GUIDE GUIDE — How to Set Up a PvE Server with TruePVE & ZoneManager (PvP at Monuments, Raids on Weekends)

Joker™ · 2026-03-15T16:53:07+0000

GUIDE — How to Set Up a PvE Server with TruePVE & ZoneManager
PvP at Monuments | Raids on Weekends | Updated March 2026 | Works with Oxide & Carbon

Running a PvE Rust server is one of the most popular server types right now — but the setup confuses most admins. This guide shows you exactly how to make a full PvE server where monuments are PvP zones, buildings cannot be raided on weekdays, and raids are enabled on weekends.

Step 1 — Required Plugins

You need two plugins working together:

TruePVE — controls damage rules server-wide (free on uMod.org)
ZoneManager — creates zones where different rules apply (free on uMod.org)

Upload both .cs files to /oxide/plugins/ or /carbon/plugins/

⚠ Critical: TruePVE requires server.pve false in your server.cfg — do NOT run it with server.pve true or it will cause unexpected behavior.

Code:

# Add this to your server.cfg
server.pve false

Step 2 — Configure TruePVE (Base Rules)

Open oxide/config/TruePVE.json and set the default ruleset:

Code:

{
  "Options": {
    "handleDamage": true,
    "useZones": true
  },
  "Mappings": {
    "default": "default"
  },
  "Rulesets": [
    {
      "name": "default",
      "enabled": true,
      "defaultAllowDamage": false,
      "flags": "None",
      "rules": [
        "players cannot hurt players",
        "players can hurt animals",
        "animals can hurt players",
        "players can hurt helicopters",
        "npcs can hurt players",
        "players can hurt npcs"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Rule	What it does
defaultAllowDamage: false	Blocks ALL damage by default — rules below add exceptions
players cannot hurt players	Full PvE — no player damage anywhere
players can hurt animals	Players can hunt animals normally
npcs can hurt players	BetterNPC and default NPCs still deal damage

Step 3 — Create PvP Zones at Monuments

ZoneManager lets you create a zone at any monument where PvP is enabled.

Step 1 — Stand in the center of the monument

Step 2 — Create the zone:

Code:

/zone_add airfield_pvp radius 200 name "Airfield PvP"

Step 3 — Note the Zone ID from the output message, example: 12345678

Step 4 — Add a PvP ruleset to TruePVE for this zone:

Open oxide/config/TruePVE.json and add:

Code:

"Mappings": {
  "default": "default",
  "12345678": "pvp"
},
"Rulesets": [
  {
    "name": "pvp",
    "enabled": true,
    "defaultAllowDamage": true,
    "flags": "None",
    "rules": []
  }
]

Tip: Set defaultAllowDamage to true in the pvp ruleset — this allows ALL damage inside the zone without needing to list individual rules.

Common monument zone sizes:

Monument	Recommended Radius
Gas Station / Barn	60
Supermarket / Oxum's	80
Airfield	200
Launch Site	300
Military Tunnel	150
Oil Rig	120

Step 4 — Enable Raiding on Weekends Only

This requires the DynamicPVP plugin (free on uMod.org). It can toggle PvP rules on a schedule.

Upload DynamicPVP.cs to your plugins folder, then open oxide/config/DynamicPVP.json:

Code:

{
  "Global PVP Settings": {
    "Enable PVP on schedule": true,
    "Schedule": [
      {
        "Day of week": "Friday",
        "Start time": "18:00",
        "End time": "23:59",
        "Enable PVP": true
      },
      {
        "Day of week": "Saturday",
        "Start time": "00:00",
        "End time": "23:59",
        "Enable PVP": true
      },
      {
        "Day of week": "Sunday",
        "Start time": "00:00",
        "End time": "22:00",
        "Enable PVP": true
      }
    ]
  }
}

When PvP is enabled by the schedule, DynamicPVP automatically updates TruePVE rules — players get a chat notification that raiding is now active.

Step 5 — Prevent Building Damage Outside Raids

By default TruePVE blocks player-to-player damage but buildings can still be damaged by explosives. Add this rule to your default ruleset in TruePVE.json:

Code:

"rules": [
  "players cannot hurt players",
  "players cannot hurt buildings",
  "players can hurt animals",
  "animals can hurt players",
  "npcs can hurt players",
  "players can hurt npcs",
  "players can hurt helicopters",
  "traps can hurt players"
]

Result: During the week buildings are completely safe. On Friday evening DynamicPVP removes the "players cannot hurt buildings" rule and raiding begins.

Step 6 — Useful Admin Commands

ZoneManager:

Code:

/zone_add {id} radius {size} name "{name}"   # create new zone
/zone_edit {id} radius {size}                # resize existing zone
/zone_remove {id}                            # delete zone
/zone_list                                   # list all active zones
/zone_info {id}                              # show zone details

TruePVE:

Code:

/tpve prod     # shows which ruleset applies at your location
/tpve map      # shows full zone-to-ruleset mapping

Troubleshooting

Players can still hurt each other in PvE areas?

Run /tpve prod at that location — it shows exactly which ruleset is active
Check that useZones: true is set in TruePVE config
Make sure the Zone ID in TruePVE Mappings matches the actual ZoneManager ID exactly

Buildings still take damage on weekdays?

Confirm "players cannot hurt buildings" is in your default ruleset rules list
Run oxide.reload TruePVE after editing the config
Check DynamicPVP is not overriding the schedule unexpectedly

NPC damage not working in PvE zones?

Add "npcs can hurt players" AND "players can hurt npcs" to your ruleset
Some NPC plugins require explicit TruePVE exclusion — check the plugin page

Summary

Install TruePVE, ZoneManager and DynamicPVP
Set server.pve false in server.cfg
Configure default PvE rules in TruePVE.json
Create PvP zones at monuments using /zone_add
Map Zone IDs to a pvp ruleset in TruePVE
Set weekend raid schedule in DynamicPVP.json
Use /tpve prod to debug zone issues

If this guide helped you — drop a like More Rust server guides coming soon.

GUIDE GUIDE — How to Set Up a PvE Server with TruePVE & ZoneManager (PvP at Monuments, Raids on Weekends)

Joker™

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