Upgrades And Research Atlas

Upgrades And Research Atlas

Canonical map for the Warfare upgrade/research system. This page is source-backed from the Chernarus source mission and should be kept in sync with Server Authority Migration Map, Economy Authority First Cut, Feature Status Register, and AI Commander Autonomy Audit.

Why This Matters

Upgrades are not a cosmetic tech tree. They gate factory tiers, gear templates, EASA, artillery behavior, supply rate, respawn range, support actions, airlift, aircraft missiles, paratroopers, fast travel, Coin ammo, town defender composition and several WASP-specific additions. A wrong assumption here can silently unlock equipment, skip resources, break AI commander progression, or make branch-only features appear more complete than they are.

The critical implementation truth is split:

• the server owns the replicated upgrade state and completion timer;
• the live player UI owns commander gating, affordability checks, dependency checks and immediate resource deduction;
• the public variable entrypoint does not currently revalidate a player upgrade request before starting the server worker;
• AI commander upgrades have a separate server-side affordability path, but the broader AI commander scheduler/owner path is still incomplete.

Source Files

Area	Files
Constants	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:36-58
Side state init	Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:344-369
Side state getter	Common/Functions/Common_GetSideUpgrades.sqf:7-11
Player menu class	Rsc/Dialogs.hpp:3-142
Stale legacy menu class	Rsc/Dialogs.hpp:2424-2428
Main menu route	Client/GUI/GUI_Menu.sqf:21-26, Client/GUI/GUI_Menu.sqf:161-166
Live player UI	Client/GUI/GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf:1-215
Server request PVF	Server/PVFunctions/RequestUpgrade.sqf:1-5
Server worker	Server/Functions/Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf:10-89
Client upgrade notifications	Client/PVFunctions/HandleSpecial.sqf, Client/Functions/Client_FNC_Special.sqf:111-124, Client/Functions/Client_FNC_Special.sqf:173-185
Client timer sync	Client/GUI/GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf:167-172, Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:67-74
AI commander worker	Server/Functions/Server_AI_Com_Upgrade.sqf:7-53
Config arrays	Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_*.sqf, Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Labels_Upgrades.sqf, Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Check_Upgrades.sqf

Upgrade IDs

Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:36-58 defines the numeric indexes used by every side config and every consumer:

ID	Constant	Meaning
0	WFBE_UP_BARRACKS	Barracks / infantry tier
1	WFBE_UP_LIGHT	Light factory tier
2	WFBE_UP_HEAVY	Heavy factory tier
3	WFBE_UP_AIR	Aircraft factory tier
4	WFBE_UP_PARATROOPERS	Paratrooper support
5	WFBE_UP_UAV	UAV
6	WFBE_UP_SUPPLYRATE	Town/supply income rate
7	WFBE_UP_RESPAWNRANGE	Ambulance/MASH respawn range
8	WFBE_UP_AIRLIFT	Airlift
9	WFBE_UP_FLARESCM	Custom flares/countermeasures
10	WFBE_UP_ARTYTIMEOUT	Artillery timeout
11	WFBE_UP_ICBM	ICBM
12	WFBE_UP_FASTTRAVEL	Fast travel
13	WFBE_UP_GEAR	Gear tier
14	WFBE_UP_AMMOCOIN	Coin ammo category
15	WFBE_UP_EASA	EASA loadout/service system
16	WFBE_UP_SUPPLYPARADROP	Supply paradrop
17	WFBE_UP_ARTYAMMO	Artillery ammunition unlock
18	WFBE_UP_IRSMOKE	IR smoke
19	WFBE_UP_AIRAAM	Aircraft AA missiles
20	WFBE_UP_AAR	Anti-air radar
21	WFBE_UP_UNITCOST	Unit cost modifier/filter hook

Treat these as array indexes, not namespaced objects. Adding, removing or reordering one upgrade means auditing every WFBE_UP_* consumer.

Data Model

The server initializes each side logic with:

• wfbe_upgrades: the replicated array of current levels;
• wfbe_upgrading: a replicated boolean for "one upgrade currently running";
• wfbe_upgrading_id: a replicated upgrade ID, added so clients can display the running upgrade name.

Source: Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:344-369.

When debug upgrades are enabled, the initial upgrade state is copied from the configured max-level array, then Artillery Ammunition is forced back to 0 so its one-level unlock flow remains testable (Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:348-353). In normal mode, the upgrade array is built as one zero per configured level entry (Server/Init/Init_Server.sqf:344-347).

Common_GetSideUpgrades.sqf returns the side logic variable for west/east/resistance and returns objNull for unknown sides. Because most consumers immediately index the returned value, invalid side data can cascade into script errors rather than a graceful rejection.

Config Shape

Each Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_*.sqf side file populates:

• WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_ENABLED
• WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_COSTS
• WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_LEVELS
• WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_LINKS
• WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_TIMES
• WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_AI_ORDER

Labels_Upgrades.sqf builds client-side display labels, descriptions and images. The live client init imports it with ExecVM "Common\Config\Core_Upgrades\Labels_Upgrades.sqf" (Client/Init/Init_Client.sqf:324-325).

Check_Upgrades.sqf is a helper that appends missing enabled upgrade levels into the AI commander order. It does not validate player requests and it does not normalize the live config arrays for length or dependency consistency.

Config Drift Warning

The constants define 22 upgrade indexes through WFBE_UP_UNITCOST = 21, while the representative Upgrades_USMC.sqf arrays visible in Chernarus are not perfectly uniform: ENABLED and COSTS include Anti Air Radar, but the shown LEVELS, LINKS and TIMES arrays stop before WFBE_UP_AAR in that file (Upgrades_USMC.sqf:5-76, Upgrades_USMC.sqf:78-132). Other side configs may differ. Do not publish a new upgrade, price, level, or unit-cost feature until every Upgrades_*.sqf side file is checked for array length, index alignment and generated-mission propagation.

Live Player Flow

The main menu enables the upgrade button whenever the player is in command center range (Client/GUI/GUI_Menu.sqf:21-26) and opens WFBE_UpgradeMenu on menu action 7 (Client/GUI/GUI_Menu.sqf:161-166). The WFBE_UpgradeMenu class is the live dialog and executes Client\GUI\GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf on load (Rsc/Dialogs.hpp:3-7).

Inside GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf:

1. The client reads upgrade config arrays and the replicated side upgrades (lines 8-21).
2. The purchase button is disabled unless the local player's group is commanderTeam (lines 39-41).
3. The UI shows current level, cost, supply, time and dependencies (lines 85-126).
4. On purchase, the client checks no upgrade is running, the selected upgrade has levels remaining, funds/supply are enough, and dependency links are met (lines 129-157).
5. The client immediately deducts funds and side supply (lines 158-159).
6. The client sends ["RequestUpgrade", [WFBE_Client_SideJoined, _id, _upgrade_current, true]] to the server (line 161).
7. Non-server clients spawn a local timer and later send RequestSpecial ["upgrade-sync", ...] (lines 167-172) so Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf can release before the full server sleep if the sync flag arrives.

This is functional for normal honest commanders, but it is not server-authoritative.

Server Flow

RequestUpgrade.sqf is currently only:

_this Spawn WFBE_SE_FNC_ProcessUpgrade;

Source: Server/PVFunctions/RequestUpgrade.sqf:1-5.

Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf trusts the provided side, upgrade ID, target level and player/AI flag. It reads the upgrade time from WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_TIMES, marks the side logic as upgrading, waits for client sync or the configured time, increments the side upgrade level, clears running state, refreshes existing artillery when Artillery Ammunition completes, then broadcasts upgrade-complete (Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf:10-89).

What it does not do for player requests:

• prove the requester is the current commander;
• prove the request side matches the requester;
• recompute current level, max level, dependencies, funds or supply;
• debit resources server-side;
• reject invalid upgrade IDs or impossible target levels before indexing config arrays;
• reject duplicate concurrent requests except by trusting client-side wfbe_upgrading checks.

AI Commander Flow

Server_AI_Com_Upgrade.sqf is more authoritative than the player PV path. It reads WFBE_C_UPGRADES_<side>_AI_ORDER, finds the first desired upgrade level not yet met, checks AI commander funds and side supply, calls WFBE_SE_FNC_ProcessUpgrade with _upgrade_isplayer = false, sets running state, and deducts resources (Server_AI_Com_Upgrade.sqf:7-53).

Wave R found a likely debit-index swap in that AI worker. The player UI names cost element 0 as supply and element 1 as funds (GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf:139-140) and validates/deducts that way (:158-159). The AI worker validates with the same convention (Server_AI_Com_Upgrade.sqf:34-36), but then deducts _cost select 0 from AI commander funds and _cost select 1 from side supply (:47-50). Before enabling or scheduling AI commander upgrades, fix or deliberately confirm this convention.

This means the upgrade worker is real, but the broader AI commander autonomy still needs care. See AI Commander Autonomy Audit: the repo has AI commander upgrade code and state, but the current docs should not imply a complete autonomous commander loop until the scheduler/owner path is proven.

Consumers

High-impact consumers found in the source mission include:

• factory and buy menus: Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf, Client/Functions/Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf, Server/Functions/Server_BuyUnit.sqf;
• gear templates and buy gear: Client/Functions/Client_UI_Gear_FillList.sqf, Client/Functions/Client_UI_Gear_FillTemplates.sqf, Client/Functions/Client_UI_Gear_SaveTemplateProfile.sqf;
• EASA/service: Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_EASA.sqf, Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Service.sqf;
• respawn range: Client/Functions/Client_GetRespawnAvailable.sqf, Server/AI/AI_AdvancedRespawn.sqf, Server/AI/AI_SquadRespawn.sqf;
• tactical/supports: Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Tactical.sqf, Server/Support/Support_Paratroopers.sqf;
• airlift/countermeasures: Common/Init/Init_Unit.sqf, Common/Functions/Common_RearmVehicle.sqf, Common/Functions/Common_RearmVehicleOA.sqf;
• artillery: Client/Functions/Client_RequestFireMission.sqf, Common/Functions/Common_EquipArtillery.sqf, Common/Functions/Common_GetArtilleryAmmoOptions.sqf, Server/Functions/Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf;
• supply systems: Server/FSM/server_town.sqf, Client/Module/supplyMission/supplyMissionStart.sqf;
• UI/HUD: Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_Command.sqf, Client/Client_UpdateRHUD.sqf;
• towns and AI composition: Server/Functions/Server_GetTownGroups.sqf;
• PR #1/supply helicopter: upgrade gating and supply economy should be checked against this page before merging branch behavior.

Stale / Abandoned Upgrade UI

Do not confuse the live WFBE_UpgradeMenu with RscMenu_Upgrade.

Rsc/Dialogs.hpp:2424-2428 still defines class RscMenu_Upgrade with onLoad = "_this ExecVM ""Client\GUI\GUI_Menu_Upgrade.sqf""", but the referenced script is absent. The live menu route creates WFBE_UpgradeMenu, not RscMenu_Upgrade. This is stale dialog archaeology, not the active upgrade system.

Related page: Abandoned Feature Revival Review.

Risk Register

Status	Finding	Evidence	Development guidance
Patch-ready	Player upgrade request is client-authoritative for affordability, dependencies and commander permission.	GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf:129-161; RequestUpgrade.sqf:1-5; Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf:12-18	Move validation/debit into a server authority wrapper before adding new upgrade mechanics or balancing expensive upgrades.
Patch-ready	Invalid side/upgrade/level payloads can index config arrays directly.	Server_ProcessUpgrade.sqf:12-18; Common_GetSideUpgrades.sqf:7-11	Add side, ID, current-level and max-level guards before reading TIMES/COSTS/LINKS.
Patch-ready	AI commander upgrade worker appears to swap supply/funds when deducting after a successful validation.	GUI_UpgradeMenu.sqf:139-159; Server_AI_Com_Upgrade.sqf:34-50	Align AI deduction with the [supply, funds] convention before wiring a live AI commander upgrade scheduler.
Research-needed	Config arrays may be length-misaligned around AAR/unit-cost.	Init_CommonConstants.sqf:36-58; representative Upgrades_USMC.sqf excerpt	Build a side-config validator before changing upgrade arrays or propagating generated missions.
Partial	AI commander upgrade worker exists, but full autonomous scheduling remains unproven.	Server_AI_Com_Upgrade.sqf:7-53; AI Commander Autonomy Audit	Treat AI upgrade flow as a useful worker, not as proof of a complete AI commander.
Abandoned/stale	RscMenu_Upgrade references missing GUI_Menu_Upgrade.sqf.	Rsc/Dialogs.hpp:2424-2428	Keep it documented as stale unless intentionally deleting or reviving it.

Server-Authority Migration Plan

A safe future patch should add a server-side request wrapper before WFBE_SE_FNC_ProcessUpgrade:

1. Resolve requester identity from the PVF context or include an authenticated player/team argument following the repo's existing PV patterns.
2. Validate side is one of west/east/resistance and matches the requester's joined side.
3. Validate requester is the current commander/team permitted to buy upgrades.
4. Read current upgrades from side logic on the server.
5. Validate upgrade ID is in range and enabled for that side.
6. Validate requested level equals current level and is below configured max.
7. Recompute cost, supply cost and dependencies from server config.
8. Reject if another upgrade is running.
9. Debit commander/client funds and side supply on the server.
10. Start WFBE_SE_FNC_ProcessUpgrade.
11. Send explicit success/failure feedback so the client can avoid irreversible local-only debits.

Until this exists, the client UI should be treated as an affordance layer, not as the authority boundary.

Continue Reading

Previous: Factory and purchase systems atlas | Next: Economy authority first cut

• Economy Authority First Cut
• Server Authority Migration Map
• Networking And Public Variables
• Public Variable Channel Index
• AI Commander Autonomy Audit
• Factory And Purchase Systems Atlas
• Respawn And Death Lifecycle Atlas
• Gear Loadout And EASA Atlas