Icarus Prospects Hosting 2025 - Session-Based Mission Guide
Prospects are Icarus's session-based missions. Players drop onto alien planet, complete objectives within time limits, and must extract before returning to orbit.
⏱️ Prospect Overview
- Time-Limited: Each prospect has countdown timer
- Objectives: Complete specific goals to succeed
- Extraction Required: Must launch rocket to keep items
- Failure Consequence: Lose everything on death or timeout
Prospect Configuration
Server Settings
Edit ServerSettings.ini for prospect-specific options:
[/Script/Icarus.DedicatedServerSettings]
# Prospect settings
SessionName="My Icarus Prospect"
MaxPlayers=8
SessionType=Prospect # vs. Outpost
Difficulty=Normal
TimeLimitSeconds=3600 # 1 hour prospectDifficulty Tiers
| Difficulty | Time Limit | Resource Availability | Threat Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 2 hours | Abundant | Minimal |
| Normal | 1 hour | Normal | Standard |
| Hard | 45 minutes | Scarce | High |
| Brutal | 30 minutes | Very Scarce | Extreme |
Mission Types
Standard Prospects
🏝️ Survive
Stay alive for X minutes. Collect basic resources and craft survival gear.
⛏️ Retrieve
Find and extract specific item or resource. Navigate to designated drop zone.
🏗️ Construct
Build specific structure or base components. Follow blueprint requirements.
🔬 Hunt
Defeat or collect wildlife. Bring back specified number of samples or trophies.
Technical Prospects
| Mission | Players | Duration | Special Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Scan | 1-2 | 90 minutes | Scanner, Survey Tools |
| Extraction | 2-4 | 60 minutes | Drills, Vehicles |
| Research | 4-8 | 2 hours | Labs, Advanced Gear |
Creating Custom Prospects
Server-Side Configuration
Create custom prospect missions via server configuration:
[CustomProspect]
# Prospect settings
ProspectName="Custom Mission"
MissionType=custom
TimeLimitSeconds=2700
WeatherOverride="Storm" # Optional weather setting
BiomeOverride="desert" # Optional biome selectionObjective Configuration
| Objective Type | Configuration | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Collection | Amount, location, type | Collect 50 iron ore from caves |
| Elimination | Target type, number | Defeat 5 arctic wolves |
| Exploration | Reach locations, discover | Visit all 3 research outposts |
| Construction | Structure type, specifications | Build radio tower with X range |
| Survival | Time without death | Survive for 45 minutes without equipment |
Player Coordination
Team Composition
- Roles: Assign specialists (gatherer, crafter, fighter, scout)
- Communication: Use voice chat for real-time coordination
- Load Distribution: Share resources and carry weight efficiently
- Revive System: Plan extraction locations for reviving teammates
Time Management
| Phase | Time Allocation | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Drop | 0-5 minutes | High |
| Early Game | 10-20 minutes | High |
| Mission Execution | Remaining time | High |
| Extraction | Last 10-15 minutes | Critical |
Extraction Mechanics
Drop Zone Configuration
- Marking: Set visible beacons for extraction point
- Clearing Area: Ensure landing zone is free of threats
- Orbital Link: Maintain line of sight to rocket
- Extraction Timer: Board and launch when countdown hits zero
Success Conditions
✅ Primary Objectives
- Complete all required mission tasks
- Stay within time limit
- Extract alive with required items
✅ Secondary Objectives
- Collect optional bonus resources
- Defeat optional boss creature
- Discover hidden locations
- Complete side objectives
Failed Prospects
❌ Failure Consequences
- Death: Lose all carried items and gear
- Timeout: Rocket launches without players aboard
- Extraction Fail: Drop ship crashes or misses target
- Connection Lost: Disconnect during extraction
Retry Strategy
- Assess Situation: Understand why prospect failed
- Adjust Equipment: Bring better gear for next attempt
- Coordinate Team: Discuss strategy before re-dropping
- Timing: Practice drop and extraction phases separately
Server Performance for Prospects
Optimized Settings
- Tick Rate: Minimum 30 ticks per second for smooth gameplay
- Bandwidth: 50+ Mbps upload recommended for 8 players
- Storage: NVMe SSD required for faster world loading
- Memory: 16 GB minimum, 32 GB recommended
Network Configuration
# Server port configuration
[Network]
GamePort=17777
QueryPort=27015
MaxConnections=16
BandwidthLimit=50000 # Kbps
ConnectionTimeout=30 # secondsCommunity Prospects
Popular Community Missions
| Prospect Name | Difficulty | Duration | Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survival Gauntlet | Hard | 45 minutes | 1-8 |
| Treasure Hunt | Normal | 2 hours | 2-6 |
| Expedition | Easy | 3 hours | 4-8 |
| Hardcore Survival | Brutal | 30 minutes | 4-8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a prospect last?
Typically 1-2 hours. Duration depends on difficulty and mission complexity.
Can I extend prospect time?
No, time limits are fixed by mission configuration. Choose longer missions for more time.
What happens if time runs out?
Rocket launches automatically. Anyone on ground or not in extraction zone loses everything.
Can I pause a prospect?
No, prospect timer runs continuously. Disconnecting stops the clock, but server may close the session.
Do I lose my items on successful extraction?
No, successfully extracted items are saved to your inventory and brought back to orbit.
Can I create my own prospect missions?
Yes, use server configuration to create custom missions with unique objectives and settings.
Next Steps
- Set up your Icarus dedicated server
- Review hardware requirements
- Compare prospect vs. outpost modes
- Optimize server for smooth prospects
Prospect Hosting: Supercraft provides optimized Icarus servers perfect for time-critical prospect missions with minimal lag.