Start by defining the roleplay setting and rules, build the world in Vintage Story single-player, then move that save to a dedicated server. Install the server on a Windows or Linux computer (or use managed hosting), configure a password and whitelist, forward TCP and UDP port 42420 for internet play, add compatible server-side or universal mods, and test with a non-admin account before inviting players.
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Plan the roleplay before you install anything
A technically working server can still produce a poor roleplay experience if players do not know what kind of story they are joining. Write a short setting brief before creating the world. A historical village, low-fantasy frontier, merchant settlement and rival political factions all imply different rules, maps and character motivations. Keep the premise bounded enough that a new player can understand it in a few minutes.
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Decide what is allowed
Record decisions that will otherwise become arguments during play:
- Whether player-versus-player combat is allowed, and where it may occur.
- Whether theft, sabotage, imprisonment or political coercion are permitted.
- Whether character death is temporary, permanent or agreed by the players involved.
- How land claims, buildings, roads and shared resources are handled.
- Which channels are in character and which are out of character.
- What players must do when they cannot obtain consent for a major conflict.
Give moderators authority to pause a scene, reverse a rule-breaking action and resolve disputes. State how players can report a conduct or technical problem and what consequences apply when rules are broken. These are community design choices, not mandatory Vintage Story settings, so publish them in a document players can read before joining.
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Set an opening cadence
Choose a launch date and an initial event that gives everyone a reason to meet: a settlement founding, caravan arrival, election, expedition or seasonal festival. Decide how often organized events will occur and whether the world continues when no event is scheduled. A predictable cadence helps players plan around the server instead of treating it as an occasional, disconnected session.
Choose self-hosting or managed hosting
You can run a dedicated server on your own Windows or Linux machine, or rent a managed server. The official dedicated-server documentation identifies monthly hosting as an alternative to running the server on personal equipment.
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| Consideration | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | No hosting bill, but you provide the computer, electricity and internet connection. | A recurring fee; current prices and included resources vary by provider and region. |
| Port forwarding and firewall | You configure the router and host firewall, and troubleshoot connectivity yourself. | The provider may supply a public endpoint or control-panel tools, reducing local network work. |
| Uptime | The world is available only while your machine and connection are running. | Designed for persistent uptime, subject to the provider’s maintenance and service limits. |
| Backups | You choose the schedule, storage location and recovery procedure. | Some plans include snapshots or automated backups; verify retention and download options. |
| Mods and updates | Complete control over files and update timing. | Often managed through a panel, but available versions and install methods differ. |
| Player capacity | Limited by your computer’s CPU, memory, storage and network upload capacity. | Limited by the plan’s assigned CPU, memory, storage and player-slot policy. |
| Logs and configuration | Direct access to every file and log. | Access depends on the panel and support policy. |
No universal player-count or hardware number guarantees a good Vintage Story roleplay server. World complexity, mods, view distance, activity and the number of simultaneous players all affect load. Start with a small group, watch the server log and resource use, and scale only when you have evidence that the current machine or plan is a bottleneck.
When self-hosting is a good fit
Self-hosting suits an organizer who wants direct control of saves, configuration, mods and backups and is comfortable changing router and firewall settings. It also makes it easy to experiment with a private world without committing to a recurring service.
When managed hosting is a good fit
Managed hosting is useful when the world should remain online while your personal computer is off, when your internet connection cannot accept incoming traffic, or when several moderators need a control panel. Before paying, check whether you can download backups, edit serverconfig.json, inspect logs, install the required mods and choose when updates occur.
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Install the dedicated server with a separate data folder
Use the dedicated-server package that matches your Vintage Story release. The official guide describes keeping the game files and server data in separate locations. This makes saves, mods, logs and configuration easier to back up and migrate.
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Windows
- Download the dedicated-server files for the release you intend to run.
- Create a dedicated server data directory separate from the game installation. Use a location that your service account can read and write.
- Run the dedicated-server executable once. The first launch creates the data folders and configuration files.
- Stop the process cleanly after the initial generation, then inspect the data directory for
Saves,Mods, logs andserverconfig.json.
Linux
- Download the matching dedicated-server package and the supplied server script.
- Create a dedicated data directory and set the script’s data path to that directory, following the current official instructions for the release.
- Run the script once so it creates the server data structure and configuration.
- Stop the server and confirm that the expected
Saves,Modsand log directories were created.
Exact executable names, .NET requirements, permissions and paths can change between releases. Use the current dedicated-server guide for the version you downloaded rather than copying an old command from a forum post. Run the process under a user account with only the file permissions it needs, and keep the data directory in a location covered by your backup plan.
Create and import the roleplay world
The easiest way to make a custom world is to create it in single-player with the advanced world-creation options, then upload that save for server use. The Vintage Story Wiki describes this workflow directly: “The easiest way to create a custom world is to first create it in Single Player, using the advanced world creating options – and then upload it to use as your server world.”
Build the world in single-player
- Open single-player world creation and choose the terrain, climate, temporal settings, starting inventory and other advanced options that fit your setting.
- Enter the world and verify the spawn area, early resources, travel distances and any planned landmarks.
- Prepare the settlement or staging area you want players to see first. Avoid making irreversible balance decisions until the roleplay rules are written.
- Exit the game normally so the save is fully written before copying it.
Copy the save to the server
- Stop the dedicated server before changing its save files. Never overwrite a live save while the process is running.
- Copy the single-player save into the server data directory’s
Savesfolder. - Either rename the file to
default.vcdbs, or editSaveFileLocationinserverconfig.jsonso it points to the chosen save filename. - Start the server and confirm in the log that the intended world loads. Join once before announcing the address.
Keep the original single-player save untouched as a recovery copy. Make a dated backup of the imported save before installing mods or allowing the first public session.
Configure the server identity, password and whitelist
Set a recognizable name
Edit serverconfig.json and set ServerName to the name players should see in the server browser or connection information. Use a name that signals the setting and roleplay expectations rather than an unexplained abbreviation.
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- BEAUTIFUL ON DISPLAY, FUN TO COLLECT — Designed to resemble an elegant hardcover volume, this game doubles as sophisticated decor for your bookshelf, mantel, or coffee table. It's part of an expansive collection of over 20 unique Vintage Bookshelf Edition game titles—allowing you to collect your favorite classic games and line them up together to create a cohesive, custom library aesthetic.
- THE PERFECT GIFT — Solves the challenge of finding a memorable present for friends and family. Gifting one or a few titles starts an elegant personal game library and offers them meaningful, screen-free experiences. Future occasions like birthdays and holidays become effortless as you add new titles to their collection with each passing milestone.
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Protect a private roleplay community
Use a strong server password and a whitelist when access should be limited to approved players. Dedicated servers use whitelist behavior by default in the current versions covered by the official guide. Confirm the effective setting in your configuration instead of assuming an older installation has the same default.
You can set the password from the server console with:
/serverconfig password YOUR_LONG_RANDOM_PASSWORDReplace the example value with a unique password that is not used for any personal account. Use the current dedicated-server documentation’s whitelist commands to add or remove player names, and verify the spelling of each name. Do not give administrative privileges merely to make joining easier; test ordinary player access separately.
Check permissions before launch
Join with an account that is not an administrator and verify that the whitelist, password, spawn point, chat and expected interactions work. Keep an administrator account for moderation and recovery, but do routine roleplay from a normal account so permission mistakes are visible.
Make the server reachable from the internet
For players outside your home network, forward both TCP and UDP port 42420 from the router to the computer running the server. Allow the same port through the host operating system’s firewall when the firewall is enabled.
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- Give the server computer a stable local address, such as a DHCP reservation, so the forwarding rule does not break after a reboot.
- Create router forwarding rules for TCP 42420 and UDP 42420 to that local address.
- Add inbound firewall rules for TCP and UDP 42420 on the host machine.
- Start the server and confirm that it is listening without errors in the log.
- Ask a player who is not on your local network to connect using the advertised address. Testing from the host’s own network can succeed even when internet forwarding is wrong.
If the external test fails, check the local address, router rule, firewall profile and whether your internet provider places the connection behind carrier-grade NAT. A managed host can avoid local port-forwarding work, but you still need to verify its endpoint, firewall policy and supported ports.
Install roleplay-supporting mods safely
Server mods belong in the server data directory’s Mods folder. Stop the server before adding, removing or replacing mod ZIP files so the process cannot hold a partially changed file.
Choose the right mod category
- Server-side mods: Run on the server and generally do not require every player to install a separate client package.
- Universal mods: Designed to run on both server and client and are suitable when the author supports that arrangement.
- Client-only mods: Must be installed by each player and should be documented separately in your joining instructions.
Use mods that match the exact Vintage Story game version. Supported server mods may be offered automatically to joining players, but automatic delivery does not make an incompatible or client-only mod safe. Record each mod’s filename, version and purpose in a launch manifest.
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Install and verify a mod set
- Stop the server and back up the world.
- Copy the selected mod ZIP files into
Mods; do not unpack them unless the mod’s instructions explicitly require it. - Start the server and read the startup log for load errors, missing dependencies or version warnings.
- Join with a normal player account and test the features that affect roleplay, permissions, economy or world generation.
- Stop the server and save a copy of the working mod list with the world backup.
Some mods create configuration files only after the server has started once with the mod installed. Stop the server again before editing those generated files, and document every change. Freeze the mod list for launch; do not add an untested gameplay mod during a live event.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Write the operating rules players will actually use
A roleplay rules page should answer practical questions in plain language. Keep the setting primer, character guide and moderation policy in one easy-to-find location.
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- BEAUTIFUL ON DISPLAY, FUN TO COLLECT — Designed to resemble an elegant hardcover volume, this game doubles as sophisticated decor for your bookshelf, mantel, or coffee table. It's part of an expansive collection of over 20 unique Vintage Bookshelf Edition game titles—allowing you to collect your favorite classic games and line them up together to create a cohesive, custom library aesthetic.
- THE PERFECT GIFT — Solves the challenge of finding a memorable present for friends and family. Gifting one or a few titles starts an elegant personal game library and offers them meaningful, screen-free experiences. Future occasions like birthdays and holidays become effortless as you add new titles to their collection with each passing milestone.
- COMPACT, SPACE-SAVING & TRAVEL-FRIENDLY DESIGN — The fabric book case measures 10.6 x 8.4 x 2.6 inches for convenient, upright shelf display like a classic novel. Inside, all heavy-duty dice, chips, and accessories nest neatly into integrated storage compartments for effortless, clutter-free organization and travel.
Character creation
- Define naming conventions and whether names must fit the setting.
- Set a character limit and explain how additional characters are approved.
- Describe permitted occupations, factions, technology level and supernatural elements.
- Explain how a new character enters the world and where they should spawn.
Consent and conflict
- Require consent before irreversible harm, sexual content, permanent character death or major property destruction.
- Define escalation steps for disputes: private conversation, moderator mediation and, if needed, an agreed in-game consequence.
- State whether combat, theft and imprisonment are opt-in, location-limited or always allowed under specific conditions.
- Separate player knowledge from character knowledge and prohibit using out-of-character information for in-character advantage.
Out-of-character communication
Provide a clearly marked OOC channel and a place for technical support. Tell players when they may pause a scene for a rules question and how to return to character afterward. This prevents chat, voice and gameplay disputes from being mixed together.
Moderation and records
Name the moderators, list their powers and explain the appeal path. Keep a private incident log with dates, participants, evidence and the resolution. Announce rule changes before they affect an ongoing story, and record which world and mod version was active when a dispute occurred.
Backups, updates and recovery
Back up before every risky change
- Stop the server cleanly before copying the save.
- Create a dated backup before installing a mod, changing world-generation settings or updating Vintage Story.
- Keep at least one backup outside the server machine so hardware failure cannot destroy every copy.
- Periodically restore a backup to a test data directory to prove that it is usable.
Control version changes
Do not update the game or mods in the middle of an event. Announce the planned maintenance window, save the current mod manifest and take a backup. After updating, start the server privately, inspect the log and test login, spawn, permissions and the features your roleplay depends on. If the update causes errors, stop the server and restore the previous files and save rather than repeatedly launching an uncertain world.
Recover from a failed start
- Read the first error in the server log; later messages may only be consequences.
- Confirm that the selected save filename matches
SaveFileLocationor that the file is nameddefault.vcdbs. - Temporarily remove the last mod added and test with the backed-up mod set.
- Check file permissions and available storage in the data directory.
- Restore the last known-good save only after stopping the server.
Launch checklist
Complete this checklist immediately before opening the server to the full group:
- The server starts cleanly and loads the intended save.
ServerName, password and whitelist behavior are correct.- A non-admin account can join, spawn, chat and perform ordinary player actions.
- Every required mod loads without errors, and clients receive supported server mods as expected.
- TCP and UDP port 42420 work from a network outside the host’s local network, or the managed host’s public endpoint works.
- A dated backup exists before the first public session.
- The setting primer, character rules, consent policy, moderation contacts and joining instructions are published.
- Players know where to report technical failures and conduct concerns.
What a sustainable RP server looks like
The technical setup is the foundation, not the roleplay itself. A sustainable server combines a tested world, controlled access, a stable mod manifest, recoverable backups and rules that make consent and moderation predictable. Start with the smallest group you can support, observe where players get confused, and revise the documentation between sessions. When the world, software version or mod list changes, communicate the change and preserve a rollback point before inviting everyone back.
Quick Recap
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