V Rising Server Settings Explained (ServerGameSettings.json)

V Rising server rules live in ServerGameSettings.json, in the server's Settings folder. The keys that matter most are GameModeType (PvE or PvP), CastleDamageMode, ClanSize (default 4), BloodDrainModifier, MaterialYieldModifier_Global and the craft and refine rates, all 1.0 by default. Change a value, save, restart. Leave GameSettingsPreset empty in ServerHostSettings.json or a preset replaces your file.

Which V Rising settings file does what?

V Rising splits its configuration into two JSON files, as explained in Stunlock's dedicated server instructions:

The defaults ship in VRisingServer_Data/StreamingAssets/Settings/, but you should not edit those, because updates overwrite them. The server reads overrides from the Settings folder inside its persistent data path (on a Windows self host that is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Stunlock Studios\VRisingServer\Settings). An override file can hold the whole config or only the keys you want to change.

One trap catches almost everyone: GameSettingsPreset in the host file. If it names a preset such as StandardPvP, the server loads that preset instead of your custom gameplay file. Set it to an empty string when you want your own ServerGameSettings.json to apply.

How do I set PvE or PvP on a V Rising server?

These keys decide what kind of server you run:

A friendly PvE server for a few friends usually looks like this:

{
  "GameModeType": "PvE",
  "CastleDamageMode": "Never",
  "DeathContainerPermission": "ClanMembers",
  "CanLootEnemyContainers": false
}

How do raid windows work in V Rising?

Set CastleDamageMode (and optionally PlayerDamageMode) to TimeRestricted, then define the hours in PlayerInteractionSettings:

"PlayerInteractionSettings": {
  "TimeZone": "Local",
  "VSCastleWeekdayTime": { "StartHour": 20, "StartMinute": 0, "EndHour": 22, "EndMinute": 0 },
  "VSCastleWeekendTime": { "StartHour": 18, "StartMinute": 0, "EndHour": 23, "EndMinute": 0 },
  "VSPlayerWeekdayTime": { "StartHour": 20, "StartMinute": 0, "EndHour": 22, "EndMinute": 0 },
  "VSPlayerWeekendTime": { "StartHour": 18, "StartMinute": 0, "EndHour": 23, "EndMinute": 0 }
}

VSCastle windows control sieges and VSPlayer windows control player fights. TimeZone set to Local uses the server machine's clock, so if your players are in a different time zone from the server, use UTC and do the conversion once. Pick hours when your clan is actually online, because nobody enjoys logging in to a castle that was raided at 4 in the morning.

Related siege keys: CastleSiegeTimer and CastleUnderAttackTimer (seconds), AnnounceSiegeWeaponSpawn and ShowSiegeWeaponMapIcon, and SiegeWeaponHealth, which makes golems sturdier or weaker.

What are good V Rising settings for a small group?

The default rates assume a busy server where the world is shared by many players. A group of 2 to 6 friends usually enjoys a little less grind. These are sensible starting points:

For yield, craft, refine and servant conversion rates, higher means faster or more. For cost and drain modifiers, lower means cheaper or slower. Change two or three things at a time and play a session before touching more, because doubling everything at once makes the mid game fly past.

Which settings change difficulty?

• GameDifficulty sets the base difficulty. On our servers you choose Easy, Normal or Brutal with the difficulty preset in the panel, which is simpler than editing values.
• UnitStatModifiers_VBlood has MaxHealthModifier, PowerModifier and LevelIncrease for V Blood bosses. A duo that keeps wiping on a boss can set boss health to 0.8 instead of lowering the whole game.
• UnitStatModifiers_Global does the same for every normal enemy.
• VampireStatModifiers scales players: MaxHealthModifier, PhysicalPowerModifier, SpellPowerModifier and DamageReceivedModifier.
• SunDamageModifier, GarlicAreaStrengthModifier, HolyAreaStrengthModifier and SilverStrengthModifier soften or sharpen the vampire weaknesses.
• Death_DurabilityFactorLoss sets how much gear durability you lose when you die.

What about day length, waypoints and other quality of life keys?

GameTimeModifiers holds the clock. DayDurationInSeconds defaults to 1080 (an 18 minute day), and DayStartHour and DayEndHour (9 and 17) set how much of it is sunlight. Lengthen the night for groups that mostly play in short sessions.

Other keys worth knowing:

• AllWaypointsUnlocked: every teleport waypoint open from the start. Nice for a relaxed PvE replay.
• TeleportBoundItems: when true (the default behaviour), you cannot teleport carrying ores and other bound resources. Turning it off removes a lot of hauling.
• BatBoundItems: the same rule for bat form.
• RelicSpawnType: Unique or Plentiful. Plentiful lets more than one player hold the same soul shard type, which suits small PvE groups.
• AllowGlobalChat: global chat on or off.
• InactivityKillEnabled: lets castles of players who stop logging in decay away, which keeps public servers tidy. Many private groups turn it off so a friend on holiday does not lose their base.
• CastleStatModifiers_Global: castle limits, including CastleLimit and the floor and servant limits for each heart level.

Do settings changes apply to an existing world?

Most gameplay values are read when the server starts, so a restart applies them to the current save. Changing GameModeType on a world that is already in progress works, but it changes the rules for everyone at once, so agree on it first and take a backup.

If you moved a save from a game hosted in the client, that save folder carries its own ServerGameSettings.json. Stunlock's instructions say to leave GameSettingsPreset empty and not to keep a conflicting override file, so the settings you played with at home are the ones that load.

For hosting settings such as the server name, slots and password, see how to host a V Rising server. For admin rights and console commands, see V Rising admin commands.

FAQ

Where is ServerGameSettings.json on a V Rising server?

In the Settings folder inside the server's persistent data path, next to ServerHostSettings.json and adminlist.txt. The defaults in StreamingAssets/Settings should be left alone, because updates replace them.

Why are my V Rising settings not working?

Usually because GameSettingsPreset in ServerHostSettings.json names a preset, which overrides your custom file. Clear it, check the JSON is valid (a missing comma breaks it), and restart.

What is the default clan size in V Rising?

4. Change it with ClanSize in ServerGameSettings.json. Small PvP servers often run 2 or 3.

How do I make V Rising less grindy?

Raise MaterialYieldModifier_Global, CraftRateModifier and RefinementRateModifier to around 2.0, and lower ResearchCostModifier to 0.5. That roughly halves the time spent farming without skipping content.

How do I stop castle raids on my V Rising server?

Set CastleDamageMode to Never, or to TimeRestricted with raid hours in PlayerInteractionSettings if you still want sieges at set times.

Running it without the file wrangling

On a GamezServers V Rising server, the panel covers the parts people change most: name, password, slots (up to 128), the game settings preset, difficulty, save name and autosaves. ServerGameSettings.json is open in the file manager and over SFTP for everything in this guide, and one click backups let you try a new ruleset and roll back if the group hates it. New customers get 50% off the first month, and the whole clan can split the bill.