Side Patrol Runtime And Convoy Mechanics

Side-Patrol Runtime and Convoy Mechanics (Patrols v2)

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

Patrols v2 is the side-upgrade-driven roaming patrol system that replaced the old fixed-random-town patrol path (Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:9). A single server FSM (server_side_patrols.sqf) is the driver: every ~20 s it walks each present side, checks whether that side has researched the Patrols upgrade and is below its concurrent cap, resolves a tier-appropriate unit template from the faction Root pools, and dispatches one patrol — onto a live headless client when one is registered, otherwise on the server. The patrol itself runs Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf, which creates the team, drives it toward the frontline, sweeps camps on arrival, and (at Patrols level 4) escorts a convoy supply truck that pays the owning side cash at each town it reaches.

The Towns-Camps-And-Capture-Atlas documents where Patrols v2 hooks into the town system and the branch-matrix across roots; this page is the runtime/tuning deep-dive that atlas single-sources and defers. All constant values below are the live defaults read from Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf (and Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf for the spawn delay).

Driver loop (Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf)

The driver waits for townInitServer, sleeps 30 s, initializes the public marker arrays, then loops on a 20 s cadence over WFBE_PRESENTSIDES until WFBE_GameOver.

Stage	Behavior	Source
Boot gate	waitUntil {townInitServer}; sleep 30 before the first pass	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:16-17
Marker arrays	WFBE_ACTIVE_PATROLS (patrol leaders) and WFBE_ACTIVE_AICOM_TEAMS initialized + publicVariable'd once so JIP clients see defined arrays	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:19,23
Tunables read	_delay = WFBE_C_PATROLS_DELAY_SPAWN, _max = WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROLS_MAX	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:25-26
Per-side iteration	{ ... } forEach WFBE_PRESENTSIDES	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:29,83
Loop cadence	sleep 20 at the bottom of each pass	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:85

Per-side gating chain

For each present side the driver resolves the side logic and only proceeds if Patrols is researched and the spawn slot/cooldown allows it.

Check	Condition	Source
Side logic exists	_logik = side Call WFBE_CO_FNC_GetSideLogic; if (!isNull _logik)	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:34-35
Upgrade level	_lvl = _upgrades select WFBE_UP_PATROLS (index WFBE_UP_PATROLS = 23), guarded to 0 if the array is short; must be > 0	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:36-38, Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:60
Active count	_active = _logik getVariable ["wfbe_side_patrols", 0]	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:39
Cooldown	_last = _logik getVariable ["wfbe_side_patrol_last", -(_delay)]; requires time - _last > _delay	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:40-41
Effective cap	_active < _max — the cap is level-aware	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:41
HQ + towns	needs !isNull _hq && count _owned > 0 (owned = towns whose sideID matches)	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:42-50

The effective concurrent cap is the keystone formula: min(side cap, researched patrol level) (Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:41). At Patrols level 1 a side may have only 1 patrol; at level 2+ the side cap dominates (2 for WEST/EAST). The author comment B36.1 documents the intent: patrols stay low even as the HQ-team curve scales up.

Spawn point and home town

The patrol spawns at the side's owned town nearest its HQ (_home = [_hq, _owned] Call WFBE_CO_FNC_GetClosestEntity, Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:51). If a side has researched Patrols but holds no towns yet, the driver logs a one-shot observability line and waits (wfbe_patrol_waitlog latch, Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:46-49).

Tier selection and faction pools

The tier follows the upgrade level. The driver resolves the template server-side (the pools are server-only) and ships the chosen unit-class array to the runner.

Patrols level	Tier	Pool variable	Source
1	LIGHT	WFBE_%1_PATROL_LIGHT	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:52,57
2	MEDIUM	WFBE_%1_PATROL_MEDIUM	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:52,57
3+	HEAVY	WFBE_%1_PATROL_HEAVY	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:52,57

The template is a uniform random pick: _template = _pool select floor(random count _pool) (Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:59). The pools are defined per faction in the Core_Root configs as arrays of unit-class arrays; for example the GUE pools at Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_GUE.sqf:43,56,67 range from recon-foot / technical raiders (LIGHT) through SPG-9 and ZU-23 technicals (MEDIUM) to BRDM-2 / T-72 mechanized columns (HEAVY). Each template array carries at least one Man-class soldier because the runner rejects crew-only teams (Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_GUE.sqf:41).

GUER "comeback force" scaling

The defender/resistance side (WFBE_DEFENDER = resistance, Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:296) gets two special overrides that make it field fewer but deadlier patrols, scaled by how few towns it holds.

Override	Rule	Source
Cap	_maxSide = 3 when GUER holds < 20 towns, else WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROLS_MAX_DEFENDER (default 1)	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:33
Tier	forced HEAVY when GUER owns < 20 towns, else MEDIUM (always min MEDIUM — never LIGHT/foot)	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:56

The intent (author comment B36, Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:53-55): GUER patrols are a mechanized insurgent comeback force — always mounted, and the fewer towns GUER holds the heavier the patrol. The < 20-town threshold gives a struggling resistance side a higher cap and the HEAVY pool simultaneously. The runner adds a matching combat-skill boost (below).

Dispatch: headless client vs. server

The driver books the slot synchronously before dispatch (so a slow spawn cannot double-book), then runs the patrol on the least-loaded live HC if one exists, else locally on the server.

Step	Action	Source
Book slot	_logik setVariable ["wfbe_side_patrols", _active + 1]; setVariable ["wfbe_side_patrol_last", time]	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:62-63
Pick HC	leader(_live select floor(random count _live))	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:65
HC path	[_hcUnit, "HandleSpecial", ['delegate-sidepatrol', _sideID, _template, _home]] Call WFBE_CO_FNC_SendToClient	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:67
Server path	[_sideID, _template, _home] Spawn WFBE_CO_FNC_RunSidePatrol	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:69
HC receiver	case "delegate-sidepatrol": {_args spawn WFBE_CO_FNC_RunSidePatrol}	Client/PVFunctions/HandleSpecial.sqf:50

WFBE_CO_FNC_RunSidePatrol compiles from Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf (Common/Init/Init_Common.sqf:107). The whole patrol lifecycle stays on the machine that created the group so waypoints keep locality; slot bookkeeping (the wfbe_side_patrols counter + WFBE_ACTIVE_PATROLS marker list) always lives on the server, reached by direct Call HandleSpecial when local or RequestSpecial when on an HC (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:5-8). After a successful dispatch the driver clears the wait-log latch, writes an AICOM log line, and records a side_patrol_spawn PerformanceAudit sample when auditing is enabled (Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:71-77).

Runner: team creation and crewless guard (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf)

The runner receives [sideID, template, homeTown], picks a random empty position 100–400 m from the home town, creates the group, and builds the team.

Step	Detail	Source
Spawn position	[getPos _homeTown, 100, 400] Call WFBE_CO_FNC_GetRandomPosition, then [_position, 50] Call WFBE_CO_FNC_GetEmptyPosition	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:35-36
Group	[_side, "patrol"] Call WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateGroup	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:38
Team	[_template, _position, _side, true, _team, true, 90] call WFBE_CO_FNC_CreateTeam → [_units, _vehicles, _team]	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:39-42
Crewless guard	if (isNull _team || {((count _units) + (count _vehicles)) == 0}) exitWith { ... } — deletes leaked vehicles + units, deletes the group, releases the slot via sidepatrol-ended	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:44-58

The crewless guard is a load-bearing fix (2026-06-11, Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:45-48): a spawn that produced 0 units but N vehicles previously passed the total-only guard, instantly failed the alive-check, and leaked empty vehicles at the spawn town forever (observed piling up at Mogilevka) while re-dispatching in a loop. "No infantry = no patrol": the team is wiped and the slot released. On creation the team gets allowFleeing 0 and setVariable ["WFBE_SidePatrol", true] (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:60-61).

Resistance skill boost

For resistance patrols only, every live unit's combat skill is maxed and scaled by owned-town scarcity, so a lone GUER patrol is a genuine threat.

Skill	Value	Source
Base skill	_pskill = ((WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROL_GUER_SKILL default 0.85) + 0.03 * (6 - (_gt min 6))) min 1, where _gt = GUER-owned town count	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:68,71
aimingAccuracy	(0.78 + 0.03 * (6 - (_gt min 6))) min 0.95	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:72
spotDistance	1	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:73
spotTime	1	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:74
courage	1	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:75

The fewer towns GUER owns (lower _gt), the higher both the overall skill and aiming accuracy. The boost is gated to _side == resistance so WEST/EAST patrols are unchanged (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:67). Note: the in-source comment at Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:66 says "default 0.92", but the actual code default and the constant fallback are 0.85 (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:68) — WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROL_GUER_SKILL is not set in Init_CommonConstants.sqf, so the inline 0.85 fallback is what runs. After the boost the runner fires sidepatrol-started with the leader so the public marker list and Commander arrow-feed pick it up (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:80-85).

Level-4 convoy supply truck (Task 41)

At Patrols level 4 the runner spawns a side-appropriate supply truck, joins it to the patrol group (no new group), and pays the owning side cash each time the patrol reaches a town with the truck still alive nearby.

Element	Detail	Source
Level gate	_upgLvl = _ups select WFBE_UP_PATROLS; if (_upgLvl >= 4)	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:92-95
Truck class	prefer T810_CZ_EP1 when its config class exists (ACR DLC), else WFBE_%1SUPPLYTRUCKS first entry	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:96-101
Driver	created from WFBE_%1SOLDIER (crew soldier class), moveInDriver _truckVeh	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:106-107
Pay constant	_convoyPay = WFBE_C_PATROL_CONVOY_PAY (default 750)	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:91, Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:600
Payout trigger	on town arrival: !_paidThisVisit && !isNull _truckVeh && alive _truckVeh && (leader _team) distance _truckVeh < 150	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:241-242
Once-per-visit guard	_paidThisVisit set true on payout, reset to false when a new target town is chosen	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:124,243
Payout signal	["sidepatrol-convoy-stop", _sideID, _target] Call HandleSpecial (server) / RequestSpecial (HC)	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:244-248

A second 2026-06-11 fix (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:103-105) corrected the driver previously being created from the truck classname (a vehicle class as a soldier = no driver, truck never moves, convoy pay never fires); it now uses the side crew-soldier class, the same source HandleDefense uses.

Convoy payout handler (Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf)

The sidepatrol-convoy-stop case divides a fixed pool equally among living players on the owning side and routes each share through the BankPayout client channel.

Step	Detail	Source
Pool	_cPool = WFBE_C_PATROL_CONVOY_PAY (default 750)	Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:380
Eligible players	isPlayer _x && alive _x && side _x == _cSide over playableUnits	Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:383
Per-player share	_cShare = round (_cPool / (_cCount max 1))	Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:384
Delivery	[_cSide, "BankPayout", [_cShare]] Call WFBE_CO_FNC_SendToClients (side-addressed)	Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:386

The client BankPayout.sqf handler applies the share via WFBE_CL_FNC_ChangeClientFunds and shows a quiet BankDividend group-chat line; it guards !alive player so a player dead at the tick does not apply a share (Client/PVFunctions/BankPayout.sqf:14-19). The convoy reuses the Bank dividend channel — same PVF, different funding source.

Frontline gravitation and the camp-sweep state machine

Once running, the patrol enters a 30 s-cadence loop (while {!WFBE_GameOver && _alive}, Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:119,259) that keeps it moving toward the frontline and sweeping camps on arrival.

Phase	Behavior	Source
Alive check	_alive = false when live-unit count is 0 or the team is null	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:120
Target pick	nearest town the side does not own (sideID != _sideID); if it owns everything, roam own towns	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:123-128
Move order	[_team, getPos _target, 'MOVE', 25] Spawn WFBE_CO_FNC_WaypointSimple	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:130
Arrival	when (leader _team) distance _target < 200	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:133
Town flip	when target's sideID becomes _sideID, clear _target and gravitate to the next frontline town	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:251-253

Camp sweep (Task 40)

On first arrival at a target town the patrol sweeps the town's camps sequentially to let presence-based capture tick, guarded once-per-visit by the wfbe_patrol_sweep_town group variable.

Step	Behavior	Source
Sweep guard	_sweepDone = _team getVariable "wfbe_patrol_sweep_town"; sweep only if isNil or != _target (1-arg + isNil to dodge the A2 group-getVariable nil quirk)	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:139-141
Camp list	_townCamps = _target getVariable ["camps", []]; range fallback WFBE_C_CAMPS_RANGE (constant value 10) defaulting to 30 inline	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:143-145, Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:270
Per-camp move	(leader _team) doMove (getPos _campObj) then settle wait ≤ 20 s or leader within _campRange	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:159-166
Dismount	unassign every live non-driver inside a vehicle (keep one driver per vehicle), doMove them to the camp	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:170-192
Dwell	sleep 75 at the camp (settle + dwell ≈ 75 s so capture ticks)	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:194-195
Remount	re-assignAsCargo dismounts to _vehicles select 0, orderGetIn true, 25 s grace	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:197-207
Center push	if all camps are ours OR time - _sweepStart > 480 (8 min): dismount all non-drivers, send to town center, no remount (hold/fight)	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:210-236

The 8-minute total-sweep timeout (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:218) and the all-camps-ours check (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:212-216) both trigger the final town-center push; the _allOurs test treats any null/dead camp or any camp whose sideID != _sideID as not-ours.

Slot lifecycle and cooldown

A patrol slot is booked at dispatch and released on death. The release re-arms the per-side spawn cooldown.

Event	When	Effect	Source
sidepatrol-started	runner after team build	appends [leader, sideID] to WFBE_ACTIVE_PATROLS, broadcasts	Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:345-353
sidepatrol-ended	runner on wipe/crewless	wfbe_side_patrols decremented (max 0), wfbe_side_patrol_last = time (re-arms cooldown), entry pruned from the public list	Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:355-372, Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:53-57,262-269
Driver re-book	next 20 s pass	new spawn only after time - _last > WFBE_C_PATROLS_DELAY_SPAWN	Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:40-41

Because wfbe_side_patrol_last is set both at dispatch (Server/FSM/server_side_patrols.sqf:63) and again on end (Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:363), a side must wait the full spawn delay after a patrol dies before the next one can be dispatched, independent of the concurrent-cap check. The final deleteGroup _team happens after the sidepatrol-ended signal (Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:269).

Tunables reference

Constant	Value	Meaning	Source
WFBE_UP_PATROLS	23	upgrade index read from a side's upgrade array	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:60
WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROLS_MAX	2	WEST/EAST concurrent patrol cap (effective cap is min of this and patrol level)	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:63
WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROLS_MAX_DEFENDER	1	GUER cap when it holds ≥ 20 towns (3 below that)	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:683
WFBE_C_PATROLS_DELAY_SPAWN	360	seconds before a side may re-spawn a patrol (set in Init_Server)	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:170
WFBE_C_SIDE_PATROL_GUER_SKILL	0.85 (inline fallback; not set in constants)	resistance patrol base skill before town-scarcity scaling	Common/Functions/Common_RunSidePatrol.sqf:68
WFBE_C_PATROL_CONVOY_PAY	750	level-4 convoy cash pool, split among living owning-side players per town stop	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:600
WFBE_C_CAMPS_RANGE	11.5	leader-to-camp settle distance (runner inline fallback 30 if unset)	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:650

Continue Reading

• Towns, Camps, and Capture Atlas — where Patrols v2 hooks into the town/camp system and the cross-root branch matrix
• AI Squad and Team Templates Catalog — the Commander-deployable squad templates (distinct from the WFBE_%1_PATROL_* Root pools)
• Faction Root Variables Reference — the WFBE_%side%_PATROL_LIGHT/MEDIUM/HEAVY and WFBE_%1SUPPLYTRUCKS variable families
• Headless Delegation and Failover Playbook — how delegate-sidepatrol and PickLeastLoadedHC fit the wider HC dispatch model
• Upgrades and Research Atlas — the Patrols upgrade levels (1–4) that gate tier, cap, and the convoy truck