RCS changes for mods?

[Roger Hedrick]

So, I recently downloaded the CJS Superbug Super Hornet Mod. I know this mod runs off the existing F/A-18C files, so it shares the same characteristics. This should mean it shares the same RCS, turn rates, turn radius, acceleration, top speed, and radar strength. 
 

How can I change the RCS? Because the Super Hornet has increased radar stealth characteristics. Also, if I can increase radar strength as well that’d be wonderful. I’ve never done modding, and I’ve never messed with the game files before, so any and all help is appreciated.

Thanks!

[Citizen]

Open up your /DCS World/ install directory.  Inside you'll see the /CoreMods/ folder, open that.  Open /aircraft/ inside that.  Inside there, look for the /FA-18C/ folder and open that.

Now you'll see some lua files.  You want to open EA-18G.lua, FA-18E.lua, and FA-18F.lua with your preferred simple text editor(I suggest notepad++).

Scroll on down to the RCS = 3 line and change it to whatever your heart desires.  Save.  Repeat for the other two.  Done!

[Ithronwise]

2 hours ago, Citizen said:

Scroll on down to the RCS = 3 line and change it to whatever your heart desires.  Save.  Repeat for the other two.  Done!

Unfortunately, these values are only affecting the AI-controlled Super Hornets, because the lua files in the CoreMods folder are containing simplified flight model values for the AI. The values for the realistic flight model, used by the player-controlled Super Hornets are hardcoded and encrypted in the FA-18C.dll in Mods\FA-18C\bin and are the same as for the official F/A-18C module.

By the way, the RCS value for the Super Hornet variants in the luas of the CoreMods\FA-18C folder are already fitted, because the original value is 7.

Edited March 3, 2023 by Ithronwise

[Citizen]

2 hours ago, Ithronwise said:

Unfortunately, these values are only affecting the AI-controlled Super Hornets, because the lua files in the CoreMods folder are containing simplified flight model values for the AI. The values for the realistic flight model, used by the player-controlled Super Hornets are hardcoded and encrypted in the FA-18C.dll in Mods\FA-18C\bin and are the same as for the official F/A-18C module.

By the way, the RCS value for the Super Hornet variants in the luas of the CoreMods\FA-18C folder are already fitted, because the original value is 7.

 

This is not entirely accurate.  While it is true that the lua file contains SFM data that the AI uses, there is also plenty of data in there that affects the player aircraft.

You can validate this claim by performing the following steps:

Test steps:
Attempt to fly over Burke destroyer with stock RCS value.
Result: quite dead

Attempt to fly over Burke destroyer with RCS set to zero.
Result: no engagement from DDG.

[Roger Hedrick]

2 hours ago, Ithronwise said:

The values for the realistic flight model, used by the player-controlled Super Hornets are hardcoded and encrypted in the FA-18C.dll in Mods\FA-18C\bin and are the same as for the official F/A-18C module.

 

Can I change this encrypted flight model value? Or is that not an option?

[Roger Hedrick]

13 minutes ago, Citizen said:

This is not entirely accurate.  While it is true that the lua file contains SFM data that the AI uses, there is also plenty of data in there that affects the player aircraft.

You can validate this claim by performing the following steps:

Test steps:
Attempt to fly over Burke destroyer with stock RCS value.
Result: quite dead

Attempt to fly over Burke destroyer with RCS set to zero.
Result: no engagement from DDG.

Does this mean that the coremods lua folder only affects ai? My understanding from this is that the rcs change here affects the rcs seen by the ai. Essentially, a player will spot you just as easily on radar because the coremods lua rcs change does not affect player-player radar. Am I understanding that properly?

[Citizen]

Just now, Roger Hedrick said:

Does this mean that the coremods lua folder only affects ai? My understanding from this is that the rcs change here affects the rcs seen by the ai. Essentially, a player will spot you just as easily on radar because the coremods lua rcs change does not affect player-player radar. Am I understanding that properly?

I can't speak to that.  A simple battery of tests would be required.  Either way, this modification should break the heck out of IC, making multiplayer adjustment difficult outside of highly controlled scenarios.

[Ithronwise]

9 minutes ago, Citizen said:

This is not entirely accurate.  While it is true that the lua file contains SFM data that the AI uses, there is also plenty of data in there that affects the player aircraft.

You can validate this claim by performing the following steps:

Test steps:
Attempt to fly over Burke destroyer with stock RCS value.
Result: quite dead

Attempt to fly over Burke destroyer with RCS set to zero.
Result: no engagement from DDG.

Ok, thanks for the information. So, at least RCS (and maybe some other values) are also working in the realistic flight model. I played around a little with most of these values in the last weeks to help the developers to solve some annoying issues that only affected the AI-controlled Super Hornets and so I found, that the most values there are only effective for the AI.

 

10 minutes ago, Roger Hedrick said:

Can I change this encrypted flight model value? Or is that not an option?

No, unfortunately (or understandably because ED has invested a lot of time and work in this flight model) not. It is encrypted. The only way would be to write an own flight model.

[Roger Hedrick]

1 minute ago, Citizen said:

I can't speak to that.  A simple battery of tests would be required.  Either way, this modification should break the heck out of IC, making multiplayer adjustment difficult outside of highly controlled scenarios.

What exactly is “IC”?

[razo+r]

2 minutes ago, Roger Hedrick said:

What exactly is “IC”?

Integrity check. It checks if you modified any files. If you did, it wont allow you to enter servers that use the IC. 

[Roger Hedrick]

Also, I know the Super Hornet uses the AN/APG-79, which is more powerful than the F/A-18C’s AN/APG-73. Can I change the radar strength to try to match the improvement?

[Roger Hedrick]

5 hours ago, Ithronwise said:

Unfortunately, these values are only affecting the AI-controlled Super Hornets, because the lua files in the CoreMods folder are containing simplified flight model values for the AI. The values for the realistic flight model, used by the player-controlled Super Hornets are hardcoded and encrypted in the FA-18C.dll in Mods\FA-18C\bin and are the same as for the official F/A-18C module.

By the way, the RCS value for the Super Hornet variants in the luas of the CoreMods\FA-18C folder are already fitted, because the original value is 7.

 

Can I change the radar range and detection? Or is that in the dll? *Pls check previous reply too*

[Redounet]

6 minutes ago, Roger Hedrick said:

Can I change the radar range and detection? Or is that in the dll? *Pls check previous reply too*

No its using the f18 compiled avionics u cant change the radar