ICBM Nuke Client VFX And Radiation Reference

ICBM Nuke Client VFX and Radiation Reference (mushroom-cloud, blast PP-effects, radzone)

Source-verified 2026-06-21 against master 0139a346. Paths relative to Missions/[55-2hc]warfarev2_073v48co.chernarus/ unless noted. Arma 2 OA 1.64.

This page documents the ICBM/nuke client runtime -- the presentation half of the module: the launch animation, the mushroom-cloud particle/post-process choreography, the radiation-zone lifecycle, and the side-targeted text+audio messages and map markers. It is deliberately distinct from ICBM authority playbook, which owns the DR-27 forged-RequestSpecial server trust boundary. Everything here is what a client sees and hears; the only server-side scripts described (NukeDammage, NukeRadiation) are included because they are compiled in the same module init and drive the radiation broadcast that clients react to.

The module is loaded only when its gate is set: Init_Common.sqf:338 runs Client\Module\Nuke\ICBM_Init.sqf when WFBE_C_MODULE_WFBE_ICBM > 0, and that flag defaults to 1 (Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:813).

Module init and the compile split

ICBM_Init.sqf first sets the two radius constants into missionNamespace, then compiles two disjoint sets of functions depending on machine role.

Symbol	Value / compiled-from	Role gate	Citation
ICBM_DAMAGE_RADIUS	800	always	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:1
ICBM_RADIATION_RADIUS	900	always	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:2
Nuke	nuke.sqf (mushroom-cloud VFX)	if (local player)	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:4-5
NukeIncoming	nukeincoming.sqf (launch anim)	if (local player)	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:6
ICBM_FriendySide_Message	ICBM_friendlySide_Message.sqf	if (local player)	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:8
ICBM_EnemySide_Message	ICBM_EnemySide_Message.sqf	if (local player)	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:9
NukeDammage	damage.sqf (map-wide destruction)	if (isServer)	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:12-13
NukeRadiation	radzone.sqf (radiation zone)	if (isServer)	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_Init.sqf:14

Note the function symbol is spelled ICBM_FriendySide_Message (missing the second l), consistently at the definition and both call sites -- do not "correct" it.

The two public-variable event handlers that the client reacts to are not wired here; they are registered in the client FSM init (see "Event-handler wiring" below).

Stage 1 -- launch animation (NukeIncoming)

Nuke (nukeincoming.sqf) runs on the launching commander's client, spawned by the tactical menu as [_obj,_ICBM_marker_name] Spawn NukeIncoming (Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf:499). _obj is a "HeliHEmpty" object the menu creates at the map-click world position (Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf:499) to serve as the impact anchor.

Step	Behavior	Citation
Params	_target = _this select 0, _nukeMarker = _this select 1	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:3-4
Impact delay	Sleeps WFBE_ICBM_TIME_TO_IMPACT * 60 seconds (param is in minutes; default 1)	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:7-8, default Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:409
Cruise object	Creates Chukar (vanilla/CO) or Chukar_EP1 via createVehicle [..,"FLY"] at the target position, then snaps it to altitude 570 m with setPos/flyInHeight 570, setSpeedMode "FULL"	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:14-22
Server hand-off	Sends ["RequestSpecial", ["ICBM", sideJoined, _target, _cruise, clientTeam]] via WFBE_CO_FNC_SendToServer	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:23
Display fan-out	After sleep 1.5, broadcasts [nil,"HandleSpecial",["icbm-display",_target,_cruise]] via WFBE_CO_FNC_SendToClients	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:25-27
Flare/exhaust (vanilla/CO only)	Spawns a cruiseMissileFlare1 600 m above the drop, inflame true, then execVMs the stock cruisemissileflare.sqf and exhaust1.sqf from \ca\air2\cruisemissile\data\scripts\ and retextures the cruise with the exhaust flame	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:29-43
Teardown	sleep 7, then waitUntil {!alive _cruise}, sleep 5, delete flare (vanilla/CO) and cruise	Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:45-51

The trailing deleteMarkerLocal is commented out (Client/Module/Nuke/nukeincoming.sqf:53-54); marker cleanup is handled separately by the tactical menu's timed WFBE_CL_FNC_Delete_Marker calls (Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf:504-505).

The "icbm-display" HandleSpecial case routes to WFBE_CL_FNC_Display_ICBM on every client (Client/PVFunctions/HandleSpecial.sqf:60). That helper waits for the cruise to die, then triggers the blast VFX: waitUntil {!alive _cruise}; [_obj] Spawn Nuke; (Client/Functions/Client_FNC_Special.sqf:51-59). This is what synchronizes the mushroom cloud to the moment the cruise missile is destroyed.

Stage 2 -- mushroom-cloud blast VFX (Nuke)

Nuke (nuke.sqf) runs locally on every client as [_obj] Spawn Nuke. It builds a layered local-particle mushroom cloud plus a distance-gated post-process flash. _target = _this select 0 (Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:4).

Distance gate

All post-process work is gated on player distance _target < 4000 -- a far-away player gets the particles but no screen effects. The first gate (an immediate dynamicBlur punch-in) is at Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:5-9; the main flash block is at Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:52-73; the recovery block at :93-97; the final disable at :145.

Particle and light emitters

Each emitter is a local "#particlesource" / "#lightpoint" created with createVehicleLocal at getPos _target.

Local var	Object	Role / notable params	Citation
_Cone	#particlesource	Ground cone, setParticleCircle [10,...], drop interval 0.005	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:11-17
_top	#particlesource	Rising stem (initial), drop 0.001	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:19-23
_top2	#particlesource	Stem detail, drop 0.002	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:25-29
_smoke	#particlesource	Dark smoke column (recolored later), drop 0.002	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:31-37
_Wave	#particlesource	Ground shock-wave ring, setParticleCircle [50,...], drop 0.0002	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:39-45
_light	#lightpoint	Flash light 500 m above target, ambient/color [1500,1200,1000], brightness 100000.0	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:47-50, re-set :74
_top3	#particlesource	Cap layer at z=500, lifetime 0.6 s	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:82-89
_top4	#particlesource	Cap layer at z=800	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:99-107
_top5	#particlesource	Cap layer at z=1000	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:110-114
_smoke2	#particlesource	High smoke at z=900	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:125-131

All emitters use the stock \Ca\Data\ParticleEffects\Universal\Universal sprite sheet.

Post-process flash sequence (within 4000 m)

Phase	Effect	Citation
Pre-detonation blur	dynamicBlur enable + adjust [1], commit 1	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:6-8
Flash	colorCorrections enable + harsh adjust, commit 0.4; dynamicBlur adjust [0.5] commit 3	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:53-57
Settle (spawned, +4 s)	A [] Spawn waits Sleep 4 then warms the palette: colorCorrections adjust to a warm tint, commit 7	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:61-66
Blur ramp-down	dynamicBlur adjust [2] commit 1, then adjust [0.5] commit 4	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:68-72
Mid recovery (+~3.5 s later)	colorCorrections back toward neutral commit 1, re-enable; dynamicBlur adjust [0] commit 1	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:93-97
Final disable (+~20 s)	"colorCorrections" ppEffectEnable false	Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:145

Cloud teardown and FX restore

The emitters are deleted in staged sleep/deleteVehicle steps over the rest of the script: _top/_top2 (:79-80), _top3 (:89), _light/_top4 (:106-107), _top5 (:134), _smoke2 (:139), and finally _Wave/_cone/_smoke (:141-143). The cone/wave/smoke drop intervals are throttled down (setDropInterval 0.01/0.02) before deletion to taper the effect (:116-117,135-136).

The script ends with [currentFX] Spawn FX; (Client/Module/Nuke/nuke.sqf:146), which re-applies the player's selected color/FX preset. FX is compiled from Client\Functions\Client_FX.sqf (Client/Init/Init_Client.sqf:74) and currentFX is the player's chosen index (default 0, Client/Init/Init_Client.sqf:340). This restores baseline post-processing after the nuke's colorCorrections/dynamicBlur overrides.

Stage 3 -- map-wide destruction (NukeDammage, server)

NukeDammage (damage.sqf) runs on the server, invoked from Server_HandleSpecial.sqf after the ICBM request is accepted (see the authority playbook for the trust gap). _target = _this select 0 (Client/Module/Nuke/damage.sqf:13).

Step	Behavior	Citation
Range	_range = ICBM_DAMAGE_RADIUS (800)	Client/Module/Nuke/damage.sqf:14
Gather	nearestObjects [_target,[],_range] -- the empty type filter is deliberate so trees/walls are included	Client/Module/Nuke/damage.sqf:16
Preserve list	A large _logic_class array of game-logic/manager classes, plus WFBE_C_CAMP_FLAG/WFBE_C_DEPOT/WFBE_C_CAMP and the land_nav_pier_* set, are subtracted out so core mechanics survive	Client/Module/Nuke/damage.sqf:17-26
Destroy	_x setDamage 1 on every remaining object	Client/Module/Nuke/damage.sqf:28-31
Chain	[_target] Spawn NukeRadiation	Client/Module/Nuke/damage.sqf:34

Stage 4 -- radiation zone (NukeRadiation, server)

NukeRadiation (radzone.sqf) runs on the server, spawned by NukeDammage. It paints per-side warning markers, ticks damage over time, and broadcasts which player is currently irradiated so each client can play the geiger sound.

Constant / setting	Value	Citation
_radiation_duration	WFBE_RADZONE_TIME * 60 seconds (param in minutes, default 1)	Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:42-43, default Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:410
_radiation_interval	5 seconds per tick	Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:45
_radiation_range	ICBM_RADIATION_RADIUS (900)	Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:47
Marker type / text / color	mil_warning / "RADIOACTIVE ZONE" / ColorGreen	Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:51-53

Markers

Two per-side markers are created via WF_createMarker (Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:167 -> Common_CreateMarker.sqf), one keyed to west and one to east, each with a paired ellipse marker for the radius circle. Names get a random suffix (format ["RADZONE_west_%1_%2", round time, round (random 10000)]) to avoid collisions: Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:57-85.

Per-tick damage loop

while {time < _radiation_end_time} do {
    _array = _target nearEntities [["Man","Car","Motorcycle","Tank","Ship","Air","StaticWeapon"], _radiation_range];
    { _x setDammage (getDammage _x + 0.03);
      {_x setDammage (getDammage _x + 0.05)} forEach crew _x;
      if (isPlayer _x) then { ...PLAYER_RADIATED broadcast... };
    } forEach _array;
    sleep _radiation_interval;
};

-- Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:88-110. Each tick adds 0.03 damage to the entity body and 0.05 to each crew member (:93-94). When the entity is a player, the loop sets PLAYER_RADIATED to that player and publicVariables it (:102-104), which fires the radiated-sound handler on every client.

Note: the per-player publicVariable "PLAYER_RADIATED" inside the inner loop fires once per irradiated player per 5 s tick -- the per-tick broadcast cost is the subject of a separate finding in Deep-review findings (radzone.sqf:102-104). This page documents the runtime as written; that page owns the perf assessment.

Cleanup

After the loop, deleteVehicle _target removes the impact anchor (Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:112), and all four markers (two zone, two ellipse) are removed immediately with delay 0 via WFBE_CL_FNC_Delete_Marker (Client/Module/Nuke/radzone.sqf:120-124).

Messages, sounds, and map markers (client reactions)

Side-targeted text + audio (ICBM_FriendySide_Message / ICBM_EnemySide_Message)

Both build a deferred multi-language message string and a sound name, then hand off to WF_sendMessage (Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:169 -> Common_SendMessage.sqf) targeting a side.

Function	Localized string	Sound	Citation
ICBM_FriendySide_Message	STR_WF_CHAT_ICBM_Launch_BY_OUR_TEAM (formatted with impact time)	ICBM_message_to_friendly_players	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_friendlySide_Message.sqf:13-25
ICBM_EnemySide_Message	STR_WF_CHAT_ICBM_Launch_BY_ENEMY_TEAM (formatted with impact time)	ICBM_message_to_enemy_players	Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_EnemySide_Message.sqf:12-25

Both strings are defined in stringtable.xml; the three sound classes are defined in Sounds/description.ext (ICBM_message_to_enemy_players at :96-99, ICBM_message_to_friendly_players at :102-105, radiationSound at :144-146). The friendly-message file warns that Arma 2 OA must be restarted for a newly added sound to register (Client/Module/Nuke/ICBM_friendlySide_Message.sqf:9).

At launch the tactical menu calls both directly on the commander's own client: [playerSide] call ICBM_FriendySide_Message and [_enemy_side] call ICBM_EnemySide_Message (Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf:495-496).

Launch map-marker handler (OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch)

This is the public-variable event handler for ICBM_launched. Its design intent (per its header) is the addPublicVariableEventHandler quirk that the publishing client does not run its own handler, so the commander draws its own marker via the GUI while remote clients draw theirs through this handler.

Step	Behavior	Citation
Read value	_ICBM_infos = _this select 1 (select 0 is the var name, not the value)	Client/Module/Nuke/OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch.sqf:17
Unpack	_ICBM_postion = _ICBM_infos select 0, _ICBM_side = _ICBM_infos select 1	Client/Module/Nuke/OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch.sqf:19-20
Friendly branch	If playerSide == _ICBM_side: call ICBM_FriendySide_Message, then createMarkerLocal ["icbmstrike",_ICBM_postion] styled mil_warning / text "ICBM" / ColorRed, auto-deleted after WFBE_ICBM_TIME_TO_IMPACT*60 s via WFBE_CL_FNC_Delete_Marker	Client/Module/Nuke/OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch.sqf:22-34
Enemy branch	Else call ICBM_EnemySide_Message	Client/Module/Nuke/OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch.sqf:35-38

Source caveat: the ICBM_launched public variable is registered as an event handler (Client/FSM/updateclient.sqf:19-20) but is never publicVariable'd anywhere in the current mission source -- a wiki-clone-independent grep for an ICBM_launched =/publicVariable "ICBM_launched" producer returns nothing. In the shipped flow the friendly/enemy messages reach players through the GUI-local commander calls (GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf:495-496) and the per-side WF_sendMessage broadcast inside those functions; the per-client icbmstrike marker that this handler would draw is therefore not currently triggered. The handler is wired and ready but dormant.

Radiated geiger sound (OnEventHandler_player_radiated)

Public-variable event handler for PLAYER_RADIATED. _PLAYER_radiated = _this select 1; if that object is the local player, playSound ["radiationSound", true] (Client/Module/Nuke/OnEventHandler_player_radiated.sqf:14-18). This is the client-side reaction to the server's per-tick broadcast in radzone.sqf.

Event-handler wiring

Both ICBM public-variable event handlers are compiled and registered in the client FSM update init, not in ICBM_Init.sqf:

PV name	Handler symbol / compiled-from	Citation
ICBM_launched	OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch <- OnEventHandler_ICBM_Launch.sqf	Client/FSM/updateclient.sqf:19-20
PLAYER_RADIATED	OnEventHandler_player_radiated <- OnEventHandler_player_radiated.sqf	Client/FSM/updateclient.sqf:23-24

End-to-end flow

1. Commander confirms an ICBM map-click in the tactical menu; client debits funds, creates the HeliHEmpty anchor and the local commander marker, plays both side messages locally, and spawns NukeIncoming (GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf:463-499).
2. NukeIncoming waits the impact time, spawns the Chukar cruise object at 570 m, sends the RequestSpecial to the server and the icbm-display HandleSpecial to all clients (nukeincoming.sqf:7-27).
3. On every client WFBE_CL_FNC_Display_ICBM waits for the cruise to die, then spawns Nuke for the mushroom-cloud + PP flash (Client_FNC_Special.sqf:51-59, nuke.sqf).
4. On the server (after authority acceptance) NukeDammage flattens objects in 800 m and chains NukeRadiation (damage.sqf), which paints per-side radzone markers and ticks 0.03/0.05 damage over WFBE_RADZONE_TIME, broadcasting PLAYER_RADIATED per affected player (radzone.sqf).
5. Each client's PLAYER_RADIATED handler plays radiationSound for the local player while irradiated (OnEventHandler_player_radiated.sqf).

Continue Reading

• ICBM authority playbook -- the server-side forged-RequestSpecial trust boundary (DR-27) this VFX page complements.
• Marker cleanup restoration systems atlas -- WF_createMarker / WFBE_CL_FNC_Delete_Marker patterns used by the radzone and launch markers.
• Public variable channel index -- where ICBM_launched / PLAYER_RADIATED sit among PV channels.
• Support specials and tactical modules atlas -- the broader special/tactical-menu module family.
• Deep-review findings -- the PLAYER_RADIATED per-tick broadcast perf finding.