How to configure your Project Zomboid

This guide covers the configuration files and key settings for your Project Zomboid server. For first boot and connecting, see Getting Started.

Project Zomboid uses three INI files in the server data folder (typically Zomboid/Server/):

• <servername>.ini (main settings)
• <servername>_SandboxVars.lua (sandbox / gameplay rules)
• <servername>_spawnregions.lua (where players spawn)

The default <servername> is servertest.

Main INI File

Highlights:

PublicName=My GSK Zomboid Server
PublicDescription=Welcome to the apocalypse
MaxPlayers=16
PingLimit=400
Open=true
Password=
ServerPlayerID=
AutoCreateUserInWhiteList=false
DisplayUserName=true
ShowFirstAndLastName=false
SpawnPoint=0,0,0
SafetySystem=true
ShowSafety=true
SafetyToggleTimer=2
SafetyCooldownTimer=3
SpawnItems=
DefaultPort=16261
ResetID=
Mods=
Map=Muldraugh, KY
DoLuaChecksum=true
DenyLoginOnOverloadedServer=true
LoginQueueEnabled=false
LoginQueueConnectTimeout=60
WorkshopItems=
SteamScoreboard=true
SteamVACDocs=true
BackupsCount=5
BackupsOnStart=true
BackupsOnVersionChange=true
BackupsPeriod=0
PVP=true
PauseEmpty=true
GlobalChat=true
ChatStreams=s,r,a,w,y,sh,f,all
ServerWelcomeMessage=Welcome to GSK Zomboid! Type /help for commands.
LogLocalChat=false
AutoCreateUserInWhiteList=false
KickFastPlayers=false
ServerPlayerID=
RCONPort=27015
RCONPassword=
DiscordEnable=false
DiscordToken=
DiscordChannel=
DiscordChannelID=
Public=false
PingFrequency=10
PingLimit=400
HoursForLootRespawn=0
MaxItemsForLootRespawn=4
ConstructionPreventsLootRespawn=true
DropOffWhiteListAfterDeath=false
NoFireSpread=false
NoFire=false
AnnounceDeath=false
MinutesPerPage=1.0
SaveWorldEveryMinutes=0
PlayerSafehouse=false
AdminSafehouse=false
SafehouseAllowTrepass=true
SafehouseAllowFire=true
SafehouseAllowLoot=true
SafehouseAllowRespawn=false
SafehouseDaySurvivedToClaim=0
SafeHouseRemovalTime=144
SafehouseAllowNonResidential=false
AllowDestructionBySledgehammer=true
KickFastPlayers=false
SneakModeHideFromOtherPlayers=true
SpeedLimit=70.0

Key fields to change first:

Restart after editing.

SandboxVars (Gameplay Rules)

The <servername>_SandboxVars.lua file controls everything about the world: zombie population, loot rarity, weather, time speed.

A few key lines:

SandboxVars = {
    Zombies = 3,                  -- 1=Insane, 2=High, 3=Normal, 4=Low
    Distribution = 1,             -- 1=Urban Focused, 2=Uniform
    DayLength = 3,                -- 1=15min, 2=30min, 3=1hr, 4=2hr...
    StartYear = 1,
    StartMonth = 7,
    StartDay = 9,
    StartTime = 2,                -- 1=7am, 2=9am, 3=noon, 4=2pm, 5=5pm, 6=9pm, 7=midnight
    WaterShut = 14,               -- Days until water is shut off
    ElecShut = 14,                -- Days until electricity is shut off
    LootRespawn = 1,              -- 1=None, 2=Every Day, 3=Every Week, 4=Every Month
    StarterKit = false,
    Nutrition = true,
    FoodRotSpeed = 3,             -- 1=Very Fast, 5=Very Slow
    XpMultiplier = 1.0,
    StatsDecrease = 3,            -- 1=Very Fast, 5=Very Slow
    ZombieLore = {
        Speed = 2,        -- 1=Sprinters, 2=Fast Shamblers, 3=Shamblers
        Strength = 2,     -- 1=Superhuman, 2=Normal, 3=Weak
        Toughness = 2,
        Cognition = 3,    -- Navigation smarts; 3=Basic
        Memory = 2,
        Sight = 2,
        Hearing = 2,
    },
    -- ... many more
}

The PZ wiki and pzwiki.net have the full list. Or use the in-game Host > Server Settings menu to generate a config interactively and copy it to the server.

What to Read Next

• Getting Started for first boot and the basics
• Project Zomboid Admin Setup
• Installing Workshop Mods on Project Zomboid

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