MOOSE Dual Coalition Zone Capture System

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

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

Installation

1. Download the files:

   • Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua - Main script
   • Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.miz - Example mission
   • Moose_.lua - MOOSE framework (get latest version)

2. 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)

3. 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
  }
}

4. Load scripts via Mission Start trigger:

   • Action 1: DO SCRIPT FILE → Moose_.lua
   • Action 2: DO SCRIPT FILE → Moose_DualCoalitionZoneCapture.lua

5. 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

F10 Radio Menu Commands

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, planes, and helicopters are scanned
• Wait 30 seconds for scan cycle
• Eliminate ALL enemy forces to capture
• Check DCS.log for detailed information

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

• Discord Community: https://discord.gg/7wBVWKK3
• Author: F99th-TracerFacer
• GitHub Issues: Report bugs or request features

Additional Resources

• MOOSE Documentation
• MOOSE Discord
• DCS Forums

📄 License

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

🙏 Credits

• Author: F99th-TracerFacer
• 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

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🎮 Happy Mission Making! 🚁

Created with ❤️ for the DCS World Community

Discord • Documentation • Report Issue