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GameData.ini

Unknown keys and blocks are skipped

An INI key or block the game does not know is logged to DebugLogFile.txt and skipped instead of crashing the game or WorldBuilder. Retail asserted on an unknown key in debug builds and threw on an unknown block in every build, so a mod INI written for a newer exe could not load on an older one. An unknown block is skipped up to its End, which also covers a new key that opens a nested block. A known key with a bad value still fails the load.

Subdual damage defaults

Subdual, jamming, frozen and chrono tuning can be set once in GameData.ini instead of on every ActiveBody. Any number of SubdualDamageDefaults blocks, each optionally limited by KindOf / ForbiddenKindOf, with values relative to max health:

SubdualDamageDefaults
  SubdualDamageCap        = MaxHealth * 2
  SubdualDamageHealRate   = 500
  SubdualDamageHealAmount = MaxHealth / 16.25
End
  • An ActiveBody key still wins; SubdualDamageCap = 0 still means immune.
  • An ActiveBody without the key falls back to the global block instead of zero.
  • MaxHealth forms work on ActiveBody too, which also gains ChronoDamageHealRate and ChronoDamageHealAmount.

Details in GameData.

Subdual frozen

SUBDUAL_FROZEN is a third subdual pool beside subdual and jamming. It disables via DISABLED_FROZEN and sets a FROZEN condition state. Customisable like jamming:

  • FrozenDamageCap, FrozenDamageHealRate, FrozenDamageHealAmount on ActiveBody or in SubdualDamageDefaults
  • armor coefficient
  • Frozen health-bar icon in Animation2D.ini
  • SoundFrozen / SoundUnfrozen per unit, UnitFrozen / UnitUnfrozen in MiscAudio.ini as fallback
  • FrozenOverlay* texture block in GameData.ini (stacks with the jamming overlay)

Details in Subdual Frozen.

BatchParticles

  • BatchParticles = NoDefault. Yes draws consecutive particle systems that share a texture, blend mode and billboard mode in a single call.

Batches plain particle systems into one 512-point buffer, 15 to 30 percent cheaper per TheSuperHackers. Streak, volume and terrain-conforming systems are never batched.

Notes

  • Particle systems with nothing on screen are now skipped regardless of the option.
  • Ported from TheSuperHackers commit de20ae0cb (Ronin and Mauller).

ParticleAtlas

  • ParticleAtlas = NoDefault. Yes packs particle textures into shared atlas pages, so alpha and additive systems with different textures batch into the same draws.

Plain alpha and additive particle systems draw from 2048x2048 pages with premultiplied blending. One blend state covers both modes, and the translucency sorter merges neighbouring triangles that share a page into one draw. Batches no longer break on texture or blend changes.

Notes

  • Implies batching for the systems it covers, whatever BatchParticles says.
  • Additive particles now depth-sort with smoke instead of drawing after it, so smoke in front of a fire covers it.
  • Textures are packed the first time they draw, at most four per frame, and the pages are cleared between maps. Up to four pages per map; textures that do not fit draw as before.
  • Not covered: streak, volume, terrain-conforming, alpha-test and multiply systems, systems with the flame, cryo, electric or disruption shaders, non power-of-two textures and ones smaller than 16 pixels. The glow pass also keeps the old path.
  • Each texture keeps five mip levels, so very distant sprites alias a little more.
  • After stephanmeesters' texture atlas prototype for TheSuperHackers.

SkipTranslucencySort

  • SkipTranslucencySort = NoDefault. Yes draws translucent triangles in submission order instead of depth-sorting them every frame.

Skips the per-frame CPU sort of every translucent triangle, which is costly with many particles. The cost is layering errors where translucent effects overlap. Opaque and alpha-tested geometry is unaffected.

Notes

  • Also settable per detail level in GameLOD.ini (StaticGameLOD blocks). Sorting is skipped when either the GameData key or the active level says Yes.
  • No Options menu checkbox.

BackToFront

  • BackToFront = NoDefault. Yes draws whole particle systems farthest first when SkipTranslucencySort = Yes.

Orders whole particle systems by distance, which removes most layering errors between effects. Particles within one system, streaks, tank tracks and water are not reordered.

Notes

  • Does nothing while SkipTranslucencySort = No.
  • BatchParticles batches get slightly smaller.

ForceFireAllWeapons

  • ForceFireAllWeapons = No(Default. Yes makes an attack ground order fire every weapon that can hit the ground, on every turret, instead of only the primary weapon.) Goes in the AIUpdate block next to TurretsLinked.

Unlike TurretsLinked, this only affects attack ground and skips weapons that cannot hit ground. Each turret aims and fires its own ground weapon when ready and in range.

Notes

  • Attacking a unit or building still picks the single best weapon.
  • Synced slots still follow their lead; a locked weapon (attack ground special powers) fires alone.
  • Weapons beyond the lead skip PreAttackDelay, as with linked turrets.
  • Slots whose AutoChooseSources excludes FROM_PLAYER are skipped for player orders.

NoOccupantFriendlyFire

  • NoOccupantFriendlyFire = NoDefault. Yes spares the container a passenger is riding in from that passenger's own splash damage.

Stops e.g. a Tank Hunter in a bunker knocking down its own bunker.

Notes

  • Covers the whole containment chain (infantry in a bunker on an Overlord spare both).
  • RadiusDamageAffects = SELF weapons (suicide attacks) still destroy the container.
  • A direct order to attack the container still damages it.
  • Changes the simulation; replays must use the same setting.

Transport load slowdown

  • TransportLoadSpeedPenalty = 0%Default. The fraction of its Speed a container loses when it is completely full.
  • TransportLoadTurnRatePenalty = 0%Default. The same for TurnRate.
  • TransportLoadAccelerationPenalty = 0%Default. The same for Acceleration.
  • TransportLoadLiftPenalty = 0%Default. The same for Lift.
  • TransportLoadPenaltyKindOfDefault: every kind. Only occupants with at least one of these KindOf bits count toward the load.
  • TransportLoadPenaltyForbidKindOfDefault: none. Occupants with any of these KindOf bits never count toward the load.

A container loses the penalty in proportion to how full it is, counted in slots, and regains it as passengers leave.

GameData
  TransportLoadSpeedPenalty        = 40%
  TransportLoadAccelerationPenalty = 25%
End

A container's own LoadPenaltyKindOf and LoadPenaltyForbidKindOf replace the global KindOf keys. Per-container overrides and opt-outs: see Load slowdown from occupants.

Notes

  • Damaged values (SpeedDamaged) scale by the same amount; no double penalty.
  • Survives locomotor changes (SET_NORMAL_UPGRADED, SET_PANIC).
  • Immobile containers (garrisoned buildings) are unaffected.
  • A loaded transport slows its group like any slow unit.
  • Changes the simulation; replays must use the same setting. At 0% nothing changes.