Skip to main content

​
Building a Global Wasteland Economy

The Trader modification is a cornerstone of modern DayZ community servers, enabling you to transform your world into a living society with a structured economy. By implementing dedicated Safezones and merchant NPCs, you provide survivors with a centralized hub to exchange gathered loot for specialized currency (Rubles). This system encourages long-term progression and facilitates player interaction through trading, black market dealings, and resource management.

Difficulty

Advanced

Time

10 Minutes

​
Technical Configuration Workflow

Upon the initial server initialization with the mod active, the engine will generate a complete database within the following directory: /profiles/Trader/.

​
1. Architecting the Catalogue (TraderConfig.txt)

This configuration file defines the inventory available at each NPC and establishes the market value for every item. 
<Category> Military Armory
<Item> M4A1    <BuyPrice> 1000    <SellPrice> 500
<Item> NVG     <BuyPrice> 5000    <SellPrice> 1000

​
2. Physical NPC Placement (TraderObjects.txt)

To manifest your traders in the world, you must define their physical coordinates and orientations.
1

Retrieve Coordinates

Position your character in-game at the exact spot where you want the NPC to stand. use an admin tool like VPPAdminTools to copy your current X, Y, and Z coordinates.
2

Define Entity Logic

Input these coordinates into the TraderObjects.txt file. You must also specify the character model (class) for the NPC and the direction they should face.
3

Initialize the World

Restart your server. The NPCs will now spawn at the designated points, surrounded by a pre-configured Safezone radius if enabled in the settings.

​
Strategic Economic Balancing

For a functional economy, you must ensure survivors have a method to acquire currency. We recommend updating your types.xml to allow MoneyRouble items to spawn in logical locations, such as cash registers or on police/military infected.
To prevent inflation and encourage exploration, consider setting high-tier weaponry to “Sell Only” within your config. This forces players to scavenge for elite gear while still rewarding them with currency for their efforts.

​
Safezone Integrity

Ensure your Safezone boundaries are clearly communicated to your players. Misconfigured Safezones can lead to “spawn camping” or combat logging issues that negatively impact the community experience.

​
Need Extra Help?

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

​
Save on Your Hosting

Ready to get a new server? Use code KB20 at checkout for 20% off your first month!
Last Updated: January 2026 | Economy: Wealth in the wasteland.