Windrose Server Configuration Guide

2026-04-17T01:08:50Z

RyanP: Remove Note field (not in official game docs). Use ServerName instead. Update sidebar sections list.

This guide covers Windrose server configuration including server settings, world customization, and difficulty options.

'''Important:''' Always back up your server files before making configuration changes. Stop your server before editing any configuration files.

== Configuration File Locations ==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! File !! Location !! Purpose
|-
| <code>ServerDescription.json</code> || <code>R5\</code> || Main server settings (invite code, password, max players).
|-
| <code>WorldDescription.json</code> || <code>R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\Default\RocksDB\<version>\Worlds\<world_id>\</code> || Per-world settings (difficulty, multipliers).
|}

== ServerDescription.json ==

The main <code>ServerDescription.json</code> controls how players find and connect to your server.

'''Important:''' This file can only be changed manually when the server is shut down. Any field might be automatically changed by the server in case of any issue.

<pre>
{
"Version": 1,
"ServerDescription_Persistent":
{
"PersistentServerId": "1B80182E460F727CEA080C8EEBB1EA0A",
"InviteCode": "d6221bb7",
"IsPasswordProtected": false,
"Password": "",
"ServerName": "",
"WorldIslandId": "DB57768A8A7746899683D0EEE91F97BF",
"MaxPlayerCount": 10,
"P2pProxyAddress": "127.0.0.1"
}
}
</pre>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Setting !! Description !! Notes
|-
| <code>PersistentServerId</code> || Unique server ID. || '''Do not edit''' — auto-generated by the server.
|-
| <code>InviteCode</code> || Code players use to find your server. || Min 6 characters, case-sensitive. Allowed: 0-9, a-z, A-Z.
|-
| <code>IsPasswordProtected</code> || Require password to join. || <code>true</code> or <code>false</code>.
|-
| <code>Password</code> || Server password. || Only used when IsPasswordProtected is true.
|-
| <code>ServerName</code> || Display name of your server. || Helpful for players to verify they are joining the right place if invite codes look similar.
|-
| <code>WorldIslandId</code> || Active world ID. || Must match a WorldDescription.json's IslandId.
|-
| <code>MaxPlayerCount</code> || Max simultaneous players. || Default 10.
|-
| <code>P2pProxyAddress</code> || IP for listening sockets. || Set to your server's IP address.
|}

== Editing Configuration Files ==

=== For Survival Servers Customers ===

# Log into your [https://www.survivalservers.com/sspanel/ control panel].
# Click '''Stop''' to shut down your server.
# Open the '''Server Config''' tool to adjust settings through an easy interface.
# The config tool has sidebar sections for '''Server Settings''', '''Gameplay''', '''Multipliers''', '''Windrose+''', '''Player Stats''', '''Co-op Scaling''', '''Rest Effects''', '''Swimming''', '''Combat Effects''', and '''Hearth'''.
# Choose a save mode:
#* '''Apply & Restart''' — Saves settings and restarts your server.
#* '''Apply''' — Saves settings without restarting.
#* '''Save form only''' — Saves your form values locally without writing to config files.
# Click '''Save'''.

Additional tools available in the control panel:
* '''ServerConfig.ini''' — Edit advanced engine configuration.
* '''Engine.ini''' — Edit Unreal Engine settings.
* '''Launch Parameters''' — Toggle options like Vehicle Physics.

=== For Self-Hosted Servers ===

# Stop your server.
# Open the config file in a text editor.
# Make your changes and save.
# Start your server.

== WorldDescription.json ==

Each world on your server has its own <code>WorldDescription.json</code> file. You can create multiple worlds — the first is generated automatically on first server start.

'''Location:'''
<pre>R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\Default\RocksDB\<game_version>\Worlds\<world_id>\WorldDescription.json</pre>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Setting !! Description
|-
| <code>IslandId</code> || Unique world ID — must match the folder name.
|-
| <code>WorldName</code> || Display name of the world.
|-
| <code>CreationTime</code> || Time of creation (internal format).
|-
| <code>WorldPresetType</code> || Difficulty preset: <code>"Easy"</code>, <code>"Medium"</code>, or <code>"Hard"</code>.
|-
| <code>WorldSettings</code> || Custom world parameters (see below).
|}

'''Note:''' If any custom values are present in WorldSettings, the preset will be automatically set to <code>"Custom"</code> on the next server launch.

== World Difficulty Presets ==

Windrose offers three built-in difficulty presets:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Preset !! Description
|-
| '''Easy''' || Lower enemy health and damage, easier ship combat and boarding.
|-
| '''Medium''' || Balanced defaults — the standard Windrose experience.
|-
| '''Hard''' || Higher enemy health and damage, tougher combat encounters.
|}

Set the preset in <code>WorldDescription.json</code> by changing <code>WorldPresetType</code>, or use the '''Server Config''' tool in the Survival Servers control panel.

== Custom World Settings ==

For fine-grained control, you can customize individual world parameters. Setting any custom value will change the preset to <code>"Custom"</code>.

'''Tip:''' It may be easier to configure custom settings in-game first, then copy the values to your dedicated server's config file.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Parameter !! Description !! Default !! Range
|-
| '''CoopQuests''' || When a player completes a co-op quest, it auto-completes for all players who have it active. || true || true / false
|-
| '''EasyExplore''' || Disables map markers for points of interest (called "Immersive Exploration" in-game — makes exploration harder despite the name). || false || true / false
|-
| '''MobHealthMultiplier''' || How much health enemies have. || 1.0 || 0.2 - 5.0
|-
| '''MobDamageMultiplier''' || How hard enemies hit. || 1.0 || 0.2 - 5.0
|-
| '''ShipHealthMultiplier''' || How much health enemy ships have. || 1.0 || 0.4 - 5.0
|-
| '''ShipDamageMultiplier''' || How much damage enemy ships deal. || 1.0 || 0.2 - 2.5
|-
| '''BoardingDifficultyMultiplier''' || How many enemy sailors must be defeated to win a boarding action. || 1.0 || 0.2 - 5.0
|-
| '''Coop_StatsCorrectionModifier''' || Adjusts enemy health and posture loss based on player count on the server. || 1.0 || 0.0 - 2.0
|-
| '''Coop_ShipStatsCorrectionModifier''' || Adjusts enemy ship health based on player count on the server. || 0.0 || 0.0 - 2.0
|-
| '''CombatDifficulty''' || Overall boss encounter difficulty and enemy aggression. || Normal || Easy, Normal, Hard
|}

=== Custom WorldDescription.json Example ===

<pre>
{
"Version": 1,
"WorldDescription":
{
"IslandId": "DB57768A8A7746899683D0EEE91F97BF",
"WorldName": "My Server",
"CreationTime": 6.3905278455349005e+17,
"WorldPresetType": "Custom",
"WorldSettings":
{
"BoolParameters":
{
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.Coop.SharedQuests\"}": true,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.EasyExplore\"}": false
},
"FloatParameters":
{
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.MobHealthMultiplier\"}": 1.5,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.MobDamageMultiplier\"}": 1.2,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.ShipsHealthMultiplier\"}": 1.0,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.ShipsDamageMultiplier\"}": 1.0,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.BoardingDifficultyMultiplier\"}": 1.0,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.Coop.StatsCorrectionModifier\"}": 1.0,
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.Coop.ShipStatsCorrectionModifier\"}": 0.5
},
"TagParameters":
{
"{\"TagName\": \"WDS.Parameter.CombatDifficulty\"}":
{
"TagName": "WDS.Parameter.CombatDifficulty.Hard"
}
}
}
}
}
</pre>

== Managing Multiple Worlds ==

You can create multiple worlds on a single server:

# Create a new folder in <code>R5\Saved\SaveProfiles\Default\RocksDB\<version>\Worlds\</code>.
# Add a <code>WorldDescription.json</code> file with a unique <code>IslandId</code> (matching the folder name).
# To switch worlds, update <code>WorldIslandId</code> in <code>ServerDescription.json</code> to the new world's ID.
# Restart your server.

== See Also ==

* [[How to Create a Windrose Server Guide]]
* [[How to Transfer a Local Save to a Windrose Server]]
* [[How to Join a Windrose Server]]
* [[Windrose Admin Commands]]
* [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1730950/Windrose/ Windrose on Steam]
* [https://www.survivalservers.com/services/game_servers/windrose/ Rent a Windrose Server from Survival Servers]

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Survival Servers - User contributions [en]

Windrose Server Configuration Guide