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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To use custom game rules on a Sons of the Forest dedicated server, stop the server, set "GameMode": "Custom" in dedicatedserver.cfg, choose a new save slot with "SaveMode": "New", and add the rules inside "CustomGameModeSettings". Start the server and create that new save. Custom settings are applied when a save is created; loading an existing save with "SaveMode": "Continue" will not apply them.
The rule that determines whether custom settings work
CustomGameModeSettings is read only when the top-level game mode is set to Custom. Even with the correct mode, the settings are assigned during save creation. Continuing a save that already exists in the selected slot leaves its original rules intact.
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- Required mode:
"GameMode": "Custom" - Required save action: create a new save, either by selecting an unused slot or by setting
"SaveMode": "New" - Existing-save limitation:
"SaveMode": "Continue"does not rebuild the save with the values inCustomGameModeSettings
This distinction explains most failed attempts. A server can restart normally, show Custom in its file, and still appear unchanged because the selected slot already contains a world. Treat custom settings as world-generation settings rather than live server switches.
Keep a backup of the server configuration and save data before changing anything. If a new configuration produces an unwanted world, you can restore the previous files without risking the established campaign.
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What you need before editing
- Access to the dedicated server’s files or its hosting control panel.
- Permission to stop and start the server.
- The exact user-data path used by your installation or provider.
- A free save slot, or a decision to replace a disposable test save.
- A text editor that does not add rich-text formatting or automatic quotation marks.
- A way to validate ordinary JSON before restarting the server.
Stop the server before opening the configuration. Wait until the console or panel reports that the process is offline. Editing while the process is running can result in your changes being overwritten when the server shuts down, and a partially written file can prevent the next start.
Make two separate backups: one copy of dedicatedserver.cfg and one copy of the existing save data. Name the copies with the date or the intended mode so you can identify the pre-change state later. Do not delete an established world merely to test a setting when an unused slot is available.
Find dedicatedserver.cfg
Windows self-hosted server
The default user-data directory is:
C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS
Replace <user> with the Windows account that runs the dedicated server. Open dedicatedserver.cfg in that folder after stopping the server. If several Windows accounts exist, use the account that launches the dedicated-server process; checking a different account’s folder can produce a convincing but unused configuration file.
Managed hosting
Control panels can place the file in a provider-specific server-data directory. One documented layout is:
/home/container/serverconfig/dedicatedserver.cfg
If you cannot find the file, use the panel’s file manager, configuration editor, or support documentation to identify the actual server-data path. Do not assume that a path from a self-hosted Windows installation exists on a Linux container. If both a form editor and a file manager are available, confirm whether they edit the same file before making changes.
After saving, check the file’s modified time or reopen it in the panel. This simple check catches edits made to a template, a local download, or an inactive instance instead of the file read at startup.
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Step-by-step: create a custom-mode save
- Stop the dedicated server. Wait until the process is fully offline in the console or control panel.
- Back up the configuration and saves. Copy
dedicatedserver.cfgand the current save data to a separate folder before editing. - Choose a new save slot. Set
SaveSlotto an unused number. If the slot already contains a world, use another number or deliberately remove that test save after making a backup. - Set the mode to custom. In the top-level configuration, change the value to
"GameMode": "Custom". Capitalization matters. - Set the save operation to new. Use
"SaveMode": "New"for the first launch of the custom world. A panel may expose this as a “New” save option. - Add the custom object. Insert
CustomGameModeSettingsas a JSON object at the top level and place each documented custom key inside its braces. - Preserve unrelated settings. Do not remove existing server properties simply because they are not part of the custom example. Add or change only the values you intend to test.
- Check JSON syntax. Confirm matching braces, commas between properties, double quotation marks around string keys and values, and unquoted Boolean values.
- Save the file without changing its extension. It must remain
dedicatedserver.cfg, not a text file with an added.txtsuffix. - Start the server. Watch the startup log for parsing errors. Allow the server to finish creating the new world before testing a rule.
- Join the new save and test one change. Testing a single obvious setting first makes it easier to distinguish a configuration error from a rule that has a subtle in-game effect.
When a hosting panel has separate Start, Save, and Restart controls, use the provider’s documented order. The important sequence is that the server is stopped while the file is edited, the file is saved, and the server is restarted only after the new slot and custom object are in place.
Working JSON example
This example shows the placement of the mode, save controls, general GameSettings, and the custom-mode object. It uses documented key names and values; copy the spelling and capitalization exactly.
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{
"GameMode": "Custom",
"SaveSlot": 2,
"SaveMode": "New",
"GameSettings": {
"Gameplay.TreeRegrowth": true,
"Structure.Damage": true
},
"CustomGameModeSettings": {
"GameSetting.Vail.EnemySpawn": true,
"GameSetting.Vail.EnemyHealth": "Normal",
"GameSetting.Vail.EnemyDamage": "Low",
"GameSetting.Vail.EnemyAggression": "High",
"GameSetting.Vail.AnimalSpawnRate": "Normal",
"GameSetting.Environment.StartingSeason": "Summer",
"GameSetting.Environment.SeasonLength": "Default",
"GameSetting.Environment.DayLength": "Default",
"GameSetting.Environment.PrecipitationFrequency": "Default",
"GameSetting.Survival.ConsumableEffects": "Normal",
"GameSetting.Survival.PlayerStatsDamage": "Off"
}
}Booleans such as true and false are not quoted. Text values such as "Normal", "Low", "High", "Summer", "Default", and "Off" are quoted. Every property except the last one in an object needs a trailing comma.
The example is a complete pattern, not a requirement to use those particular difficulty choices. You can remove an option you do not want to alter, but every option you retain must use the exact documented key and accepted value. Do not change the dots, capitalization, or namespace prefixes.
GameSettings and CustomGameModeSettings are different
The two objects serve different purposes and should not be merged. GameSettings contains general server toggles. The documented example includes Gameplay.TreeRegrowth and Structure.Damage. The rules used to construct a custom-mode save belong in CustomGameModeSettings.
Putting a custom key in the wrong object can make it appear as though the option is unsupported. Preserve the namespaces shown in the configuration reference, including the GameSetting. prefix for custom-mode entries. Also keep both objects at the top level of the configuration; nesting one inside the other changes the JSON structure the server expects.
Rules available in custom mode
The documented configuration namespace covers far more than enemy difficulty. Available categories include the following. Exact key names and accepted values vary by option, so copy them from the current configuration reference rather than guessing a spelling.
| Category | Examples of what it controls |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer and combat permissions | Multiplayer cheats and player-versus-player damage |
| Enemies | Enemy spawning, health, damage, armour, aggression, and search parties |
| Animals | Animal spawn rate |
| World time and weather | Starting season, season length, day length, and precipitation frequency |
| Survival effects | Consumable effects, player-stat damage, cold penalties, and food-container behavior |
| Building and placement | Building resistance and force-place behavior |
| Creative and player protection | Creative mode and player immortality |
| Resource and tree interactions | Tree-cutting effects and one-hit tree cutting |
These categories let a group tune the character of a new world without switching to a preset mode. For example, a host can combine ordinary enemy health with low enemy damage, choose a summer start, leave day length at its default, and disable player-stat damage. Another host can focus on building behavior, creative features, or tree interactions instead. The file accepts the combination; the important constraints are the documented names, values, and new-save timing.
The sample above sets enemy spawning on, normal enemy health, low enemy damage, high aggression, normal animal spawns, a summer start, default time and precipitation, normal consumable effects, and no player-stat damage. Those values are examples, not a universal recommended setup.
How to select and test settings safely
Change a small group of related values for the first test rather than editing every available option at once. A visible setting, such as enemy spawning or starting season, gives a quicker confirmation than a rule whose effect may take time to observe. Record the selected slot and the values used so players know which world they joined.
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Once the new world is confirmed, stop the server before making another configuration change. Because custom rules are attached during creation, changing the file later does not convert that existing world. Make later experiments in another unused slot, or restore the backup and recreate the test world with a new slot.
How the new-save requirement affects an existing world
Changing the file does not retroactively transform a world that already exists in the selected slot. If you start with SaveMode: "Continue", the server loads the existing world and its previously created rules. This remains true even when GameMode now reads Custom.
To preserve the old campaign, select a different slot and use SaveMode: "New". Players will need to join the new world, and the old world will remain available in its original slot. If you intend to replace the old campaign, back it up first and then follow the same new-save process.
A practical migration plan is to announce a maintenance window, stop the server, copy the old save, assign the custom configuration to a new slot, and start the server. Verify the new world personally before sharing its connection details. This avoids accidentally asking players to test an unverified slot or mistaking the old campaign for the custom one.
Troubleshooting custom settings
The server starts, but none of the custom rules changed
- Verify that the top-level value is exactly
"GameMode": "Custom", including capitalization. - Confirm that
CustomGameModeSettingsis at the top level, not nested insideGameSettings. - Check that you created a new save. A continuing save will ignore custom-mode values assigned at creation.
- Make sure you tested the new save slot rather than reconnecting to the previous world.
- Confirm that the server was restarted after the file was saved and that the panel did not restore an older version.
The server refuses to start after the edit
Inspect the file for a missing comma, an extra comma, mismatched braces, curly “smart” quotation marks, or a Boolean written as a quoted string. Compare the edited section with the example, then run the file through a JSON validator that accepts standard JSON. Restore the backup if you cannot identify the malformed character.
Pay particular attention to the line immediately before CustomGameModeSettings. A missing comma there makes the entire object invalid. Likewise, a trailing comma after the final property can be rejected by a strict JSON parser. Keep a plain-text copy of the original so you can compare punctuation rather than retyping the whole file.
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Some panels expose only a subset of the configuration. Open the actual file through the panel’s file manager and verify that the editor saved the same file used by the server. A control-panel form can also overwrite manual edits when you press Save, so make the final change in the method your provider documents and restart afterward.
The file is in the wrong path
Recheck whether the server is self-hosted on Windows or running in a managed container. The Windows default is the Endnight user-data folder shown earlier; a hosted service may use a path such as /home/container/serverconfig/dedicatedserver.cfg. Search for the file by name and confirm its modified time changes when you save it.
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I need a command-line override
The dedicated-server executable supports command-line parameter overrides in this form:
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Use the documented parameter name and value for the setting you need. Command-line values should be treated as an override for a specific launch, while the configuration file remains the persistent source for the server’s normal startup. If the command line and file disagree, check the launch script or panel startup field before concluding that the JSON was ignored.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Self-hosting versus managed hosting for custom settings
Both approaches can run custom saves. The practical difference is how you reach and protect the JSON file.
| Decision point | Self-hosted server | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration access | Direct access to the local user-data directory | File manager, configuration editor, or provider-specific path |
| Game-mode and slot controls | You edit GameMode, SaveSlot, and SaveMode directly |
A panel may provide fields, but the underlying JSON still determines the result |
| Backups and save management | You create and restore backups yourself | Check which automated backups and save-download tools are included |
| Latency and location | Depends on your home connection and physical server location | Depends on the provider’s available regions and network routes |
| Capacity and support | Limited by your hardware, bandwidth, and troubleshooting time | Check the advertised player limits, support scope, and resource allocation |
| Price and availability | Electricity, hardware, and connection costs vary | Prices, uptime terms, and regional availability vary; verify current details directly |
Managed hosting can be convenient when the panel exposes stop/start controls, save-slot fields, backups, and a file manager. Self-hosting offers direct control over the Windows user-data directory and launch command. Neither option removes the new-save requirement, and neither makes a malformed JSON file valid.
Regardless of host, the configuration logic is the same: custom mode, a new save, correctly nested JSON, and a restart.
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Pre-launch checklist
- Server is stopped before editing.
- A backup of
dedicatedserver.cfgand existing saves exists. - The edited file is the one used by the running server.
GameModeisCustom.SaveSlotpoints to a new or intentionally disposable slot.SaveModeisNewfor the first custom launch.- Custom rules are inside
CustomGameModeSettings. - General toggles remain in
GameSettings. - JSON punctuation, quotation marks, and value types are valid.
- The server was restarted and the new world was actually loaded before testing.
- Players have been told the correct save slot or connection target.
- A rollback copy remains available until the new world is verified.
Bottom line
Custom rules are a save-creation feature, not a live switch for an existing world. Set GameMode to Custom, place the documented options in CustomGameModeSettings, launch with a new save slot, and validate the resulting world before inviting players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new save for custom game mode settings?
Yes. Set SaveMode to New and use an unused save slot. Custom values are assigned when the world is created; SaveMode: "Continue" loads the existing world with its original rules.
Why did my custom settings not apply?
Check three things: the top-level value must be "GameMode": "Custom", the options must be inside the top-level CustomGameModeSettings object, and the server must create a new save. Reconnecting to an older slot will not show the new values.
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Where is dedicatedserver.cfg on Windows?
The default self-hosted location is C:Users<user>AppDataLocalLowEndnightSonsOfTheForestDS. Use the Windows account that runs the dedicated server.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhere is the file on a managed host?
The location is provider-specific. One documented layout is /home/container/serverconfig/dedicatedserver.cfg. Use the panel’s file manager or configuration documentation and verify that you edited the file used by the active instance.
Can I change custom settings on an existing campaign?
Not by loading that campaign with SaveMode: "Continue". Back up the campaign, choose another slot, set SaveMode to New, and create a separate custom world.
What is the difference between GameSettings and CustomGameModeSettings?
GameSettings holds general toggles such as Gameplay.TreeRegrowth and Structure.Damage. Custom-world rules, including enemy, season, survival, building, and creative options, belong in CustomGameModeSettings.
Why will the server not start after I edited the file?
Validate the file as standard JSON. Look for missing or extra commas, mismatched braces, smart quotation marks, quoted Boolean values, and an accidental .txt extension. Restore the backup if necessary.
Can I override a setting from the command line?
The executable supports the form SonsOfTheForestDS.exe -dedicatedserver.<parameter> "<value>". Use the documented parameter and value; keep the file as the persistent configuration.
The Bottom Line
Set GameMode to Custom, place exact documented keys in CustomGameModeSettings, choose a new save slot, validate the JSON, and restart before testing. Existing saves will keep their original rules.
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