Weather mod v16 for DCS

[bandit648]

13 hours ago, Tusk.V said:

Definitely drops my FPS on Hornet Free Flight. I would say on average probably 4-5 frames.

The clouds are different in that flight even though I didn't change anything. If you look towards the mountains on the left, by default the clouds are quite a ways above them. With you mod, the peaks are covered up and it starts raining when you get closer.

I really want to use this but can't give up the performance. For now....

 

I accidently left a few edits in on the default weather presets. That Hornet free flight mission was using "Broken 2" preset and I had edited that preset to add some light rain while testing.

I'll post an update to clean that up. Unfortunately, rain and heavy clouds has a performance hit whether its my mod or a default preset. If you're flying in VR and need FPS its best to keep light clouds and no precip.

 

[Tusk.V]

54 minutes ago, bandit648 said:

I accidently left a few edits in on the default weather presets. That Hornet free flight mission was using "Broken 2" preset and I had edited that preset to add some light rain while testing.

I'll post an update to clean that up. Unfortunately, rain and heavy clouds has a performance hit whether its my mod or a default preset. If you're flying in VR and need FPS its best to keep light clouds and no precip.

 

Sounds good. Great work! 

[FupDuck]

This looks great! I can't wait to get home from family Christmas to try this!

[Valium]

I would say that it's gamechanger!

Flying beside clouds with one of chillout beats from Chasse Embarquee YT.

Edited December 30, 2023 by Valium

[bandit648]

First post updated for version 2.

 

[Valium]

Could you describe all presets which are avaible now?

[352ndDeacon]

And also what the settings should be for a “pea soup” type of fog at ground level for a tank battle. Thank yo7 in advance. 

[bandit648]

23 hours ago, Valium said:

Could you describe all presets which are avaible now?

 

I just updated the mod to version 3 on user files. It now has a total of 23 new weather presets. I added sample thumbnail images for each preset in this new version that were taken in game from each cloud type. In general the new presets include these different cloud/weather types:

Scattered showers

Overcast with rain

Scattered Cumulus

Low level stratus

Altostratus (mid level stratus)

High Level Cirrus clouds

 

6 hours ago, 352ndDeacon said:

And also what the settings should be for a “pea soup” type of fog at ground level for a tank battle. Thank yo7 in advance. 

 

Two ways to do that. You can use the Fog setting from the weather panel and adjust visibility and thickness accordingly. This gives a uniform fog or haze that covers the entire map.

Another way is to choose one of the Low level stratus cloud presets and set the base altitude very low. Anywhere between 0 and 2000ft  but depends on the elevation of your ground units are. Stratus clouds are basically fog when at low altitude so this is more realistic.

Edited January 9, 2024 by bandit648

[bandit648]

Mod updated to version 3 on user files. Please update as this version has some important additions and fixes. Feedback welcomed.

Here are some screenshots from  Version 3:

 

 

Edited January 9, 2024 by bandit648

[swartbyron]

These new presets you've made are absolutely beautiful!

The low level stratus 4 preset in particular is lovely and very different from anything we've seen before.  

The ability to adjust cloud base fully on all the presets is really useful too.

The old cloud system shows its limitations I feel however when trying to create towering cumulus and thunder storms. They end up being wide at the top and narrow at the base more like a decaying storm and the sky looks rather messy and unconvincing. So Ill stick with the presets for now and hope ED adds some thunderstorm presets you can week when they do.

 

Thank you for sharing 

Edited January 9, 2024 by swartbyron

[swartbyron]

Oh, I've just downloaded V3 and noticed my favourite preset from V2 "low level stratus 4" is missing or changed? Any chance you could add it back in the future?

I've also noticed the default Cirrus clouds have been disabled for all presets? I'm quite fond of the default Cirrus, but never liked the blank it loads between the different sets after they fade out. What do I have to edit to get them back?

A MiG-29s flyes over Low Level Stratus 4 in V2 

Edited January 9, 2024 by swartbyron

[bandit648]

1 hour ago, swartbyron said:

Oh, I've just downloaded V3 and noticed my favourite preset from V2 "low level stratus 4" is missing or changed? Any chance you could add it back in the future?

I've also noticed the default Cirrus clouds have been disabled for all presets? I'm quite fond of the default Cirrus, but never liked the blank it loads between the different sets after they fade out. What do I have to edit to get them back?

A MiG-29s flyes over Low Level Stratus 4 in V2 

I'll add that low level stratus 4 preset back in and post an update. If you want to re-enable the default cirrus disable the mod in OVGME and delete the "enlight" folder in \Bazar\shaders in the mod path. Then re-enable. If not using OVGME restore \Bazar\shaders\enlight\cirrus.fx to its original.

I originally tried to mod the default cirrus and improve the low res textures used. The problem is that I can't figure out any way to change the fade in/fade out behavior. I think it may be hard coded in the weather.dll as nothing I've tried in the cirrus.fx file seems to change it. I opted to try using the volumetric clouds for the cirrus layer in this update. 

[swartbyron]

8 hours ago, bandit648 said:

If not using OVGME restore \Bazar\shaders\enlight\cirrus.fx to its original.

Thanks, I was trying to restore the Cirrus.fx in Bazar\shaders\clouds and it must be redundant.

 

8 hours ago, bandit648 said:

I'll add that low level stratus 4 preset back in and post an update.

Thanks 

[bandit648]

Updated to version 4 and added several new presets.

 

[Gunslinger22]

How is this not already apart of the base game? Absolutely stunning work and a massive step in the right direction for getting parity with other sims weather systems! 

[MIghtymoo]

@BIGNEWY Please review this thread 

[BIGNEWY]

Hi, 

yes it looks great, we have more weather work to come in the future but I will share this thread with the team. 

thanks

[swartbyron]

Low level Stratus 5.6 and 7 

The Alto Cumulus presets look fantastic too. 

The Cirrus clouds are a little to transparent for my taste however, so I've popped in the stock cirrus.fx back in.

 

Nice job

[bandit648]

Here's a few screenshots from a new altocumulus set I'm working on. 

 

 

[bandit648]

And a few screens from V4 of the mod...

 

 

[Esac_mirmidon]

This is just brilliant Bandit...

The new presets are absolutely awesome, such an experience to just fly by

Thanks a lot for sharing your time and work on this mod.

Edited January 12, 2024 by Esac_mirmidon

[bandit648]

3 hours ago, Esac_mirmidon said:

This is just brilliant Bandit...

The new presets are absolutely awesome, such an experience to just fly by

Thanks a lot for sharing your time and work on this mod.

 

Thank you! 

18 hours ago, BIGNEWY said:

Hi, 

yes it looks great, we have more weather work to come in the future but I will share this thread with the team. 

thanks

Happy to see weather mentioned in the newsletter today. I'm looking forward to seeing the new cloud types and fog improvements later this year.

Don't forget the cirrus layer. That really needs something done.

[EA-18G_BlockII]

question: which preset and setting to have big anvil cloud?

[Hawkeye60]

Can you simulate a Tornado?

Cyclone?

[bandit648]

14 minutes ago, EA-18G_BlockII said:

question: which preset and setting to have big anvil cloud?

 

I haven't been able to create a preset for cumulonimbus type thunderstorms yet and it may not be possible with the current cloud rendering. ED says they will add these types of clouds later this year. You still can create some thunderstorms like I show in my screenshots using the "nothing" clouds preset. See steps below. The lightning spawns all over the place not just in clouds. I can't do anything about that.

To create thunderstorms:

1.) Select NOTHING from the Clouds Preset menu
2.) Configure the base altitude as desired
3.) Adjust the thickness to something between 15000-30000ft
4.) You can choose any density setting but I added six new ones. Density 11 - 16 are tweaked for thunderstorms.
5.) Choose Thunderstorm or Rain from the Precptns option
6.) I recommend adding a lot of wind and turbulence as well
7.) Experiment with settings to get the look you want and enjoy!

 

6 minutes ago, Hawkeye60 said:

Can you simulate a Tornado?

Cyclone?

Nope, not possible with current weather system.