ZenHints

Source: https://github.com/ZenarchistCode/ZenHints

NOTE: This mod is included in my modpack and can be enabled/disabled via ZenHints in ZenModPackConfig.json

What Is This?

This mod adds a simple server-side JSON config file for allowing admins to add new game hints to the loading screens, or to replace the vanilla ones altogether.

Because the server must sync the hint config to the client, the hints will not apply until a player logs in to your server at least once, and any updates you make to the config won't apply until after their next login.

To add new hints simply copy what's in the default file, change the text, and then change the value of "CfgVersion" to a number or a date or any other value than the default value to force a resync to all players.

To merge the hints with vanilla's, leave "ReplaceVanillaInsteadOfMerge" set to 0. To force your hints to replace vanilla's hints altogether, set it to 1.

Don't forget to add a comma after the } when adding a new hint, but not on the final }. Use this website to verify your JSON file structure is correct when modifying the file: https://jsonlint.com/

After installation, run the server and the JSON config file will be automatically created.

Note: in my most recent update (April 2026) I added the ability to use image icons to replace the lightbulb icon on the loading screen. To use this feature you will need to pass in a .edds or .paa filepath, or an imageset.

If you open the DayZ Workbench via DayZ Tools and open DZ/gui/imagesets/dayz_inventory.imageset or DZ/gui/imagesets/dayz_gui.imageset you can see a bunch of common vanilla icons to use if you don't want to create your own. A simple vanilla icon example taken from dayz_gui is provided below (set:dayz_gui image:iconSkull).

If you do want to create your own but don't know how - check out my YouTube guide tutorial on imagesets here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ftKAwCk4g

Config

Config file: profiles/Zenarchist/ZenHints.json

{
    "ConfigVersion": "1.29.1", // Don't touch
    "SyncVersion": "Edit this text to force client re-sync", // Whenever this mismatches client, a resync occurs
    "ReplaceVanillaInsteadOfMerge": 0, // If enabled (1) then your hints completely replace vanilla's, otherwise merge
    "IngameChatHintsTimerSecs": 0, // If > 0, then this will pick a random hint to add to game chat every X seconds
    "Hints": [
        {
            "m_Headline": "Example Headline", // Hint title
            "m_Description": "Example hint description.", // Hint message
            "m_ImagePath": "set:dayz_gui image:iconSkull" // Hint icon (blank = default light bulb icon)
        }
    ]
}