COWarMod ACE Compatible - Open beta Project

[Günter Severloh]

COWarMod ACE Compatible
- Open beta Project -

Questions and Information

What is the COWarMod ACE Compatible - Open beta Project?
The Open beta project is to build a version of COWarMod that is compatible with ACE for OA.
Being an open project means the thread is being used to give feedback to the testers
from the testers or other ACE and COWarMod users/players to identify any errors, bugs,
and or problems in the testing.

What is the overall plan or future goal of this project?
The future goal of the project is to release a full downloadable version
of COWarMod that is ACE Compatible.

What Mods are being used in the project?
COWarMod
http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=14699

Advanced Combat Environment 2 OA - Core
http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=12155

Project Requirements

For those beta testers to be involved in the project and anyone else
interested in giving their feedback,the following are the requirements I ask to be
used for the sake of all of us being on the same page basically
same results when we test.

Mods:
COWarMod Version 1.2
http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=14699

Advanced Combat Environment 2 OA - Core Version 1.12.1.507
http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=12155

Community Base Addons
http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=6231

The Plan of how we are to test
What were going to do is the following:

1st Test the mod overall COWarMod while
running ACE the point of this is to see if any errors, bugs, RPT listings for errors,
or anything that would basically prevent you from playing the game with these 2 mods.

When you test:
Be sure to have the following Command Line:

-mod=@CBA;@CBA_A2;@CBA_OA;@COWarMod;@ACE

2nd Test specific features of ACE

Question: How will we test ingame?

I have 3 missions I built and have used in the past to test COWarMod before its release,
one of which I did not use but can be used to test overall game play for at least the infantry aspect.

Download Missions
The following are the missions you can download.

Weapons_Testing.Desert
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42601124/Wea...g.Desert_E.zip

Weapons_Testing.Takistan
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42601124/Wea...g.Takistan.zip

To install:
Make a copy of the pbo, so that you have 2 copies, and then move the pbos to your missions
and mp missions folder in you Arma2 directory.
we will be testing in Sp and mp as the game changes a bit in both modes.

Information on the Missions

Weapons_Testing.Desert
Weapons_Testing.Takistan

Features:
- both playable in sp, and mp mp you can respawn, sp 1 life
- all vehicles, planes ect,. are respawnable
vehicles for testing respawn in 100secs, vehicles to destroy as targets respawn in 200secs
- if you respawn, or get killed somehow you will respawn with the last weapons you had
- all destroyed vehicles being used and as targets will delete after 100secs once destroyed I have
a cleanup script implemented int he missions.
- There is 1 ammo box with many weapons, box runs off of a an ammo/weapons script i put together,
if you wish to add other types of weapons then get their class names and add to the script,
as laid out.

ACE Features and the features that will give problems
in COWarMod (to be tested) & Confirmed

The following bolded features are the ones in concern, once those have been tested and fixed if needed,
 and or stabilized then we will move on to other features.
The choice of features may change as I am review the list as I test to make sure I am not missing any, or that ones
 that are to be tested have nothing in terms of features like those in COWarMod.

ACE FEATURES LIST
Aerial Refuel
Afterburners
AI Improvements
AI Talk
Aircraft Multi Function Display (MFD)
Artillery
Autorotation
Back Blast
Ball Tracers
Blood Trails
Cam Shake
Cargo
Chem Lights
Combat Deafness
Configuration
Craters
Crew Protection
Crew Served Weapons
DAGR  Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR)
Demo and Tutorial Missions
Destruction Effects 
Disposable Weapons
Dog Tags
EASA  The Exchangeable Armament System for Aircraft (EASA)
Eject & HALO System 
Explosives 
Explosion Effects
Fast Roping 
Fast Switching
Fire Propagation
Flares 
Flashbangs
Folding GL sights
G-Forces
Gas
Goggles and Teargas
Grenade Throw Modes
Ground Markers
HuntIR
IFAK (Improved/Individual First-Aid Kit)
Ingame Help
Interaction
Invisible Targets
IR Strobes 
Load Master
Magazines System
Map System 
Map Tools Set
Missile Guidance Improvements 
Model Special round replacement 
Mouse Gestures
Muzzle Velocity
NVG 
Overheating
Overpressure
Playerhud 
Quick Weapon Selection 
Radio Silence 
Rangefinding Devices
Recognize
Recoil Dust
Repair
Rocket Ballistics
Rotor Effects
Round Count
Rucksacks
RWR  radar warning receiver (RWR)
Sandbags 
Shotgun Ammunition
Shtora
Sights Adjustment
Sling Loading
SMAW Spotting Rifle
Smoke Grenades
Spectator
Stamina 
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Tank Fire Control System
Towing
Towing Tractor
Tracking
Vehicle AI
Vehicle Damage System
Vehicle Magazine Exchange
Vehicle Radio Sounds
Weapon Resting
Weapons System
White Phosphorous 
Wind Deflection
Wind Synchronization
Wirecutter
Wounding System

I will start testing with the first feature bolded and we can go from there.
Any questions let me know.

[Angus S]

I've found a few bugs while playing the weapons test mission in takistan in single player.

-The ArmA 2 weapons (not AO) don't show up in my inventory, but they show in my hands

-The gunners for the T72A and M1A2 TUSK tanks don't get a crosshair

-I had a script error in the OPS mission in single player that said:
'...wn5"];
doorespawnarray = [flag1, flag2, |#|flag3, flag4; flag5};
titletext ["","bla...'
Error Undefined variable in expression: flag3
File missions\__cur_sp.takistan\init.sqf, line 26

-I had a script error in the weapons test takistan mission in single player that said:
'eep3;
while {true} do
{
Error 0 elements provided, 3 expected
File JTD_FireAndSmoke\Scripts\FireDamage.sqf, line 30

_nearestFire = |#|nearestObjects [_thisObject,["firemarker...'


Also, how should we test the ACE AI?

[Günter Severloh]

Angus answer these questions for me:

Do you meet the requirements of the game and the project?

Do you have Arma2 and OA, and OA installed in the Arma2 folder, basically do you have Arma2CO (combined Ops)?

Does your target line look like this?
-mod=@CBA;@COWarMod;@ACE

Do you have the full version of COWarMod v 1.1
and the latest ACE that just released Version 1.12.1.507

Do you have the latest CBA?

If you meet the requirements to those then good.
Please follow my lead.

PLAN

Follow the plan, I have a systematic plan to test this stuff, this is how I did WarMod for Arma1,
A2WarMod for Arma2, and COWarMod for Arma2CO and the system works.
If your not systematic then when have errors popping up then you have no way of tracking them or
associating them to anything, so please follow my lead, the point being
so that were all on the same page when we test.

What is the purpose of our testing?
What are we trying to do?

Purpose of our testing is based on my knowledge and experience with the addons and mods in COWarMod,
I have created a list which are all the features of ACE.

I bolded the features I feel may cause bugs, errors, or just problems by which we will need to test.

So We are testing those features 1 at a time mind you, not erratic everyone jump in the game and
just report anything they get, that dont work, as you cant pin anything to anything, I say that because you
have to spend more time guessing, and figuring out what the error or bug is related too, i found this out the
hard way in WarMod for Arma1, so i have a system, rather simple.

Follow my lead or dont bother, we will get through this testing quick as I have done this many times,
please trust me.

Heres what we are to do:

1st When you start up the game with the target line:
-mod=@CBA;@COWarMod;@ACE

Do you get an errors apon startup?
if no errors, then check the RPT, no issues, then go into the test mission, any errors (not specific)
I'm looking for loading errors understand?

Once we get through that which wont take but a few minutes,
2nd then we move onto the ACE features list, from there I will call out features we need to test.

lastly I will look at the OPS mission again to see if there are any problems with it.
edit:
I dont get any issues on my end with the mission, other then the Arma2 weapons not showing up in the gear dialog.

Understand? any questions, concerns, thoughts?

=============================
The first ACE Feature I would like to test is:
Disposable Weapons
report any bugs, errors, oddities, weird stuff from the game, test both sp and MP.
When you test Mp just go to mp and host the mission, and then play it. use the weapon testing missions for this.

Notes:
there is an addon in COWarMod called inko_disposable it makes the AT4 ingame only have one use, 1 fire,
ACE has the same or similer thing, What we need to know is if theres any conflicts, if none, then remove
inko_disposable.pbo, and see if you still get that feature, if not then put inko_disposable back in.
if so then leave inko_disposable out and put in a storage folder for now.

Report anything you find on this.

[Angus S]

Sorry I guess I got a bit ahead of myself there, thanks for setting me straight, I understand it now. One question though, would you rather we didn't use beta patches?

[Günter Severloh]

No worries. But beta patches would alter the game in some way, fixing if they do things that we are normally experiencing.
if I'm not using beta, and you are, and another tester is, and then another guy isn't then all our results may be different,
we need the same results across the board.

Personally i dont use beta patches anyways, unless it has something it seriously fixes in the game that irritates me to all hell
i dont see the point but thats just me.

Anyways

as per my previous post:

Disposable Weapons
report any bugs, errors, oddities, weird stuff from the game, test both sp and MP.
When you test Mp just go to mp and host the mission, and then play it. use the weapon testing missions for this.

Notes:
there is an addon in COWarMod called inko_disposable it makes the AT4 ingame only have one use, 1 fire,
ACE has the same or similar thing, What we need to know is if theres any conflicts, if none, then remove
inko_disposable.pbo, and see if you still get that feature, if not then put inko_disposable back in.

I haven't tested this yet as I postd this morning before going to bed, brb with some results im getting.
if so then leave inko_disposable out and put in a storage folder for now.

Report anything you find on this.

-The ArmA 2 weapons (not AO) don't show up in my inventory, but they show in my hands

-The gunners for the T72A and M1A2 TUSK tanks don't get a cross hair

These 2 "bugs" you found I also have, and weren't there in 1.11 of ACE, so i think the guns at least
not showing is specifically ACE as I had no issues in 1.11.

[Günter Severloh]

Disposable Weapons

Previous Notes:
there is an addon in COWarMod called inko_disposable it makes the AT4 ingame only have one use, 1 fire,
ACE has the same or similar thing, What we need to know is if theres any conflicts, if none, then remove
inko_disposable.pbo, and see if you still get that feature, if not then put inko_disposable back in.

As per my testing, these are my results:

- using inko with ace you need to reload the at4
- not using inko (inko put in storage) no reload required 
- firing inko and then switching to main weapon the launcher is dropped and seen on ground. With inko there are 2 launcher tubes on ground
-with ace alone there is only one
- bugs otherwise: none
conclusion:inko is not per say conflicting but adding to and not needed since Ace already has the feature.

final decision: remove the pbo file in COWarMod inko_disposable.pbo

1/15
ACE FEATURES LIST

AI Improvements
AI Talk
Blood Trails
Disposable Weapons
Explosion Effects
Interaction
Map Tools Set
Muzzle Velocity
NVG 
Playerhud 
Rocket Ballistics
Sights Adjustment
Smoke Grenades
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Wounding System

Process of testing:

1. Identify the addon/mod that may effect the ACE feature 
2. test with and without the addon/mod with the feature ingame
3. compare results.
Point being if the ACE feature already has this feature then the addon/mod for the same/similar feature is not needed.
But
if there are no conflicts, and the addon/mod from CoWarMod adds to the ACE feature then its not necessary to remove, 
again any conflicts then it should be removed.

Feature to test:
Smoke Grenades
2 addons that are in concern here:
- tbr_smokegrenades_a2
- Blastcore

out to test...

---------- Post added at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 PM ----------

back from testing...

Feature tested:

Smoke Grenades
2 addons that are in concern here:
- tbr_smokegrenades_a2
- Blastcore

Test results:

- tests with both addons effect the grenades
- tests without the addons/mods, 
smoke looks smaller and not as big, and or volumetric.

Decision:

Keep both addons, i see no conflicts, and the addons/mods enhance the smoke even more making the game more enjoyable.

2/15 ACE FEATURES LIST

AI Improvements
AI Talk
Blood Trails
Disposable Weapons
Explosion Effects
Interaction
Map Tools Set
Muzzle Velocity
NVG 
Playerhud 
Rocket Ballistics
Sights Adjustment
Smoke Grenades
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Wounding System

Feature to be tested:

Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
2 addons that are in concern here:
- gdtmod_car_mg_zoom
- gdtmod_rifle_zoom
-

out to test...

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

back from testing ...

Feature tested:

Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
2 addons that are in concern here:
- gdtmod_car_mg_zoom
- gdtmod_rifle_zoom

Test results:

- I found no conflicts in either of the addons/mods
- addons/mods add to the game

Decision:

Keep: 
- gdtmod_car_mg_zoom
- gdtmod_rifle_zoom

3/15 ACE FEATURES LIST

AI Improvements
AI Talk
Blood Trails
Disposable Weapons
Explosion Effects
Interaction
Map Tools Set
Muzzle Velocity
NVG 
Playerhud 
Rocket Ballistics
Sights Adjustment
Smoke Grenades
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Wounding System

2 Feature to be tested:

Map Tools Set
NVG 
addons/mods in concern:
- map_no_sat  (map Plus)
- S_NVG (Fixed Range Nightvision )

Notes:

For those who are trying to understand what i am testing:
the green are the ACE features I am testing, and the -addons/mods are in
COWarMod that are being tested in relation to ace, with and without them.

out to test...

---------- Post added at 06:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:35 PM ----------

back from testing...

Feature tested:

Map Tools Set
NVG 
addons/mods in concern:
- map_no_sat  (map Plus)
- S_NVG (Fixed Range Nightvision )

Test results:

- map_no_sat  (map Plus) -BAsically same as ace, tool,a nd controls are about the same.
- S_NVG (Fixed Range Nightvision ) -works np

Decision:

- map_no_sat  (map Plus) - remove
- S_NVG (Fixed Range Nightvision ) -keep

5/15 ACE FEATURES LIST

AI Improvements
AI Talk
Blood Trails
Disposable Weapons
Explosion Effects
Interaction
Map Tools Set
Muzzle Velocity
NVG 
Playerhud 
Rocket Ballistics
Sights Adjustment
Smoke Grenades
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Wounding System

Current list of files to remove from COWarMod for ACE compatibility:

- inko_disposable.pbo
- map_no_sat.pbo

All the testing im doing for tonight as im running out of time, im going to test something with ace just to confirm something for myself and then I'll be back to test more.
The testing I will do will be multiple tests to move this along quicker, as it takes more time to test 1 thing then report, then test another ect,.

wheres our beta testers?

Anyone have any feedback, questions, thoughts, let me know.

[Angus S]

You're working fast, I've only just tested the disposable launchers and came up with the exact same results. I'm a bit unclear on what you want me to test next so I might just start with the muzzle velocity

---------- Post added at 06:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------

Just finished testing the muzzle velocity.

I used a target range mission on Utes that tells you as a decimal how much damage you do to the target. I tested it first with the FNC muzzlevelocity addon and then without it.

I recorded the damage done to the target at different distances, using weapons of the same caliber but of different barrel lengths (The M4 vs M16, M9 vs MP5, AK-74 vs AKS-74u, Makarov vs Bizon) and I also tested the difference between suppressed and unsuppressed weapons

The results were very similar with and without the FNC addon, but the FNC addon does have some weaknesses. For example, The M4 had exactly the same damage value from less than 100m to over 200m, so it actually does more damage at 200m then the M16. Also, with FNC the Silenced AKS-74U does exactly the same damage as the unsupressed version.
The ACE version does not have these mistakes, the M4 damage gradually drops between 100-200m, and the supressed and unsupressed AKS74U do different amounts of damage.

I can give you the data I collected on an excel spreadsheet if you want, I'll just need a bit of time to put it together.

I would recommend removing fnc_muzzlevelocity addon as it does basically the same thing as ACE, just not quite as well

[Günter Severloh]

Hi Angus.

When you test, please be systematic,
- list what your testing,
-what files (addons/mods /pbos are in question and (if your not sure ask me as I know all of them),
-then test,
-state your results,
-then we'll make the decision based on our findings.

You will need to test 3 ways:

-with ACE by itself
-with COWarMod and ACE
-with COWarMod by itself

just run 3 games, I run ACE alone, ACE and COWarMod, and then CoWarMod alone all at the same time,
and I can make comparisons.

Most likely if ACE already does something that COWarMod has then you have to find out if whats in COWarMod
that does the same thing, either enhances the existing feature in ACE, like my findings in my last post, or
give it errors like prevent it from working like it supposed too, or basically like having 2 copies
of the same thing running which is not necessary.

Understand.

Follow my example.
When we test we can call out what we are testing, but be systematic about it, us the layout in my previous post,
and then i can keep track of whats been tested, the results, and then we can discuss results and what not from there.

Heres what we have so far:

5/15 ACE FEATURES LIST

AI Improvements
AI Talk
Blood Trails
Disposable Weapons
Explosion Effects
Interaction
Map Tools Set
Muzzle Velocity
NVG 
Playerhud 
Rocket Ballistics
Sights Adjustment
Smoke Grenades
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Wounding System

Lastly use a clean layout as stated when you post, its easy to read, easy to get results, review ect,.
I appreciate your feedback, information is key and needs to be accurate. keep it simple.
============================
I'll be back with what Ill be working on ( i got to get to bed, just got home from work)

[soldaten]

Finally have some time to Start testing. Feedback in 48 hours..

[Günter Severloh]

Hi Soldaten welcome.
Please read the first post and some of the following post before you going feedback,
I have a system to follow.

@Angus
you want to test the Rocket Ballistics too while working on Muzzle Velocity.

Feature to test:

Muzzle Velocity
Rocket Ballistics
addons that are in concern here:
- fnc_ballistics_infantry - (http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=8527)
- fnc_ballistics_launchers
- fnc_ballistics_vehicles
- fnc_muzzlevelocity - (http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=7697)
- zeu_OA_c_RocketBallistics - (Zeus AI )

When you test these:
Test:

- with ACE + COWarMod first to see what response you are getting
- with COWarMod alone to see what response you are getting without ACE's influence
- with ACE alone to see what ACE is doing
- with COWarMod + ACE without addon in COWarMod addons folder

When you reply with test results:
I need to see a format like this:

Feature tested:
Smoke Grenades

2 addons that are in concern here:
- tbr_smokegrenades_a2
- Blastcore

Test results:

- tests with both addons effect the grenades
- tests without the addons/mods, 
smoke looks smaller and not as big, and or volumetric.

Please follow the system, it will help me accelerate the testing process, and make decisions quicker,
trust me I have done this testing format since 2009.

@Soldaten
I need you to test:

Sights Adjustment
addons in concern here are:
- tgw_zeroing.pbo - (http://www.armaholic.com/page.php?id=11590)

Test with:

- COWarMod + ACE
- COWarMod
- ACE
- COWarMod + ACE without addon in COWarMod addons folder

ACE Features List:

5/15 ACE FEATURES LIST
AI Improvements
AI Talk
Blood Trails -(Gunter is testing)
Disposable Weapons
Explosion Effects
Interaction
Map Tools Set
Muzzle Velocity -(Angus is testing)
NVG 
Playerhud 
Rocket Ballistics -(Angus is testing)
Sights Adjustment -(Soldaten is testing)
Smoke Grenades
Stepped zoom and optic modes in weapon stations 
Wounding System -(Gunter is testing)

I am testing Features:

Blood Trails
Wounding System
addons in concern here are:
- slx_wounds
- slx_wounds_ais

Any questions please ask, or pm me.