Configure enshrouded_server.json
An Enshrouded server's settings live in a single file: enshrouded_server.json, at the root of the server. It sets the server name, the number of slots, the role groups and their passwords, and the game difficulty.
Editing the file safely
Always stop the server from the panel Console before editing enshrouded_server.json. The file is read at startup: a change made while the server is running is not applied, and may even be overwritten when it stops.
- Log in to your Game Panel: game.yorkhost.fr
- Select your server and stop it
- Open the Files tab and edit
enshrouded_server.json - Only change the values you need, without touching the key names
- Save, then start the server
The file is created automatically the first time the server starts. If it is missing, start the server once, wait for it to finish loading, then stop it.
Every text value goes between straight double quotes ("), items are separated by commas, and there is no comma after the last item of a block. One comma or quote too many makes the file invalid and prevents the server from starting. Download a copy of the file before editing it, and when in doubt, check it with a JSON validator.
Startup tab parameters
Some values may also be exposed in the panel's Startup tab. If a change to the file seems to be ignored or reverts to its old value after a restart, check whether the same setting is defined in the Startup tab.
File structure
Here is a simplified excerpt. The exact content depends on the server version: some keys may be added, renamed or missing, so go by the file generated by your server.
{
"name": "My Enshrouded Server",
"saveDirectory": "./savegame",
"logDirectory": "./logs",
"ip": "0.0.0.0",
"queryPort": 15637,
"slotCount": 16,
"gameSettingsPreset": "Default",
"gameSettings": {
"...": "..."
},
"userGroups": [
{ "name": "Admin", "password": "AdminPassword", "canKickBan": true, "...": "..." },
{ "name": "Friend", "password": "FriendsPassword", "canKickBan": false, "...": "..." },
{ "name": "Guest", "password": "GuestsPassword", "canKickBan": false, "...": "..." }
]
}
Identity and access
| Key | Purpose |
|---|---|
name | Server name shown in the in-game server list |
slotCount | Maximum number of connected players (16 at most) |
userGroups | Role groups, each with its own password and permissions |
saveDirectory | Folder where the world is saved (./savegame by default) |
logDirectory | Server log folder |
Passwords and permissions for each group are covered in Roles, passwords and administration.
Keep ip, queryPort (and gamePort if it appears in your file) at the values set by the panel. The server must listen on the port assigned by YorkHost, otherwise it will be unreachable. Don't move saveDirectory without a good reason either: backups and world imports rely on that folder.
On older server versions, access was protected by a single password key, without role groups. If your file contains both password and userGroups, the group passwords are what decide players' permissions.
Depending on the version, the file may also contain chat settings (for example enableTextChat, enableVoiceChat, voiceChatMode) or tags for the server list. Use the values already present in your file as a reference when editing them.
Difficulty and presets
The gameSettingsPreset key selects a difficulty preset. Common values are:
| Value | Play style |
|---|---|
Default | The experience intended by the developers |
Relaxed | More laid-back: less punishing combat and survival |
Hard | More demanding: more dangerous enemies |
Survival | Survival-focused, tougher on resource and needs management |
Custom | Custom mode: uses the values of the gameSettings block |
The exact list of presets may change with the game version, especially with 1.0: check the values offered in your file or in the game's world creation menu.
"gameSettingsPreset": "Relaxed",
Custom mode (gameSettings)
To fine-tune the game, set gameSettingsPreset to Custom, then adjust the values of the gameSettings block. With any other preset, this block is generally ignored.
A few examples of settings found in recent versions (check the names in your file):
| Key | Purpose |
|---|---|
playerHealthFactor | Player health multiplier |
enemyHealthFactor / enemyDamageFactor | Enemy health and damage |
bossHealthFactor / bossDamageFactor | Boss health and damage |
enableDurability | Equipment wear |
enableStarvingDebuff | Penalty when starving |
shroudTimeFactor | How long you can stay in the Shroud |
tombstoneMode | What a player loses on death |
miningDamageFactor | Mining speed |
resourceDropStackAmountFactor | Amount of resources gathered |
factoryProductionSpeedFactor | Crafting station speed |
experienceCombatFactor / experienceMiningFactor | Experience gain |
dayTimeDuration / nightTimeDuration | Length of day and night |
Factor values are multipliers: 1 is the normal setting, 2 doubles it, 0.5 halves it. Durations (dayTimeDuration, nightTimeDuration) are expressed in a very fine unit (nanoseconds in recent versions): start from the value already in the file and multiply it rather than writing a value from scratch.
Applying and checking
- Save the file
- Start the server from the Console
- Check in the console that the server starts without errors
- Join the server and check the name, password and difficulty
If the server no longer starts after a change, it is almost always a syntax error: see Troubleshooting.
What's next?
- Roles, passwords and administration: configuring
userGroups - Backups, world import and version 1.0: the role of
saveDirectory - Troubleshooting