A separate setting for water state

[Dangerzone]

On 7/1/2025 at 3:10 AM, Honez said:

Hey guys — I need to jump in here and voice my thoughts on this.

It seems like a lot of folks are getting hung up on the physics of the ocean and trying to explain how the real ocean works. Honestly — I don’t think anyone is asking for an accurate ocean wave simulator here.

As a mission builder, the feedback I get from my crew is simple: they want cool-looking seas for immersion, without having to crank wind speeds up to ridiculous, unflyable levels just to get decent wave visuals. And I 100% agree with them.

DCS already did a great job giving us a set of cloud presets that look awesome without forcing mission builders to match them with dangerous, gameplay-breaking weather. For example — I can drop in a big thunderstorm from the cloud library, and it doesn't require me to set hurricane-force winds to match. It’s about visual storytelling and immersion.

So to the DCS dev team: please don’t waste time coding realistic ocean physics, currents, and all that. Just give us a visual sea state picker — like the cloud presets — so we can set the look of the water to fit our mission atmosphere.

It’s a game. It’s about fun, immersion, and giving mission builders more creative tools — not turning DCS into a naval hydrodynamics lab.

While I completely agree with you - the reason that (I at least) gave realistic information on how the ocean works is to justify exactly what you're asking for actually far more matches realism in this instance than what DCS has setup. I agree that the best option is independent swell height and direction - regardless of whether it's realistic or not. I love the way they've done the fog. Auto and manual modes - so hopefully they're interested in enhancing the experience with the sea swell too. I wasn't too interested in that other simulator, but after seeing the 'benchmark' that they did with the ocean sea state - it reminded me of this thread and how DCS is falling behind significantly in this area.

But as for thunderstorms - how do you get those? The new cloud presets - I couldn't see any thunderstorms at all? We have rain, but that's it. Are you using the clouds mod to get it, or is there something I'm missing?

[Nealius]

26 minutes ago, Dangerzone said:

But as for thunderstorms - how do you get those? The new cloud presets - I couldn't see any thunderstorms at all? We have rain, but that's it. Are you using the clouds mod to get it, or is there something I'm missing?

The legacy weather system still works. Select "nothing" for the cloud preset, increase cloud density to 9 or 10, then "thunderstorm" will appear in the precipitation drop-down menu.

[Raisuli]

1 hour ago, Dangerzone said:

after seeing the 'benchmark' that they did with the ocean sea state - it reminded me of this thread and how DCS is falling behind significantly in this area.

It's a shame ED is pouring so many resources into new toys and not into the game play that makes those toys fun to use.  Their priority seems to be cranking out new modules, so crank out a new ocean module.  I'd rather buy that than another map.  Airfield equipment and personnel...let me get out my checkbook.  Static objects that aren't a graphical embarrassment?  How much?

Meanwhile threads like this are noted and filed with their lunch wrapper.

 

It's also unfortunate that subtlety goes over my head.  I have no idea what you guys are talking about with ThatOtherSim

 

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

3 hours ago, Raisuli said:

It's also unfortunate that subtlety goes over my head.  I have no idea what you guys are talking about with ThatOtherSim

I’ll send you a pm

[Slippa]

Something would be good. 

I’ve been waiting years for someone to fix the wipers in the Mossie, or give us Target Indicators, never mind Ground Crew and bods that move like humans. Imagine the time and effort needed to implement a sea state setting? Like I said, something would be good though. It’s not ideal as it is.

Between five to ten updates ago, maybe more, they introduced a lot of stuttering or lag into the ‘World’. I still suffer a fair bit with it and every update I wonder if it’ll be sorted, or become worse. Reading around it seems I’m not alone with it. I’d be quite happy to see ED focusing on the mechanics of gameplay rather than shiny new toys to use in it. Having said that, more props please, they’re always welcome .

I took a few boat trips recently so consider myself pretty well qualified to comment here. I used the chain link ferry in Poole a couple of times as well as the Isle of White ferry so I’m quite happy to share my findings in case anyone from ED needs any expert opinion on the physics of sea states.    Happy to help 

[Dangerzone]

20 minutes ago, Slippa said:

Imagine the time and effort needed to implement a sea state setting?

What makes you think that it would require much time? At present, they have a changing sea state. Just that it’s set directly by the wind. All that’s needed basically speaking is an option to set it separately to the wind setting. 
 

While I agree with you with the other stuff, with this we’re not exactly asking for a new feature, but more just an alternative way to set an already existing feature. As such, I don’t see any performance issues with it, or significant development required either. If anything, I suspect it’d be one of those relatively simple things to implement that gives another showpiece to show the evolution of DCS. Decent return on investment really. 

[Raisuli]

5 hours ago, Slippa said:

Something would be good. 

I took a few boat trips recently so consider myself pretty well qualified to comment here. I used the chain link ferry in Poole a couple of times as well as the Isle of White ferry so I’m quite happy to share my findings in case anyone from ED needs any expert opinion on the physics of sea states.    Happy to help 

Civilian boats designed for a smooth ride aren't quite the same as a cork with significant reserve buoyancy designed to take a hit and survive it.  Stabilizers and ballasting down and small metacentric heights.  Makes absolutely no difference in game, unless you try to maneuver the cans in high seas and lay one over...you only steer one direction when the water is angry.

I'd settle for pitching decks.  Asking for enough realism to endanger the Ticos is too much