Hitech,
Round 1:
In round one of trying to setup terrain wide cloud fronts to be a weather system, I achieved crashing both DX9 and DX11. My method to keep a semi permanent cloud layer over strategic targets like the HQ\strat and ports was fine while testing with only those objects on the terrain covered. At some point after that I exceeded some threshold and the crashdumps started happening and were reproducible. The method was to create a full front with a start time of -0.02 and cooling down period of 0.00. Then place a complete copy front just behind it's spawn edge set to start time at 1\2 the first front's total life span time with a cool down of the same period.
Also at some point of exceeding a threshold I caused crashdumps by sitting in an open feild in a GV while cycling through the view keys looking at cloud fronts. I saw fronts only being spawned for the first run with no subsequent spawns. And random crashdumps 30 minutes into simply sitting in the tower.
Round 2:
I am creating the permanent layer for the HQ\strat, ports and tank combat crater in the following manner which works better as a mostly permanent layer.
For the area I want to cover I divided it into equal small segments so the front at 70mph will take .08 to run it's lifespan. All fronts that are required to cover the area have the start time, cooling time, speed and so forth the same because I just copy the first line as many times as I need under it in the AWA file. My base line area was the central tank arena crater I've posted earlier screen shots of. The tip of the "V" touches the leading edge of the spawn line of the front ahead of it to create my area coverage with the copied fronts.
It took 5 fronts to keep a semi permanent cloud layer over the tank arena caldera.
Start time: -0.02
Cool down: -0.08
Speed 70mph
Alt - 5500-7000
Cloud type 0cumulus1 - 8Cumulus3.
In practice the layer's bottom is at 6500 and top at 9000 with random openings while still interfering with the scope randomly in a bomber above 9000. 6500 to the bottom of the caldera gives jabo and furballers room to play while keeping them and bombers part of the time in osti\wirbel range. The cloud layer can impact FPS but, the cloud layer acts as a shield up to a point to help the GVers who will be fighting in the caldera's pit. Over more open terrain the cloud layer to cover strategic targets will probably have no impact from the extensive testing I've done with clouds so far.
The next step:
1. - create the cloud covers for the strategic targets, pause and try to crash the terrain. If no crashes happen then work this list.
2. - create 2000ft AGL cloud covers of water ways to assist CV in breaking out from ports. If no crashes happen.
3. - create cloud fronts for the whole terrain.
4. - as I create cloud fronts try to crash the terrain until I either have my weather system or achieve a crash. If a crash, pull back some number of fronts and crash test replacing fronts until a crash is achieved. This will help to target sacrificing none essential fronts and possible reconfiguration of coverage with those remaining.
5. - crash test for a weekend leaving the terrain running 8-12 hours. Minimize for 30 minute intervals, spawn tanks and run the view keys.
At the point before the previous weather file started crashing the game, my whole arena weather system made flying around the terrain look like the real world.
