Possibility of system failure modes not configurable in the mission editor

[Stickler]

The mission editor provides the option to set up various system failures.

When random system failures are enabled in the game options or due to aircraft damage, are the possible resulting failures a) limited to the failures that might also be set in the mission editor, or could b) additional failures possibly occur?

If b), are these additional failures limited in any way (if so, could the developers share a list of these additional possible failures?), or, especially given the F-4's component-based system modelling, do these failures cover all systems/components modelled in the jet?

[Zabuzard]

The mission editor provides the option to set up various system failures.

When random system failures are enabled in the game options or due to aircraft damage, are the possible resulting failures a) limited to the failures that might also be set in the mission editor, or could b) additional failures possibly occur?

If b), are these additional failures limited in any way (if so, could the developers share a list of these additional possible failures?), or, especially given the F-4's component-based system modelling, do these failures cover all systems/components modelled in the jet?

The random failure option covers the failures listed in the Mission Editor only.
It is an ED system that we do not control. We can add new entries to the list of failures but thats it.

The aircraft itself, with its condition/wear/tear system has way more "failures" than just those, although I wouldn't really call those failures. It also wouldn't be meaningful to add them all to this list, as its around 3000 individual things that all influence each other. And its not just on/off, but varying between ranges of values.

The condition/wear/tear system isn't compatible with the ED failure system. Not only technically, but also UI-wise. It wouldnt be meaningful.
Instead, you control that aspect with the condition/wear/tear sliders in your Mission Editor and with how you fly in-game.

There will likely be more detailed options inthe future when we come to making it persistent for campaigns and similar.

[Stickler]

Thanks for the explanation! To make sure I'm getting this correctly:

In the ME's fault list there are currently no electrical failures (e.g. single generator failure with bus tie open) or hydraulical failures (e.g., utility system failure).

I understand that setting "random system failures" will therefore never cause these failures.

However, is it currently possible that battle damage or extreme mishandling of the jet might cause them?

[Zabuzard]

Thanks for the explanation! To make sure I'm getting this correctly:
In the ME's fault list there are currently no electrical failures (e.g. single generator failure with bus tie open) or hydraulical failures (e.g., utility system failure).
I understand that setting "random system failures" will therefore never cause these failures.
However, is it currently possible that battle damage or extreme mishandling of the jet might cause them?

Yes to all you said.

With our condition/wear/tear system you have to get away from an on/off thinking. Your hydraulic system consists of like 100 components and all of them have properties that are influenced up and down. There is no "now the system works, now it doesn't". The result is a highly dynamic composition of everything together.

I would also take battle damage aside as extra topic, as this can fail things as well. Sometimes as on/off, sometimes as 0-100%. It is extra, next to the other systems.
Battle damage can also apply to all components in the entire aircraft based on their location.

The failure list in the ME (and what random failures applies to) is a handcrafted list of manual failures that we put in "on top" of the condition/wear/tear and combat damage systems.

[Stickler]

I compiled a list of modes of battle damage by having my aircraft shot at by different weapons while sitting on the ground, and then analysing and aggregating the resulting debriefing .logs with PowerQuery. Every time I run a new test a few entries get added to the list, so the attachment is very likely incomplete, but likely not by much.

First of all, kudos wrt the level of damage modelling.

Secondly, a few questions:

• Which system does "Mechanical Failure in Actuator/Actuator" refer to?
• What is the "Enter No Go Button/Lamp"? Laser Code?
• Light/DIM Knob, Light/Lamp, Light/PRESS TO TEST Button: Which light is meant?
• Indicator Failed, Meter/On Off Logic? Which meter? The Meter Switch on the radar panel seems to have its own failures.
• Power ON Light/Button? Which one is meant?
• Test Light? Which one is meant?
• There are quite a few entries for "Broken" circuit breakers. What exactly happens when a circuit breaker "breaks"? Can it no longer be actuated (pulled/reset) or is this "code" or a workaround for the electrical component protected by the circuit breaker no longer working?
• If the circuit breakers are not "code" as above, it seems that several electrical components do not have their own failure modes. For example, it seems a single generator cannot fail due to battle damage (and not due to ME settings either, as written above). Is this correct or did the generators just happen not to be damaged during my tests?
• Likewise, it seems that hydraulic failures are not on the list; I was specifically expecting the possibility of hydraulic leaks due to hydraulic lines or reservoirs being hit, more so since fuel and oil leaks seem to be modelled. Are hydraulic leaks modelled?

Thirdly, a few possible typos:

• VHF FM radio total failure: There is not VHF radio in the F-4E. Is the AUX radio meant?
• AVTR "Door Clicked" and "Tape Clicked". Not sure what that means.
• "Flare Ligth"
• "Receiever Pressurised"

Damage.pdf

[Zabuzard]

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

Which system does "Mechanical Failure in Actuator/Actuator" refer to?

Probably those 3: 

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

What is the "Enter No Go Button/Lamp"? Laser Code?

Yes, its the ENTER button on the Laser Coder Control (WSO right console front). It is used to transfer the entered laser code to the TGP and displays NO GO if the code is invalid.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

Light/DIM Knob, Light/Lamp, Light/PRESS TO TEST Button: Which light is meant?

Mhhh, if it doesnt show the full path you cant really know which one it is. But this refers to one of the "rotate to dim - push to test" lamps, which the aircraft has ~10-20 of.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

Indicator Failed, Meter/On Off Logic? Which meter? The Meter Switch on the radar panel seems to have its own failures.

Looks like this guy here, ADI: 

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

Power ON Light/Button? Which one is meant?

I got two matches with that name. Either the POWER ON button-lamp on the TGP panel (wso behind stick), or pilot left console the dimmable lamp next to the flares switch that indicates that the countermeasure system is turned on.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

Test Light? Which one is meant?

Two matches with that name. Either TACAN panel test light (one in each cockpit), or IFF panel test light.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

There are quite a few entries for "Broken" circuit breakers. What exactly happens when a circuit breaker "breaks"? Can it no longer be actuated (pulled/reset) or is this "code" or a workaround for the electrical component protected by the circuit breaker no longer working?

All Circuit Breakers are fully modelled. When a CB fails, any consumer behind it will not receive power anymore. This isnt just the CB popping though (that feature is currently deactivated because you cannot interact with them yet), it actually fried and needs replacement.

Generates can fail and also have several things in their logic that can go bad. Some details will be visible when the EFB is available with the next update. (see manual: https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/dcs/efb.html#electrics-page)

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

Likewise, it seems that hydraulic failures are not on the list; I was specifically expecting the possibility of hydraulic leaks due to hydraulic lines or reservoirs being hit, more so since fuel and oil leaks seem to be modelled. Are hydraulic leaks modelled?

Should also be modelled, yes. I personally dont have details available though. Perhaps someone else from the team can provide some.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

VHF FM radio total failure: There is not VHF radio in the F-4E. Is the AUX radio meant?

I cant find that anywhere in the code. Potentially something from DCS itself? Odd.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

AVTR "Door Clicked" and "Tape Clicked". Not sure what that means.

The AVTR (pilot, right console aft, next to the seat) has a cassette holder that can be opened and closed. And the cassette can be clicked to swap it against a music-cassette. Those are artificial "switches" in the code that probably should be changed to not be breakable, lol. Good spot. Ive just added that (for the next update):

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

"Flare Ligth"

Lmao, thanks. Fixed.

1 hour ago, Stickler said:

"Receiever Pressurised"

Fixed

Edited June 30 by Zabuzard