Ship Facing
The larger and slower a vessel is, the more important the direction that it is facing. For fighters, turning to a target is easy and takes just an instant. For frigates and Capital ships, however, orienting correctly can be a major operation and a strategic disadvantage.

This raises a real problem when you want ships to "back up." Since there's no "reverse" on the Destroyer control panel, you must take two steps to get the ships properly oriented.

First, move the formation to a destination a bit beyond where you want them to go. They'll turn and travel to that location. When they arrive, move them back a few kilometers the way they came. After turning and moving the token distance, they'll be facing in the desired direction.

Waypoints
Waypoints are a new feature in Homeworld: Cataclysm and let you plot a specific course for a ship. The other alternatives are to micromanage the ship's flight or let it get from point A to point B by its own judgment. Though you love your pilots dearly, they don't always make the best choices in these matters.

For example, to avoid a fleet of frigates between your Recon and the area you wish to scout, chart a course that gives the large ships wide berth. Don't be afraid to be a control freak--waypoints are very easy to set up.

Another use of waypoints is to establish patrol patterns. Pick two points and set the waypoint mode to "End to End," and the ship will pace back and forth between the two points, illuminating space with its sensors and attacking any ships that violate its patrol area.

Finally, you can set up an elaborate pattern of waypoints as an automated way to check out wide areas of unexplored space. Tell your Recon to zigzag through the cosmos to see what she can see. When she's done, you'll have a better idea of where the resources are and how much space you have to work with.

Hyperspacing
One way to cover long distances in multiplayer games is by hyperspacing. When you select the command, choose a location (on both axes) and click to establish.

It takes a while for your ships to auto-dock and prepare for the jump, so don't expect it happen all at once or lend itself to quick escapes. Perhaps the most aggressive use of hyperspace is jumping directly behind your opponent's Command Ship to begin your final assault.

Moving in the Sensors Manager
Making long distance moves is only possible in the Sensors Manager. One of the enhancements to Homeworld: Cataclysm is the ability to do anything in the Sensors Manager that you do in the normal view--attacking, waypoints, hyperspace, and special actions.

There are many situations in which commanding your fleet from this lofty vantage point is most effective. It's empowering to know that you now have full control from this view.

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