A Windrose server keeps its settings in two JSON files: ServerDescription.json for the server, and one WorldDescription.json for each world. Most players only need the easy settings in Settings. This page lists every setting for when you want more.
Three ways to change settings
- Easy settings. Open Settings for the server name, password and max players, with plain labels.
- Advanced. Under Settings > Advanced, you can edit the real files with a text editor that checks your JSON before saving.
- Files. The same files are in the file manager in Files, and over SFTP.
The developers say to edit these files only while the server is stopped. Stop it on Overview, make your change, then start it again. The server can also change some values by itself if it finds a problem.
Where the files are
| File | Path | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
ServerDescription.json |
R5/ServerDescription.json |
Server name, password, players, connection |
WorldDescription.json |
R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB_v2/<game version>/Worlds/<world ID>/WorldDescription.json |
One world’s name and difficulty |
<game version> is a folder like 0.10.0. <world ID> is a long code of letters and numbers.
ServerDescription.json
Every setting sits inside a block called ServerDescription_Persistent. Values in the default column come from the developers’ guide. A few are made by the server on its first start.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
ServerName |
Empty | The server’s name. Helps tell servers apart |
Password |
Empty | The password players type to join. Case-sensitive |
IsPasswordProtected |
false |
Must be true when Password has a value, and false when it’s empty. If they disagree, odd things can happen |
MaxPlayerCount |
4 in the developers’ example |
How many players can be on at once. Windrose is made for up to 8 |
WorldIslandId |
Your first world’s ID | Which world loads at start. Must match a world’s IslandId exactly |
InviteCode |
Made at first start | The invite code. Not used on your server, because direct connection is on |
UseDirectConnection |
Set to true by us |
Lets players join by address and port. Keep it true |
DirectConnectionServerPort |
Set by us | The game port, the same number as on your address card. Don’t change it |
DirectConnectionServerAddress |
Empty | Not used yet, say the developers |
DirectConnectionProxyAddress |
0.0.0.0 |
Which network the server listens on. Leave it |
P2pProxyAddress |
Set by us | Address the server listens on for its connections. Leave it |
UserSelectedRegion |
Empty (automatic) | Region for Windrose’s connection service: EU (Europe and North America), SEA or CIS. Only matters for invite codes |
AutoLoadLatestBackupIfHasBroken |
true |
If the latest save is broken at start, load the newest good backup instead. Keep it on |
CanLaunchMultipleServerInstances |
false |
A guard against two servers using one save. Leave it |
PersistentServerId |
Made at first start | Your server’s ID. Never edit it |
The file also has Version and DeploymentId at the top. Leave those alone.
World settings: WorldDescription.json
Each world has its own WorldDescription.json. Its most important line is WorldPresetType, the difficulty preset: Easy, Medium or Hard. If any custom values are set, the game switches the preset to Custom on the next start.
| Field | What it is |
|---|---|
IslandId |
The world’s ID. Must match its folder name |
WorldName |
The world’s name |
WorldPresetType |
Easy, Medium or Hard, or Custom |
WorldSettings |
Custom values, grouped into true or false, number and choice settings. Empty for the presets |
These are the custom world settings. Each one’s full name starts with WDS.Parameter., so MobHealthMultiplier is written WDS.Parameter.MobHealthMultiplier in the file.
| Setting | Default | Range | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
Coop.SharedQuests |
true |
true or false |
When one player finishes a co-op quest, it finishes for everyone who has it |
EasyExplore |
false |
true or false |
Called “Immersive exploration” in the game. true hides map markers, so exploring gets harder |
MobHealthMultiplier |
1.0 |
0.2 to 5.0 | How much health enemies have |
MobDamageMultiplier |
1.0 |
0.2 to 5.0 | How hard enemies hit |
ShipsHealthMultiplier |
1.0 |
0.4 to 5.0 | How much health enemy ships have |
ShipsDamageMultiplier |
1.0 |
0.2 to 2.5 | How much damage enemy ships deal |
BoardingDifficultyMultiplier |
1.0 |
0.2 to 5.0 | How many enemy sailors you must beat to win a boarding |
Coop.StatsCorrectionModifier |
1.0 |
0.0 to 2.0 | Makes enemies tougher as more players join |
Coop.ShipStatsCorrectionModifier |
0.0 |
0.0 to 2.0 | Makes enemy ships tougher as more players join |
CombatDifficulty |
Normal |
Easy, Normal, Hard |
How hard bosses are and how aggressive enemies are |
The developers warn that this list and its ranges may change in later updates.
Changing an existing world’s settings
Editing WorldDescription.json on its own may not change a world that already exists. The game rebuilds the RocksDB_v2 folder from its backups at every start. The developers apply world changes with a Windows tool, R5WorldDescriptionUpdater.exe, and that tool isn’t part of the Linux server.
The reliable way to get the difficulty you want:
- In Windrose, create a world with the preset or custom settings you want. The developers suggest this too, since the game’s menus are easier than the file.
- Play it for a moment, then quit.
- Bring it to your server with the steps in the backups guide.
Which changes need a restart
All of them. Windrose reads both files when it starts, so stop the server, edit, then start it again. Changes made in easy settings also apply on the next start, and the panel tells you so.
Admin, whitelist and ban lists
Windrose’s dedicated server has none of these yet. There are no admin commands and no kick or ban. To control who plays:
- Set a password, and share it only with your crew.
- If someone has to go, change the password and restart. Anyone who doesn’t know the new one can’t get back in.
To let friends help run the server in the panel, use roles in Friends.
Questions
Where is ServerDescription.json on a Windrose server?
It's in the R5 folder of the server, at R5/ServerDescription.json. Open it from Settings, under Advanced, or in Files.
How do I change the difficulty of my Windrose server?
Difficulty belongs to the world and lives in its WorldDescription.json. The simplest way is to make a world with the difficulty you want in the game, then bring it to your server.
Does a Windrose server have an admin list or ban list?
No. The dedicated server has no admin, kick or ban settings yet. Use a password to control who can join.
Sources we checked
- Dedicated Server GuideKraken Express
- Patch notes, version 0.10.0.6Kraken Express
- Connectivity fixes, Direct IP added and save backup system updateKraken Express
