IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING MODS

I normally play Arma Reforger with multiple mods installed and enabled. However, I want to make it clear that this issue is not dependent on those mods.

I have reproduced the exact same HOTAS collective behavior with my mods enabled, with all regular mods disabled, and also in a setup where those mods were not installed/loaded.

The behavior remains the same: opening the Map causes the helicopter to stop respecting the current physical HOTAS collective position, and normal HOTAS collective control only resumes after closing the Map.

Therefore, based on my testing, this appears to be related to Arma Reforger's handling of HOTAS/vehicle input while a menu such as MapMenu has focus, rather than being caused by a gameplay mod.

The two custom mods mentioned later in this report — "HOTASCollectiveFix" and "HOTASCollectiveDiagnostic" — were created only after the issue had already been reproduced without them. One was an attempted workaround and the other was created to collect diagnostic information. The attempted fix did not resolve the underlying problem.

Hello everyone,

I'm investigating a HOTAS helicopter collective issue in Arma Reforger and would appreciate some help from people familiar with the input system, helicopter controller or Enfusion scripting.

The problem

I'm using a HOTAS throttle/collective.

While flying a helicopter, the collective works normally in Direct mode.

However, when I open the Map, the helicopter no longer maintains the collective position commanded by the HOTAS.

Example:

1. Set the HOTAS collective to an intermediate position.

2. Keep the physical throttle completely stationary.

3. Open the Map.

4. While the Map is open, the helicopter's collective/power behavior changes even though the HOTAS has not moved.

5. HOTAS control of the collective is unavailable while the Map is open.

6. Close the Map.

7. The collective returns to the position corresponding to the physical HOTAS axis.

This can cause a helicopter on the ground to begin rising when the Map is opened, or an airborne helicopter to change its vertical behavior.

This appears related to existing reports T199999 ("Helicopter collective map bug") and T196233 ("Collective Control type for HOTAS ignored").

What I've tested

I created a diagnostic mod for:

SCR_HelicopterControllerComponent

The diagnostic reads:

GetActionValue("HelicopterCollectiveIncrease")
GetActionValue("HelicopterCollectiveDecrease")
GetCollectiveInputType()
GetCollectiveMode()

Before opening the Map, a typical result was:

HTS_RAW | Increase=0.471699 | Decrease=0 | InputType=3 | Mode=3

The value remained completely stable because the physical HOTAS was not being moved.

When MapMenu opens, something particularly interesting happens:

OnPrepareControls() stops being called.

Therefore the diagnostic output also stops for the entire time the Map is open.

After closing the Map, OnPrepareControls() resumes and the FIRST HOTAS reading is again:

HTS_RAW | Increase=0.471699 | Decrease=0 | InputType=3 | Mode=3

It returns to exactly the same physical axis value that existed before opening the Map.

The collective mode also remains:

Mode=3 (Direct)

and the input type remains:

InputType=3

This suggests that the joystick itself is not disconnecting and the physical axis value is not being lost.

Instead, the normal helicopter/HOTAS control processing appears to be suspended while MapMenu has control.

First workaround attempted

I tried modding:

SCR_HelicopterControllerComponent.OnPrepareControls()

and forcing:

SetCollectiveMode(CollectiveMode.Direct);

I also tried detecting when:

HelicopterCollectiveIncrease == 0
HelicopterCollectiveDecrease == 0

and preserving Direct mode instead of allowing the normal controller preparation to run.

This does NOT solve the issue.

The reason became apparent from the diagnostic logs:

OnPrepareControls() itself is apparently not running while MapMenu is open.

Therefore a workaround located only inside OnPrepareControls() cannot maintain the HOTAS collective during the period where the Map has focus.

Possible workaround I'm investigating

SCR_MapMenuUI exposes:

OnMenuOpen()
OnMenuUpdate(float tDelta)
OnMenuClose()

Unlike the helicopter input preparation callback, OnMenuUpdate should execute while the Map itself is active.

I'm therefore considering a workaround where the last valid HOTAS collective state is captured before input processing is suspended and preserved while MapMenu is active.

One possibility I'm investigating is temporarily using CollectiveMode.Sticky while the Map is open and returning to CollectiveMode.Direct when the Map closes.

Something conceptually like:

Direct / HOTAS active
→ Map opens
→ preserve current collective
→ Map remains open
→ keep the preserved collective
→ Map closes
→ restore Direct
→ HOTAS immediately resumes from its physical position

I have NOT yet confirmed that Sticky is suitable for this purpose.

I also do not want to use VehicleHelicopterSimulation.SetThrottle() blindly, because throttle input may not represent rotor collective and could affect engine throttle/RPM instead of blade collective.

Questions for Bohemia/modders

Does anyone know where the actual helicopter collective command is stored/applied after the input actions have been processed?

In particular:

1. Is there a script-accessible way to read/write the actual collective value sent to VehicleHelicopterSimulation?

2. Is suspending vehicle input while MapMenu is active intentional?

3. Can a specific HOTAS analog action remain active while MapMenu has input focus?

4. Would switching Direct → Sticky when MapMenu opens be a valid way of preserving the last collective position?

5. Is there a better callback/component that continues updating the helicopter simulation while MapMenu is open?

6. Is there an input context configuration that would allow HelicopterCollectiveIncrease/Decrease to continue updating while the Map is open?

The goal isn't to control the helicopter from the Map UI. The goal is simply for an absolute HOTAS collective axis to KEEP its current physical value while the player looks at the Map.

I'm happy to provide the diagnostic mod, full console logs, additional tests or a minimal reproduction addon if that would help.

Thanks!