Usage Guide

1. MOOSE is an Object Oriented system.

MOOSE is an Object Oriented framework which provides different classes that take control of your simulation scenario.

1.1. Classes …

  • AI - Take control of the AI controlled groups and units to execute specific tasks and processes.
  • Tasking - Assign tasks to human players, and let them achieve goals for logical missions setup in your simulation scenario.
  • Functional - Apply additional functionalities on top of the standard DCS simulation capabilities.
  • Cargo - Declare cargo objects, which are handled by moose in various ways.
  • Wrapper - The default dcs classes are wrapped by moose wrapper classes, and provide additional funtionality and easier access.
  • Core - The default dcs simulation capabilities are enhanced by moose, and provide additional functionality and easier access.

You as a mission designer are required to study each class features, and evaluate whether you want to apply those features as part of your mission scenario.

1.2. Objects …

If you want to apply a class, you need to instantiate the class by creating an object of that class. Look at a class like the definition of a process, and the object applies the process. Multiple objects can be created of the same class, and this is the power of an Object Oriented system. These objects combine the combine Methods and Variables/Properties of the class as one encapsulated structure, that hold state and work independently from each other!

Look at the following example:

Here we use the SPAWN class, which you can use to spawn new groups into your running simulation scenario. The SPAWN class simplifies the process of spawning, and it has many methods to spawn new groups.

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-- This creates a new SpawnObject from the SPAWN class,
-- using the constructor :New() to instantiate a new SPAWN object.
-- It will search for the GroupName as the late activated group defined within your Mission Editor.
-- If found, the object "SpawnObject" will now contain a "copy" of the SPAWN class to apply the spawning process.
local SpawnObject = SPAWN:New( "GroupName" )

-- Nothing is spawned yet..., so let's use now the SpawnObject to spawn a new GROUP.
-- We use the method :Spawn() to do that.
--  This method creates a new group from the GroupName template as defined within the Mission Editor.
local SpawnGroup = SpawnObject:Spawn()

1.3. Inheritance …

MOOSE classes derive or inherit from each other, that means, within MOOSE there is an inheritance structure. The different moose classes are re-using properties and methods from its parent classes.

This powerful concept is used everywhere within the MOOSE framework. The main (Parent) Class in the MOOSE framework is the BASE class. Every MOOSE Class is derived from this top BASE Class. So is also the SPAWN class derived from the BASE class. The BASE class provides powerful methods for debugging, event handling and implements the class handling logic. As a normal MOOSE user, you won’t implement any code using inheritance, but just know that the inheritance structure is omni present in the intellisense and documentation. You’ll need to browse to the right MOOSE Class within the inheritance tree structure, to identify which methods are properties are defined for which class.

2. MOOSE Framework Classes

MOOSE contains a lot of classes that can be used to enhance your missions.

MOOSE framework

Each section has an overview explanation on the different classes that mission designers can use to design compelling simulation scenarios. It provides a short explanation of the concepts and its features, as well as important information to know in order to understand how to use the classes. For more detailed information on the class, you will be guided to more detailed documentation on each individual class.

Click on one of the next section links below to open the guides for each of the major areas that are covered by MOOSE.

2.1. MOOSE AI Classes

AI classes take control over the AI and makes the AI perform various processes. Some very complicated and enhanced classes are implemented to take control of AI. It uses the AI to create for you an enhanced simulation experience for your players.

Apply the AI classes to create a truly dynamic defense and attack system driven by AI.

2.2. MOOSE Tasking Classes

Tasking classes provide a comprehensive Mission Orchestration System for human players. Command Centers govern multiple missions to achieve a mission goal. Within each mission, various tasks are defined, which can be assigned to human players. Upon completion of each task, a mission goal can be achieved, which will result in score points.

Join the forces and apply the tasking classes to create a truly dynamic co-operative combat scenario.

2.3. MOOSE Cargo Classes

Cargo classes provide enhanced means to handle cargo transportation. Cargo requires a bit more explanation. MOOSE has implemented a separate system for cargo handling. It combines the capabilities of DCS world to combine infantry groups, cargo static objects and static objects as “cargo” objects. It also provides you with AI cargo transportation classes, and Tasking classes for human players, to transport cargo as part of a mission goal. In order to use these MOOSE cargo facilities, you’ll have to declare those groups and static objects in a special way within your scripts and/or within the mission editor. It is not a rocket science, but requires a bit of reading to trying to learn this new method. Once you’ve learned this, a new world will open :-)

Add the cargo capabilities, so that your mission scenarios are dynamically managing the combat resources.

2.4. MOOSE Functional Classes

MOOSE functional classes provide various functions that are useful in mission design. These classes vary and enhance the functionality of your simulation scenario.

Apply various functional classes, to enhance the functionality in your mission scenarios.

2.5. MOOSE Wrapper Classes

MOOSE wrapper classes provide an object oriented hierarchical mechanism to manage the DCS objects within the simulator. Wrapper classes provide a greatly enhanced functionality to control groups, units, statics, scenery, airbases etc.

Make life easy and use the wrapper classes to take control of individual DCS world objects.

2.6. MOOSE Core Classes

MOOSE core classes define the base building blocks of the MOOSE framework. The core classes utilize the DCS world core capability and greatly enhance its functionality. It also provides new mechanisms that provide you with new tools to create your simulation scenarios. Some of these methods are schedulers, event handlers, menu refreshing, enhanced messaging, sound, flags etc.

Learn and understand the different core classes, if you want to develop or enhance your mission scenarios.

3. MOOSE Demonstration Missions

The framework comes with demonstration missions which can be downloaded here, that you can try out and helps you to code. These missions provide examples of defined use cases how the MOOSE framework can be utilized. Each test mission is located in a separate directory, which contains at least one .lua file and .miz file. The .lua file contains the mission script file that shows how the use case was implemented. You can copy/paste code the code snippets from this .lua file into your missions, as it will accellerate your mission developments. You will learn, see, and understand how the different MOOSE classes need to be applied, and how you can create more complex mission scenarios by combining these MOOSE classes into a complex but powerful mission engine.

Some of these exact test missions are also demonstrated in a video format on the YouTube channel.