* Top:
The script failed on my server, complaining that the `iptables` command couldn't be found (and no rules had been applied).
You provided too little information to offer detailed advice. Best not to interpret error messages if you can post actual logs instead. Generally speaking, your problems might be related to your PATH variable content during script execution. You also may find [1] generally useful.
[1] https://wiki.nftables.org/wiki-nftables/index.php/Moving_from_iptables_to_nf...
So how can I apply proper DDOS protection firewall rules whilst using `nftables`? Is there some easy way to modify the script to make it work?
The question of difficulty depends on your personal knowledge and skills. Based on your own assessment, meddling with Kernel routing tables might be beyond your current level of experience. You can sabotage your server's operation and lock yourself out, so I urge you to get comfortable with the whole subject in a test environment with backup console access, before taking on a remote production server.
-Ralph