Ryan: [wiki:wiki-operator] New guide: Subsistence server settings, the live file vs the template, seasons, PvP and Workshop mods (Ryan yes 11/07)

2026-11-07T14:14:02Z

[wiki:wiki-operator] New guide: Subsistence server settings, the live file vs the template, seasons, PvP and Workshop mods (Ryan yes 11/07)

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{{#seo:
|title=Subsistence Server Configuration: Seasons, PvP and Mods
|description=Subsistence server settings explained: where UDKDedServerSettings.ini is, how to edit it, every setting, and how to change the month, PvP and mods.
}}

Subsistence keeps its server settings in <code>UDKDedServerSettings.ini</code>, in the server's <code>UDKGame/Config</code> folder. Stop your server, change the file in the File Manager and start the server again. Its name, passwords and player slots come from your server's page in the Command Center.

== How to change a setting ==

# Sign in to the [https://www.survivalservers.com/sspanel/ Command Center], click your server's name and click '''STOP'''.
# Under '''TOOLS''', click '''File Manager'''.
# In '''Search files''' at the top, type <code>DedServer</code>. Click '''UDKDedServerSettings.ini''', not '''DefaultDedServerSettings.ini''': that one is the game's template, and your server doesn't use your changes to it.
#:[[File:subsistence-panel-file-manager-search-dedserver-2026-11.png|thumb|none|720px|alt=File Manager search for DedServer showing DefaultDedServerSettings.ini and UDKDedServerSettings.ini, with UDKDedServerSettings.ini outlined in gold.|Open UDKDedServerSettings.ini, the second of the two.]]
# Change the value after the <code>=</code> sign and click '''SAVE'''.
#:[[File:subsistence-panel-file-manager-udkdedserversettings-save-2026-11.png|thumb|none|720px|alt=UDKDedServerSettings.ini open in the File Manager with ProfileId, Difficulty, DaysPerYear and MonthOverride, and the Save button outlined in gold.|Each setting is a line with its value after the = sign.]]
# Back on your server's page, click '''START'''.

To check it worked, open the file again: your values are still there. <code>MonthOverride</code> goes back to <code>-1</code> after a start, which is normal.

== Settings on your server's page ==

The server writes these into the file at every start, so change them on your server's page and click '''Save Settings & Restart'''.

* '''Server Title''': the server's name in the game's server list (<code>ServerName</code>), up to 64 characters. <code>%HOSTEDBY%</code> in it is replaced with the '''Hosted By''' text. A new server is called My New Server by SurvivalServers.com until you change it.
* '''Lock Password''': the password players type to join (<code>Password</code>). Leave it empty so anyone can join.
* '''Admin Pass''': the password admins log in with (<code>AdminPassword</code>). See [[Subsistence Admin Commands|Subsistence admin commands]].
* Player slots (<code>MaxPlayers</code>): your plan's slots.

Use letters and numbers only in both passwords.

== Subsistence server settings ==

These are the lines in <code>UDKDedServerSettings.ini</code>, with the game's defaults. <code>true</code> turns a setting on and <code>false</code> turns it off.

* <code>ProfileId</code>: which of five separate saves the server runs. Each profile is its own world. Default <code>1</code>, values from 1 to 5.
* <code>HuntersEnabled</code>: whether there are hunters on the server. Default <code>true</code>.
* <code>HunterAttacks</code>: how hunters attack. <code>0</code> is as normal (the default), <code>1</code> only in revenge and <code>2</code> never.
* <code>Difficulty</code>: <code>easy</code>, <code>normal</code> (the default) or <code>hardcore</code>.
* <code>DaysPerYear</code>: in-game days in each in-game year, so how long the seasons last. Default 24. Values: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 90, 120, 200 or 365.
* <code>MonthOverride</code>: starts the world in a month you pick, once. <code>0</code> is January and <code>11</code> December. The default, <code>-1</code>, leaves the month alone: [[#Change the season|how to change the season]].
* <code>ServerDescription</code>: a short description players see when they click the server in the list, up to 256 characters. Empty by default.
* <code>Mods</code>: the mods to load, as Workshop item IDs or mod UUIDs separated by commas. Empty by default: [[#Add Steam Workshop mods|how to add mods]].
* <code>NumPlayerOfflineHoursBeforeBaseDecay</code>: real-world hours a player and their team can be offline before their base starts to decay. The default, <code>0</code>, turns decay off.
* <code>PvPDamage</code>: whether players can damage other players. Default <code>true</code>.
* <code>PlayersCanDamagePlayerBases</code>: whether players can damage buildables that other players placed. Default <code>true</code>.
* <code>OfflineBaseProtection</code>: protects a base in range of its BCU or Range Extender while its whole team is offline. It starts 10 minutes after the last member leaves and doesn't stop decay. Default <code>true</code>.
* <code>PlayersCanAccessEnemyPlayerBaseItems</code>: whether players can open other players' storage chests, refineries and similar items, but not their doors or windows. Default <code>true</code>.
* <code>AllowBuildableClipping</code>: whether buildables can be placed clipping through each other. Default <code>false</code>.

== Common changes ==

=== Change the season ===

Set <code>MonthOverride</code> to the month's number and start the server. Months count from 0, so January is 0, February is 1, May is 4 and December is 11. The server starts in that month once, then <code>MonthOverride</code> goes back to <code>-1</code> and the seasons go on from there.

A negative number other than <code>-1</code> doesn't work: the game ignores it and the month doesn't change.

'''Important:''' on a server with Steam Workshop mods, the game loads the world a second time once the mods are ready. The saved month then comes back. To change the month on a server with mods, open a ticket and we'll set it for you.

=== Add Steam Workshop mods ===

Put each mod's Workshop item ID after <code>Mods=</code>, separated by commas. The ID is the number at the end of the mod's Workshop page address. For example, <code>Mods=3804613795</code> loads one mod from the Workshop.

The server downloads the mods and keeps them up to date each time it starts. A server with mods takes longer to start, because it loads the world again when its mods are ready.

=== Turn off PvP ===

Set <code>PvPDamage=false</code>. Set <code>PlayersCanDamagePlayerBases=false</code> too if players shouldn't damage each other's bases either.

=== Clear out abandoned bases ===

Set <code>NumPlayerOfflineHoursBeforeBaseDecay</code> to the number of hours a player may be away, such as <code>96</code> for four days. Bases of players who stay offline longer start to decay. An admin can also delete one base: see [[Subsistence Admin Commands#Base commands|base commands]].

=== Start a second world ===

Set <code>ProfileId</code> to a number from 1 to 5 that you haven't used. The server starts a new world on that profile and keeps the others. Set the number back to return to an earlier world.

== On a server you host yourself ==

The file is <code>UDKDedServerSettings.ini</code> in the server's <code>UDKGame\Config</code> folder, written the first time the server runs. The ports are in <code>UDKEngine.ini</code> in the same folder: see [[How to Create a Subsistence Server Guide#Ports|ports]]. Stop the server before you edit either.

== Frequently asked questions ==

=== Why do my Subsistence server settings go back to default? ===
You probably changed <code>DefaultDedServerSettings.ini</code>. That is the game's template, and the server doesn't use your changes to it. Make them in <code>UDKDedServerSettings.ini</code> in the same folder.

=== Why does MonthOverride go back to -1? ===
That is normal. The month applies once at the next start, and the world keeps the seasons going from there.

=== Why didn't my server's month change? ===
The number was negative, or your server runs Steam Workshop mods. Use 0 to 11 for January to December. On a server with mods, open a ticket and we'll set the month for you.

=== Where is the Subsistence server config file? ===
It is <code>UDKDedServerSettings.ini</code> in the <code>UDKGame/Config</code> folder. On our servers, open it with the File Manager on your server's page.

== Related guides ==

* [[How to Create a Subsistence Server Guide|How to create a Subsistence server]]
* [[Subsistence Admin Commands|Subsistence admin commands]]

Set the seasons your way on a [https://www.survivalservers.com/services/game_servers/subsistence/ Subsistence game server] from Survival Servers.

Subsistence Server Configuration - Revision history

Ryan: [wiki:wiki-operator] New guide: Subsistence server settings, the live file vs the template, seasons, PvP and Workshop mods (Ryan yes 11/07)