A dynamic zone capture and control system for DCS World missions using the MOOSE framework. This script enables territory-based gameplay where RED and BLUE coalitions compete to capture and hold strategic zones across the battlefield.

🎯 Features

🎨 Visual Feedback: Color-coded zone boundaries (Red/Blue/Green/Orange) that change dynamically
💨 Smoke Signals: Automatic smoke markers indicating zone status
📍 Tactical Information: Real-time force composition and MGRS coordinates for enemies
🏆 Victory Conditions: Automatic win detection when one coalition captures all zones
📻 F10 Radio Menu: Player-accessible status reports and progress tracking
⚙️ Highly Configurable: Simple zone ownership configuration via Lua tables
🔄 Dual Coalition: Full support for both RED and BLUE coalitions
📊 Auto-Reporting: Periodic status updates every 5 minutes
🎮 Player-Friendly: Clear messaging and intuitive state transitions

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

DCS World (version 2.9 or higher)
MOOSE Framework (Download here)
Basic knowledge of DCS Mission Editor

Installation

Download the files:
- Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua - Main script
- Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.miz - Example mission
- Moose_.lua - MOOSE framework (get latest version)
In DCS Mission Editor:
- Create trigger zones for each capture point (e.g., "Capture Zone-1", "Capture Severomorsk")
- Create two groups: BLUEHQ (any BLUE ground unit) and REDHQ (any RED ground unit)
Configure zones in Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua:

local ZONE_CONFIG = {
  RED = {
    "Capture Zone-1",
    "Capture Zone-2"
  },
  BLUE = {
    "Capture Zone-3",
    "Capture Zone-4"
  },
  NEUTRAL = {
    -- Empty zones at mission start
  }
}

Load scripts via Mission Start trigger:
- Action 1: DO SCRIPT FILE → Moose_.lua
- Action 2: DO SCRIPT FILE → Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua
Save and test your mission!

📖 How It Works

Zone States

Zones transition between four distinct states:

State	Color	Smoke	Description
RED Controlled	🔴 Red Border	Red	Zone secured by RED coalition
BLUE Controlled	🔵 Blue Border	Blue	Zone secured by BLUE coalition
Neutral/Empty	🟢 Green Border	Green	Uncontrolled, ready for capture
Contested	🟠 Orange Border	White	Multiple coalitions present - fighting for control

Capture Mechanics

To Capture: Move ground units into a zone
To Hold: Eliminate all enemy forces in the zone
To Win: Capture ALL zones on the map

The script automatically scans zones every 30 seconds (configurable) and updates ownership based on unit presence.

Tactical Information Markers

Each zone displays real-time tactical data:

TACTICAL: Capture Severomorsk-1
Forces: R:5 B:12
TGTS: T-90@38U LV 12345 67890, BTR-80@38U LV 12346 67891

Force Counts: Number of units per coalition
MGRS Coordinates: Precise enemy locations (when ≤10 units)
Coalition-Specific: Each side sees their enemies marked

⚙️ Configuration Options

Zone Settings

local ZONE_SETTINGS = {
  guardDelay = 1,        -- Seconds before entering Guard state after capture
  scanInterval = 30,     -- How often to scan for units (seconds)
  captureScore = 200     -- Points awarded for zone capture
}

Performance Tuning

For missions with many units:

scanInterval = 60  -- Scan less frequently

For fast-paced action:

scanInterval = 15  -- More responsive zone changes

Logging Control

Disable detailed logging:

CAPTURE_ZONE_LOGGING = { enabled = false }

👥 Player Features

Players access zone information via F10 → Zone Control:

Get Zone Status Report: Current ownership of all zones
Check Victory Progress: Percentage toward victory
Refresh Zone Colors: Manually redraw zone boundaries

Automatic Notifications

✅ Zone capture/loss announcements
⚠️ Attack warnings when zones are contested
📊 Status reports every 5 minutes
🏆 Victory alerts at 80% and 100% completion
🎉 Victory countdown with celebratory effects

🎮 Example Mission

The included Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.miz demonstrates:

Proper zone configuration
HQ group placement
Script loading order
AI patrol patterns for testing
All visual and messaging features

Use this mission as a template for your own scenarios!

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

❌ Script Won't Load

Error: "attempt to index a nil value"

Cause: MOOSE not loaded first
Fix: Ensure load order is MOOSE → Capture Script

❌ Zone Not Found

Error: "Zone 'X' not found in mission editor!"

Cause: Zone name mismatch
Fix: Verify zone names match EXACTLY (case-sensitive!)

⚠️ Zones Not Capturing

Only ground units count.
Wait 30 seconds for scan cycle
Eliminate ALL enemy forces to capture
Check DCS.log for detailed information
Increase logging and capture logs before reaching out to me. Happy to help troubleshoot. Discord info below.

Checking Logs

Open Saved Games\DCS\Logs\DCS.log and search for:

[CAPTURE Module] - General logging
[INIT] - Initialization messages
[TACTICAL] - Tactical marker updates
[VICTORY] - Victory condition checks

🏗️ Mission Design Tips

Best Practices

Zone Size: Large enough for tactical areas, avoid overlaps
Zone Placement: Position over airbases, FOBs, strategic terrain
Starting Balance: Consider defensive vs. offensive scenarios
AI Behavior: Use "Ground Hold" or "Ground On Road" waypoints
Player Briefing: Document F10 menu commands in mission brief

Integration with Other Scripts

Access zone data from other scripts:

-- Get current ownership status
local status = GetZoneOwnershipStatus()
-- Returns: { blue = X, red = Y, neutral = Z, total = N, zones = {...} }

-- Manual status broadcast
BroadcastZoneStatus()

-- Refresh zone visuals
RefreshAllZoneColors()

Victory Flags

The script sets user flags on victory:

BLUE_VICTORY = 1 when BLUE wins
RED_VICTORY = 1 when RED wins

Use these in triggers to end missions or transition to next phase.

📋 Requirements

Essential Components

✅ DCS World 2.9 or higher
✅ MOOSE Framework (latest version)
✅ Trigger zones in mission editor
✅ BLUEHQ and REDHQ groups

Mission Prerequisites

At least one trigger zone per capture point
Exact zone name matching between editor and Lua config
Both HQ groups must exist (can be hidden/inactive)

📞 Support & Resources

Get Help

F99th Mission Maker Discord Community: https://discord.gg/kTNmMScQNf
Author: F99th-TracerFacer
GitHub Issues: Report bugs or request features: https://github.com/users/iTracerFacer/projects/3

Additional Resources

📄 License

This script is provided free for use in DCS World missions. Feel free to modify and distribute.

🙏 Credits

Author: F99th-TracerFacer
Discord: https://discord.gg/NdZ2JuSU (The Fighting 99th Discord Server where I spend most of my time.)
Framework: MOOSE by FlightControl
Community: DCS World Mission Makers

🎯 Version History

Version 2.0 (Current)

✨ Full dual coalition support (RED & BLUE)
✨ Tactical information markers with MGRS coordinates
✨ Auto-victory detection and countdown
✨ F10 radio menu commands
✨ Periodic status reports
✨ Enhanced visual feedback system
✨ Configurable zone ownership via Lua tables

Version 1.0

Initial release
Basic zone capture mechanics
Single coalition focus

🎮 Happy Mission Making! 🚁

Created with ❤️ for the DCS World Community

Discord • Documentation • Report Issue

README.md

MOOSE Dual Coalition Zone Capture System