Let me tell you how to fix RK-s-Explosions Mod on the latest FAF game

[ZBC]

As we all know, RK-s-Explosions Mod is the coolest explosion effects mod for FA, but it doesn't work on the latest version of faf now. Since I can't contact with the author (I'm a Chinese player so I can't use any common social programs like x, telegram or gmail).
Without the author's permission, I won't post the moded files, but I will tell you how to make it work on the latest 3812 version of the game by simply modifying a lua file.

[ZBC]

First, you should get the newest mod from github(Not FAF, the newest version hasn't be uploaded) : https://github.com/RK4000/RK-s-Explosions/releases
And then, you must rename the mod folder name from ''RK-s-Explosions-13'' to ''rks_explosions'', to make most of effects work.(Because the path of most effects in lua is still "rks_explosions", not "RK-s-Explosions-13")

[ZBC]

Then, let's go to the FAF github repository to find a key file:
https://github.com/FAForever/fa/blob/develop/lua/defaultexplosions.lua
Download it and compare it to rks_explosions\hook\lua\defaultexplosions.lua;
We can see that the contents of the function “CreateScalableUnitExplosion” have changed considerably. That is why the mod doesn't work properly.
A simple solution is to overwrite the defaultexplosions.lua file in the mod with the same file in FAF, and then using your text editor, modify"function CreateScalableUnitExplosion "to the following form:
function CreateScalableUnitExplosion(unit, debrisMultiplier, circularDebris)

debrisMultiplier = debrisMultiplier or 1
circularDebris = circularDebris or false

if unit and (not IsDestroyed(unit)) then
    if IsUnit(unit) then

        -- cache blueprint values
        local blueprint = EntityGetBlueprint(unit)
        local sx = blueprint.SizeX or 1 
        local sy = blueprint.SizeY or 1 
        local sz = blueprint.SizeZ or 1 

        -- cache stats 
        local army = unit.Army
        local boundingXZRadius = 0.25 * (sx + sz)
        local boundingXYZRadius = 0.166 * (sx + sy + sz)
        local volume = sx * sy * sz
        local layer = unit.Layer

        -- data for emitters / shaking
        local baseEffects = false
        local environmentEffects = false 
        local shakeTimeModifier = 0
        local shakeMaxMul = 1

        if layer == 'Land' then
            -- determine land effects
            if boundingXZRadius < 1.1 then
                baseEffects =  NEffectTemplate.ExplosionSmallest
            elseif boundingXZRadius > 3.75 then
                -- large units cause camera to shake
                baseEffects = NEffectTemplate.ExplosionSmall
                ShakeTimeModifier = 1.0
                ShakeMaxMul = 0.25
            else
                baseEffects = NEffectTemplate.ExplosionSmaller
            end

            -- environment effects (splat / decal creation)
            local position = EntityGetPosition(unit)
            local scorchRotation = 6.28 * Random()
            local scorchDuration = 200 + 150 * Random()
            local scorchLOD = 300 + 300 * Random()
            if boundingXZRadius > 1.2 then
                CreateDecal(
                    position, 
                    scorchRotation, 
                    UpvaluedScorchDecalTextures[Random(1, ScorchDecalTexturesN)], 
                    '', 
                    'Albedo', 
                    boundingXZRadius, 
                    boundingXZRadius, 
                    scorchLOD, 
                    scorchDuration, 
                    army
                )
            else
                CreateSplat(
                    position, 
                    scorchRotation, 
                    UpvaluedScorchSplatTextures[Random(1, ScorchSplatTexturesN)], 
                    boundingXZRadius, 
                    boundingXZRadius, 
                    scorchLOD,
                    scorchDuration, 
                    army
                )
            end

        elseif layer == 'Air' then
            -- determine air effects
            if boundingXZRadius < 1.1 then
                baseEffects = ExplosionSmallAir
            elseif boundingXZRadius > 7 then
                -- large units cause camera to shake
                baseEffects = ExplosionLarge
                ShakeTimeModifier = 1.0
                ShakeMaxMul = 0.25
            else
                baseEffects = ExplosionMedium
            end
        elseif layer == 'Water' then
            -- determine water effects
            if boundingXZRadius < 2 then
                baseEffects = ExplosionSmallWater
            elseif boundingXZRadius > 3.6 then
                -- large units cause camera to shake
                baseEffects = ExplosionMediumWater
                ShakeTimeModifier = 1.0
                ShakeMaxMul = 0.25
            else
                baseEffects = ExplosionMediumWater
            end

            -- environment effects
            if boundingXZRadius < 1.0 then
                environmentEffects = Splashy
            end
        end

        -- create the emitters  
        if baseEffects then 
            CreateEffectsOpti(unit, army, baseEffects)
        end

        if environmentEffects then 
            CreateEffectsOpti(unit, army, environmentEffects)       
        end    

        -- create the flash
        CreateLightParticle(
            unit, 
            -1, 
            army, 
            boundingXZRadius * (2 + 1 * Random()),  -- (2, 3)
            10.5 + 4 * Random(), -- (10.5, 14.5)
            'glow_03', 
            'ramp_flare_02'
        )

        -- determine debris amount
        local amount = debrisMultiplier * MathMin(Random(1 + (boundingXYZRadius * 6), (boundingXYZRadius * 15)) , 100)

        -- determine debris velocity range
        local velocity = 2 * boundingXYZRadius
        local hVelocity = 0.5 * velocity

        -- determine heading adjustments for debris origin
        local heading = -1 * unit:GetHeading() -- inverse heading because Supreme Commander :)
        local mch = MathCos(heading)
        local msh = MathSin(heading)

        -- make it slightly smaller so that debris originates from mesh and not from the air
        sx = 0.8 * sx 
        sy = 0.8 * sy 
        sz = 0.8 * sz

        -- create debris
        for i = 1, amount do

            -- get some random numbers
            local r1, r2, r3 = Random(), Random(), Random() 

            -- position somewhere in the size of the unit
            local xpos = r1 * sx - (sx * 0.5)
            local ypos = 0.1 * sy + 0.5 * r2 * sy
            local zpos = r3 * sz - (sz * 0.5)

            -- launch them into space
            local xdir, ydir, zdir 
            if circularDebris then 
                xdir = velocity * r1 - (hVelocity)
                ydir = velocity * r2 - (hVelocity)
                zdir = velocity * r3 - (hVelocity)
            else 
                xdir = velocity * r1 - (hVelocity)
                ydir = boundingXYZRadius + velocity * r2
                zdir = velocity * r3 - (hVelocity)
            end

            -- choose a random blueprint
            local bp = ProjectileDebrisBps[MathMin(ProjectileDebrisBpsN, Random(1, i))]

            EntityCreateProjectile(
                unit, 
                bp, 
                xpos * mch - zpos * msh, -- adjust for orientation of unit
                ypos, 
                xpos * msh + zpos * mch, -- adjust for orientation of unit
                xdir * mch - zdir * msh, -- adjust for orientation of unit 
                ydir, 
                xdir * msh + zdir * mch  -- adjust for orientation of unit
            )
        end

        -- do camera shake
        EntityShakeCamera(unit, 30 * boundingXZRadius, boundingXZRadius * shakeMaxMul, 0, 0.5 + shakeTimeModifier)
    end
end

end

[ZBC]

And, you need to add the following definition to the beginning of the moded defaultexplosions.lua file:
"local SDEffectTemplate = import('/mods/rks_explosions/lua/SDEffectTemplates.lua')
local NEffectTemplate = import('/mods/rks_explosions/lua/NEffectTemplates.lua')"
Then you'll see that the mod will almost work (but there are still some units with incorrect fire effects, such as the Experimental Bomber, which will require some more detailed modifications, which I'm still working on)

[Blackrobe]

Nice!

[Doompants]

I always thought Aeon planes exploding in green fire was a bit much, but it was a small price to pay to get the oil slicks after a massive naval battle... god those added so much to ocean combat.

[JamCrumpet]

Can I get some help with this
Ive followed to the best of my understanding the instructions above, but it still seems to cause massive issues

For one, none of the campaign missions are playable, they dont load objectives, scenes or dialogue at all, using the mod also changes all the units that spawn in, as well as your buildable units and tech levels seemingly randomly
There is no effects, such as no build effects, animations on factories etc

Im assuming I did something wrong? I replaced the mod lua with the one linked above, then edited it and replaced the entire block below Createscalableunitexplosion as stated with the provided one, confirmed it lined up with the end argument too
Finally I added the last two lines to the very top of the lua, right where the other "local" lines are.
Does anyone just have a working modded LUA or text dump of one?

[JamCrumpet]

I've actually managed to fix it, annoyingly easily. I'll post my findings here in case any other person is searching around like I was, and couldnt get it to work.
For me it was very, very simple: Make sure you have no prior version just in case, the FAF client mod version is only V12, not V13, so make sure its not in the mods folder at all just to be safe
Download the V13 mod as linked above
Rename the mod folder, as instructed above, to 'rks_explosions'
Youre done, thats it, it works out of the box for me. It was modifying the lua file that was breaking it just like V12 is broken, causing weird changes in spawning, animations, enemies, campaigns, and even skirmish maps.

Im not sure why I had this issue where ZBC wasnt having it, though, maybe we have different versions of FAF launcher? I downloaded mine just last week from the main website, considering the mod on the FAF launcher is outdated despite being published in 2020 yet updated between then and now, im willing to bet there is just a general lack of maintenance causing issues with versions that makes V13 work for me but not ZBC.

Personally I find it shocking I didnt see the V13 version anywhere despite dozens of minutes of googling, the FAF client is several years out of date with the mod, which is tragic since thats how most people will find and install the mod - and it wont work. Not only is it hard to figure out its that specific mod causing issues, I mean "its just a graphics mod, why would that mod stop the commander spawning or place a T3 cybran destroyer in my base at spawn?" but its such a good mod that id consider it one of the top 10 essential mods, just with how good it makes the game look.

The mod listed on the FAF website under its own page is only V12 simply stating V13 is "coming", since that was 2020 any normal person would assume it was abandoned. and then assume its just forever broken.
The mod on modDB is also only V12.

Its by pure luck and chance I just happened to google the right combination of keywords to find this thread and my answer and a link to the V13 mod, despite literally searching RK Explosions, if I hadnt found this thread id never assume V13 existed. Itd be nice for all the relevant pages to be updated with up to date mods or links, especially the launcher.

Anyway I want to thank ZBC, not only for trying to help, but also instructing me about changing the mods folder name, even though for me the V13 mod worked without editing, I would never have known to check that one specific lua, nor to identify I needed to rename the mod, for it to work.

[ZBC]

@JamCrumpet I'm sorry that I didn't solve your problem, but I still need to explain it further.
As I mentioned at the beginning of my post, the latest v13 version of the RK-s-Explosions Mod needs to be downloaded from the author's github, not moddb, and not faforever. my solution is also for the problem that exists with v13, not v12.