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How to Start a Conan Exiles Roleplay Server

A practical guide to launching a Conan Exiles roleplay server: install the dedicated tool, configure INI files, open the right ports, add mods safely and establish rules before inviting players.
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Use the official Conan Exiles Dedicated Server tool, configure the two INI files, forward the required ports, and establish your roleplay rules before inviting players. A reliable RP server is equal parts technical setup and community governance: players need a reachable, stable world and clear expectations for characters, conflict, moderation and events.

Choose how you will run the server

Every Conan Exiles roleplay server needs a machine that can remain available while players connect. Funcom’s private-server guidance assumes a separate computer for a dedicated server. That machine can be in your home, in a colocated facility or supplied and maintained by a managed game-server company. Decide this before installing anything because it determines who handles operating-system updates, backups, router configuration and restarts.

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Self-hosting at home

Home hosting gives you direct access to the server files, INI settings, world saves and mods. You are responsible for keeping the computer powered on, allowing the server through its firewall, forwarding ports on the router and dealing with changes to your internet connection. A separate computer is preferable so game play on your everyday PC does not compete with the dedicated process.

Using a colocated or managed machine

A colocated machine still gives you control of the installation, but the hardware and network may be in a data center. A managed host can remove much of the machine maintenance and port-forwarding work. Before committing, confirm that the service supports the current Conan Exiles server branch, your intended region, the number of player slots, INI editing, custom mods, backups, restore operations, scheduled restarts and RCON access. Provider names, prices and promotional terms change, so verify those details directly when you are ready to buy.

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Decision area Self-hosted server Managed or colocated server
Hardware and operating-system maintenance You maintain the computer and its updates. The facility or host may maintain hardware; confirm what is included.
Network setup You configure the local firewall, router forwarding and external reachability. The host normally supplies a reachable address, but port and firewall options vary.
Configuration control Direct control of Engine.ini, ServerSettings.ini, saves and mods. Control depends on the host’s file manager and supported settings.
Backups and restores You design and test your own backup routine. Check retention, frequency and whether you can restore a complete world.
Administration You can run the server locally and expose RCON if required. Confirm remote-console support and the available RCON port controls.

Install the official dedicated-server tool

The supported foundation is the Steam application named Conan Exiles Dedicated Server. It is separate from the normal game client.

  1. Open Steam and go to Library.
  2. Change the library filter to Tools.
  3. Find Conan Exiles Dedicated Server and install it.
  4. Open the installation directory so you can edit the configuration files and run the server executable.

Funcom documents two practical launch methods: run StartServer.bat or start ConanSandboxServer.exe. Starting from the Steam client can produce DLL error dialogs; use the batch file or executable instead when that occurs. Keep the installation path free of accidental permission restrictions, and give the account running the process read/write access to its save and configuration folders.

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Configure the server name, password and administrator access

Two files provide the minimum identity and administration settings. Make a backup copy before editing them so you can recover from a syntax mistake.

Edit Engine.ini

In Engine.ini, locate or create the [OnlineSubsystem] section. Set the server name and server password there. Choose a descriptive name that distinguishes your world from similarly named servers. If you want an application-only launch, use a password while testing and share it only with the founding group; you can change it later when your public access policy is settled.

Edit ServerSettings.ini

In ServerSettings.ini, locate or create the [ServerSettings] section and set AdminPassword= to a long, unique value. This is the credential used to obtain in-game administrator access. Do not reuse an email, forum or personal password, and do not publish it in your community channels.

Start and perform a local check

  1. Save both INI files using plain text formatting.
  2. Run StartServer.bat or ConanSandboxServer.exe.
  3. Wait for the console to finish loading the world and listening for connections.
  4. From the host computer, connect through the game’s server browser or direct local address.
  5. Enter the configured administrator password through the in-game Make Me Admin flow and confirm that administrative controls appear.

Complete this local check before changing router rules or adding mods. It separates a configuration problem from an internet-reachability problem.

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Open only the network ports you need

Players outside your local network cannot use a private LAN address. They need the host’s external address, and the router and firewall must forward traffic to the computer running the server. Funcom’s documented defaults are:

Purpose Protocol Default port
Game connections UDP 7777
Server-browser pinger UDP 7778
PC server queries UDP 27015
RCON remote administration TCP 25575

These are defaults, not a requirement to expose every service. Add rules for the features you actually use. For a normal public listing, the game, pinger and query ports are the relevant UDP rules. Add TCP 25575 only if you have deliberately enabled RCON and understand the security implications.

Configure the host firewall

  1. Create inbound rules for the selected ports and protocols.
  2. Scope the rule to the dedicated-server executable when your firewall supports application-based rules.
  3. Allow the server process on the network profile used by the host computer.
  4. Keep unrelated inbound services closed.

Configure the router

  1. Give the server computer a stable local address, preferably through a DHCP reservation.
  2. Create port-forwarding entries for each enabled port, mapping the external port to the same port on the server computer.
  3. Use UDP for 7777, 7778 and 27015; use TCP for 25575.
  4. Save the router configuration and restart networking only if the router requires it.

Test from outside your home network, such as through a friend’s connection or a mobile hotspot. Testing from the same LAN can succeed even when internet forwarding is broken. Confirm that the server appears in the browser or that a known remote player can connect.

Design the roleplay rules before opening applications

Technical settings cannot resolve disputes about character behavior, faction conflict or moderator authority. Publish a concise ruleset before recruiting so applicants know what kind of story they are joining and moderators have a consistent basis for decisions.

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Define the world’s conflict model

State whether the server is PvE, PvP or a defined mixture. If conflict is limited by location, time or faction, name those boundaries precisely. Explain whether an attack requires consent, an in-character trigger, moderator approval or a scheduled event. Also specify raid windows, structure-damage rules and what happens to unattended bases.

Approve characters and factions

Describe the application fields you require: character concept, goals, affiliations, backstory and any restricted themes. Decide who approves factions, how many members a new faction needs and whether leaders can recruit without staff review. Set naming and building standards that fit the setting, including prohibited names, out-of-world references and oversized or obstructive structures.

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Set metagaming and powergaming boundaries

  • Define metagaming as using information the character could not reasonably know, and give examples involving private messages, streams or voice channels.
  • Define powergaming as forcing outcomes on another player without allowing a reasonable response.
  • Explain how players should resolve ambiguous scenes and when to pause play for a moderator.

Explain moderation, evidence and appeals

List moderator powers, including when staff may teleport, remove structures, roll back a scene or inspect logs. Require evidence for reports and explain where it should be submitted. Give players a clear appeal route, a response target if you use one, and a rule against public harassment of staff or reporters. Keep administrator credentials separate from ordinary moderator permissions wherever possible.

Document wipes, seasons and events

Tell applicants whether characters and factions persist between seasons, what circumstances can trigger a wipe and how much notice you will provide. Publish an event calendar or at least an announcement channel. State whether event rewards, special challenges or moderator-created scenarios can alter normal rules. Funcom specifically describes custom server and mod administration as suitable for roleplay scenarios and special challenges; your rules should explain how those changes are announced and recorded.

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Add mods as a controlled compatibility contract

Mods can provide new building pieces, progression systems, quests or roleplay tools, but every additional package increases the chance of version conflicts and support work. Start with a small collection and add one change at a time.

Install server files

Place each server .pak file in the dedicated server’s ConanSandbox/Mods/ directory. Maintain an explicit list of enabled mods and their load order. Record the collection in your community documentation so a new player can reproduce it without guessing.

Keep clients synchronized

Players must have the same mods in the same load order as the server. Pin the versions you test, announce the order in a readable list and schedule a restart when the collection changes. A client with a missing, different or incorrectly ordered package may be unable to join or may encounter broken content.

Use a staging copy for changes

  1. Stop the live server and copy the world save and configuration files.
  2. Apply the mod change to a separate test copy.
  3. Start the test copy and check that the world loads, structures remain intact and the main roleplay systems function.
  4. Have at least one ordinary player, not only an administrator, connect with the proposed client collection.
  5. Announce the maintenance window, back up the live world again and then apply the tested change.

Microsoft-store clients may use Funcom’s documented auto-download path when it is configured. That system includes a configurable download-port offset and connection and bandwidth limits. Treat those limits as part of your network plan, and tell players whether they should wait for automatic downloads or install a collection manually.

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Set up administration and support

Use the configured administrator password through the in-game Make Me Admin flow for routine moderation. Keep a private record of who has administrator access and when it was granted. Give ordinary moderators only the powers they need, and remove access promptly when a staff member leaves.

Decide whether you need RCON

RCON allows remote administration without joining the game, but it exposes another service that must be protected. Funcom documents TCP port 25575 as the default RCON port. Enable it only after the base server works, use a unique credential, restrict access where your network allows and monitor who receives the connection details. If your staff can safely administer in-game, leaving RCON closed reduces the exposed surface.

Publish a support path

Create one channel for connection and mod problems and another for roleplay reports if your community is large enough to need separation. Publish the server name, platform, region, mod list, application form, rules, restart schedule and a short troubleshooting guide. Tell players how to report a crash, missing mod or suspected rule violation without posting private information publicly.

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Launch in controlled stages

Run a closed technical test

Invite a small founding group first. Test a local connection, a remote connection, character creation, building, combat if enabled, administrative tools, a restart and a backup restoration. Ask testers to join from different platforms or locations that your policy supports. Record the exact symptom and time for every failure instead of relying on memory.

Run a short roleplay event

A brief founding event reveals problems that a technical test cannot: unclear consent rules, faction imbalance, confusing channels, slow moderator response or locations that encourage unwanted conflict. Use the event to refine the rules before accepting a large application queue.

Plan routine operations

  • Publish a predictable restart schedule and announce exceptions.
  • Back up the world before server updates, mod changes and planned experiments.
  • Keep a change log for INI edits, mod versions and rule revisions.
  • Review staff access regularly.
  • State how long logs, reports and appeal records are retained.

Troubleshoot the most common launch failures

The server starts with a DLL error from Steam

Do not rely on launching through the Steam client. Start StartServer.bat or ConanSandboxServer.exe from the installation directory, as described in Funcom’s dedicated-server instructions. If the executable still fails, verify that the installation completed and that the account running it can read the server files.

The server works on the LAN but not for outside players

This usually indicates an addressing, forwarding or firewall issue rather than an RP setting. Confirm that the router forwards to the current local address, that the host firewall allows the selected protocol and that remote players are using the external address. A local address is valid only inside the home network.

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The server does not appear in the browser

Check that the UDP game, pinger and query rules match the ports in use. A direct connection test by a known player can distinguish a listing problem from a completely unreachable server. Confirm that the server process is still running after a restart and that the router did not lose its forwarding rule.

A player cannot join after a mod update

Compare the player’s collection with the server’s enabled list and load order. Remove recently changed packages from a test copy, restore the last known-good backup if necessary and announce the exact version and restart time. Do not change several mods at once when you are trying to identify the failure.

Administrators cannot use remote tools

Verify that RCON is intentionally enabled, that TCP 25575 is forwarded only where needed and that the credential is correct. If in-game administration works, close RCON while you diagnose the remote path instead of exposing an additional service indefinitely.

Self-hosting versus managed hosting: what to compare

The right choice depends less on a headline slot count than on who will perform the repetitive work. Compare these items in writing before paying for a service:

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  • Monthly charge, renewal price and any setup fee.
  • Region and expected latency for your player base.
  • Number of simultaneous player slots.
  • Whether you can edit Engine.ini and ServerSettings.ini directly.
  • How custom .pak files and load order are handled.
  • Backup frequency, retention and one-click restore options.
  • Automatic updates, scheduled restarts and maintenance notices.
  • RCON availability, port controls and access restrictions.
  • Network protection and the process for handling outages.
  • Support for the current Conan Exiles server branch.

A managed service is not automatically safer or more compatible. Confirm that it supports your exact mod collection and roleplay workflow before moving an established world.

Opening-day checklist

  • Dedicated Server tool installed from Steam Library > Tools.
  • Server name and password configured in Engine.ini under [OnlineSubsystem].
  • Administrator password configured in ServerSettings.ini under [ServerSettings].
  • Server launched with StartServer.bat or ConanSandboxServer.exe.
  • Only required UDP and TCP rules opened: UDP 7777, UDP 7778, UDP 27015 and, if used, TCP 25575.
  • Remote connection verified from outside the local network.
  • Roleplay rules published for conflict, applications, naming, building, moderation, appeals, raids, wipes and events.
  • Mod files installed in ConanSandbox/Mods/, with a recorded client collection and load order.
  • World and configuration backups tested before public recruitment.
  • Restart schedule, support channels and staff responsibilities announced.

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