Configuring Structure Decay and Auto-Demolish

Configuring Structure Decay and Auto-Demolish

On long-running PvE servers, players come and go, leaving an endless wasteland of abandoned thatch huts and half-finished stone castles that hog map memory and ruin dino spawns. Structure decay is the server administrator's automated janitor.

How Structure Decay Works

Natively enabled on PvE, structure decay places a timer on player-built items. If a tribe member rarely renders the base, the timer drops to 0. At that point, the structure can either be claimed/demolished by another player who walks up to it, or you can configure the server to automatically obliterate it.

Base Decay Timers (Default)

• Thatch: 4 Days
• Wood: 8 Days
• Stone: 12 Days
• Metal: 16 Days
• Tek: 20 Days

Server Configuration (GameUserSettings.ini)

Under the [ServerSettings] header in your GameUserSettings.ini, implement the following based on your community's needs:

PvEStructureDecayDestructionPeriod=0
PvEStructureDecayPeriodMultiplier=1.0
AutoDestroyOldStructuresMultiplier=1.0
DisableStructureDecayPvE=False
FastDecayUnsnappedCoreStructures=True

The Settings Explained

• PvEStructureDecayPeriodMultiplier: Stretches or shortens the grace period. 2.0 doubles the times (Metal takes 32 days to decay, perfect for casual servers where players go on vacation).
• AutoDestroyOldStructuresMultiplier: If set to > 0, the server deletes decayed shapes safely during a restart or active session, leaving zero trace. Setting it to 1.0 means it deletes at the exact moment the decay timer runs out.
• FastDecayUnsnappedCoreStructures: Highly Recommended. Automatically destroys single pillars or solitary foundations left alone in the wild after 12 hours, instantly solving the problem of tribes "pillar spamming" and reserving land greedily.