Networking And Public Variables

Networking And Public Variables

Arma 2 OA networking here is built around public variables, public-variable event handlers and wrapper functions that dispatch named PVF commands.

Central PVF Registration

Common/Init/Init_PublicVariables.sqf creates two command lists:

Server PVF commands:

• RequestVehicleLock
• RequestOnUnitKilled
• RequestChangeScore
• RequestCommanderVote
• RequestNewCommander
• RequestStructure
• RequestDefense
• RequestJoin
• RequestMHQRepair
• RequestSpecial
• RequestTeamUpdate
• RequestUpgrade
• RequestAutoWallConstructinChange

Client PVF commands:

• AllCampsCaptured
• AwardBounty
• AwardBountyPlayer
• CampCaptured
• ChangeScore
• HandleSpecial
• LocalizeMessage
• SetTask
• SetVehicleLock
• TownCaptured
• SetMHQLock
• Available
• RequestBaseArea
• NukeIncoming

Each command is compiled into either SRVFNC... or CLTFNC..., and WFBE_PVF_<Command> receives an event handler that passes payloads to Server_HandlePVF or Client_HandlePVF.

Network Helper Layer

• Common_SendToServer: sends a server PVF; uses optimized publicVariableServer outside vanilla mode.
• Common_SendToClients: broadcasts client PVF to all clients.
• Common_SendToClient: targets one client where supported.

These wrappers are preferred over hand-coded public variable dispatch for new features.

Direct Public Variables

Some systems use explicit public-variable channels outside the generic PVF list:

• Supply mission: WFBE_Client_PV_IsSupplyMissionActiveInTown, WFBE_Client_PV_SupplyMissionStarted, WFBE_Server_PV_IsSupplyMissionActiveInTown, WFBE_Server_PV_SupplyMissionCompleted, WFBE_Server_PV_SupplyMissionCompletedMessage.
• Anti-stack join checks: WFBE_CLIENT_HAS_CONNECTED_AT_LAUNCH, WFBE_P_HAS_CONNECTED_AT_LAUNCH_ACK, WFBE_C_PLAYER_OBJECT.
• Day/night: WFBE_DAYNIGHT_DATE.
• Server FPS/HUD: SERVER_FPS_GUI, WFBE_VAR_SERVER_FPS.
• AFK kick: AFKthresholdExceededName and kickAFK; kickAFK is intentionally caught by BattlEye filters because serverCommand is unavailable.
• Markers/messages: MARKER_CREATION, SEND_MESSAGE, ICBM and radiation variables.

Safety Notes

• Keep payloads small and structured; Arma 2 public-variable traffic can be expensive.
• Prefer server authority for state changes. Client scripts should request, not mutate, team/base/economy state directly.
• When adding a PVF command, update both the registration list and the target Client/PVFunctions or Server/PVFunctions file.
• Hosted-server paths often call the handler locally in addition to broadcasting. Preserve those branches when modernizing code.