To run a Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons 3 (RAD3) multiplayer server, install the exact RAD3 server pack and Forge release for Minecraft 1.20.1, launch it with Forge’s generated run.bat or run.sh, set memory in user_jvm_args.txt, accept the EULA, and give every player the same pack profile. The official RAD3 project does not publish a fixed RAM requirement, so memory must be tuned against your actual players, view distance, exploration and loaded chunks.
Running a modpack with friends? Godlike.Host offers modded Minecraft server hosting with one-click modpacks (CurseForge, FTB, Technic) and free DDoS protection.
This guide covers the complete setup, first-run configuration, progression planning, self-hosting and managed-hosting trade-offs, plus the version and startup mistakes that most often prevent a connection.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What a RAD3 server actually is
Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons 3 is a Forge modpack for Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1. Its developer describes it as the official spiritual successor to Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons and Roguelike Adventures and Dungeons 2, combining RPG, roguelike, roguelite and dungeon-delving ideas. A server is therefore not a vanilla world with a few optional mods: it is a coordinated installation in which the server files, Forge loader, mod list, configuration and each client must agree.
The checked official project listing shows release RAD3-0.24 and a matching RAD3-1.20.1-Serverpack-0.24, updated October 8, 2026. The listing recorded 136,149 total downloads on that date. Treat those labels as a version pair, not as interchangeable downloads. If the project publishes a newer release later, select that release and its server pack together.
#1 Best Overall
Files and versions to align
| Component | Required choice | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | Java Edition 1.20.1 | RAD3’s stated game target; a different game version is not an equivalent environment. |
| Mod loader | Forge for 1.20.1 | RAD3 is built for Forge, not Fabric or another loader. |
| Client pack | The same RAD3 release selected by the operator | Clients load the same mods, scripts and pack configuration expected by the server. |
| Server pack | The matching official 1.20.1 server-pack release | It supplies the server-side files without relying on a copied client instance. |
| Java runtime | A modern Java runtime suitable for Minecraft 1.20.1 and the Forge installer | Modern Minecraft versions use current Java features; an obsolete runtime can fail before the server starts. |
Download RAD3 from the developer’s official CurseForge project. The project warns that unofficial reuploads are unsupported and may violate its terms, so a mirror that merely uses the same file name is not a safe substitute.
Before installing: plan the deployment
Choose a clean directory
Create a new directory dedicated to this server, rather than installing into a client’s .minecraft folder or mixing it with another Forge instance. A clean directory makes generated libraries, world data, logs, configs and upgrade backups easier to identify. Give the account that runs the server permission to read and write the entire directory.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesDecide who controls the machine
Self-hosting gives you direct control over files, Java, network rules and backups, but you are responsible for every operational task. A managed Minecraft host may automate panel-based installation, process restarts, firewall exposure and snapshots. Before paying for one, verify that it accepts the exact RAD3 server-pack release, supports Forge on 1.20.1, allows the pack’s files and configs to be uploaded, and offers backups that can actually be restored.
Prepare the network
For players outside your home network, the machine must be reachable on the address and port configured in server.properties. Home hosting normally requires a firewall rule and router port forwarding; a provider normally handles the public endpoint. Do not expose administrative panels or remote-console credentials to the public internet without the provider’s documented security controls.
Install the official RAD3 server pack
- Select one RAD3 release. On the official project page, note the complete release label and download the server-pack artifact carrying the same release number. Keep a copy of the downloaded archive so you can verify what was deployed.
- Extract into the clean server directory. Preserve the archive’s directory structure. Do not drag individual mods from a client profile into the server unless the pack’s own instructions explicitly require it.
- Obtain the matching Forge installer. Use the Forge installer for Minecraft 1.20.1 and choose Install server. Point it at the RAD3 server directory. Forge’s installation guidance distinguishes this server installation from installing Forge into a client launcher.
- Let Forge generate its files. A successful installation creates the Forge libraries and the launcher scripts used for normal operation. If the installer reports a Java error, correct the Java runtime first instead of trying to bypass Forge with an unrelated jar.
- Check the directory before first launch. You should see the generated
run.baton Windows orrun.shon Linux and macOS, along withuser_jvm_args.txt. The exact surrounding files can vary by Forge build and server pack.
Configure memory the Forge-supported way
Forge’s FAQ says to edit user_jvm_args.txt to change the amount of RAM allocated to a server. The same documentation warns that both too little and excessive allocation can hurt performance. RAD3’s official page does not publish a numeric minimum, maximum or player-count table, so a claim such as “RAD3 needs 8 GB” would be unsupported.
Open user_jvm_args.txt in a text editor and adjust the JVM memory arguments already supplied by the generated setup. Keep the file’s argument format intact; change the values rather than replacing the launcher scripts with a custom command. Leave enough physical memory for the operating system, Java’s native needs and any panel or backup process running on the same machine.
Tune from observation. Start with a conservative allocation appropriate to the machine, then watch the server log, garbage-collection pauses, tick performance and operating-system memory pressure while the intended players explore. Increase memory only when the deployment demonstrates sustained pressure; reducing unnecessary view distance, simulation distance or simultaneous chunk loading can be more effective than assigning all available RAM. Record the setting that worked with your actual player count because exploration-heavy sessions can use a different amount than an idle test.
Use Forge’s generated startup scripts
Forge’s current guidance is explicit: use the generated run.bat or run.sh files and place JVM arguments, including memory allocation, in user_jvm_args.txt. These scripts are the supported launch path for modern Forge servers.
Windows
- Open the RAD3 server directory in File Explorer.
- Run
run.bat. If Windows shows a security prompt, verify that the file is the one created by your Forge installation and allow it only when you trust the installation source. - Keep the console window open while the server runs. Its log shows startup progress, warnings and player connections.
Linux or macOS
- Open a terminal in the server directory.
- Make the script executable if necessary with
chmod +x run.sh. - Start it with
./run.sh. For unattended operation, run it inside a service manager or terminal multiplexer that you understand, while preserving the same working directory.
Do not invent a direct-jar launch command when the generated scripts are present. A host panel may wrap those scripts differently, but the panel’s Forge procedure should still use the files and arguments produced for that installation.
Complete the first launch
Accept the EULA
The first run normally creates eula.txt and stops. Open that file, read the linked Minecraft EULA, and change the acceptance line to the required value only if you agree to the terms. Start the server again after saving. A server that has not recorded acceptance will not continue into normal operation.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- The classic UNO card game builds fun on game night with a Minecraft theme.
- UNO Minecraft features a deck and storage tin decorated with graphics from the popular video game.
- Players match colors and numbers to the card on top of the discard pile as in the classic game.
- The Creeper card unique to this deck forces other players to draw 3 cards.
- Makes a great gift for kid, teen, adult and family game nights with 2 to 10 players ages 7 years and older, especially Minecraft and video game fans.
Set server.properties
After the initial files exist, stop the process cleanly before editing settings. Open server.properties and choose the values that fit your group:
- Difficulty: select the intended baseline before players begin progression.
- View and simulation distance: keep these realistic for the machine; both influence chunk work and the memory profile you are measuring.
- Max players: set an honest cap rather than allowing an unplanned crowd to overload the deployment.
- Whitelist: enable it for a private group and add players deliberately.
- Gameplay rules and network settings: change only values your group understands, documenting any departure from the pack’s expected behavior.
Review pack configuration
RAD3 can place configuration files in the generated config directory and related server-side locations. Do not delete files simply because their names are unfamiliar. Change one setting at a time, retain a backup of the original, and restart when a mod requires a full restart. Some values are world-specific and may not safely apply to an existing save.
Give players a compatible client
Every player should install the same RAD3 release through the official project, use Minecraft 1.20.1 with Forge, and select the profile created for that release. The server operator should provide the release label and a short checklist rather than sending a manually assembled mods folder. Clients need the same pack content and loader assumptions before networking can succeed.
On the first connection, players may need to wait while the client finishes loading a large mod set and creates local data. A successful login should place the player in the server’s world and show the pack’s quest and progression content. If one player can connect while another cannot, compare the working profile with the failing profile before changing server files.
How RAD3’s progression works in multiplayer
RAD3 is designed as an exploration-led RPG rather than a technology-tree pack. Its stated feature set includes quests with rewards and a shop, a passive skill tree, scaling mob difficulty with enhanced AI, custom structures and dungeons, Tectonic terrain, Spelunkery mining, bosses, movement abilities, magic systems, companions, relics, backpacks, equipment modifiers and endgame items.
Rank #4
- Now Minecraft lovers can play a special version of UNO!
- Same as Basic UNO but features Minecraft characters and includes special Creeper rule card. Draw this card and the other players have to draw three more cards from the pile!
- The goal is to get rid of all the cards in your hand.
- First player or team to 500 wins.
- When you're down to one card, don't forget to yell "UNO"!
Introduce the quest book early
Make the quest system part of the server’s opening briefing. Quests give a new player a route through unfamiliar mechanics and provide rewards that help a group divide objectives. Explain that the shop and quest rewards are part of the intended progression, not an optional checklist that can be ignored without consequence.
Explain dimensions and gates
The project says most content is not hard-gated behind Stages: players can do almost everything from the beginning. That freedom does not mean every recipe or reward is immediately available. Some recipes require travel to other dimensions or defeating bosses. Dimension access is organized consecutively, waystones are harder to craft, and powerful items are locked behind bosses.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTell players which dimension the group is pursuing next and agree on a shared expedition plan. RAD3 includes the Aether, Undergarden, Lands of Icaria, Bumblezone, Dimensional Dungeons and a Mining Dimension, in addition to the overworld and other pack content. A common base, labeled storage and a rule for who keeps unique drops reduce confusion when several dimensions are active.
Prepare for scaling danger
Scaling mobs, enhanced AI, dungeons and bosses make unplanned solo trips riskier than ordinary vanilla mining. Encourage players to carry recovery supplies, mark routes and communicate before triggering a boss encounter. Optional hard mode should be treated as a deliberate server choice, not enabled casually after the group has begun learning the pack.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
| Decision axis | Self-hosted machine | Managed Minecraft host |
|---|---|---|
| Initial setup | You install Java, Forge, the server pack, scripts and EULA files yourself. | A panel may provide an installer or file manager, but you still must confirm the exact RAD3 import method. |
| Mod and config control | Direct access to every file and JVM argument. | Usually available through uploads and a panel, subject to provider restrictions. |
| Backups and restore | You choose the schedule, storage location and restore test. | Snapshots may be automated; check retention, download access and whether a full RAD3 world can be restored. |
| Java and Forge maintenance | You patch the runtime and reinstall Forge when required. | The provider may maintain runtimes and restart tools, but its supported Java versions must match RAD3. |
| Resource scaling | Limited by your machine, connection and electricity budget. | Plans can make CPU and memory changes simpler, though the pack’s real usage still depends on activity. |
| Network exposure | You handle firewall rules, port forwarding and uptime. | The provider supplies a public endpoint and network controls. |
| Support | Your troubleshooting comes from logs and Forge/RAD3 documentation. | Support can handle platform issues; it may not debug a custom config or unsupported reupload. |
| Recurring cost | No hosting subscription, but hardware, bandwidth and electricity remain your responsibility. | A recurring fee applies; compare the included resources, backups and support rather than headline storage alone. |
Choose self-hosting when you are comfortable maintaining Java, networking and backups and want unrestricted file access. Choose managed hosting when predictable uptime and delegated infrastructure are worth the recurring cost. In either case, test the exact RAD3 release before inviting the whole group.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Upgrade and backup discipline
- Announce a maintenance window. Tell players which release is changing and when the server will be unavailable.
- Stop cleanly. Use the server console’s normal stop command and wait for the save to finish. Killing the process during world writes can damage a save.
- Back up the whole deployment. Include the world directories,
config,defaultconfigswhere present,server.properties, whitelist and permissions files, scripts and JVM-argument file. Keep at least one copy outside the live directory. - Install the new matching pair. Use the new RAD3 server pack and its corresponding Forge setup rather than overwriting random mods in place.
- Start and inspect logs. Resolve missing-mod, registry or configuration errors before allowing players back in.
- Test a copy of the world when possible. A backup is useful only if it can be restored; periodically verify that the archive opens and the world reaches a playable state.
Never assume that a minor-looking pack label change is harmless. The project’s release and server-pack relationship is part of the compatibility contract, and world data can depend on the exact mod and configuration set that created it.
Troubleshoot a RAD3 connection or startup failure
The server stops immediately
- Read the first error and the final cause in the console log rather than relying on a generic panel message.
- Confirm the Forge installer completed a server installation in the intended directory.
- Verify that the Java runtime is modern enough for Minecraft 1.20.1 and that the installer itself can run.
- Launch with
run.batorrun.sh; checkuser_jvm_args.txtfor malformed memory arguments. - Restore the last known-good configuration if a recent edit preceded the failure.
The server starts but refuses a player
- Compare Minecraft version, Forge profile, RAD3 release and server-pack release with the values recorded during installation.
- Make sure the player is using the RAD3 profile, not an ordinary 1.20.1 profile or a different modpack.
- Read the client log for a missing mod, wrong mod version or registry mismatch; the server log may show the corresponding rejection.
- Confirm that the player is connecting to the correct address and port and is not blocked by a whitelist.
The panel cannot import the pack
Provider procedures vary. Some panels require a Forge template, some require uploading the extracted server pack, and others expect you to run the Forge installer through a terminal. Follow the provider’s documented Forge method, then verify that the resulting directory contains the generated scripts and the correct RAD3 files. If the provider cannot support the exact release, moving to a compatible deployment is safer than deleting mods until the panel accepts the upload.
Players experience lag or repeated timeouts
- Measure memory pressure and tick behavior while players are actively exploring; an idle server is not a useful workload test.
- Reduce view distance or simulation distance before assigning unbounded memory.
- Look for a single player or farm generating extreme chunk activity.
- Check storage latency and operating-system pressure on a self-hosted machine.
- On a managed host, provide the provider with timestamps and logs so it can distinguish a platform issue from pack behavior.
A recipe, dimension or boss reward is missing
Check progression before treating it as corruption. RAD3 intentionally places some recipes behind travel and some powerful items behind bosses, while dimensions are organized consecutively. Read the relevant quest entry and confirm that the group has met the stated requirement. If the content should already be available, compare the server’s configs with the backed-up originals and inspect startup logs for a disabled or failed mod.
Operational checklist
- Official RAD3 release and matching 1.20.1 server pack selected.
- Forge installed with the Install server option.
- Generated
run.batorrun.shlaunches the instance. - Memory arguments are maintained in
user_jvm_args.txt. eula.txtis accepted lawfully before normal operation.server.propertiesand pack configs are reviewed after first start.- Clients use the same RAD3 release, Minecraft version and Forge profile.
- Backups include world and configuration data and have been tested.
- Players understand quests, sequential dimensions, boss-gated rewards and the optional hard mode.
- Any managed host has confirmed support for the exact RAD3 and Forge combination.
With those controls in place, RAD3’s large exploration and progression system becomes an advantage for a group: quests provide direction, dimensions create shared goals, and bosses and gear supply milestones without forcing everyone into a technology-heavy progression tree.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
