Secondary attributes in unpacked device files

[AtParmentier]

Hello,

I know there are secondary attributes you can change for devices when you unpack the files.
I would like to know when these values are used instead of the primary ones. Especially for dual purpose and AA guns.
If somebody could help me out with this I would be grateful.

Greetings,
Parm.

[Alfred]

Learn the game first. Without knowing the actual game code, tinkering with secondary attributes will break the game.

Alfred

[PaxMondo]

+1

you can easily break quite a bit playing with the editor.

play the game a LOT first. you need to understand and have a good feel for the many and various ways that the game models reality. Then never, ever assume that you know what/how a field is used in the game without a LOT of data to support your assumption. So many players look at a field and based upon their background assume (wrongly) the impact in the game.

This is an old engine written in a day when code speed (and hence size) was critical.

Then go back and start reading ALL of the dev threads, and there are a lot of them. There is a ton of insight on a lot of topics shared.

Finally, when Alfred (or one the devs) speaks, listen. Don't argue. Often they cannot give a full answer due to NDA, but what they give is accurate.

Good Luck!

[Evoken]

1)Just because someone doesnt post on forums it doesnt mean they dont play the game.

2)Its a simple question that can be answered by ; its under NDA its not something i can share with forum etc(even not answering would have been more usefull) , no need for childish snarky answer Alfred.

And Pax , we share knowledge with each other because there is no need to Re-invent wheel when knowledge is out there , question is simply asked to have a better understanding of the mechanic and not break stuff

[JuanG]

The secondary device values provide alternative device stats for DP and AA devices in the anti-air and anti-surface roles. IIRC they are not used in the official scenarios, but Babes and many of the modded scenarios make use of them.

For AA type devices (type #12), if the secondary values are set, and Sec_Attr is 1, they are used to set the weapons anti-surface performance. The primary attributes thus become the anti-air ones.

For DP type devices (type #18), if the secondary values are set, and Sec_Attr is 2, they are used to set the weapons anti-air performance. The primary attributes thus become the anti-surface ones.

Original thread where this was brought up; https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.a ... age=1&key=

EDIT: From the original readme when it was added to witploadae;

Code: Select all

 There are a couple of new fields for each device;
 "Sec_Attr", "Sec_Eff", "Sec_Pen", "Sec_Acc"
 
 Sec_Attr
 This is a secondary attributes field. Its values are '1' and '2' of which only '2' has meaning to the game at the moment.
 A value of 2, means that this device has a secondary function of Anti-Air, which implies that the primary function of the device is as an Anti-Surface type. eg DP gun
 A value of 1, means that this device has a secondary function of Anti-Surface, which implies that the primary function of the device is as an Anti-Air type. eg Flak gun
 
 Sec_Eff, Sec_Pen, Sec_Acc
 These are the secondary values for effect, penetration and accuracy respectively as per the main values. 
 
 For the flak routines, if a device has a secondary function of Anti-Air, it will use the "Sec_" values rather than the normal main values in the calculations.
 In the case of the DP for instance, you can set up devices to use different values in the AAA calcs than are used in the naval surface actions.
 
 By default, if the secondary attribute is not on, then the normal values are used which would adjust the DP rating for AAA.
 
 If you add a secondary attribute (1, or 2) and don’t put in any secondary data, you are screwed. The default is then ‘0’ and nothing will function.
 
 Nothing here says what should go into the secondary data fields. They are there for your modding convenience and if you break it, please don’t complain on the tech thread. Only the Babes people support this stuff.
 

[AtParmentier]

Thanks a lot, this clarifies a lot.
Thank you for the information and the link. Very helpful and far better than the go away feeling I got from some of the other replies.

[Nomad]

I would also suggest that you unpack a DBB scenario into CSVs files and see what values they used. I would be very careful about going outside those values by any appreciable amount.

[Kull]

ORIGINAL: JuanG

The secondary device values provide alternative device stats for DP and AA devices in the anti-air and anti-surface roles. IIRC they are not used in the official scenarios, but Babes and many of the modded scenarios make use of them.

Just to clarify that a bit, all of Andy's scenario updates include the secondary device values. But yes, the as-delivered ones do not. One more reason to update your scenario files!