2026-04-24T19:42:55Z

Reskin:

[[File:pageicon-pirates.png|thumb]]
== Pirate Doctrine: Draggers ==

'''Reputation:''' Feared, relentless, unstable
'''Common name:''' ''Dragger''

Draggers are a pirate faction operating within the Venus cloud layer who specialize in corrosive warfare and controlled-descent salvage operations.

They are most commonly encountered flying vessels classified as '''Interdiction Ships'''—craft designed not to destroy targets outright, but to capture, slow, degrade, and harvest them in-flight.

Draggers do not seek clean kills.

They seek to:
* Blind the target
* Weaken its structure
* Control its descent
* Strip valuable components
* Abandon the remainder to the atmosphere

Their attacks are prolonged, deliberate, and often observed at close range.

----

== Interdiction Ships ==

'''Role:''' Capture, degrade, and salvage airborne targets

'''Common features:'''
* Corrosive dispersal systems
* Harpoon launchers
* Retrieval chains and winches
* Baloot deployment systems
* Reinforced forward structures for close-proximity operations

Unlike conventional combat aircraft, interdiction ships are optimized for:
* Maintaining proximity to a compromised target
* Surviving corrosive environments (including their own weapons)
* Operating in unstable airflow during multi-body descent

Future classifications may include specialized variants such as:
* Hunter (fast tagger)
* Anchor (drag control / tether control)
* Stripper (salvage specialist)
* Reaper (Glass Reaper-equipped)

----

== Engagement Pattern ==

Dragger attacks follow a structured escalation designed to convert a functioning craft into a controlled salvage event.

=== Phase 1: Marking the Target ===
* Initial pass disperses '''Fuming Vitriol'''
* Sensors haze and smear
* External coatings degrade
* Sealants and exposed systems begin failing

Pirates remain visible, pacing the target.

----

=== Phase 2: The Burn ===
* Follow-up attack introduces '''Hot Vitriol'''
* Targeted at:
* Control surfaces
* Wing roots / lift structures
* Thruster housings
* Composite stress zones

Effects:
* Control lag
* Structural vibration
* Heat buildup
* Efficiency loss

----

=== Phase 3: The Slow (Controlled Descent Initiation) ===
* Deployment of '''Baloot Tags'''

Baloots:
* Increase aerodynamic drag
* Reduce maneuverability
* Slow descent rate when distributed correctly

Purpose:
* Prevent escape
* Extend engagement window
* Convert uncontrolled fall into controlled descent

Pirate doctrine:
''"Keep it falling, but not too fast."''

----

=== Phase 4: The Blind (Canopy Kill) ===
* Optional deployment of '''Glass Reaper'''
* Precision strikes against:
* Cockpit canopy
* Forward sensor envelope
* Optical systems

Glass Reaper is most commonly used to disable pilot visibility by attacking the canopy assembly.

==== Stage 1: Optical Kill ====
* Canopy becomes:
* Etched
* Frosted
* Chemically streaked

Effects:
* Severe visual distortion
* Glare and light scattering
* Loss of targeting clarity
* Reduced situational awareness

----

==== Stage 2: Structural Degradation ====
Modern canopies are layered systems (polymers, coatings, laminates).

Glass Reaper attacks:
* Protective coatings
* Outer layers
* Bonded interfaces

Results:
* Microfractures
* Layer separation
* Reduced structural integrity

----

==== Stage 3: Failure Under Load ====
During:
* High-speed flight
* Maneuvering
* Descent into denser atmosphere

The canopy may:
* Crack or craze
* Delaminate
* Partially tear away

----

==== Cockpit Effects ====

Once compromised:

* Violent airflow into cockpit
* Significant drag increase
* Reduced maximum speed
* Acidic aerosol intrusion
* Extreme noise
* Instrument interference

The pilot becomes:
* Partially blind
* Physically overwhelmed
* Increasingly unable to control the aircraft

----

=== Phase 5: The Strip ===
* Interdiction ships close alongside
* Harpoons and retrieval systems deployed

Pirates do not board in a traditional sense.

Instead, they:
* Tear off external components
* Extract mounted systems
* Remove accessible hardware

Common salvage targets:
* Weapons systems
* Engine modules
* Countermeasure pods
* Sensor arrays
* External avionics
* Structural assemblies (control surfaces, tail sections)

This phase is fast, aggressive, and destructive.

----

=== Phase 6: The Drop ===

At approximately '''50 km altitude''', a compromised craft enters a critical thermal window.

Normally:
* ~3 minutes to catastrophic failure

With baloot control:
* Descent is slowed
* Engagement time is extended

After salvage:
* Pirates disengage
* Target continues descending
* Heat and pressure exceed survivability

Final outcome:
* Structural breakup
* Thermal failure
* Atmospheric loss

Pirates rarely remain to observe the end.

----

== Corrosive Disabling Methods ==

These methods are designed to degrade systems and enable controlled capture.

----

=== Fuming Vitriol ===
'''Class:''' Native corrosive aerosol
'''Chemistry:''' Sulfuric-acid-family (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>, sulfur trioxide mixtures)

Effects:
* Coating degradation
* Seal failure
* Sensor fouling
* Electrical insulation damage
* Composite resin breakdown

Use:
* Initial contamination
* Area denial
* Pre-salvage weakening

----

=== Hot Vitriol ===
'''Class:''' Thermal-corrosive assault mix
'''Chemistry:''' Sulfuric-acid-family with thermal activation

Effects:
* Accelerated resin breakdown
* Delamination
* Structural weakening

Use:
* Targeted structural attacks
* Rapid degradation prior to descent control

----

=== Glass Reaper ===
'''Class:''' Exotic contraband
'''Chemistry:''' Fluoride-bearing corrosive agents (non-native)

Effects:
* Canopy and optical destruction
* Sensor degradation
* Interface and coating damage

Use:
* Pilot blinding
* Precision subsystem disablement
* High-value interdiction

----

== Auxiliary Systems ==

=== Baloot Tags ===
Harpoon-deployed drag devices.

Functions:
* Increase drag
* Slow descent
* Stabilize target trajectory
* Extend salvage window

Doctrine:
''"Control the fall."''

----

=== Harpoons and Retrieval Chains ===

Primary salvage tools.

Features:
* Barbed or magnetic anchors
* Reinforced chains or cables
* Winch-driven retrieval systems

Used to:
* Maintain proximity
* Stabilize alongside target
* Extract components under motion

----

== Salvage Doctrine ==

Draggers operate on a salvage-based economy.

They prioritize:
* Speed of extraction
* Value of components
* Survival of the interdiction craft

Loot tiers include:
* Basic materials (panels, alloys)
* Functional subsystems
* Advanced modules
* Rare/exotic components

The target hull is expendable.

Only what can be removed quickly is taken.

----

== Pirate Engineering Philosophy ==

Dragger interdiction ships are intentionally unsafe.

Common traits:
* Exposed reactors
* Uncontained propulsion systems
* High-emission engines
* Oil-burning or inefficient powerplants
* Minimal environmental protection

They accept:
* Equipment failure
* Crew exposure
* Environmental contamination

In exchange for:
* Simplicity
* Raw power
* Ease of repair
* Psychological intimidation

----

== Psychological Warfare ==

Victims experience progressive system collapse.

Effects include:
* Visible degradation of surfaces
* Cockpit haze and streaking
* Sensor distortion and noise
* Structural creaking
* Delayed control response

Described as:
''"Flying something that is already falling apart."''

----

== Design Philosophy ==

Dragger doctrine is not destruction—it is control.

They:
* Degrade systems
* Control motion
* Extend engagement time
* Extract value

Final doctrine:

''"Don’t kill the ship. Ride it down."''

----

== Countermeasures ==

* Avoid corrosive plumes
* Remove baloots immediately
* Cut harpoon lines quickly
* Reduce maneuvering loads after exposure
* Use redundant systems
* Change altitude aggressively

Even with countermeasures, Dragger interdiction remains one of the most feared threats in Venus operations.

2026-04-14T17:39:01Z

Reskin:

Arena

2026-04-14T17:35:29Z

Reskin:

[[Image:Venus-Atmosphere.gif|thumb|Venus's Middle and Lower Atmospheres]]

So the game takes place in the atmosphere above Venus.

*Ground radius: 6,051.8 km
*Scale height: 15.9 km
*Surface gravity: 0.91 G
*Surface pressure: 92 bar
*Surface visibility: ~3 km
*Kármán line: ~165 km

ExponentialHeightFog - basically need one setting for below the upper cloud layer (BCL) and one for above the upper cloud layer (ACL) ... or maybe we need to modify it as we change altitude through C++ ... I am not entirely clear yet except that the exponential height fog is much more realistic than what we used to do ... we should not be able to see the ground above ~3 km? Should not be able to see the lower cloud layer until what altitude?

Tune the 50 km layer so large structures are readable at 5–10 km, with the far horizon fading out by 15–25 km.

Modern reviews place the lower cloud layer at about 47.5–50.5 km, and probe data show a sharp increase in extinction just below 50 km, with the lower cloud layer having visible optical depth around 6–12 in some measurements.

== Exponential Height Fog and Altitude Adjustments ==

The exponential height fog represents how atmospheric density changes with altitude. To achieve specific visibility targets at different heights:

* Start by setting the fog density at the surface level. Adjust this until you achieve, for example, 3 kilometers of visibility near the ground.

* Next, adjust the height falloff parameter. This controls how rapidly the fog thins out as you go higher. Tune the falloff until you achieve about 10 kilometers of visibility at around 50 kilometers altitude.

* If the natural exponential transition isn’t layered enough for your needs—for instance, if you want certain altitudes to be foggier or clearer—then you can dynamically adjust density or falloff at different altitude ranges. By tweaking fog parameters in steps, you can approximate a layered atmospheric profile.

== Static Directional Light (Sun) ==

In our scenario, Venus’s day is extremely long. Over the course of a gameplay session, the sun’s movement would be imperceptible. Thus, we treat the sun’s directional light as static.

* The sun’s light itself is pure white; any color shift we perceive (like yellow) is due to atmospheric scattering. On Venus, the color of sunlight will be handled by the Sky Atmosphere actor, which manages how light is scattered through the planet’s atmosphere.

* Keeping the sun static simplifies computations. With a stationary sun, lighting can be baked for efficiency, and clouds can still cast shadows without needing constant updates.

== Sky Atmosphere Settings ==

These settings approximate Venus’s dense CO₂ atmosphere and upper haze.
They intentionally exclude the sulfuric acid cloud decks (handled separately).

All color values are linear RGB (0–1).

=== Planet Setup ===
* Ground Radius: 6052000 (meters)
* Atmosphere Height: 100000 (meters)

=== Rayleigh Scattering (molecular scattering - weak on Venus) ===
* Rayleigh Scattering Color:
** R: 0.02
** G: 0.03
** B: 0.04

* Rayleigh Scattering Scale: 0.15

* Rayleigh Exponential Distribution: 8000

Notes:
* Venus has much weaker blue-sky behavior than Earth.
* Keep this low to avoid Earth-like blue tint.

=== Mie Scattering (dominant haze / aerosol scattering) ===
* Mie Scattering Color:
** R: 0.85
** G: 0.65
** B: 0.45

* Mie Scattering Scale: 8.0

* Mie Anisotropy: 0.80

* Mie Exponential Distribution: 12000

Notes:
* This is the MOST IMPORTANT parameter group.
* High scale + strong forward scattering creates:
** bright glow toward the sun
** washed-out horizon
** Venus “golden haze”

=== Absorption (gas absorption - subtle but important) ===
* Absorption Color:
** R: 0.35
** G: 0.18
** B: 0.08

* Absorption Scale: 0.6

Notes:
* Adds slight brown/orange attenuation
* Prevents overly bright or “milky white” atmosphere

=== Aerial Perspective ===
* Aerial Perspective View Distance Scale: 0.25
* Aerial Perspective Start Depth: 0.0

Notes:
* Lower value = thicker perceived atmosphere
* This helps maintain strong distance fade even at altitude

=== Multi Scattering ===
* Multi Scattering Factor: 1.0

Notes:
* Keep enabled — Venus relies heavily on multiple scattering
* This is what removes shadows and creates uniform brightness

=== Ground Albedo ===
* Ground Albedo Color:
** R: 0.25
** G: 0.20
** B: 0.15

Notes:
* Subtle contribution only
* Prevents unrealistic light bounce

Reskin: /* Layout */

[[File:Appraisal.png|thumb]]
== Overview ==
The '''Dock Intake & Appraisal System''' is a core economic and progression mechanic in ''Arms of Venus''. It replaces traditional crafting systems with a streamlined, real-time salvage valuation loop inspired by real-world industrial workflows and commercial fishing operations (e.g., the “Wicked Tuna” model).

Instead of collecting materials and assembling items through recipes, players recover salvage during missions and receive an immediate credit offer upon extraction.

This system emphasizes:

* Clarity over complexity
* Momentum over micromanagement
* Social accessibility over inventory dependency chains

== Design Philosophy ==
Traditional crafting systems often introduce:

* Inventory clutter
* Recipe memorization
* Player friction (especially in co-op)

The Dock Intake system removes these barriers by shifting complexity away from the player and into the world simulation.

Players are '''operators''', not fabricators.

They:

* Deploy
* Recover assets
* Extract
* Get paid

== The "Wicked Tuna" Analogy ==
The system is inspired by real-world commercial fishing workflows:

# Catch is brought to port

# A buyer inspects the haul

# A price is offered based on quality and demand

# The seller accepts (typically without negotiation)

In ''Arms of Venus'':

# Players recover salvage during a mission

# Return to the aerostat platform

# Dock intake systems evaluate the cargo

# A credit offer is generated instantly

No crafting. No recipes. No ambiguity.

== Core Gameplay Loop ==

# '''Deploy''' from aerostat platform

# '''Engage''' (PvE / PvP / salvage targets)

# '''Recover''' weapons, components, and materials

# '''Extract''' successfully

# '''Dock''' and undergo intake processing

# '''Receive''' credit offer

# '''Accept''' and progress

== Dock Intake UI ==
The Dock Intake interface is presented immediately after a successful landing and recovery.

It is designed as a three-panel system prioritizing readability and speed.

=== Layout ===

{| class="wikitable"
! LEFT: CARGO SCAN !! CENTER: APPRAISAL !! RIGHT: ACTIONS
|-
| Item List || Total Value || [ACCEPT]
|-
| Icons + Categories || Line-by-line breakdown || [FLAG ITEMS]
|-
| Weight / Risk Tags || Bonuses / penalties || [HOLD ITEMS]
|}

=== Cargo Manifest (Left Panel) ===
Displays recovered items in a clean, categorized list.

<pre>
SALVAGE INTAKE
-------------------------
✔ ARC Cannon (Damaged)
✔ Pulse Missiles x12
✔ Avionics Core (Rare)
✔ Structural Alloy (Bulk)
✔ Unknown Device (??)

TOTAL MASS: 1,240 kg
RISK FLAG: NONE
</pre>

Features:

* Color-coded rarity tiers
* Condition indicators (non-numeric)
* Source and context metadata (hover/select)

=== Appraisal Engine (Center Panel) ===
Provides a transparent breakdown of valuation.

<pre>
APPRAISAL SUMMARY
-------------------------
Base Salvage Value: 18,400
Condition Adjustment: -3,200
Rarity Bonus: +9,500
Demand Surge: +6,800
---------------------------------
TOTAL OFFER: 31,500 CR
</pre>

Features:

* Animated value calculation (incremental tally)
* Clear reasoning for final price
* Optional flavor commentary from dock crew

Example flavor lines:

* "Avionics core’s still intact… nice pull."
* "Missiles are cooked, but we can strip the guidance."
* "Market’s hot for these. You got lucky."

=== Actions Panel (Right Panel) ===
Primary interaction area.

Default action:

* '''ACCEPT OFFER'''

Optional (collapsed by default):

* '''HOLD ITEMS''' — retain specific gear (e.g., weapons/modules)
* '''FLAG ITEMS''' — designate for trade, squad sharing, or black market

== Item Handling Rules ==
The system separates items into two categories:

=== Retained by Player ===

* Weapons
* Modules / augments
* Unique or rare components

=== Automatically Liquidated ===

* Raw materials
* Scrap
* Bulk salvage

This prevents inventory overload while preserving meaningful gear progression.

== Social Design ==
The system eliminates friction in cooperative play.

Players can:

* Transfer items to squadmates outside of deployment
* Share equipment directly within the hangar environment

This removes the need for “deploy to trade” mechanics.

== Advantages Over Crafting Systems ==
{| class="wikitable"

! Feature !! Crafting Systems !! Dock Intake System
|-
| Cognitive Load || High || Low
|-
| Social Friction || High || Minimal
|-
| Inventory Management || Complex || Simplified
|-
| Time to Reward || Delayed || Immediate
|-
| Accessibility || Limited || Broad
|}

== Future Extensions ==
The Dock Intake system supports additional layers without increasing complexity:

* Dynamic market demand (price fluctuations)
* Black market channels (restricted or illegal tech)
* Faction-based bonuses or penalties
* Contract-driven valuation modifiers
* Reputation-based appraisal advantages

== Summary ==
The Dock Intake & Appraisal System replaces crafting with a streamlined, industrial salvage economy.

It delivers:

* Immediate feedback
* Clear value
* Strong thematic alignment

Players are not builders of items.

They are pilots operating in a hostile environment, recovering value from chaos and converting it into progress.

2026-04-10T20:21:39Z

Reskin: Created page with "= Actors (Unreal Engine 5) = In Unreal Engine 5, an '''Actor''' is the fundamental building block of a level. Almost everything that exists in the world—whether visible or invisible—is represented as an Actor. Actors define '''what exists in the world''', where it is located, and how it behaves. == What is an Actor? == An Actor is an object that can be placed or spawned in a level. It typically contains: * A '''Transform''' (Location, Rotation, Scale) * One or mo..."

= Actors (Unreal Engine 5) =

In Unreal Engine 5, an '''Actor''' is the fundamental building block of a level. Almost everything that exists in the world—whether visible or invisible—is represented as an Actor.

Actors define '''what exists in the world''', where it is located, and how it behaves.

== What is an Actor? ==
An Actor is an object that can be placed or spawned in a level. It typically contains:

* A '''Transform''' (Location, Rotation, Scale)
* One or more '''Components''' (mesh, light, collision, etc.)
* Optional '''logic''' (via Blueprints or C++)

At its simplest, an Actor can be:
* A static object (e.g., a rock or building)
* A dynamic object (e.g., a moving vehicle)
* A system controller (e.g., PostProcessVolume, GameMode)

== Actors vs Components ==
Actors themselves are containers. Most of the actual functionality comes from '''Components''' attached to them.

Examples:
* A '''StaticMeshComponent''' renders geometry
* A '''LightComponent''' emits light
* A '''CameraComponent''' defines a viewpoint

> Actors organize behavior; Components perform the work.

== Types of Actors ==
There are many specialized Actor types in Unreal Engine. Common categories include:

=== Geometry and Visuals ===
* Static Mesh Actor
* Skeletal Mesh Actor
* Instanced Mesh Actors

=== Lighting ===
* Directional Light
* Point Light
* Spot Light
* Sky Light

=== Cameras and View ===
* Camera Actor
* Cine Camera Actor

=== Environment and Atmosphere ===
* SkyAtmosphere
* ExponentialHeightFog
* VolumetricCloud

=== Gameplay ===
* Pawn (controllable entity)
* Character (Pawn with movement logic)
* PlayerController
* GameMode

=== Systems and Effects ===
* PostProcessVolume
* Trigger Volumes
* Audio Volume
* Physics Volume

== Placement and Spawning ==
Actors can be:

* '''Placed''' in a level using the editor
* '''Spawned''' dynamically at runtime via Blueprint or C++

Each Actor exists within a '''Level''' and participates in the world's update loop.

== Transform and World Space ==
Every Actor has a Transform:

* '''Location''' – position in the world
* '''Rotation''' – orientation
* '''Scale''' – size

These define where the Actor exists and how it is oriented relative to the world.

== Tick and Behavior ==
Actors can update every frame using '''Tick''':

* Enabled per Actor
* Used for movement, logic, and simulation
* Can be disabled for performance if not needed

Behavior can be implemented via:
* '''Blueprints''' (visual scripting)
* '''C++''' (native code)

== Interaction and Communication ==
Actors can interact with each other through:

* Collision and overlap events
* Direct references
* Interfaces
* Event dispatchers

This allows complex systems to be built from many interacting Actors.

== Networking ==
Actors are the primary unit of replication in multiplayer:

* Can be marked to '''replicate'''
* State changes can be synchronized across clients
* Ownership and authority determine control

== Lifecycle ==
An Actor typically goes through:

# Spawned or placed
# Initialized (BeginPlay)
# Updated (Tick, events)
# Destroyed or removed

Understanding this lifecycle is key to controlling behavior and performance.

== Best Practices ==
* Keep Actors '''focused''' on a specific responsibility
* Use Components to modularize functionality
* Avoid excessive Tick usage when not required
* Prefer composition (Components) over inheritance when possible

== Summary ==
Actors are the core entities of Unreal Engine:

* Everything in a level is an Actor or part of one
* They define presence, position, and behavior
* They are extended through Components and logic

> If it exists in the world, it is (or is inside) an Actor.

PostProcessingVolume

2026-04-10T20:20:06Z

Reskin: /* PostProcessVolume Settings */

== Overview ==

The '''PostProcessVolume''' actor in Unreal Engine 5 controls how the final rendered image is perceived by the player. It operates at the '''end of the rendering pipeline''', after all scene elements—lighting, materials, atmosphere, and volumetrics—have already been calculated.

Rather than affecting the physical world itself, the PostProcessVolume modifies how that world is '''seen'''.

=== Where It Fits in the Pipeline ===
The rendering flow can be thought of as:

# Geometry, materials, and lighting are rendered
# Atmospheric and volumetric effects are applied
# A final image is produced
# '''PostProcessVolume modifies that image'''

This means PostProcessVolume does '''not''' change:
* Light intensity at the source
* Material properties
* Atmospheric scattering itself

Instead, it changes:
* Brightness and exposure
* Glare and bloom
* Color grading and tone mapping
* Depth of field and motion blur

=== Camera vs Human Vision ===
Many PostProcessVolume effects are designed to simulate a '''camera''', not the human eye. Examples include:

* Lens Flare (internal lens reflections)
* Chromatic Aberration (lens distortion)
* Film Grain (sensor noise)

For projects aiming at realism—especially simulation-style environments—it is often preferable to treat PostProcessVolume as a model of '''human perception''' instead of a cinematic camera.

In such cases:
* '''Exposure''' represents eye adaptation
* '''Bloom''' represents retinal glare and light scatter
* Camera-specific artifacts are typically disabled

=== Volumes and Blending ===
PostProcessVolumes can be placed in the world as:
* '''Bound volumes''' (affect only a specific area)
* '''Unbound volumes''' (affect the entire world)

Multiple volumes can overlap and will '''blend together''' based on:
* Priority
* Blend weight
* Camera position

This allows different environments (e.g., indoors vs outdoors, clear vs cloud layer) to have different visual responses.

=== Overrides and Checkboxes ===
Each setting in the PostProcessVolume has a checkbox:

* '''Unchecked''' → Engine default or another volume controls the value
* '''Checked''' → This volume overrides the value

This is critical:
> Values are ignored unless their checkbox is enabled

=== Key Systems Controlled ===
Commonly used PostProcess systems include:

* '''Exposure (Auto Exposure / Eye Adaptation)'''
** Controls overall brightness and dynamic adjustment

* '''Bloom'''
** Controls how bright light spreads into surrounding pixels

* '''Color Grading'''
** Adjusts overall color tone and mood

* '''Depth of Field'''
** Simulates focus blur (camera-style)

* '''Motion Blur'''
** Simulates motion streaking (camera-style)

=== Practical Guidance ===
For physically grounded environments (such as planetary atmospheres):

* Treat PostProcessVolume as '''perception tuning'''
* Avoid relying on it to "fix" lighting problems
* First establish:
** Directional Light intensity
** SkyAtmosphere scattering
** Volumetric behavior
* Then use PostProcessVolume to refine how the result is perceived

=== Summary ===
The PostProcessVolume is best understood as:

> A final-stage perception layer that controls how the rendered world appears to the player, rather than how the world itself behaves.

== Settings ==

For the current ''Arms of Venus'' third-person fighter view, the PostProcessVolume should be tuned to simulate '''human eye adaptation''' and '''broad atmospheric glare''', not cinematic camera artifacts. Local Exposure is currently left disabled to avoid haloing or cutout effects around the aircraft silhouette against the bright Venusian sky.

[[File:Bloom.png|thumb]]
=== Bloom ===
Use Bloom to create a soft, overwhelming solar glare rather than stylized lens artifacts.

* '''Enable Bloom Intensity'''
** Intensity: '''1.2'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Intensity'''
** Intensity: '''1.2'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Threshold'''
** Threshold: '''0.0'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Advanced Size Scale'''
** Size Scale: '''6.0'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Advanced #1 Size'''
** #1 Size: '''0.5'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Advanced #2 Size'''
** #2 Size: '''2.0'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Advanced #3 Size'''
** #3 Size: '''8.0'''

* '''Enable Gaussian Advanced #4 Size'''
** #4 Size: '''24.0'''

* Leave the following '''disabled''' for now:
** Preferred Method override
** #5 Size
** #6 Size
** All Tint overrides
** Entire Convolution section

==== Bloom Notes ====
* This setup is intended to create a '''continuous atmospheric glow''' around the sun rather than layered or ring-like bloom artifacts.
* Lens Flare should generally remain '''off''' for a naked-eye presentation, since lens flare is primarily a '''camera lens artifact''' rather than a human-vision effect.

[[File:Exposure.png|thumb]]
=== Exposure (Auto Exposure / Eye Adaptation) ===
This is the Unreal system that simulates eye adaptation to changing brightness.

* '''Enable Min EV100'''
** Min EV100: '''-2.0'''

* '''Enable Max EV100'''
** Max EV100: '''4.0'''

* '''Enable Speed Up'''
** Speed Up: '''3.0'''

* '''Enable Speed Down'''
** Speed Down: '''1.0'''

* '''Enable Exposure Compensation'''
** Exposure Compensation: '''0.5'''

* Leave the following '''disabled''' for now:
** Metering Mode override
** Exposure Compensation Curve
** Exposure Metering Mask
** Low Percent
** High Percent
** Histogram Min EV100
** Histogram Max EV100
** All other advanced histogram tuning

==== Exposure Notes ====
* Setting both Min EV100 and Max EV100 to the same value effectively '''disables adaptation'''. The values above restore controlled eye adaptation.
* '''Speed Up''' controls how quickly the eye adjusts when returning from darker viewing conditions.
* '''Speed Down''' controls how quickly the eye is overwhelmed by brighter conditions. A slightly slower value helps preserve the feeling of solar glare.
* This range should allow the environment to feel bright and hostile without causing the sun to completely destroy scene readability.

=== Local Exposure ===
* '''Disabled for now'''

==== Local Exposure Notes ====
* In a third-person fighter view, Local Exposure can sometimes create unwanted edge brightening or haloing around the aircraft when viewed against a bright sky.
* It may be revisited later if additional readability is needed, but the current preferred approach is to rely on:
** global Exposure
** Bloom
** Sky Atmosphere scattering
** directional light balance

=== Summary ===
The current PostProcessVolume philosophy is:

* '''Use Exposure''' for eye adaptation
* '''Use Bloom''' for solar glare and atmospheric overwhelm
* '''Do not rely on Lens Flare''' for naked-eye realism
* '''Leave Local Exposure off''' unless gameplay readability later demands subtle regional contrast assistance

[[Category:Actors]]