Icarus Server Configuration Guide 2025

Configure your Icarus server for the perfect survival experience. This comprehensive guide covers all settings for prospects, outposts, difficulty, gameplay mechanics, and server administration.

Basic Server Configuration

Server Identification

Edit ServerSettings.ini in your server directory:

[ServerSettings]
# Server identification
ServerName="My Icarus Server"
ServerDescription="Hardcore survival server with timed prospects"
ServerPassword=""  # Leave empty for public
AdminPassword="your_secure_password_here"

# Connection settings
MaxPlayers=8
Port=17777
QueryPort=27015
ServerRegion=NA  # NA/EU/AS/SA/OC
MaxPing=200  # Auto-kick players with high ping

# Server visibility
ListOnMasterServer=true
ServerVisibility=public  # public/friends-only/private
CommunityServer=false  # Enable community features

Player Management

[PlayerSettings]
# Character persistence
CharacterPersistence=true  # Save character progress between sessions
PersistentInventory=true  # Keep inventory (outposts only)
SkillPersistence=true  # Retain learned skills

# New player settings
StartingGear=basic  # basic/advanced/none
StartingLocation=random  # random/fixed/selected
TutorialEnabled=false  # Skip tutorial for experienced players

# Player interaction
FriendlyFire=false  # Prevent teammate damage
PvPEnabled=false  # Player vs player combat
ShareExperience=true  # XP sharing in groups
ShareQuestProgress=true  # Shared mission progress

Prospect Configuration (Timed Missions)

Mission Parameters

[ProspectSettings]
# Mission identification
ProspectName="Operation: First Light"
ProspectID="PROSPECT_001"  # Internal mission code
ProspectDifficulty=Normal  # Easy/Normal/Hard/Hardcore

# Time limits
TimeLimitHours=24  # Real-time hours to complete
ExtractionRequired=true  # Must extract to keep items
ExtractionWindowHours=2  # Time to extract after completion

# Mission modifiers
WeatherSeverity=Normal  # Calm/Normal/Severe/Extreme
WildlifeAggression=Normal  # Passive/Normal/Aggressive/Savage
ResourceAbundance=Normal  # Sparse/Normal/Abundant/Overflow
TechnologyLevel=Tier2  # Tier1/Tier2/Tier3/Tier4 (unlock level)

Difficulty Presets

Mission Objectives

[Objectives]
# Primary objectives (required)
PrimaryObjective1="Establish Base Camp"
PrimaryObjective2="Gather 500 Organic Resources"
PrimaryObjective3="Construct Communications Array"

# Secondary objectives (optional)
SecondaryObjective1="Hunt 10 Predators"
SecondaryObjective2="Mine 100 Exotic Minerals"
SecondaryObjective3="Explore Ancient Ruins"

# Reward settings
BaseRewardXP=10000
BonusXPPerObjective=5000
ItemRewards=true  # Grant items on completion
CurrencyReward=5000

Outpost Configuration (Persistent Bases)

Outpost Parameters

[OutpostSettings]
# Outpost identification
OutpostName="Persistent Base Alpha"
OutpostType=Forest  # Forest/Desert/Arctic/Canyon/Jungle
MapSeed=123456789  # Specific seed for reproducible world

# Persistence settings
PersistenceEnabled=true
AutoSaveInterval=300  # Save every 5 minutes
BackupSaves=true  # Keep backup saves
MaxBackupFiles=10  # Number of backups to keep

# Building rules
BuildingDecay=false  # Structures don't decay over time
WeatherDamage=false  # No damage from weather
StructuralIntegrity=true  # Buildings can collapse if poorly built

Resource Management

[ResourceSettings]
# Resource respawn
ResourceRespawnRate=1.0  # 1.0 = normal respawn rate
ResourceRespawnDistance=5000  # Meters from players to respawn
ResourceDepletion=true  # Resources can be depleted

# Crop and farming
CropGrowthRate=1.0  # 1.0 = normal growth
CropWaterRequirement=1.0  # Water needed for crops
CropFertilizerBonus=1.5  # Bonus from fertilizer

# Animal population
AnimalRespawnRate=1.0
AnimalAggression=Normal  # Passive/Normal/Aggressive
MaxAnimalsInWorld=100  # Total animals allowed

Gameplay Configuration

Survival Mechanics

[SurvivalSettings]
# Basic needs
HungerRate=1.0  # 1.0 = normal hunger rate
ThirstRate=1.0
OxygenRate=1.0  # For underwater/special areas
StaminaDrainRate=1.0

# Health and recovery
HealthRegenerationRate=0.5  # Slow natural healing
BleedingRate=1.0  # Bleeding severity
DiseaseTransmissionRate=1.0  # Infection spread
PoisonSeverity=1.0  # Poison effects

# Environmental effects
TemperatureEffects=true  # Cold/heat affect players
WeatherDamage=true  # Storms can damage players
RadiationZones=true  # Contaminated areas exist
ToxicAreas=true  # Poisonous gas zones

Technology and Crafting

[TechnologySettings]
# Tech tree progression
StartingTechLevel=Tier1  # Tier1/Tier2/Tier3/Tier4
UnlockAllTech=false  # Start with all tech unlocked
ResearchRequired=true  # Need to research new tech
ResearchSpeed=1.0  # 1.0 = normal research speed

# Crafting settings
CraftingTimeMultiplier=1.0  # Time to craft items
CraftingCostMultiplier=1.0  # Resource cost
RepairCostMultiplier=0.5  # Cheaper to repair than craft new
UpgradeCostMultiplier=1.0  # Cost to upgrade items

# Blueprint system
BlueprintDiscovery=true  # Find blueprints in world
BlueprintTrading=true  # Trade blueprints with NPCs
BlueprintSharing=true  # Share blueprints with group

World and Environment

World Generation

[WorldSettings]
# Map settings
MapSize=large  # small/medium/large/extra-large
MapSeed=random  # random or specific seed
WaterLevel=normal  # low/normal/high
MountainHeight=1.0  # 1.0 = normal height

# Biome distribution
ForestPercentage=40  # % of map covered by forest
DesertPercentage=20
ArcticPercentage=15
CanyonPercentage=15
JunglePercentage=10

# Resource distribution
ResourceClusterSize=normal  # small/normal/large
ResourceRarity=1.0  # 1.0 = normal rarity
ExoticResourceSpawnRate=0.1  # 10% chance in resource nodes

Weather and Climate

[WeatherSettings]
# Weather cycle
WeatherChangeFrequency=1.0  # 1.0 = normal weather changes
SevereWeatherChance=0.1  # 10% chance of storms
WeatherDurationMultiplier=1.0  # How long weather lasts

# Climate zones
TropicalZone=true  # Hot, humid areas
TemperateZone=true  # Moderate climate
ArcticZone=true  # Cold, snowy areas
DesertZone=true  # Hot, dry areas

# Weather effects
RainIntensity=1.0
SnowIntensity=1.0
WindIntensity=1.0
FogIntensity=1.0

Advanced Configuration

Performance Settings

[PerformanceSettings]
# Entity limits
MaxAnimals=100
MaxCreatures=50
MaxStructures=500
MaxItems=1000
MaxPlayers=8

# Update rates
ActorUpdateRate=30  # Updates per second
NetUpdateRate=30
PhysicsUpdateRate=30
AIUpdateRate=30

# Streaming and LOD
WorldStreamingDistance=15000  # Meters
LODDistanceMultiplier=0.8  # Level of detail
CullDistanceMultiplier=0.9  # Object culling

Admin and Moderation

[AdminSettings]
# Admin permissions
AdminKickPower=true
AdminBanPower=true
AdminTeleportPower=true
AdminSpawnPower=true
AdminWeatherControl=true
AdminTimeControl=true

# Moderation tools
ChatFilter=true  # Filter inappropriate chat
AutoKickHighPing=true  # Kick players with ping > MaxPing
AutoKickAFK=true  # Kick AFK players
AFKTimeMinutes=15  # Minutes before AFK kick

# Logging
LogPlayerConnections=true
LogPlayerDeaths=true
LogAdminActions=true
LogChat=true  # Log chat messages

Configuration Presets

Difficulty=Easy
ResourceAbundance=Abundant
WeatherSeverity=Calm
FriendlyFire=false
PvPEnabled=false

Difficulty=Hardcore
ResourceAbundance=Sparse
WeatherSeverity=Extreme
FriendlyFire=true
PvPEnabled=true

Difficulty=Normal
PersistenceEnabled=true
BuildingDecay=false
CommunityServer=true
ChatFilter=true

Configuration Management

Best Practices

1. Version Control: Use Git or similar to track configuration changes
2. Testing: Test changes on a backup server before applying to production
3. Documentation: Keep notes on custom configurations and their effects
4. Backup: Regular backups of configuration files and world saves
5. Monitoring: Monitor server performance after configuration changes

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

• Set up your dedicated server
• Check hardware requirements
• Optimize server performance
• Configure persistent outposts
• Set up timed prospect missions