (Defense 2, Speed 2)

5-9. Research Tree - Level 9

Ship Defense/Speed:
Ion Frigate (Defense 2, Speed 2)

5-10. Research Tree - Level 10

Ship Defense/Speed:
Destroyer (Defense 2, Speed 2)

5-11. Research Tree - Level 11

Ship Type:
Battlecruiser

Ship Defence/Speed:
Battlecruiser (Defense 1, Speed 1)

Ship Upgrade
Improved Defense Field:
An upgrade for defense field frigates, which will allow them to survive intense radiation (while the field is active). This ability is necessary for the completion of the level.

5-12. Research Tree - Level 12

Ship Defense/Speed:
Battlecruiser (Defense 2, Speed 2)

[TennoTea]

Is there a list of ships we can use to edit the persist lua files?

[alexiwhw]

Am I missing something, but in the remastered version (HW2) I cant do any lvl 2 research? I.e. interceptor lvl 2 speed or frigate lvl 2 speed/defense etc (2 examples but I cant do ANY).

[Democrussy Lover]

Does anyone know how to swap songs? The originals used to be some F keys or <, >.

[Artsy Astra]

still cant find it :(

[Artsy Astra]

nvm

[Artsy Astra]

btw target doenst show up in the properties

[Artsy Astra]

where is the location of the shortcut?

[BASSASSIN]

That asteroid mission is super easy. Ion frigates and destroyers in wall formation melt those things.

[StigmA DiabolicuM]

Ressources work only up to 999999, at least for me! Dont go crazy with numbers :)

[Shelby | Marcel]

The Cheat for the ressources wont work ;( any suggestions ?