Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

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List of Key Bindings with Tips & Hints
By Hotfix
Beginners Guide to usefull key commands in Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak. Also contains a list of all keys as per game options which you can print or display on second monitor.
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Gameplay Settings
Options > Gameplay Settings

- Camera edge Pan Speed: 50% -> 70% (speed at which screen moves when mouse hits edge of screen, default is a little slow, so bump it up to your liking.

- Sensors Camera Reset: By enabling this, you reset to the game default view every time you go in and out of the Sensor mode. As you micromanage a battle you may be working in various angles and zoom statuses. Returning from Sensor mode on a different part of the map resets your view. Sounds simple but I find it saves extra time playing with camera views.

Usefull Keys / commands you may not be using or using as much
A + LEFT CLICK + Rotate: Attack move with formation direction. Formation placement and use of terrain is possible, contrary to many reviews and comments. This allows you to position your units in a particular direction, but more importantly stretch them out along a ridge lines (high ground). Ideal for using with Artillery type units or blockading choke points.


SHIFT + RIGHT CLICK: Place Waypoints - This may be regularly ignored in Battle view however it can also be used in Sensor Mode (above image) and allows you to send units on better paths across the map, avoiding enemy bases, Tornadoes or creating flanking manoeuvres etc. The later works well with fast units.


~, HOME, F1: Select your Carrier - manage production or call your air support fighters while micromanaging your battle.

CTRL + 1-10: Control Groups - Every RTS player will use these. A must in HW:DoK due the speed differences in the units, large terrane that is traversed and terrane placement of certain units. NOTE: Double Tapping assigned group number will focus on that Group

G: Guard - Also, select units and Right Click on unit you wish to guard, Shield Icon next to mouse cursor indicates Guard capability. Smaller units can be assigned to guard larger ones, meaning they will follow that unit around the map, engage the attackers and return back to guard formation. Units will attack in formation but as enemy nears they will peel away and engage enemy untill destroyed, then return back to their defending unit. Take care as AI is not always smartest and sometimes they will continue following a retreiting enemy. NOTE: You can also assign harvesters to guard units and therefore moving them along with the support craft or fleet.




F: Focus on a unit - The camera will follow the focused unit and as a unit dies screen stops. In combination with Sensor Camera Reset it works great. Above Guard formation travel is focused on the Baserunner.

Double Left Click any unit: Selects units of the same type on the screen - Same as most other RTS, handy if you’re trying to dig out your scattered light / fast armour or your harvesters from within a large force. Use together with Control Groups
List of keys as per option menu
Options > Controls:

SELECTION:
- Bandbox Selection:
LEFT CLICK + DRAG
- Cycle idle Salvagers:
F3
- Select All Gaalsien Production Cruisers:
F4
CAMERA:
- Focus on Selected:
F
- Select Carrier:
HOME, F1, ~
- Focus on Carrier:
HOME, F1, ~ [Twice]
- Focus on Last Notification Location:
NUM 0
- Reset Camera:
BACKSPACE
- Rotate Camera:
RIGHT CLICK DRAG
- Pan Camera:
MIDDLE MOUSE AND DRAG
- Zoom In/Out:
MOUSE SCROLL WHEEL
- Pan Camera Left:
LEFT ARROW KEY
- Pan Camera Right:
RIGHT ARROW KEY
- Pan Camera Up:
UP ARROW KEY
- Pan Camera Down:
DOWN ARROW KEY
ORDERS:
- Move:
V
- Move and Attack Targets:
A
- Place Waypoints:
SHIFT + LEFT CLICK
- Stop:
S
- Hold:
H
- Guard:
G
- Set Rally Point:
Y
CONTROLL GROUPS:
- Create Control Group:
CTRL + 1-10
- Add unit to existing control Group:
CTRL + SHIFT + 1-10
TASKBAR
- Toggle Tactical overlays:
ALT
SYSTEM:
- Menu:
F10
- Quick Save for Campaign:
CTRL + F9
- Quick Load for Campaign:
CTRL + F12
- Steam Overlay:
SHIFT + TAB
- Steam Screenshot:
F12
- Team Chat:
ENTER
- Global Chat:
SHIFT + ENTER
- Player List:
PAGE DOWN
- Glass Mode (Hide HUD):
CTRL + H


20 Comments
Hotfix  [author] 8 Apr @ 3:35am 
No Console option for this game, but if you google, there seems to be a developer debug mode that can be accessed.
FRIEDTASTIC JEWS 20 Mar @ 4:28pm 
can you enable console on this game?
lastblacknight 26 Aug, 2024 @ 8:03am 
Nice one
CNiper 16 Jun, 2023 @ 4:22pm 
Hi Hotfix! This is a great guide you've got. :conanthink:

I'm working with Gearbox and I was wondering if we'd be able to share this across Homeworld channels. We'd fully credit you with any call-out details you'd like.

I've sent you a friend request over Steam if you want to talk more about it :) Thank you!
JINORU 16 Feb, 2021 @ 9:44am 
Probably not worth having the Steam hot keys in this list
tomygun 12 Jan, 2021 @ 11:52pm 
p to pause
Duneman 15 Oct, 2019 @ 10:53am 
That bit about using CTRL and dragging a box around specific enemies you want them to attack definitely sounds helpful. I feel like the 'tutorial' mentioned that, but only vaguely in a single sentence before quickly brushing past it. That seems like a disservice, since you want your units to focus specific foes that they're strong against.
mezen 8 Sep, 2019 @ 2:18am 
Ctrl + Left Click on a unit does the same like Doubleclick on a Unit.
comte 31 Jan, 2018 @ 7:27pm 
Why isn’t their a general command to resource collectors to “harvest” like their is in Homeworld?
SirWally123 12 Sep, 2017 @ 5:57am 
Awesome, thanks man.