OPENWORLD
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Multiplayer & servers

Run a survival server

Roles, homes, protected zones and borders: everything an admin needs to run a survival server, and how to start your own.

In short

  • Four default roles: SuperAdmin (everything), Admin, Moderator and Player; permissions are patterns, the last match decides.
  • Players get 3 homes by default: /sethome, /homes, /tph, /delhome; /spawn takes them to their spawn point.
  • A new /zone forbids building and explosions; eight rules, and members escape the deny on build, chests and entry.
  • /border sets a circle per world and can close the Moon or space.
  • Host it yourself: download openworld-server, edit server.json, open UDP 24710.
On this page
  1. How do roles and permissions work?
  2. How do homes and spawns work?
  3. How do I protect an area with a zone?
  4. How do I limit where players can go?
  5. How do I host my own server?
  6. Questions

How do roles and permissions work?

On a survival server every player has a role: a name, a colour, a priority, a parent it inherits from, a number of homes and a list of permissions. Permissions are patterns read in order, the last match decides: is everything, home. a whole family, -command.tp a refusal. You can only give a role below yours, to a player below you. Roles live in roles.json, and the game adapts to the permissions it receives (game mode, building, commands).

RolePriorityHomesCan
SuperAdmin100unlimitedEverything. Named in server.json (players.superAdmins); never deleted.
Admin8010 (from Moderator)Game modes, commands, zones, borders, spawns, kick/ban, travel to the Moon and space, giving roles.
Moderator5010Spectator mode, teleport, look at inventories and stats, kick.
Player03Chat, build, open chests, survival, homes, spawn, own spawn point. The default role.

How do homes and spawns work?

CommandWhat it does
/sethome [NAME]Saves a home where you stand (default name home; 1 to 24 characters, no spaces).
/homesLists your homes and how many your role allows.
/tph [NAME]Teleports you to a home (/home works too).
/delhome NAMEDeletes a home.
/spawnTakes you back to your spawn point.
/setworldspawnAdmin: where new players and respawns start (reset for the default).
/setplayerspawn [PLAYER] [here|there|reset]Your own respawn point, like a bed; for another player, with the permission.

How do I protect an area with a zone?

A zone is a circle around you (1 to 100 000 m, 32 m by default) or a polygon of corners you place by walking, on one world, between two altitudes if you want, with a priority (the highest decides where zones overlap). A new zone forbids building and explosions. Its members build, open chests and enter even where the zone denies it. The map (M) shows every zone and its rules.

FlagAllowed meansMembers escape a deny
buildPlayers break and place blocksyes
explosionsWeapons change the groundno
pvpPlayers hurt each otherno
pveCreatures and players fightno
mobsCreatures appear by themselvesno
chestsAnyone opens chestsyes
damageFalls, drowning, lava and hunger hurtno
entryAnyone may come inyes
/zone create spawn 40
/zone set spawn pvp deny
/zone member spawn add Alex
/zone global build allow
/zone poly farm        (after /zone point at each corner)
/zone list

How do I limit where players can go?

  • A border per world: /border set RADIUS [WORLD] centres a circle where you stand (16 m to 10 000 km); /border center, /border radius, /border on|off adjust it. In the game it is an animated wall, and a ring seen from space and on the map.
  • Close a world: /border world moon deny keeps everyone on the Earth; /border world earth|moon allow reopens it.
  • Close space: /border space deny puts a ceiling just under 1012 m.
  • Exceptions: border.bypass ignores everything; travel.space and travel.moon let one role through. The player's game stops at the wall; farther, the server sends him back to the last allowed place.

How do I host my own server?

  1. 1

    Download it

    In the launcher, pick your version, then Server: download openworld-server for Mac, Windows or Linux.

  2. 2

    Start it

    Run the program from its folder (./openworld-server, or openworld-server.exe). On first start it writes a server.json with every default.

  3. 3

    Name yourself SuperAdmin

    In server.json put your username in players.superAdmins. The server is online by default: only launcher accounts get in.

  4. 4

    Open the port

    Players reach it on UDP 24710. Allow it in the firewall and forward it on your router, or use a mesh VPN.

  5. 5

    Set it up in game

    Create roles, zones, a border and a world spawn with the commands above. The default is 100 slots; you can set 1 to 1 000.

Questions

How do I become admin of my own server?

Put your username in players.superAdmins in server.json. The SuperAdmin role has every permission.

How do I keep my spawn safe from griefing?

Create a zone there with /zone create spawn 40: building and explosions are forbidden, and you can add members who may build.

How many homes can a player have?

Three by default for the Player role, ten for Moderators and Admins. /role homes ROLE N changes it.

Can I stop players from leaving for the Moon?

Yes: /border world moon deny, or give travel.moon only to the role you trust.

Updated

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