@DEVS: Please explain the values of the new encounter system

[Strayed]

@Devs

I like that you guys have come up with the Horde system manager to free up server resources, but the explanation pop up and also the patch notes just don't explain what the values mean.

To copy paste the patch notes:

New settings for Hordes and encounter manager:
scum.MaxAllowedCharacters=-1
-Maximum number of characters allowed to be present in the world (including players)
scum.EncounterBaseCharacterAmountMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the base amount of character spawned in a given encounter.
scum.EncounterExtraCharacterPerPlayerMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of extra character added to the base amount (per player)
scum.EncounterExtraCharacterPlayerCapMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of players relevant to the encounter where no more extra character are added.
scum.EncounterTotalCharactersSpawnedMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the total amount of character spawned in a given encounter.
scum.EncounterCharacterRespawnTimeMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the encounter character respawn time.
scum.EncounterCharacterRespawnBatchSizeMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the encounter character respawn batch size.
scum.EncounterCharacterAggressiveSpawnChanceOverride=-1.000000
-Override for encounter characters to spawn as already knowing the player's position (for all encounter types).
scum.EncounterCharacterAINoiseResponseRadiusMultiplier=1.000000
-Radius at which AI characters may hear another AI character's noise (e.g. puppet scream).
scum.EncounterHordeGroupBaseCharacterAmountMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the base amount of horde group characters spawned in a given encounter.
scum.EncounterHordeGroupExtraCharacterPerPlayerMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of extra horde group characters added to the base amount, per player.
scum.EncounterHordeGroupExtraCharacterPlayerCapMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of players relevant to the horde encounter group where no more extra characters are added.
scum.EncounterHordeBaseCharacterAmountMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the base amount of horde characters spawned in a given encounter.
scum.EncounterHordeExtraCharacterPerPlayerMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of extra horde characters added to the base amount, per player.
scum.EncounterHordeExtraCharacterPlayerCapMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of players relevant to the horde encounter where no more extra characters are added.
scum.EncounterHordeActivationChanceMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the chance to activate the horde in a horde encounter.
scum.EncounterHordeNoiseCheckCooldownMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the horde activation noise check cooldown time.
scum.EncounterHordeSpawnDistanceMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the distance at which horde characters are spawned.
scum.EncounterHordeGroupRefillTimeMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the time to refill horde group.
scum.EncounterCanRemoveLowPriorityCharacters=1
-If enabled it will remove any inactive puppets or puppets further away from the player in order to spawn in new ones. (only if the limit is being reached)
scum.EncounterCanClampCharacterNumWhenOutOfResources=1
-Can clamp encounter character base amount to min value after going over the limit.
scum.PuppetsCanOpenDoors=1
-puppets can open or close doors
scum.PuppetsCanVaultWindows=1
-puppets can vault through windows

I am short on time to sit for hours to play around with settings to find a fun balance for my players on my server

Can you please give some better details and clarification of what the values mean

For example,
scum.MaxAllowedCharacters=-1
-Maximum number of characters allowed to be present in the world (including players)
I apologise for my frustration, but clearly this is for NPC shooters however please explain what -1 means. Does -1 mean it's off -regardless of how many players are on the server; or does it mean that its persistent regardless of players on the server?

Next up
scum.EncounterExtraCharacterPerPlayerMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the amount of extra character added to the base amount (per player)
Is this if there's a number of players in a group? or is this for a server population?

scum.EncounterHordeBaseCharacterAmountMultiplier=1.000000
-Multiplier for the base amount of horde characters spawned in a given encounter.
How many Puppets spawn in an encounter!? what does 1 mean? is it one puppet? or is it 5?

I ask because this:
I have left the settings at default

I used the weapons factory in Z1 to test the horde manager. I spotted a couple of sentry puppets, so I killed two that were outside the walls but let the one inside the wall alive (I entered the compound via the Southern Gate near the ship loading dock.

The sentry puppet had not observed me at this time; I then alerted it. I sat on a crate and watched the manager do its thing. It eventually spawned in about 20 (possibly including the sentry) which these 'response' puppets magically dropped in at about a 20 to 30m range and could see me despite being in prone position (which I'm fine with them spotting me because that information would've been relayed via the sentry puppet)

Edit: additional
What's frustrating is that there's no information similar to the old external, internal spawner to show how many will spawn around a zone. Sure, in the patch notes it mentions three types of zones: high, medium and low but it doesn't specify what weight is placed on these zones. For example, the weapons factory had 5 sentries when I approached from the south -two near the guard box, one under the power line and two inside the wall which one was near the building to the left of the area and the other was in the building nearest the ship dock.... but there's no setting that tells me how many puppets will be populated at the weapons factory.... and then of course there's the confusing mess of the horde manager.......

I'm really worried about the bunkers now... because in the old server settings with max population and a 5 minute puppet respawn they were quite challenging and often puppets would clip through doors

[oynlengeymer]

For max number of living players anything below 0 it sets to default of 128. Players, mechs, animals (hopefully soon the beepers are ONLY in this pool) Obviously upping this number is going to affect performance. My question is, (in multiplayer) are 64 slots always reserved for players? or if there is say 10 people on the server, will animal spawns take those other 54 slots and despawn one by one if more players came to log in?