The NGCS
PDS v8.0 will be known as the Next Generation Combat Systems (NGCS) compilation, converting Homeworld 2 into a near-truescale semi-Newtonian space combat simulator with authentic systems, weapons and flight modelling never before encountered in a real time strategy game.

If you think that PDS has reached the HW2 engine's limitations, think again.

Assisting the PDS to NGCS transformation will be multiple pre-v8.0 scenarios modelled on real world warship operations.

In the meantime, a specialist crew will conduct regular PDSverse roleplaying on this website's forums while maximum attention will be given to PDSverse documentation, which has been always lacking given the rapid progress of the in-game battlespace - that at times is a double edged sword.
PDS V8.0 Modus Operandi
V8.0 Provisional Featurelist, accurate as of 091105. V7.1 test package, and the LiirHra Evolution .pdf document located in the Post V7 Refit forum is -required- for accuracy in reader interpretation of the below material.

1. Improved Weapons Modelling

RG320/335 class weaponry for instance will be modelled as heavy, slow-reacting but very capable systems against all targets due to their very high muzzle velocity and round mass.

Thermonuclear missiles now can be employed against formations of small attack craft, and the proliferation of MRAM2EC "Standard Missile 2" guided weapon systems in the fleet level provides capital ships with effective standoff defense capability against the threat of battle corvettes and strike fighters.

The Hiigarans will also function as a working case study for widespread employment of advanced directed energy weaponry - like the HMS Dreadnought in Earth history this promises to be a revolution in warship armaments.

Like railguns, DEWs will also benefit from very good reliability against all target types due to the nature of the system, but are overshadowed by railguns and missiles for bombardment and saturation fire capability respectively.

2. A vastly improved system for planning ship construction and refit projects can be viewed in the Post V7 Refit forum (specifically, the LiirHra Evolution thread). Note the emphasis on roleplay and reference to the present wartime situation in the PDSverse.

3. Less important to most people, PDS functions as an experimentation in management styles and while the factor of productivity has been maintain throughout all seven major evolutions of the PDSverse, diplomacy is found to be lacking.

V7.0 is a case study of centralised planning and direction coupled to decentralised execution, and V8.0 will be completely open-source in its manner of development and deployment.

Open source operation has proven to be extremely effective in encouraging personal level rapport and has a strong potential to develop lasting international ties between the respective contributors to the PDS project.

This means that the internal developmental (dev) forums are unnnecessary and the main spearhead of V8.0 planning and discussion will be my MSN contacts.

However, successful transition to open source developmental doctrines will depend entirely on the community here on this website. While autocratic authority is not necessary with my present working group, certain individuals on this site encourage its continuted existence. Open source development will also require frequent input from all active members of this website. Therefore, make your own conclusion to this subject.


use GOOGLE video (in beta) for more Exposure -read..
Google.com is mow allowing ordinary people like us - to upload videos/movies to thier new Video.Google site (in beta)
______________________________________________________________

I made an account with them and uploaded my vids to them for the [i]Whole world to see PDS /homeworld 2 [/i] I feel it will 'Be the Rage'
in the information world. Maybe we should submit all our vids to Google video FOR MORE EXPOSURE !!!


search I did for Homeworld 2 :


[url]http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=homeworld+[/url]
on the same search there is a couple of Stargate SG-1 shows & Battlestar Galactica on hand .
V7.1 (provisional) featurelist
There is a prototype, test version of V7.1 being released today with the following features:

Al Khalid II BV

Result:

Very good battleship/carrier hybrid now with 5G technology base. Close in defense improved 200%, bombardment rating +300%, Makes good use of Taiidani weapons technology.

Hiigaran Assault/Pulse Ion Cannons

Hiigaran DEW technology breakthrough - combines rate of fire of PICs plus power and self-contained nature of AICs. "Dual Purpose" (effective against small craft and capital ships) weapon systems. Available in fixed or turreted mounts in power ratings 100, 180, and 360.

IC A/P 180

Result:

Heavy weapon that is a 87mm light ion but fires 4x faster. Continuous beam, 60% eff vs FF, 35% vs fighters.

Vagyr 130mm Dual Purpose Autocannon

Result:

Combines 90mm auto and 130mm semi-auto weapon roles. Rapid fire. Selectable feed HC ("high capacity", proximity fuzed) or solid slug.

Suitable for all roles including anti-missile - check out the Bayandor class V-CA in the test package, on the "vgr_destroyer" ship slot.

Arbiter Mk.3R RG

"Repeater" version of RG335 with rapid burst capability. Rapid firing heavy guns are a Hiigaran-only technology. Only available in dual mount configuration due to space requirements for the ammunition handling machinery. Replaces all Arbiter Mk.1 J railguns.

Reworked missile warheads and improved railgun/heavy repeater weapon performance vs small targets.

More realistic HVM/HVT performance. Old warhead modelling will be retained for cheaper conventional (non nuclear) warheads.

Missiles are also harder to intercept but this is countered by MRAM2 ECs and more effective (and believable) railgun performance against small craft.

Railguns like the RG335 and Vagyr/Taiidani AC400 along with all other high velocity, semi-automatic weapon systems have a flat 20% rate of success in engaging strikecraft (closer to modern DP-AA gun performance), versus 4-8% from before (which is drawn from WW2).

The Arbiter in v7.1 is thus, an extremely effective weapons platform.

LiirHra Block 17

Improved light cruiser with three times main weapon firepower than earlier configurations (bow, dorsal and ventral twin heavy ion cannon batteries versus dorsal only). All other armaments including close in and secondary (broadside) batteries have been retrofitted with the latest directed energy weapon systems while four additional HVT700 tubes were added to the lateral weapon bays.

"Vertical launch" array of eight MRAM2-EC launchers fitted to ventral missile bay section, this is in addition to the existing MRAM2 inventory.

There is of course, more to come. Check out the v7.1 thread in the dev board (public viewable) for discussions and download link. PM me to give feedback and I'll handle each response in a case by case basis.

V7.1 Production Commences
PDS NewsThe update to V7.0 - the most drastic evolution of the battlespace so far, will have the below features. Do note that many new items in v7 were labelled "experimental" and still are - an example is the Cazador weapon system.

Thus, user-end analysis and prolonged, constructive discussions on said experimental systems will yield changes.

V7.1 features:

- Introduction of effective, and widely proliferated standoff interceptor missile systems (reference, Aegis and 'theatre defense' missile systems in RL). The equivalent of the US Navy's Standard Missile system will be proliferated in the PDSverse from fighters (as AMRAAM-like weapons) to capital ships.


- Introduction of "dual purpose" heavy beam and ballistic weapons - the menace of battle corvette squadrons will be countered by mediumweight directed energy batteries and railguns, that in v7.1 will be slow reacting but very deadly when they do get a firing solution - this is more realistic than the present rendition of the railguns, which are second-class support weapons at best.

Railguns will hit harder and more accurately, while being more challenging to intercept (with HDS) but will fire at half their present rate.

- In addition, the Kaghan and Hand of Winter class battle carrier/cruisers will be modernised to increase their capabilities and make them more accessible, with the Kaghan featuring a very extensive medium to close range optimised weapons outfit to deter enemy direct action.

- The Praetor class supercarrier will also replace the existing Imperator class as the Hiigaran Navy's primary fleet carrier.
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