# Open questions

Each links to the finding that raised it. Promoted to backlog or closed by **re-quartermaster**.

- **Compiler archive mismatch** — imports say MSVCR100/MSVCP100 (VS2010), but Ghidra applied
  `windows_vs12_32` datatypes (closest available). Confirm the exact toolchain from the PE Rich
  header; decide which datatype archive best fits. (from [[01-fingerprint]])
- **Battle-load root cause** — inferred as single-threaded engine + core-count-sensitive code;
  must be confirmed by a `ForceSingleCore=0` vs `=1` diff once the main loop is mapped.
  (from [[00-strategy]])
- **Save-editor struct coverage** — community editors cover players/tech/systems; fleet/combat
  state coverage may be partial. Treat as strong hints, verify each field against real saves.
- **Lockstep determinism** — `@SYNC ERROR DETECTED: Frame %d` indicates a deterministic lockstep sim. Big for reimplementation + old-vs-new differential (determinism makes equivalence checkable frame-by-frame). Confirm scope. (from [[strings-and-config]])
- **Mods override mechanism** — `.gob` = `gobio::ZipFileSystem` with a `NativeFileSystem` loose-file override; this is how `./Mods` wins over archived files. Verify load order. (from [[strings-and-config]])
- **Battle-load root cause** — the shipped fix is a blunt process-affinity pin (`FUN_0089ee70`) with NO CPU-topology detection, so there is no adaptive branch. The real cause is emergent multi-core contention: which thread(s)? Investigate the 3 `CreateThread` sites (`FUN_00902350`, `FUN_00736e30`, startup `FUN_008a0e50`), the streaming-sound thread, and lockstep sync waits. (from [[ghidra-recon]])
- **Save-struct contradictions (R1 vs R2)** — field widths (`Abdn`/`Dstyd`/`ltis` Int16 vs Int32; `Bats2`), R2's `OID = PID*16` owner-handle claim, species id 4 (`_NPC` vs 'AI Rebellion'). Resolve against the binary's Streamable read code. (from [[save-editor-structs]])
- **Unlabeled save blocks** — `CdPlayer` (unknown1..35), empty `SimSystemDetailSpy`, opaque ~2500 B RNG blob. Analyst targets once the Streamable readers are located. (from [[save-editor-structs]])