Sons of the Forest BepInEx and Plugin Compatibility
BepInEx and other community loaders may be useful to mod users, but they are not part of Endnight's documented dedicated-server setup. Plugin support, Unity/runtime compatibility, and client/server responsibilities vary by release. Treat every plugin as an experiment on a copied installation and world.
Capacity warning: a plugin name or download page is not proof that the official eight-player limit can be raised. Do not promise 12–20 player servers, RCON, or server-only administration without a current, reproducible plugin and provider support.
Before installing a loader
- Record the game and dedicated-server build.
- Back up the complete
SonsOfTheForestDSuser-data directory. - Check the plugin's current release, dependencies, runtime target, and whether it supports the dedicated server.
- Test on a copy with no other plugins enabled.
- Confirm the host permits third-party binaries and provides a rollback path.
Client versus dedicated-server plugin
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Does it run on the client or server? | A client-only mod cannot provide server administration or increase server capacity. |
| Do all players need the same files? | Some mods are client-only; others require coordinated versions. Follow the plugin's own instructions. |
| Does it survive an update? | Unity/game updates can break loaders and dependencies; keep a clean rollback. |
| Does the provider support it? | Managed hosts may block or decline third-party binaries even when a mod runs locally. |
Where to evaluate releases
Use the project's own release notes and issue tracker. Community directories such as Thunderstore's SOTF listing and the BepInEx releases page are discovery sources, not guarantees of dedicated-server compatibility.
Recover when a plugin breaks the server
- Stop the server and preserve the current logs and data directory.
- Remove only the newest plugin from the test installation.
- Validate the base server files through SteamCMD or the provider's supported updater.
- Restore the pre-plugin world copy if the save state changed.
- Do not solve a crash by adding a second unverified framework.
Official server baseline
For a known baseline, use the official setup path, the documented JSON settings, and measured performance checks. The official guide does not document a general RCON interface.
Want a clean managed vanilla server before experimenting? Host Sons of the Forest with Supercraft.