Factory And Purchase Systems Atlas

Factory And Purchase Systems Atlas

This page maps how units and vehicles become purchasable, how the buy menu gates and queues player purchases, how spawned units enter the mission, and where the older server-side AI buy path currently sits.

Primary source scope:

• Rsc/Dialogs.hpp
• Client/GUI/GUI_Menu.sqf
• Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf
• Client/Functions/Client_BuildUnit.sqf
• Client/Functions/Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf
• Client/Functions/Client_UIChangeComboBuyUnits.sqf
• Client/FSM/updateavailableactions.fsm
• Client/Init/Init_Client.sqf
• Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf
• Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf
• Common/Init/Init_PublicVariables.sqf
• Common/Config/Core/*.sqf
• Common/Config/Core_Root/*.sqf
• Common/Config/Core_Units/*.sqf
• Common/Config/Core_Squads/*.sqf
• Common/Functions/Common_CreateUnit.sqf
• Common/Functions/Common_CreateVehicle.sqf
• Server/Functions/Server_BuyUnit.sqf
• Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf

Executive Summary

Area	Source-backed finding
Player buy path	The player buy menu does not send a RequestBuyUnit PVF. GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf calls local BuildUnit, compiled from Client_BuildUnit.sqf, then deducts client funds.
Server buy path	Init_Server.sqf compiles AIBuyUnit = Server_BuyUnit.sqf, but source search finds no current caller besides the compile. Treat it as latent/unused until a dynamic call is proven.
Config model	Common/Config/Core/*.sqf creates per-class metadata arrays; Core_Units/*.sqf groups class names into factory lists such as WFBE_WESTLIGHTUNITS; Core_Root/*.sqf selects which side root calls which unit/structure/upgrade files.
Availability	updateavailableactions.fsm sets barracksInRange, lightInRange, heavyInRange, aircraftInRange, depotInRange and hangarInRange. Command center range can replace normal purchase range through commandInRange.
Queueing	Player queue caps are client missionNamespace counters initialized in Init_Client.sqf; factory FIFO order is stored on the building variable queu.
Unit creation	Both client and server paths call common primitives: WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateUnit and WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateVehicle, which attach global init, killed/hit handlers, tracking and performance-audit hooks.
Risk	Purchase authority is largely client-side for player buys. That is consistent with legacy Warfare locality, but high-value additions should not assume there is a server-side purchase validator.

Player Purchase Flow

flowchart TD
    A["Main menu action"] --> B["RscMenu_BuyUnits onLoad"]
    B --> C["Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf"]
    C --> D["Range globals from updateavailableactions.fsm"]
    C --> E["WFBE_<side><factory>UNITS list"]
    E --> F["Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf"]
    F --> G["Upgrade/faction/cost filtered listbox"]
    G --> H["MenuAction = 1 purchase"]
    H --> I["Funds, camp, group-size and queue checks"]
    I --> J["Spawn BuildUnit"]
    J --> K["Client_BuildUnit.sqf"]
    K --> L["Common_CreateUnit / Common_CreateVehicle"]
    L --> M["Unit/vehicle in player group"]

Loading

Entry points:

• GUI_Menu.sqf creates RscMenu_BuyUnits.
• Dialogs.hpp defines RscMenu_BuyUnits with idd = 12000 and onLoad = "_this ExecVM ""Client\GUI\GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf""".
• Init_Client.sqf compiles BuildUnit, UIChangeComboBuyUnits and UIFillListBuyUnits.

The menu starts by choosing the closest available purchase category from the range globals:

• Barracks
• Light
• Heavy
• Aircraft
• Depot
• Airport

If no purchase type is in range, the dialog closes.

Range And Availability

Client/FSM/updateavailableactions.fsm runs after client init and updates the globals used by the UI. It loads these important constants:

Constant	Default	Role
WFBE_C_UNITS_PURCHASE_RANGE	150	Normal factory purchase range.
WFBE_C_STRUCTURES_COMMANDCENTER_RANGE	5500	Command center remote interaction range.
WFBE_C_TOWNS_CAPTURE_RANGE	40	Depot action/range gate in updateavailableactions.fsm (:39, :194).
WFBE_C_TOWNS_PURCHASE_RANGE	60	Buy-menu closest-depot lookup range in GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:217; not the FSM depotInRange gate.
WFBE_C_UNITS_PURCHASE_HANGAR_RANGE	50	Airport/hangar purchase range.

The FSM sets _purchaseRange = if (commandInRange) then {_ccr} else {_pur}. That means the command center can effectively turn normal barracks/light/heavy/aircraft purchase into a much larger remote-purchase radius. Depot and hangar logic use their own closest-depot/airport checks.

Important split: depotInRange is computed from _tcr = WFBE_C_TOWNS_CAPTURE_RANGE in updateavailableactions.fsm:39,194; the separate WFBE_C_TOWNS_PURCHASE_RANGE value is consumed by the buy menu when it resolves the closest depot at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:217.

The active buy menu then reads:

• barracksInRange
• lightInRange
• heavyInRange
• aircraftInRange
• depotInRange
• hangarInRange

Config Chain

flowchart TD
    A["Init_Common.sqf"] --> B["Common/Config/Core/*.sqf"]
    B --> C["Per-class missionNamespace metadata"]
    A --> D["Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_<side>.sqf"]
    D --> E["Core_Units/Units_<faction>.sqf"]
    D --> F["Core_Structures/Structures_<faction>.sqf"]
    D --> G["Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_<faction>.sqf"]
    E --> H["WFBE_<side>BARRACKSUNITS"]
    E --> I["WFBE_<side>LIGHTUNITS"]
    E --> J["WFBE_<side>HEAVYUNITS"]
    E --> K["WFBE_<side>AIRCRAFTUNITS"]
    E --> L["WFBE_<side>AIRPORTUNITS"]
    E --> M["WFBE_<side>DEPOTUNITS"]
    H --> N["Buy menu list"]
    I --> N
    J --> N
    K --> N
    L --> N
    M --> N

Loading

Init_Common.sqf first loads the broad Common/Config/Core/*.sqf files, including Core_US.sqf, Core_USMC.sqf, Core_RU.sqf, Core_TKA.sqf and other content cores. These core files define per-class metadata arrays and store them under the class name in missionNamespace.

The metadata layout is defined by Init_CommonConstants.sqf:

Index	Constant	Meaning
0	QUERYUNITLABEL	Display label.
1	QUERYUNITPICTURE	UI picture or portrait.
2	QUERYUNITPRICE	Base price.
3	QUERYUNITTIME	Build time.
4	QUERYUNITCREW	Crew slot metadata or scalar sentinel.
5	QUERYUNITUPGRADE	Required upgrade level.
6	QUERYUNITFACTORY	Factory category index/type.
7	QUERYUNITSKILL	AI skill.
8	QUERYUNITFACTION	Faction filter label.
9	QUERYUNITTURRETS	Extra turret paths.

Representative metadata example from Core_US.sqf: US_Soldier_EP1 has price 150, build time 4, infantry upgrade requirement 0, factory category 0, skill 1 and faction US.

After core metadata is loaded, Core_Root/Root_<side>.sqf chooses side-specific root data and calls the matching Core_Units, Core_Squads, Core_Structures and Core_Upgrades files. For example, Root_US.sqf sets West crew/pilot/soldier/support vehicle arrays and then calls Units_CO_US.sqf, Structures_CO_US.sqf and Upgrades_CO_US.sqf.

Factory Lists

Core_Units/*.sqf files put class names into six purchase pools:

Pool	Example variable	Menu tab
Barracks	WFBE_WESTBARRACKSUNITS	Infantry.
Light	WFBE_WESTLIGHTUNITS	Cars, trucks, light armor, support vehicles.
Heavy	WFBE_WESTHEAVYUNITS	APCs, tanks, heavy artillery/AA.
Aircraft	WFBE_WESTAIRCRAFTUNITS	Helicopters and some fixed-wing classes.
Airport	WFBE_WESTAIRPORTUNITS	Fixed-wing/hangar purchases.
Depot	WFBE_WESTDEPOTUNITS	Civilian/simple vehicles and optionally town infantry.

Units_CO_US.sqf shows the complete pattern:

• Sets WFBE_WESTBARRACKSUNITS, then calls Client/Init/Init_Faction.sqf locally to build faction-filter labels.
• Sets WFBE_WESTLIGHTUNITS, WFBE_WESTHEAVYUNITS, WFBE_WESTAIRCRAFTUNITS, WFBE_WESTAIRPORTUNITS and WFBE_WESTDEPOTUNITS.
• Adds depot infantry only if WFBE_C_UNITS_TOWN_PURCHASE > 0.
• Adds boats only when IS_naval_map is true.
• Handles Chernarus vs non-Chernarus class variants through IS_chernarus_map_dependent.

Buy Menu Filtering

Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf fills the listbox from the selected factory pool. It applies:

• Unit-cost upgrade modifier: WFBE_UP_UNITCOST sets UNIT_COST_MODIFIER to 0.75 or 0.5.
• Current side upgrades: a unit is shown if QUERYUNITUPGRADE <= currentUpgrades select tabValue.
• Faction dropdown filter: values come from WFBE_<side><factory>FACTIONS, built by Init_Faction.sqf.
• Depot exceptions: some infantry are manually allowed when barracks upgrade thresholds are met.
• Visual coloring for repair trucks, ammo trucks, airlift vehicles, ambulances, salvage trucks, artillery vehicles and supply trucks.

Cost shown in the list is:

round (((_c select QUERYUNITPRICE) * ATTACK_WAVE_PRICE_MODIFIER) * UNIT_COST_MODIFIER)

The visible list is therefore a combined result of core metadata, side upgrade state, faction filter state, unit-cost upgrades and attack-wave discount state.

Current-source recheck found two separate buy-menu price risks, not one. The list row and the purchase/check/charge path use the modifier-bearing formula (Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf:60; GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:90,155-156), but the later detail-refresh path recomputes _currentCost with floor ((_currentUnit select QUERYUNITPRICE) * ATTACK_WAVE_PRICE_MODIFIER) at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:261 and writes it to the displayed price control at :465. That means the visible selected-unit detail can still drift from the list/charge path whenever UNIT_COST_MODIFIER is not 1. A future fix should route list row, selected-detail display, affordability check and charge through one helper.

The unit-cost modifier also has a reset trap: Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf:7-16 sets UNIT_COST_MODIFIER only when the upgrade level is 1 or 2. It does not reset the global to 1 when the upgrade level is 0, even though Init_CommonConstants.sqf:203 initializes it that way. If the same client had already seen a discounted state, a later no-upgrade list fill can keep the stale discount. Patch by assigning the default before the if (_unitCostUpgradeLevel > 0) branch or by using a local price helper instead of a mutable global.

The driver-default preference has a separate profileNamespace key split. GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:39-42,173 initializes and toggles uppercase WFBE_C_DRIVER_ENABLED_BY_DEFAULT, while active cost preview, group-cap counting, BuildUnit parameters, refresh, max-out, and reset paths mostly read or write lowercase wfbe_c_driver_enabled_by_default at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:95,136,154,284,308,328-341,366,373,385. Normalize one preference key before polishing crew UX, then smoke the checkbox state, preview cost, group-cap count, spawned driver, max-out, and reset paths together.

Buy-Menu Price And Driver-Key Branch Matrix

Refreshed 2026-06-05 for origin/docs/developer-wiki-claude 504ef5ab, stable origin/master 2cdf5fb8, upstream miksuu/master f532f706, release origin/release/2026-06-feature-bundle 3282ff3f and branch origin/feat/buymenu-easa-qol a66d4691.

Scope	Selected-detail price	Unit-cost reset	Driver-default profile key	Practical result
Current docs/source Chernarus + maintained Vanilla	Still recomputes selected detail as floor ((_currentUnit select QUERYUNITPRICE) * ATTACK_WAVE_PRICE_MODIFIER) at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:261, while list and purchase use UNIT_COST_MODIFIER at :90 and Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf:60.	No UNIT_COST_MODIFIER = 1 reset in Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf; only 0.75 and 0.5 writes at :11,14.	Uppercase init/toggle remains at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:39-42,173; lowercase reads/writes remain at :95,136,154,284,308,328-341,366,373,385.	All three UI/economy risks remain in both maintained roots.
Stable origin/master and upstream miksuu/master	Same old selected-detail formula in both maintained roots.	Same no-reset shape in both maintained roots.	Same mixed uppercase/lowercase profile key shape in both maintained roots.	No upstream rescue found.
Release 3282ff3f	Chernarus uses the modifier-bearing selected-detail formula at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:280; release Vanilla still has the old :261 formula.	Both release roots still lack a level-0 reset in Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf.	Both release roots still mix uppercase init/toggle and lowercase live reads/writes.	Release only partially fixes Chernarus selected-detail display; do not call this lane fixed.
origin/feat/buymenu-easa-qol a66d4691	Same as release: Chernarus selected detail is fixed at :280, Vanilla is untouched.	No reset in either root.	Mixed profile key remains in both roots.	Useful UI branch evidence, but it is not the full price/key cleanup.

Patch order: first centralize or reset the price modifier so list row, selected-detail display, affordability check and debit agree; then normalize the driver-default profile key; then propagate maintained Vanilla and smoke low/exact/high funds, unit-cost levels 0/1/2, infantry, crewless vehicles, full-crew vehicles, checkbox toggle, max-out and reset.

Purchase Checks

When MenuAction == 1, GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf performs these checks before spawning:

Check	Source behavior
Funds	Uses Call GetPlayerFunds; missing funds blocks and hints.
Depot infantry camps	Depot infantry purchase requires all camps on that town to belong to the player's side.
Group size	Uses live units plus local unitQueu, scaled by barracks upgrade and with a commander bonus.
Crew count	Vehicle purchases can include driver, gunner, commander and extra turret crew.
Queue cap	Checks WFBE_C_QUEUE_<type> against WFBE_C_QUEUE_<type>_MAX.
Factory queue text	Reads the selected building's queu variable to show immediate or queued purchase hint.

For the exact default AI-follower table and role-balance notes, use Player AI caps and role balance. The important source rule is that the lobby player-AI cap is scaled by barracks level, Soldier slots apply a 1.5x multiplier before that scaling, and commander team players get +10 total group slots. Vehicle crew selected in the buy menu consumes the same group cap, so a driver/gunner/commander/extra-turret purchase can fill several follower slots at once.

If accepted:

1. WFBE_C_QUEUE_<type> increments locally.
2. _params Spawn BuildUnit.
3. Funds are deducted with ChangePlayerFunds.

There is no refund on the destroyed-factory abort path. The menu deducts funds after spawning BuildUnit (GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:145-156), then Client_BuildUnit.sqf:203-214 sleeps the build time, removes the queue token and exits if the factory is dead/null. That exit decrements the queue counters but does not restore the already deducted player funds. A future fix should either commit the debit only after build acceptance or refund every post-queue abort path through one source-of-truth helper. Smoke destroyed-factory and buyer-disconnect cases before changing purchase timing or adding cancellation UX.

Important authority note: no server PVF request is sent for this player purchase. There is no Server/PVFunctions/RequestBuyUnit.sqf or Server/PVFunctions/RequestBuildUnit.sqf in the current source, and neither request is registered in Init_PublicVariables.sqf.

Mini-scout follow-up 2026-06-04 rechecked the static footprint: Init_Client.sqf:52 compiles BuildUnit, GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:155 spawns it for player purchases, and Init_Server.sqf:10 only compiles AIBuyUnit = Server_BuyUnit.sqf. A source grep found no active RequestBuyUnit/RequestBuildUnit PVF path and no static caller for AIBuyUnit beyond the compile. Server_BuyUnit.sqf:12-17,47-55,78-83 repeatedly exits or cleans up when the team leader is a player, which matches a latent/AI helper rather than a player purchase authority surface.

This means the durable fix is not a small "refund missing" patch by itself. A public-server-safe redesign needs an explicit request/accept/debit/abort protocol: the server should validate factory state, funds, side, queue capacity and spawn legality before accepting, then debit only at acceptance or refund every rejected/aborted post-accept path through one helper.

Terminology note from the 2026-06-04 factory queue scout: once the buy menu spawns BuildUnit, "cancel" is not a current UI operation. The Back button only returns to the main WF menu (GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:495-499), while the worker continues unless it reaches an abort path such as a dead/null factory. Use "abort/refund" for implementation work until an actual cancel command exists.

Destroyed-Factory Refund Branch Matrix

Refreshed 2026-06-06 for current source HEAD/stable origin/master 2cdf5fb8, upstream miksuu/master f532f706, origin/perf/quick-wins 0076040f and release origin/release/2026-06-feature-bundle 7195b331.

Scope	Menu/debit shape	Dead/null factory abort	Development meaning
Current source Chernarus + maintained Vanilla	GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:145-156 checks the local queue cap, increments WFBE_C_QUEUE_%1, spawns BuildUnit, then debits with -(_currentCost) Call ChangePlayerFunds. _currentCost is not passed to BuildUnit.	Client_BuildUnit.sqf:211-214 exits when the building is dead/null and decrements unitQueu plus WFBE_C_QUEUE_%1, but does not refund funds.	The player pays even when the build worker aborts after a destroyed/null factory. Treat as owner-decision patch-ready work, not a documented cancellation feature.
Stable origin/master 2cdf5fb8 and upstream miksuu/master f532f706	Same line shape in both maintained roots: buy menu debit after BuildUnit spawn at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:145-156.	Same dead/null exit at Client_BuildUnit.sqf:211-214 with queue cleanup only.	No stable/upstream rescue found.
origin/perf/quick-wins 0076040f	Same buy menu debit and no _currentCost parameter in both roots.	Dead/null factory exit still has queue cleanup only at Client_BuildUnit.sqf:211-214. Chernarus additionally cleans the empty/crewless branch counter at :367-368; Vanilla does not.	Perf branch is useful DR-33a evidence, but it does not solve destroyed-factory refunds or maintained Vanilla propagation.
Release origin/release/2026-06-feature-bundle 7195b331	Chernarus and Vanilla pass _currentCost into BuildUnit at GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:160, spawn at :161, then debit at :162.	Dead/null factory exit still only decrements queue/counter at Client_BuildUnit.sqf:212-215. The later empty/crewless branch releases the queue and refunds _currentCost at :367-372, with a comment saying factory destroyed before build.	Release has adjacent cost/refund plumbing, but not closure for the dead/null factory abort. Review the comment/branch placement before porting; a durable fix should define one acceptance/debit/refund contract across all post-queue abort paths.

Queue Model

There are two queue concepts:

Queue	Scope	Source
Client queue cap	Client missionNamespace counters such as WFBE_C_QUEUE_LIGHT, max values initialized in Init_Client.sqf.	Prevents a player from starting too many concurrent local builds by category.
Factory FIFO	Building variable queu, public on the building.	Orders builds at the same selected factory.

Client_BuildUnit.sqf appends a random _unique ID to _building getVariable "queu" and waits until that ID reaches the front. If the queue appears stuck longer than WFBE_LONGEST<factory>BUILDTIME, it removes the head entry. Longest build times are calculated in Init_Common.sqf by scanning the purchasable units for each structure and side.

Queue cleanup is fragile by design: changing factory type labels, longest-build variables or queue mutation rules can strand entries or let concurrent purchases overlap.

Factory-death cleanup is split. The client wait path exits when the building is dead/null (Client_BuildUnit.sqf:180-182) and later removes local counters/token state (:211-214), while Server_BuyUnit.sqf has its own queue-removal branches (:47-55, :78-83, :213-214) for the latent server buy worker. The building death handler itself only updates structure accounting (Server_BuildingKilled.sqf:81-93) and does not own queue cleanup or refunds.

Claude DR-33 adds two concrete implementation hazards:

Hazard	Evidence	Fix direction
Empty-vehicle buys leak the client queue counter.	Current source still has an empty-vehicle exitWith before the normal unitQueu / WFBE_C_QUEUE_* decrement in Client_BuildUnit.sqf.	Patch-ready, not patched. Every exit branch after enqueue must decrement both the building unitQueu token and the relevant WFBE_C_QUEUE_<type> counter. Smoke repeated crewless vehicle buys and normal crewed/infantry buys after the fix. See Factory queue counter token cleanup.
Factory FIFO token identity is collision-prone; queu broadcast churn remains.	Current source still initializes varQueu = random(10)+random(100)+random(1000) in Init_Common.sqf:164, then uses _unique = varQueu and rerolls the same random expression in Client_BuildUnit.sqf:167-172. The building queu array is still broadcast with setVariable [..., true] on enqueue/progress/completion (Client_BuildUnit.sqf:172,191,207).	DR-33b is still open. Patch the local token and counter first; broadcast reduction remains a separate UI-aware follow-up. See Factory queue counter token cleanup.

Spawn Position Model

Client_BuildUnit.sqf chooses spawn positions from either structure distance/direction arrays or nearby helper pads:

Factory type	Preferred helper object	Fallback
Light	HeliH, excluding HeliHCivil and HeliHRescue	Structure modelToWorld distance/direction.
Heavy	HeliHRescue	Structure modelToWorld distance/direction.
Aircraft	HeliHCivil	Structure modelToWorld distance/direction.
Barracks	Sr_border	Structure modelToWorld distance/direction.
Depot	WFBE_C_DEPOT_BUY_DISTANCE / WFBE_C_DEPOT_BUY_DIR	Position from town depot logic.
Airport	WFBE_C_HANGAR_BUY_DISTANCE / WFBE_C_HANGAR_BUY_DIR	Position from airfield logic.

This means map object placement can alter purchase spawn behavior without touching scripts.

Creation And Initialization

Player build path:

• Infantry: Client_BuildUnit.sqf calls WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateUnit.
• Vehicles: Client_BuildUnit.sqf calls WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateVehicle, then adds local vehicle actions, balance, artillery, missile, countermeasure, IRS, engine and reload handlers.
• Optional crew are created through WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateUnit and moved into driver/gunner/commander/turret positions.
• Created units are sent to the leader waypoint helper through WFBE_CL_FNC_SendSpawnedUnitsToLeaderWaypoint.

Common creation behavior:

• Common_CreateUnit.sqf sets unit skill from QUERYUNITSKILL, applies selected special-case loadout fixes, attaches killed handler and runs Init_Unit.sqf depending on infantry tracking/global-init rules.
• Common_CreateVehicle.sqf creates the vehicle, applies tank/APC modification, textures, direction/velocity, lock state, killed/hit bounty handlers, optional global setVehicleInit, map combat marker fired handler and performance audit.

Server AI Buy Path

Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf compiles:

AIBuyUnit = Compile preprocessFile "Server\Functions\Server_BuyUnit.sqf";

Server_BuyUnit.sqf is a server-side team/AI production worker, not a drop-in mirror of the player buy path:

• expects _id, _building, _unitType, _side, _team and vehicle crew flags;
• appends to the building queu;
• waits for the factory FIFO;
• exits if the factory dies or a player takes over the AI team;
• creates units/vehicles server-side through the common primitives;
• applies vehicle handlers and crew logic;
• clears the team's wfbe_queue entry when done.

Current status: a source search finds AIBuyUnit only in the compile line and Server_BuyUnit.sqf itself on stable master. No active caller was found in the source mission. Treat the server buy worker as latent until a dynamic call path is proven or a branch intentionally revives it.

Queue-model split: player purchases use client-local WFBE_C_QUEUE_* counters plus unitQueu (Init_Client.sqf:185-196,288; Client_BuildUnit.sqf:10,212-214,467-469). The server worker uses a separate group variable wfbe_queue initialized during server team setup (Init_Server.sqf:477) and cleaned in Server_BuyUnit.sqf:12-16,47-55,78-83,213-214. AI/player crew policy also diverges: the player path has an empty/crewless vehicle branch that can exit before crew creation (Client_BuildUnit.sqf:211-214,365-367), while Server_BuyUnit.sqf:92-214 proceeds through server-side crew creation. Any revival of AIBuyUnit needs an explicit production policy rather than assuming player-buy parity.

Attack Wave And Unit Cost Modifiers

The buy menu cost path includes two global modifiers:

Modifier	Source
ATTACK_WAVE_PRICE_MODIFIER	Initialized in Init_CommonConstants.sqf; changed by attack-wave client special messages.
UNIT_COST_MODIFIER	Initialized to 1; updated by Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf from WFBE_UP_UNITCOST.

Attack wave itself is handled through direct public variable channels:

• Common_AttackWaveActivate.sqf sends ATTACK_WAVE_INIT to the server.
• Server_AttackWave.sqf publishes ATTACK_WAVE_DETAILS.
• Server/PVFunctions/AttackWave.sqf listens for ATTACK_WAVE_DETAILS and sends HandleSpecial / LocalizeMessage updates to clients.
• Client/PVFunctions/HandleSpecial.sqf updates ATTACK_WAVE_PRICE_MODIFIER.

Because player purchase cost is calculated client-side, any attack-wave or unit-cost work must keep UI display, local affordability and actual deduction aligned.

Relationship To AI Squads

Core_Squads/Squads_GetFactionGroups.sqf reads QUERYUNITFACTORY and QUERYUNITUPGRADE from the same per-class metadata arrays to infer what factories and upgrade levels a group template requires.

This means class metadata mistakes can break more than the visible buy menu:

• buy list gating;
• AI squad requirement derivation;
• bounties and score;
• build time;
• factory categorization;
• crew/turret generation;
• skill applied by Common_CreateUnit.

Current Risks And Partial Features

Risk / status	Evidence	Development guidance
No player RequestBuyUnit server authority	Init_PublicVariables.sqf:9-21 lists server-command PVFs and has no RequestBuyUnit; GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:144-156 increments the local queue counter, spawns local BuildUnit, then deducts funds client-side.	For high-value or exploit-sensitive purchases, add a server-validated request path or at least document why client-local creation is acceptable for the target server model.
Server_BuyUnit.sqf appears unused on stable master	Init_Server.sqf:10 compiles AIBuyUnit = Server_BuyUnit.sqf, but source search finds no caller outside the compile and the function file. The origin/feat/ai-commander branch intentionally calls it from AI_Commander_Produce.sqf, so keep branch scope explicit.	Before reviving AI purchases, find intended caller history or design a new explicit AI commander production loop; do not assume the worker matches player buy semantics.
Player/server build drift	Client_BuildUnit.sqf and Server_BuyUnit.sqf duplicate vehicle handler, missile, IRS, countermeasure and crew setup logic.	Any new vehicle behavior may need both paths unless server path is formally retired or refactored.
Queue state is fragile	Building queu and client WFBE_C_QUEUE_* counters are manually incremented/decremented (Client_BuildUnit.sqf:167-172, :205-207, :467-469); DR-33 counter/token fixes are patch-ready but still absent from current source, while public queue broadcast churn also remains. Wave R added that extra-turret-crew-only vehicle buys, if exposed, can hit the same empty-exit before extra crew creation (Client_BuildUnit.sqf:365, :443). The buy menu has a close/back path (GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:495-499) but no visible cancel/refund branch for already spawned buy threads.	Always test factory destruction, menu close, empty-vehicle buys, extra-turret-crew selections, repeated purchases and queue hints when touching queues; do not assume cancel/refund semantics exist unless a new branch is added.
Cost authority is local	Menu checks funds and calls ChangePlayerFunds locally after spawning build thread.	Do not add new economy side effects to purchase without tracing client funds, commander income, side supply and PV hardening.
Destroyed-factory build abort has no refund	GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:156 debits after spawning BuildUnit; Client_BuildUnit.sqf:211-214 exits on dead/null factory after queue cleanup but before unit creation and without a refund.	Decide whether this is intended risk/reward or a bug. If fixing, make debit/acceptance atomic with build start or add a single refund path that cannot be abused by disconnects or factory-damage timing; do not split refund rules across the menu and build worker.
Empty vehicles bypass this group-cap check	Buy menu vehicle-cap math computes optional crew count in _cpt (GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:93-99,135-140) and only blocks the purchase when _cpt != 0; infantry uses the direct cap check at :132.	This may be intentional because empty vehicles do not add AI to the buyer's group, but balance docs and Discord AI-cap tables should not count empty-vehicle purchases as squad slots. Smoke crew-toggle combinations if changing caps.
Spawn pads are object-class conventions	Light/heavy/air/barracks pads depend on nearby helper object classes.	Document required map editor objects when adding or moving bases.
Attack-wave cost is client-visible state	ATTACK_WAVE_PRICE_MODIFIER affects list display and purchase cost.	Keep JIP sync and local modifier state aligned before adding temporary discounts.
Buy-menu price/key alignment	Current source, stable and upstream keep three related risks: selected-detail price can drift from list/charge price, UNIT_COST_MODIFIER can stay stale after discounted list fills, and driver-default init/toggle uses a different profile key from live crew/cost/build paths. Release and origin/feat/buymenu-easa-qol fix only Chernarus selected-detail price; Vanilla, modifier reset and driver key remain open.	Use the branch matrix above. Keep one exact price helper/reset path, normalize one driver-default key, propagate Vanilla, then smoke list/detail/charge, funds guard, unit-cost levels 0/1/2, crew toggles, max-out and reset.
Special-vehicle color/hint support is incomplete	The briefing claims colored special vehicles, Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf:67-100 colors many support classes, and GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:442-458 has manual hints/conditions for special purchase classes.	Treat colored/hinted special vehicles as a UI affordance, not a complete feature registry. Add new support classes to list coloring, detail text, purchase checks and root arrays together.

Implementation Checklist

When adding or changing purchasable units:

1. Define or update the class metadata in the relevant Common/Config/Core/Core_*.sqf file.
2. Make sure the metadata fields match QUERYUNIT* constants, especially price, time, crew, upgrade, factory, faction and turrets.
3. Add the classname to every intended Common/Config/Core_Units/Units_*.sqf factory pool.
4. If the class is a support vehicle, update side root arrays such as WFBE_<side>REPAIRTRUCKS, AMMOTRUCKS, SUPPLYTRUCKS, SALVAGETRUCK, AMBULANCES, LIFTVEHICLE or ARTYVEHICLE.
5. Check whether AI squad templates or support scripts expect the class.
6. Test list filtering by upgrade level and faction dropdown.
7. Test queue behavior at the relevant factory and with the factory destroyed mid-build.
8. If AI commander/server production must use the class, either verify an active caller for AIBuyUnit or implement the server caller intentionally.
9. Run Tools/LoadoutManager after gameplay edits so generated missions receive the source changes.
10. Update this page, Feature status, Client UI systems atlas and agent-context.json when changing purchase authority or config ownership.

Handoff For Claude / Future Review

• Review whether Server_BuyUnit.sqf should be revived, removed from docs as retired, or wired into a new AI commander production design.
• Compare every vehicle handler in Client_BuildUnit.sqf vs Server_BuyUnit.sqf and decide whether drift is acceptable.
• Design a minimal server-side validation layer for player purchases that respects Arma 2 locality and does not break hosted/JIP behavior.
• Cross-check depot town purchase with current town-camp ownership logic and supply-truck status.

Continue Reading

Previous: Construction and CoIn | Next: Server runtime atlas

Main map: Home | Fast path: Quickstart | Agent file: agent-context.json