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Defining the Survivor’s Journey

In the vanilla DayZ environment, every survivor initializes their journey at a randomized coastal coordinate with minimal supplies. To differentiate your community and provide a more structured progression path, modern server owners use Spawn Selection and Custom Loadout systems. Whether you are hosting a hardcore roleplay environment or a fast-paced PVP arena, tailoring the starting experience is essential for player retention and community identity.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Time

5 Minutes

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using DayZ Expansion Spawn Logic

If your server uses the DayZ Expansion mod suite, your spawn and gear settings are managed through standardized JSON configuration files.
  • Storage Directory: /profiles/ExpansionMod/SpawnSettings/
  • Primary Configuration: SpawnSettings.json

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Engineering Loadout Classes

You can architect multiple starting kits (e.g., Survivor, VIP, or specialized roles like Medic) within the Loadouts registry. This allows you to reward specific community members or provide varied gameplay choices. 
{
    "Name": "VIP Survival Kit",
    "Items": ["M4A1", "Mag_STANAG_30Rnd", "CannedBacon", "WaterBottle"],
    "Backpack": "CoyoteBag_Green"
}

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Custom Geographic Spawns

Allowing players to select their insertion point prevents “coast-running” and enables squads to group up more efficiently.
1

Identify Coordinates

Use an in-game admin tool or an online map (like iZurvive) to retrieve the X, Y, and Z coordinates for your desired spawn points.
2

Define Named Arrays

Within your SpawnSettings.json, populate the SpawnPoints array with your custom locations.
"SpawnPoints": [
    {
        "Name": "Chernogorsk Airfield",
        "Positions": [[6500.0, 10.0, 2400.0]]
    }
]
3

Deploy & Test

Save the configuration and restart your server. Join as a new character to verify that the selection menu appears correctly.

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The Vanilla Alternative: init.c Scripting

If you prefer a lightweight environment without the Expansion mod, you can manually define starting equipment within your mission’s init.c file. By modifying the StartingEquipSetup function, you can script specific items to spawn on every new character. Note that this method requires a basic understanding of C-style scripting and the technical classnames of game items.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | Progression: Your survival starts here.