The SHP File for any model either Homeworld or Homeworld: Cataclysm is the primary file that determines alot of what the ship model will do in the game. Some of these particulars include the ships velocity, type of weapons used and the damage criticals for each type of weapon. Some of particulars you can change while others require advanced knowledge to understand and edit.

There is no need to extract any SHP file as each 3D model will have a section where you can simply copy the SHP information from and then paste it into a text editor such as the Notepad or Word Pad that comes bundled with the Windows OS. Make certain that before you paste the SHP information into the text editor that you set it to Word or Font Wrap so the text will be aligned properly just as it is in the accompany model files.

To replace the SHP file after editing it simply copy the file from the folder where you saved it into and then paste it into the appropriate folder for the race that it belongs to. For example I want to change the velocity, health or hit points and the weapon turret types of the Hiigaran Interceptor.

First I locate the SHP model that is part of the Hiigaran 3D Model set under Hiigaran Fighter Class 3D Models and Textures.

Next copy the SHP file in its entirety into your text editor and then save it as lightinterceptor. When saving each new SHP file make certain to save it as the name that appears in the upper left hand corner of the file that is in the brackets without the brackets and in lower case lettering.

Now we can begin to edit the SHP file. You will see several sections at the beginning of the SHP file. They are Ship Physics, Basic Ship Stats and Weapons. We will be editing values within these areas. Scroll down to Ship Physics until you find maxvelocity which is the velocity that the ship will be traveling along its vector. Look to the right in the middle column and change the value to 1500. Your Interceptor is now super-fast. Now find the maxhealth critical and change it to 300. Your Interceptor is now ubber tanked.

Finally we will change the weapon types mounted on the Interceptor. A general rule of thumb is too keep your weapons that you are trading out within the same class. For example you can trade out the turrets of any fighter class of any race with any other races fighter class turrets but you cannot trade out the interceptor’s weapons for destroyer or dreadnaught type weapons, physics involved would make the interceptor to bulky and costly to build. You can however trade out capital ship weapon turrets with fighter class weapon turrets.

I want to trade out the Interceptors projectile mounts to use the attack bombers plasma bombs. First locate where you have extracted either the Homeworld or Homeworld: Cataclysm .big folder to and find the attackbomber SHP file. Open the SHP file up in your text editor and scroll down to Weapons and then Gun. Select all of the data between the { } and then copy. In the Interceptor Weapons area select the data between the {} and then paste. The Interceptor now has a plasma bomb located in one of its slots. Repeat the same for the second gun slot. You have completed your first SHP edit. Now save the file and open up the folder where you installed your Homeworld at. Find and open the folder labeled R1. Copy and paste your newly created Interceptor Bomber SHP into the R1 folder and fire up Homeworld to use your new ship. To revert to using the old Interceptor version in the game simply delete the SHP file that you created.

Once you have finished editing a few SHP files for Homeworld and Homeworld: Cataclysm and realize that you can create freakingly fun and deadly ships you have begun the process of actually creating your first 3D Model. As in real life the interior of the ship or plane is what matters the most the exterior is there just to protect the guts of the ship or plane and the pilot or crews. Eventually you will become so adept in creating SHP files that you will actually see other types of ships forming around your SHP edits as you master every detail of the SHP file. Soon you will building models based upon your SHP edits where the very first edit you made teaches you too build an entirely new fleet of models and particulars that eventually becomes a Homeworld Modification or Homeworld Modification Variant.