DCS_MissionDev/Moose_DynamicGroundBattle/PLUGIN_README.md

Dynamic Ground Battle Plugin

Overview

This is a plugin version of the Dynamic Ground Battle system designed to work alongside Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua.

Key difference from the standalone version:

• ✅ Uses zones from Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua (no duplicate zone management)
• ✅ Handles ONLY warehouse system + AI spawning + task assignment
• ✅ Zone capture, colors, messaging, win conditions = handled by DualCoalitionZoneCapture
• ✅ Cleaner separation of concerns

Load Order (Critical!)

In your Mission Editor → Triggers → Mission Start:

1. DO SCRIPT FILE Moose_.lua
2. DO SCRIPT FILE Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua  ← Must load FIRST
3. DO SCRIPT FILE Moose_DynamicGroundBattle_Plugin.lua ← This file
4. DO SCRIPT FILE CTLD.lua (optional)
5. DO SCRIPT FILE CSAR.lua (optional)

What This Plugin Does

✅ Warehouse System

• Red/Blue warehouses affect reinforcement spawn rates
• 100% alive = 100% spawn rate
• 50% alive = 50% spawn rate (2x delay)
• 0% alive = no more spawns
• Map markers show warehouse locations and intel

✅ Dynamic AI Spawning

• Spawns infantry and armor groups in friendly zones only
• Zones come from DualCoalitionZoneCapture's ZONE_CONFIG
• As zones are captured/lost, spawn locations automatically update
• Configurable limits and spawn frequencies

✅ AI Task Assignment

• Groups patrol toward nearest enemy zone
• Reassignment every 600s (configurable)
• Only idle units get new orders (moving units ignored)
• Infantry movement can be disabled

✅ CTLD Integration

• Dropped troops automatically get AI tasking
• Works seamlessly with logistics operations

What This Plugin Does NOT Do

• ❌ Zone capture logic (handled by DualCoalitionZoneCapture)
• ❌ Zone coloring/messaging (handled by DualCoalitionZoneCapture)
• ❌ Win conditions (handled by DualCoalitionZoneCapture)
• ❌ Scoring (handled by DualCoalitionZoneCapture)

Configuration

Edit the top section of Moose_DynamicGroundBattle_Plugin.lua:

Infantry Movement

local MOVING_INFANTRY_PATROLS = false  -- Set true to enable infantry patrols

Warehouse Markers

local ENABLE_WAREHOUSE_MARKERS = true
local UPDATE_MARK_POINTS_SCHED = 300  -- Update every 5 minutes

Spawn Settings

-- Red Side
local INIT_RED_INFANTRY = 5
local MAX_RED_INFANTRY = 100
local SPAWN_SCHED_RED_INFANTRY = 1800  -- Every 30 minutes

local INIT_RED_ARMOR = 25
local MAX_RED_ARMOR = 200
local SPAWN_SCHED_RED_ARMOR = 300      -- Every 5 minutes

-- Blue Side
local INIT_BLUE_INFANTRY = 5
local MAX_BLUE_INFANTRY = 100
local SPAWN_SCHED_BLUE_INFANTRY = 1800

local INIT_BLUE_ARMOR = 25
local MAX_BLUE_ARMOR = 200
local SPAWN_SCHED_BLUE_ARMOR = 300

-- Task Assignment
local ASSIGN_TASKS_SCHED = 600  -- Reassign idle units every 10 minutes

Warehouses

local redWarehouses = {
    STATIC:FindByName("RedWarehouse1-1"),
    STATIC:FindByName("RedWarehouse2-1"),
    -- Add more as needed
}

local blueWarehouses = {
    STATIC:FindByName("BlueWarehouse1-1"),
    STATIC:FindByName("BlueWarehouse2-1"),
    -- Add more as needed
}

Unit Templates

local redInfantryTemplates = {
    "RedInfantry1",
    "RedInfantry2",
    -- Add more for variety
}

local redArmorTemplates = {
    "RedArmor1",
    "RedArmor2",
    -- Add more for variety
}

-- Same for blue side...

Mission Editor Setup

Required Groups (All LATE ACTIVATE)

Red Side:

• Infantry: RedInfantry1, RedInfantry2, RedInfantry3, RedInfantry4, RedInfantry5, RedInfantry6
• Armor: RedArmor1, RedArmor2, RedArmor3, RedArmor4, RedArmor5, RedArmor6

Blue Side:

• Infantry: BlueInfantry1, BlueInfantry2, BlueInfantry3, BlueInfantry4, BlueInfantry5, BlueInfantry6
• Armor: BlueArmor1, BlueArmor2, BlueArmor3, BlueArmor4, BlueArmor5

Required Static Objects (Warehouses)

Red Side:

• Static objects with Unit Name (not Name field!): RedWarehouse1-1, RedWarehouse2-1, RedWarehouse3-1, etc.

Blue Side:

• Static objects with Unit Name: BlueWarehouse1-1, BlueWarehouse2-1, BlueWarehouse3-1, etc.

⚠️ Important: Warehouses use the "Unit Name" field in the static object properties, not the "Name" field!

Zone Configuration

Zones come from Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua. Edit that file's ZONE_CONFIG:

local ZONE_CONFIG = {
  RED = {
    "Capture Zone-1",
    "Capture Zone-2",
    "Capture Zone-3",
  },
  
  BLUE = {
    "Capture Zone-4",
    "Capture Zone-5",
    "Capture Zone-6",
  },
  
  NEUTRAL = {}
}

F10 Menu

• Ground Battle → Check Warehouse Status - Shows current warehouse count and reinforcement capacity

Integration Points

With DualCoalitionZoneCapture

• Reads zoneCaptureObjects and zoneNames arrays
• Dynamically spawns in zones controlled by the appropriate coalition
• AI routes to enemy zones based on current ownership

With CTLD

• Any troops dropped via CTLD in friendly zones will automatically receive AI tasking
• They'll patrol toward nearest enemy zone like spawned units

Performance & Memory Safety

This plugin version includes all the memory leak fixes from the standalone version:

✅ Marker cleanup prevents orphaning
✅ Reuses SET_GROUP instead of recreating
✅ Uses SCHEDULER instead of recursive TIMERs
✅ Efficient zone polling

Troubleshooting

"ERROR: Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua must be loaded BEFORE this plugin!"

• Check your trigger load order
• DualCoalitionZoneCapture must be loaded in an earlier trigger

Units not spawning

• Check dcs.log for errors
• Verify warehouse static objects exist with correct Unit Names
• Verify template groups exist and are set to LATE ACTIVATE
• Check that friendly zones exist (units only spawn in controlled zones)

Units not moving

• If infantry: check MOVING_INFANTRY_PATROLS setting
• Verify enemy zones exist for AI to target
• Check dcs.log for task assignment messages ([DGB PLUGIN])

Warehouse markers not showing

• Set ENABLE_WAREHOUSE_MARKERS = true
• Check warehouse static objects are alive
• Markers update every UPDATE_MARK_POINTS_SCHED seconds

Version History

• 1.0.0 (2024-11-15) - Initial plugin version
  • Extracted from standalone Dynamic Ground Battle
  • Integrated with DualCoalitionZoneCapture
  • Added memory leak fixes
  • Dynamic zone-based spawning