Holdfast: Nations at War is a multiplayer first and third-person shooter set during the Napoleonic era, featuring large-scale battles with up to 150 players. This guide walks you through setting up and configuring your dedicated Holdfast server on Legion Hosting.
First Start in GPanel
Before configuring anything, you need to perform an initial startup so the server generates its default configuration files.
- Log in to GPanel.
- Select your Holdfast server from the server list.
- Click the Start button to launch the server for the first time.
- Wait for the console to show that the server has fully started. You should see a message indicating the server is listening for connections.
- Once you see the startup complete, Stop the server. The default configuration files have now been generated.
Startup Variables
GPanel provides startup variables that control fundamental server parameters. Navigate to the Startup tab in GPanel to configure these before editing the config file directly.
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
SERVER_NAME |
Name displayed in the server browser | Holdfast Server |
SERVER_PASS |
Password required to join (leave blank for public) | blank |
PLAYERS |
Maximum number of players allowed | Set by your hosting plan |
SERVER_CONFIG_PATH |
Name of the config file in the configs/ folder (must end in .txt) |
serverconfig_default.txt |
ADMIN_PASS |
Password for admin login (press F1 in-game) | blank |
REGION |
Server region. Options: europe, usa, australia, brazil, china, japan, russia, southkorea |
europe |
SERVER_QUERY_PORT |
Port used for Steam server browser queries | Assigned automatically |
Server Configuration File
The primary configuration file for Holdfast is located at holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt (or whichever file name is set in the SERVER_CONFIG_PATH startup variable). You can edit this file through GPanel's File Manager or via SFTP.
Server Identity
server_name "My Legion Holdfast Server"
server_password ""
server_max_players 50
server_steam_port 20100
server_steam_query_port 27015
The server_name supports color codes using Rich Text markup. For example:
server_name "<color=red>[Legion]</color> Holdfast Server"
Game Mode Selection
Holdfast offers several game modes. Set the default game mode using the server_game_mode setting:
| Mode ID | Game Mode | Description |
|---|---|---|
0 |
Army Battlefield | Large-scale territory capture with infantry and artillery |
1 |
Army Siege | Attackers must capture a fortified position from defenders |
2 |
Army Deathmatch | Team deathmatch with respawn timers |
3 |
Naval Battlefield | Ship-to-ship combat on the open seas |
4 |
Army Conquest | Capture and hold strategic points across the map |
5 |
Army Frontlines | Linear point capture, push the enemy back |
6 |
Melee Arena | Close-quarters melee combat in small arenas |
# Set game mode to Army Battlefield
server_game_mode 0
Round and Match Settings
# Round duration in seconds (default: 900 = 15 minutes)
server_round_time_seconds 900
# Time between rounds in seconds
server_round_end_time_seconds 30
# Number of rounds before map rotation
server_rounds_per_map 2
# Auto-balance teams
server_auto_balance_teams true
# Maximum team size difference before auto-balance triggers
server_auto_balance_threshold 2
# Friendly fire
server_friendly_fire false
Team Balance Settings
Proper team balance is important for a good gameplay experience, especially on public servers:
# Prevent players from joining the larger team
server_enforce_team_balance true
# Maximum allowed difference in team sizes
server_team_balance_limit 3
# Auto-swap players when teams become unbalanced mid-round
server_auto_balance_teams true
Map Rotation
Map rotation is configured in the holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt file using the map_rotation section. Each entry specifies a map and game mode combination:
# Map rotation entries
# Format: map_rotation_add "MapName" GameModeID
map_rotation_add "Grasslands" 0
map_rotation_add "Highlands" 0
map_rotation_add "Desert" 1
map_rotation_add "Glacier" 0
map_rotation_add "Shipyard" 3
map_rotation_add "Fort_Imperial" 1
map_rotation_add "Plains" 2
map_rotation_add "Coastal_Siege" 1
3 (Naval Battlefield).
Popular Map Choices
| Map Name | Best Modes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grasslands | Battlefield, Conquest | Open terrain, good for large battles |
| Highlands | Battlefield, Frontlines | Hilly terrain with elevation advantages |
| Fort_Imperial | Siege | Classic siege map with fortifications |
| Shipyard | Naval Battlefield | Coastal map with naval combat |
| Desert | Siege, Battlefield | Arid environment with fort structures |
| Glacier | Battlefield, Deathmatch | Winter map with limited cover |
Class Limits
You can restrict how many players can select certain classes to maintain gameplay balance:
# Limit artillery crews (percentage of team)
server_class_limit_artillery 10
# Limit officers
server_class_limit_officer 5
# Limit musicians
server_class_limit_musician 10
# Limit cavalry (on maps that support it)
server_class_limit_cavalry 15
Connecting to Your Server
Via Server Browser
- Launch Holdfast: Nations at War from Steam.
- Click Multiplayer from the main menu.
- Use the Server Browser to find your server by name.
- If you set a password, you will be prompted to enter it before joining.
Via Direct Connect
- Find your server IP and port in GPanel on the main dashboard. See also: How to Find Your Server IP and Port.
- In the Holdfast main menu, click Multiplayer, then Direct Connect.
- Enter your server IP and game port (default
20100). - Click Connect.
Save and Config Management
Holdfast dedicated servers store their configuration and data in the following locations:
| File/Folder | Purpose |
|---|---|
holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt |
Main server configuration |
bans.txt |
List of banned Steam IDs |
admins.txt |
List of admin Steam IDs |
server_log/ |
Server log files |
holdfastnaw-dedicated/configs/serverconfig_default.txt via SFTP. This allows you to revert if something goes wrong.
Related Articles
- Holdfast Nations at War Admin Commands
- How to Find Your Server IP and Port
- How to Upload Files via SFTP
- Getting Started with Your New Server
If you run into any issues not covered here, please open a support ticket and our team will be happy to help.