October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan NowOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
World desk7 min

How to Enable or Disable Castle Damage on a V Rising Server

Set CastleDamageMode to Never, Always, or TimeRestricted in the persistent V Rising server settings. This guide covers PvP requirements, scheduled VSCastle windows, castle-heart rules, hosting panels, and troubleshooting.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To disable player damage to castles, set CastleDamageMode to Never. To allow damage at all times, use Always; to allow it only during scheduled raid windows, use TimeRestricted. These rules work only when GameModeType is PvP. Edit the persistent ServerGameSettings.json, stop and restart the server, and configure CastleHeartDamageMode separately if you also need to control heart destruction or seizure.

What CastleDamageMode controls

CastleDamageMode is the server setting that determines whether vampires can damage other players’ castles. Stunlock Studios describes it as active only when GameModeType is PvP. In a PvE server, players cannot directly damage other players or their castles, regardless of this value.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The setting has three documented values. They answer two different questions: whether castle damage is possible, and when it is allowed.

Value What players can do When damage is allowed
Never Players cannot damage other players’ castles. Never.
Always Players can damage other players’ castles. At any time while the server is running.
TimeRestricted Players can damage other players’ castles. Only during the server’s configured VSCastle windows in PlayerInteractionSettings.

TimeRestricted is a schedule, not a permanent off switch. If you want castles protected around the clock, choose Never instead.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
TOZO A1 Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth 5.3 Light Weight in Ear Headphones | IPX5 Waterproof,2 Mics for AI Calls,Immersive Premium Sound Bass Headset with Charging Case,32 EQ via App Black
  • [Ultra-Lightweight Ear Buds Designed for Small Ears] Each earbud weighs only 3.7g and features a compact, ergonomic in-ear design made especially for small ears. Secure, low-profile, and comfortable for workouts, all-day wear or overnight sleeping.The ultra-slim profile sits flush in your ear with no hard edges poking or rubbing, so you can even sleep on your side without discomfort.
  • [Immersive Stereo Sound with TOZO OrigX Technology] TOZO OrigX tuning delivers clear vocals, balanced mids, and natural stereo sound for music, podcasts, and videos.
  • [Long Battery Life for Daily Use] Get up to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge, with up to 32 hours total using the charging case—ideal for workdays, commuting, and extended listening sessions.
  • [Bluetooth 5.3 & Stable Connection] Bluetooth 5.3 provides fast pairing, stable wireless performance, and reduced dropouts as you move around home or office.
  • [Deep Bass with Clear Vocals] High-performance drivers produce punchy bass while keeping vocals clean and detailed for everyday listening.

Check the game mode before changing anything

Castle-damage rules are PvP rules. Set GameModeType to PvP if you want the CastleDamageMode value to have an effect.

  • PvP: Never, Always, and TimeRestricted can determine castle-damage behavior.
  • PvE: players cannot directly damage other players or their castles, so changing CastleDamageMode does not turn on castle raiding.

Decide whether you are changing the server’s wider player-versus-player rules or only its castle-raiding policy. A PvP server with CastleDamageMode=Never keeps player combat available while preventing direct damage to opposing castles.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Change the setting on a Windows dedicated server

Use the persistent settings file, not the defaults stored in the installation folder. Stop the server before editing so that it cannot overwrite your change or continue running with the old configuration.

  1. Stop the server. Use the server application, service manager, or your host’s stop control and wait until it is fully offline.
  2. Open the persistent settings directory. On a Windows dedicated server, go to %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowStunlock StudiosVRisingServerSettings.
  3. Open ServerGameSettings.json. This is the file used for durable gameplay overrides. The installation-folder defaults are not the correct place for a persistent change.
  4. Set the game mode. Confirm that GameModeType is PvP if castle damage should be governed by this file.
  5. Set CastleDamageMode. Enter exactly Never, Always, or TimeRestricted, including capitalization.
  6. Review the castle-heart setting. If you need to control whether attackers can destroy or seize a castle heart, configure CastleHeartDamageMode separately.
  7. Save the JSON file. Keep the existing JSON structure valid: use double quotes around property names and string values, commas between properties, and no trailing comma after the final property.
  8. Start the server again. The server must restart to load the new values.

Example: protect castles while keeping PvP enabled

{
  "GameModeType": "PvP",
  "CastleDamageMode": "Never"
}

This combination leaves the server in PvP mode but prevents players from damaging other players’ castles. It does not change every other PvP interaction on the server.

Rank #2
Sale
Smart Watch for Men Women Compatible with iPhone Samsung Android Phone 1.69 inch Full Touch Screen IP68 Waterproof Bluetooh Fitness Tracker Heart Rate/Sleep Monitor (Black)
  • 【IP68 Waterproof Multifunctinal Smart Watch】Torjalph fitness activity tracker smart watch is IP68 waterproof technology ,you can wear it when swimming,handwashing,it's rain-proof which means that you perform multiple exercise modes outside without worrying about sweat or rain corroding your fitness smart watch,and this watch equipped with a 230 mAh large capacity battery magnetic charging ,and this sports activity tracker watch can be used 5-7 days If fully charged.
  • 【Larger 1.83'' Full Screen Watch & Multi-dial Selection】1.83 inch full HD color touch screen smart watch for men / women provides excellent 240*284 resolution image quality ,This Bluetooth smart watch offers a better touch experience and remarkable immersion and ,more than 200 watch faces for you to choose from App"Da Fit ", you can change the dial style according to your mood to wear keeping the world on your wrist
  • 【Accurate Activity Tracker Smart Watch 】sports watch activity tracker uses sweat and dust resistant breathable silicone strap, our Fitness Tracker Smart Watch for Android iOS Phones supports 12 sports modes,walking,running,bicycle,swimming,badminton,basketball,football,rope skipping. This bluetooth calls smart watch for men women is lightweight and stylish, bringing more convenient and relaxing sports experience while also providing more protection.
  • 【Your 24 Hour Personal Daily Health Monitor】Fitness watch for women men full touch screen IP67 waterproof bluetooth smartwatch for Android iOS Phones with heart rate blood pressure monitor multifunction Andriod smart watch with steps counter sleep monitor sports fitness watch, monitoring blood oxygen saturation allows you to understand your physical condition in real time to track fitness progress ,to know your health status in time.
  • 【More Functions Bluetooth Call Smart Watch】This fitness activity smart watch full screen for iPhone and Android phones includes a bunch of new features including:The bluetooth smart watch can hang up the phone, receive and display WhatsAPP /Text /Facebook /Twitter /Messenger reminder.Support sedentary reminder, alarm clock, stopwatch, timer,weather information,music control, remote camera control compatible with Android 5.0 and above or iOS 9.0 and above smartphones.

Example: unrestricted castle raiding

{
  "GameModeType": "PvP",
  "CastleDamageMode": "Always"
}

With these values, castle damage is permitted at any time. The separate castle-heart rule still determines what attackers can do to the heart itself.

Example: scheduled castle-raiding windows

{
  "GameModeType": "PvP",
  "CastleDamageMode": "TimeRestricted"
}

This value delegates the timing decision to the server’s VSCastle schedule in PlayerInteractionSettings. The example does not define the schedule; it tells the server to enforce whatever windows are configured there.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Change the setting in a hosting control panel

Managed V Rising hosts generally expose the same fields through a web control panel rather than requiring direct file access. The labels vary, but the procedure follows the same order:

  1. Stop the server from the panel and wait for the status to show that it is offline.
  2. Open the server’s game or gameplay settings editor.
  3. Switch the settings preset to a default, advanced, or custom mode if the panel locks individual values behind a preset. A preset can otherwise replace your manual selection when the server starts.
  4. Set GameModeType to PvP when castle-damage rules should be active.
  5. Set CastleDamageMode to Never, Always, or TimeRestricted.
  6. Configure CastleHeartDamageMode separately if required.
  7. Save or apply the configuration, then restart the server.

If the panel offers both a visual form and a raw JSON editor, use one method consistently. After saving, reopen the settings view and confirm that the selected values remain in place before starting the server.

Rank #3
New Bee Guitar Cable 10ft Electric Instrument Bass AMP Cord
  • [Low Noise High Fidelity] New bee guitar cord with 22AWG oxygen-free-copper center conductors provides enhanced signal transfer, the PVC insulation material and the high-density stranded copper double shield provide noise rejection for quiet operation
  • [Ideal for Choice] New bee 1/4 straight and right angle metal connectors, ensures a secure connection in any instrument, pedal, or amp jack. L shape great fro on stage guitar stands
  • [Wide Compatible] Suitable for mixer, power amplifier, microphone, effector, decoder, equalizer, electoronic organ, electric guitar, electric bass and other electronic equipments. Widely used in the installation of smart home, karaoke speaker, professional stage audio, etc
  • [Easy Disassemble] Making incidental repairs quick and easy! Very nice, flexible cable
  • [Dont Hesite to Order] 24 hours customer services and professional technology team are standing by

Configure scheduled damage with TimeRestricted

TimeRestricted allows castle damage only during the VSCastle windows defined under PlayerInteractionSettings. It is useful when a server wants PvP and limited raiding without leaving castles exposed continuously.

How the schedule interacts with the mode

  • CastleDamageMode=TimeRestricted turns on schedule-based enforcement.
  • The VSCastle entries in PlayerInteractionSettings define the permitted windows.
  • Outside those windows, players cannot damage other players’ castles through the castle-damage rule.
  • Changing the schedule is a separate edit from changing CastleDamageMode; both settings must be saved and loaded by a server restart.

If the schedule is not configured as intended, changing the mode alone will not produce the desired raid hours. Check the PlayerInteractionSettings section whenever a scheduled server appears permanently open or permanently protected.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Choose CastleHeartDamageMode deliberately

Castle structure damage and castle-heart consequences are controlled independently. CastleDamageMode answers whether players can damage castles; CastleHeartDamageMode determines when an attacker may destroy or seize the heart.

The documented heart-damage choices cover three policies:

Rank #4
BSIMB 15.6" Digital Family Calendar & Chore Chart, No Subscription Fees
  • Digital Family Calendar: BSIMB digital calendar wall touch screen puts an end to your chaotic life. Designed for busy families, the digital calendar keeps you organised and in step with your family. Assign different colours and tasks to each family member to make family scheduling easier and more intuitive.
  • Easy Setup and Auto-Sync: Plug in, connect to WLAN and auto-syn your electric calendar in minutes. Digital wall calendar compatible with Google calendar, iCloud calendar, Outlook calendar, Cozi calendar and Yahoo calendar. Add events directly on the device or through the ecalendar app. Electronic calendar stays current whether you're at work or traveling—no manual updates needed.
  • All-In-One Home Assistant: Smart calendar builds habits and encourage independence with personalised chores. Display daily meal plan to reduce the daily ‘What's for dinner?’ stress. To-do lists keep track of everything you want. Turning chores into valuable achievements with stars and rewards, making life easier and more enjoyable.
  • Manage Anytime Anywhere: BSIMB electronic calendar for family stay connected with the powerful ecalendar app. Access and manage your digital wall calendar anytime, anywhere with free features like stars & rewards, photo screensaver, chore charts, meals plans, to-do lists etc. Electronic planner paid features like Magic Import tailor advanced tools for users with special needs.
  • Stay in Touch with Loved Ones: Share photos or videos from your phone to electronic wall calendar with app, instantly update your life moment, and keep in touch with your family, especially those who are far away; you can also surprise your smart calendar digital wall by sending him a wish card; it's also great for keeping tech-illiterate elders in touch with the youngsters.
CastleHeartDamageMode value Policy described by the setting
CanBeDestroyedOnlyWhenDecaying The heart can be destroyed only while the castle is decaying.
CanBeDestroyedByPlayers Players can destroy the heart.
CanBeSeizedOrDestroyedByPlayers Players can seize or destroy the heart.

Use the least permissive heart policy that matches your server’s rules. For example, selecting Never for CastleDamageMode prevents ordinary player damage to castles, while a permissive heart policy may still be inappropriate for a server that promises no hostile takeover. Review both settings together instead of treating the castle-damage switch as a complete heart-protection control.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Recommended settings by server policy

Server goal GameModeType CastleDamageMode Heart setting to review
Pure PvE protection PvE Castle damage is unavailable because direct player damage is disabled in PvE. Choose deliberately if decay-related destruction matters.
PvP combat without castle raiding PvP Never Select a heart policy consistent with protected castles.
Always-open raiding PvP Always Allow destruction or seizure only if that is part of the server’s rules.
Scheduled raiding PvP TimeRestricted Review heart behavior separately from the raid schedule.

Verify the change after restarting

Do not rely solely on the editor’s save confirmation. Use this checklist after the server comes back online:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  • The server is running the intended game mode: PvP for active castle-damage rules.
  • CastleDamageMode contains one exact documented value: Never, Always, or TimeRestricted.
  • If using TimeRestricted, the intended VSCastle windows are present in PlayerInteractionSettings.
  • CastleHeartDamageMode matches the intended destruction or seizure policy.
  • The persistent file or panel still shows the values after the restart.
  • A controlled test is performed only within the rules you have chosen, rather than assuming that a saved form changed the live server.

Troubleshoot common failures

The setting appears to do nothing

First check GameModeType. If it is PvE, direct player damage to castles is already unavailable and changing CastleDamageMode will not create PvP behavior. If the server is PvP, confirm that you edited the persistent file under %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowStunlock StudiosVRisingServerSettings, not an installation-folder default.

The old behavior returns after a restart

The server may still be using a hosted preset or a different settings source. In a control panel, change the preset to the mode that permits custom gameplay values, save the field, and verify it remains selected before restarting. On a dedicated server, reopen ServerGameSettings.json after shutdown and check that the value was written exactly.

TimeRestricted does not match the advertised raid hours

Inspect PlayerInteractionSettings and its VSCastle windows. TimeRestricted has no independent hours; it follows that schedule. A malformed or unintended schedule can therefore make the server seem always open or always closed even when CastleDamageMode is correct.

Players can still affect a castle heart

Check CastleHeartDamageMode. Castle-heart destruction and seizure are separate controls, so changing CastleDamageMode alone does not express every heart policy. Select the documented heart value that matches whether destruction is limited to decay, allowed to players, or allows seizure as well.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The server will not start after editing JSON

Restore the backup and compare the edited lines for missing quotation marks, commas, or braces. JSON does not accept comments or trailing commas. Make one change at a time, save, and restart so that a syntax error can be isolated quickly.

Operational practices for safe changes

  • Back up before editing. Keep a copy of ServerGameSettings.json so you can restore the previous policy if the new configuration is not accepted.
  • Announce the effective rule. Tell players whether castles are protected, always vulnerable, or vulnerable only during scheduled VSCastle windows.
  • Coordinate related settings. Publish the castle-heart policy alongside the castle-damage policy; players experience them as one raiding system even though they are separate fields.
  • Change during maintenance. Stopping the server before editing prevents players from joining while the old and new policies are being switched.
  • Record the final values. Note the game mode, castle-damage mode, schedule, and heart mode so a future panel reset or migration can be checked against the intended rules.

Key distinction to remember

Use CastleDamageMode for damage to other players’ castles: Never disables it, Always permits it continuously, and TimeRestricted delegates it to VSCastle windows. Set GameModeType to PvP for those rules to operate, edit the persistent settings source while the server is stopped, and restart afterward. Treat CastleHeartDamageMode as a separate decision whenever destruction or seizure of the heart is part of your server policy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.