Flamers - control parameters?

[Mike Dora 171]

Does anyone know what parameter(s) determine whether a damaged aircraft goes down as a flamer?

 

Since implementing Stary's modified aircraftsmokeeffect.ini back in September, I've noticed that actual flamers seem to be an extremely rare occurence. Most WW1 aviation literature, on the other hand, implies that flamers were not that uncommon. A (very) rough analysis suggests that they might be of the order of 10-15% of shoot-downs. I'm therefore wondering if there is a parameter buried away somewhere that will let us tinker with an ac's susceptability to going down as a flamer?

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[+Tailspin 3]

Hi Mike. I can't say for sure where the parameters you are looking for are but the AircraftObject.ini makes references to such things like object fires and chances for progression and explosions etc. The other places I can think of are the Particlesystem.ini and the various effects within. Just guessing on my part.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Tailspin

[Bandy 3]

I'd have to agree with Mike D. on his observation, the only time I see flamers now is when collisions happen. IMHO something changed.

[Mike Dora 171]

Hi Mike. I can't say for sure where the parameters you are looking for are but the AircraftObject.ini makes references to such things like object fires and chances for progression and explosions etc. The other places I can think of are the Particlesystem.ini and the various effects within. Just guessing on my part.

 

Thanks Tailspin,

 

Good clue. I've tinkered with the [ObjectFire] parameters in the AircraftObject.ini file, and after experimentation, find that the following figures result in about one in six shootdowns being flamers. That seems about right to me, though if anyone out there knows of any solid research on this ratio that would be useful.

 

[ObjectFire]

FireCheckTime=6.0

APRoundFireChance=30

HERoundFireChance=30

HERoundExplosionChance=1

ExplosionChance=1

SuppressionChance=1

ProgressionChance=50

 

The interesting thing is that the original FE [ObjectFire] parameters were almost the same as the SFP [ObjectFire] parameters, despite the huge disparity in airframe types. Anyway I find that these revised parameters further improve the immersion factor, especially when you see some poor sod going down in flames away in the distance. Horrible and fascinating at the same time.

 

Mike

[+Tailspin 3]

Cool! Thanks Mike!

[pcm 0]

Is [Object Fire] found within Object Data / Object Data 01 Security Catologues?

 

If so, how do you open these files?

[Mike Dora 171]

Is [Object Fire] found within Object Data / Object Data 01 Security Catologues?

 

If so, how do you open these files?

 

It's the ObjectData file. To unpack it you need the CatPack utility, available (I think) at <http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=7933>

 

Mike

[pcm 0]

Thank you for your reply.

I downloaded SFP1/WOE/WOV CAT file extract utility from CA SF/WO Utilities, and installed into WW1.

I am now in the process of extracting data files and fine tuning stock aircraft ( at my own risk I know ).

Thanks again for your help and assistance.

[Bandy 3]

 

[ObjectFire]

FireCheckTime=6.0

APRoundFireChance=30

HERoundFireChance=30

HERoundExplosionChance=1

ExplosionChance=1

SuppressionChance=1

ProgressionChance=50

 

This certain brought back the flamers! Thank you Mike, good attention to detail to spot the issue. But not sure about ProgressionChance=50, as I set an Alb on fire (it was a torch) then saw the flames extinguish themselves in the blink of an eye. Mostly a limitation of the damage model of course, but once on fire those A/C did not stop...

 

What is everyone else's experience with the changed parameters?

[Mike Dora 171]

This certain brought back the flamers! Thank you Mike, good attention to detail to spot the issue. But not sure about ProgressionChance=50, as I set an Alb on fire (it was a torch) then saw the flames extinguish themselves in the blink of an eye. Mostly a limitation of the damage model of course, but once on fire those A/C did not stop...

 

What is everyone else's experience with the changed parameters?

 

Hi Bart

 

I've only seen this effect a very few times in the couple of hundred shootdowns I did in trials. What I did notice on these occasions is the plane flaring up with a fuel fire (the bright white flames enveloping the fuselage), but then the fire going out before it developed into the regular long trail of orange-red flame and greasy black smoke. What I think may be happening here, is that the burning fuel is "used up" before the fire can progress to the structure. Adding fuel to the flames (ouch) of this speculation is that on at least two occasions I noticed that the burning aircraft was also trailing the thin line of fuel vapour that indicates a holed tank, and that this went away when the fire went out.

 

It's all hit and miss of course, so maybe upping the ProgressionChance to something much higher (95?) might be appropriate. After all, once the tank is on fire, what chance is there really of a heavily varnished and doped wood and fabric structure _not_ catching fire?

 

Mike