Mission Makers Guide

Since v1.7.4, AI Zeus ships as a full set of Eden Editor and Zeus curator modules. Modules are the primary drag-and-drop UX for configuring and directing AI Zeus, and the text-based marker directives described below remain as a parallel option. Both systems share the same directive array under the hood, so priority sorting, multi-group assignment (up to 3 groups per directive), and counter-attack logic apply across markers and modules combined.

Eden Modules (5)

Open the F5 module panel in the editor and drag these from the AI Zeus category:

• AI Zeus - Init Settings — Singleton configuration module. Place one per mission to set the controlled and enemy sides, skill preset, and 12 subsystem toggles (CAS, artillery, reinforcements, escalation, medics, transport, garrison, patrol, suppression, vision limiter, night ops, debug). AI Zeus auto-starts once the module is placed — you no longer need an initServer.sqf.
• AI Zeus - Attack — Place at a position. Sync groups to assign them directly, or leave unsynced to register a directive that picks up nearby groups automatically by range. Priority attribute accepts 1-99 (lower = higher priority).
• AI Zeus - Defend — Place at a position. Up to 3 groups are assigned over successive scans. Optional radius override. When surplus defenders are available and a threat appears nearby, the extra groups run counter-attack sorties and return to the defense when the threat is clear.
• AI Zeus - Defend Object — Sync to any object (building, vehicle, crate). Defense style adapts to the target: buildings get garrison + perimeter, vehicles and crates get a close guard ring. Defenders dynamically reposition if the object moves, and are released if it is destroyed.
• AI Zeus - Defend Area — Place on the map and optionally set a radius (or leave 0 to auto-detect the nearest town boundary). Groups are distributed ~40% garrison, ~30% threat-oriented perimeter, ~30% patrol. Falls back to a linked AIZEUS_DEFEND_* marker when surviving groups drop below 40% of peak.

Zeus Curator Modules (4)

During gameplay, curators can place these from the Zeus module tree to create live directives:

• AI Zeus - Attack Position — Place to create a live attack directive at the target location
• AI Zeus - Defend Position — Place to create a live defend directive with optional radius
• AI Zeus - Defend Object — Attach to an object for adaptive defense (same adaptive logic as the Eden version)
• AI Zeus - Patrol Area — Assign patrol behavior to the attached group or the nearest unassigned group

Deleting a Zeus module automatically cleans up its directive via the Deleted event handler, so assigned groups are released and become available for new orders.

Custom Waypoint Types (3)

Right-click a group in Eden and choose Add Waypoint to access new waypoint types under the AI Zeus category:

• AI Zeus: Patrol Area — Group patrols the area around the waypoint with a configurable radius
• AI Zeus: Garrison Buildings — Group garrisons nearby buildings when they reach the waypoint, then continues to the next waypoint when the next one is set
• AI Zeus: Garrison & Hold — Garrisons buildings permanently with PATH AI disabled so the group holds indefinitely

How Modules Coexist with Markers

Module directives live in AIZEUS_moduleDirectives and marker directives live in the marker scan output. The two arrays are merged before every execution pass, so the priority sort, the 3-group cap per directive, and counter-attack logic all see a single combined set. You can mix and match — for example, use Eden modules for the planned objectives and drop markers or Zeus modules at runtime to react to emergent situations.

AI Zeus supports map markers that let you direct groups to attack or defend specific positions and objects. Create markers in the editor or at runtime.

Attack Markers

Name any marker starting with AIZEUS_ATTACK_ to assign nearby groups to attack that position:

AIZEUS_ATTACK_hilltop      // Groups attack the hilltop
AIZEUS_ATTACK_1_bridge     // Priority 1 (highest) - attack bridge first
AIZEUS_ATTACK_2_compound   // Priority 2 - attack compound second

Defend Markers

Name markers starting with AIZEUS_DEFEND_ to assign groups to hold positions:

AIZEUS_DEFEND_base         // Groups defend the base
AIZEUS_DEFEND_1_hq         // Priority 1 - most important to defend

Defend Object Markers

Name markers starting with AIZEUS_DEFEND_OBJ_ to assign groups to defend a specific object. The defense style adapts automatically — buildings get garrisoned with a perimeter, while vehicles and crates get a close guard ring.

AIZEUS_DEFEND_OBJ_ammoCache       // Defend object with variable name "ammoCache"
AIZEUS_DEFEND_OBJ_1_radarTower    // Priority 1 - defend "radarTower"
AIZEUS_DEFEND_OBJ_my_ammo_cache   // Variable name with underscores: "my_ammo_cache"

Objects are resolved by variable name first. If no matching variable is found, AI Zeus auto-detects the nearest significant object within 25m of the marker. Groups will reposition if the defended object moves, and are released if it is destroyed.

Priority System

Add a number (1-99) after the prefix to set execution priority. Lower numbers = higher priority:

• AIZEUS_ATTACK_1_objective - Highest priority, executed first
• AIZEUS_DEFEND_OBJ_2_ammoCache - Priority 2, defend named object
• AIZEUS_ATTACK_50_secondary - Medium priority
• AIZEUS_ATTACK_99_cleanup - Lowest priority, executed last

Multi-Group Defense

DEFEND and DEFEND_OBJ markers can receive up to 3 groups (configurable via AIZEUS_markers_maxGroupsPerMarker). Groups are assigned over successive scans as they move within range.

Defend Area Markers

Name markers starting with AIZEUS_DEFEND_AREA_ to defend an entire town or village. Groups are automatically distributed across garrison, perimeter, and patrol roles. Perimeter groups orient toward the nearest threat using doctrine-based 120-degree arc positioning:

AIZEUS_DEFEND_AREA_Kavala        // Defend the town with up to 8 groups
AIZEUS_DEFEND_AREA_1_Pyrgos      // Priority 1 - defend Pyrgos first

Place a matching AIZEUS_DEFEND_* marker as a fallback position. When the area defense is overwhelmed (below 40% surviving groups), remaining groups retreat to the fallback:

AIZEUS_DEFEND_AREA_Alpha         // Defends the town
AIZEUS_DEFEND_Alpha              // Fallback position (linked by suffix)

Counter-Attack Sorties

When a defended marker has surplus groups and a threat is detected nearby, the extra groups will automatically counter-attack. After the threat is eliminated or 180 seconds pass, they return to defense. At least 1 group always stays at the marker (configurable via AIZEUS_counterAttack_minDefenders).

Dynamic Markers

Markers can be created or deleted at runtime. Groups are automatically released when their assigned marker is deleted or their defended object is destroyed, making them available for new orders.

waitUntil {!isNil "AIZEUS_fnc_init"};
AIZEUS_controlledSide = west;
AIZEUS_enemySide = east;
[] call AIZEUS_fnc_init;

waitUntil {!isNil "AIZEUS_fnc_init"};
AIZEUS_controlledSide = independent;
AIZEUS_enemySide = west;
[] call AIZEUS_fnc_init;

waitUntil {!isNil "AIZEUS_fnc_init"};
AIZEUS_skill_preset = "HARD";
AIZEUS_casAvailable = false;
AIZEUS_artyAvailable = false;
[] call AIZEUS_fnc_init;

waitUntil {!isNil "AIZEUS_fnc_init"};
AIZEUS_patrol_enabled = false;
AIZEUS_ambush_enabled = false;
AIZEUS_reinforcementsAvailable = false;
[] call AIZEUS_fnc_init;

Complete Configuration Reference

Variable	Default	Description
AIZEUS_enabled	true	Enable AI Zeus
AIZEUS_debug	false	Debug markers and logging
AIZEUS_controlledSide	east	Side AI Zeus commands
AIZEUS_enemySide	west	Enemy side
AIZEUS_skill_preset	"MEDIUM"	EASY, MEDIUM, HARD, VANILLA
AIZEUS_casAvailable	true	Close Air Support
AIZEUS_artyAvailable	true	Artillery support
AIZEUS_reinforcementsAvailable	true	Reinforcement spawning
AIZEUS_garrison_enabled	true	Building garrison
AIZEUS_patrol_enabled	true	Patrol system
AIZEUS_ambush_enabled	true	Ambush behavior
AIZEUS_night_enabled	true	Night operations
AIZEUS_medic_enabled	true	Medic system
AIZEUS_vehicle_enabled	true	Vehicle coordination
AIZEUS_hc_enabled	true	Headless client support
Self-Preservation (v1.7.5)
AIZEUS_preservation_enabled	true	Master toggle for all four self-preservation systems
AIZEUS_veh_damageRetreat	0.5	Vehicle damage threshold to withdraw from contact
AIZEUS_veh_damageBailout	0.8	Vehicle damage threshold to force crew bailout
AIZEUS_veh_fuelRetreat	0.2	Vehicle fuel threshold to RTB
AIZEUS_veh_retreatDistance	300	Vehicle withdrawal distance (meters)
AIZEUS_remnant_threshold	2	Max survivors before a group is flagged as a remnant
AIZEUS_remnant_mergeRange	300	Max range to find a merge target (meters)
AIZEUS_groupRetreat_threshold	0.5	Per-group casualty % to trigger fallback
AIZEUS_groupRetreat_cooldown	60	Seconds before a retreated group accepts new orders
AIZEUS_groupRetreat_distance	200	Fallback distance from nearest enemy (meters)
AIZEUS_ambush_breakCasualty	0.3	Ambush casualty % to break contact
AIZEUS_ambush_breakReinforcement	2.0	Enemy count multiplier that triggers break-contact

Verification Script

Add this to your mission to confirm AI Zeus started:

[] spawn {
    sleep 10;
    if (AIZEUS_enabled) then {
        systemChat format ["AI Zeus active - controlling %1 with %2 units",
            AIZEUS_controlledSide, count AIZEUS_friendlyUnits];
    } else {
        systemChat "AI Zeus NOT running";
    };
};

Server RPT Output

When AI Zeus starts successfully, your server RPT will show:

==============================================================
    AI ZEUS - Autonomous Battlefield Commander v1.8.1
==============================================================
    Status:     ACTIVE
    Controlling: OPFOR
    Units:       24
    Debug:       false
--------------------------------------------------------------
    SUPPORT
    CAS:         true
    Artillery:   true
    Reinforcements: true
==============================================================

Debug Mode

Enable debug visualization to see AI Zeus decisions:

AIZEUS_debug = true;
AIZEUS_debug_adminOnly = true;  // Only visible to admins

Debug mode shows:

• Red/orange/yellow markers for known enemies (color = intel quality)
• Red circles for active combat zones
• Environment type markers for each group
• Detailed decision logging in RPT