Ground Branch Server Config: Server.ini, MapList.ini and Admin.ini

A Ground Branch dedicated server is configured with plain text files in GroundBranch/ServerConfig/. Server.ini holds the name, slots, passwords and message of the day, MapList.ini holds the rotation as one map and mission per line, and Admin.ini holds admin groups and the Steam64 IDs that belong to them. The server writes these files on its first start, reads them on every start, and ignores edits made while it is running, so always stop it, edit, then start it again.

The ServerConfig folder

After the first launch you will find:

Older guides mention MapCycle.txt and Admins.txt. Those were used by early builds; current builds use the .ini files above.

Server.ini

ServerName=[EU] Slow Is Smooth | Co-op
ServerMOTD=<b>Welcome</b><br>Co-op Terrorist Hunt, comms required.
MaxPlayers=8
MaxSpectators=2
ServerPassword=
SpectatorOnlyPassword=

Server.ini also carries a default game rules block with switches such as allowing dead players to chat and whether spectators can view enemies. Change those one at a time and test, since they affect how fair PvP feels.

MapList.ini

Each rotation entry is one MapList= line built from three parts: the map path, the mission path, and options.

MapList=/Game/GroundBranch/Maps/<Folder>/<Map>?Mission=/Game/GroundBranch/Mission/<Folder>/<Mission>?<option>=<value>?<option>=<value>

What to know when building a rotation:

1. Start from the generated file. The paths are long and case sensitive. Copy a working line and change only the map and mission names.
2. Mission decides the mode. Co-op missions are Terrorist Hunt, Intel Retrieval and Defuse. PvP missions include Team Elimination, Hostage Rescue, Deathmatch, Defend and DTAS.
3. Options are per entry. Round time, frag limits, capture time, defender setup time and time of day are set with ?Key=Value pairs after the mission, and only apply to that line.
4. Order matters. The server plays the lines from top to bottom and loops.
5. One bad line can break the rotation. If the server boots into an unexpected map or skips entries, the line before it usually has a typo. Comment out entries with ; until you find it.

A practical co-op night uses three or four lines: two Terrorist Hunt maps, an Intel Retrieval and a Defuse, so the squad gets variety without long gaps between favorites.

Admin.ini

Two kinds of line live here.

Admin groups define what each rank can do:

AdminGroups=(Name="Owner",Commands=("all"))

You can add lower groups with a narrower command list for moderators. Admin groups can only be changed in this file.

Admins assign a player to a group:

Admins=(Name="Ghost",UniqueId="76561198000000001",ContactInfo="discord: ghost",Group="Owner")

UniqueId is the Steam64 ID, found on the player's Steam profile URL or a Steam ID lookup site. Group must exactly match an AdminGroups name. ContactInfo is optional and only for your records. Admins can also be added from inside the game once you are an admin yourself, which then writes to this file.

Ban.ini, Vote.ini and TeamKill.ini

• Ban.ini fills up as admins ban players in game. You can remove an entry by hand to unban someone.
• Vote.ini turns player votes on or off, such as vote kick and vote map. On public servers without active admins, leave vote kick on.
• TeamKill.ini controls what happens after team kills. For PvP with randoms, a strict setting saves admins a lot of work.

Workshop mods and the config

Mods are loaded from the server's Workshop content folder. Players get the mod sync window when they join and download what they are missing. When you add a Workshop map, add a matching MapList= line using the paths the mod uses, and test it on a quiet evening before event night.

Editing safely

• Stop the server first, every time.
• Keep a copy of each working file before big changes, or take a backup.
• After editing, start the server and watch the log for config errors.

On a GamezServers Ground Branch server, Server Name and Max Players are panel fields written into Server.ini on each start, while MapList.ini, Admin.ini and the other files are in the file manager, so you can edit them in the browser without SFTP. One click backups make it easy to roll back a rotation that went wrong. For the full install walkthrough, see how to host a Ground Branch server, and for making a server invite only, how to make a game server private.

FAQ

Where are Ground Branch server config files?

In GroundBranch/ServerConfig/ inside the server folder. They are created the first time the server starts.

Why are my Ground Branch config changes ignored?

The server was running while you edited. Stop it, make the change again and start it.

How do I add an admin on a Ground Branch server?

Add an Admins= line to Admin.ini with the player's Steam64 ID and a Group that exists in AdminGroups, then restart.

How do I set the map rotation in Ground Branch?

Add one MapList= line per map and mission to MapList.ini, in the order you want them played.

Does Ground Branch still use MapCycle.txt?

Current builds use MapList.ini. Old guides that mention MapCycle.txt refer to earlier versions of the server.