This guide covers how to set up your Sunkenland dedicated server on Legion Hosting, configure startup variables, adjust world and gameplay settings, connect to your server, and manage saves. For admin commands and player management, see Sunkenland Admin Commands.
About Sunkenland: Sunkenland is a post-apocalyptic survival game set in a flooded world. Players explore underwater ruins, build island bases, craft equipment, and survive against hostile factions. The dedicated server allows persistent multiplayer worlds with customisable world generation and difficulty settings.
1. First Start
- Log in to GPanel and select your Sunkenland server.
- Go to the Startup tab and review the available variables (see the table below).
- Set a SERVER_NAME to identify your server.
- Set a PASSWORD if you want to restrict access.
- Configure your preferred WORLD_GUID and REGION.
- Return to the Console tab and click Start.
- Wait for the console to confirm the server is ready. The first start generates a new world and default configuration files, which may take a few minutes.
First start: World generation on the first boot can take 2-3 minutes depending on the world size and settings. Do not restart the server during this process.
2. GPanel Startup Variables
The following variables are available in the GPanel Startup tab.
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
SERVER_NAME |
No | The name displayed in the server browser. Defaults to "Sunkenland Server" if not set. |
PASSWORD |
No | Password required to join (ASCII characters only, max 8 characters). Default is 12345678. |
MAX_PLAYER |
No | Maximum number of concurrent players. Range is 3-15. Default is 3. |
WORLD_GUID |
No | The GUID that identifies which world save to load. Found after the ~ in the world folder name. Default is 11223344-5566-7788-99aa-bbccddeeff00. |
REGION |
No | Server region code. Options: asia, cn, jp, eu, sa, kr, us (East), usw (West). Default is asia. |
3. Server Configuration
Sunkenland provides a server configuration file for detailed settings. Stop your server before editing.
Configuration File Location
ServerConfig.cfgOpen this file using the Files tab in GPanel or connect via SFTP. If the file does not exist, start and stop the server once to generate it.
Always stop your server before editing configuration files. The server may overwrite changes on shutdown.
Key Settings
| Setting | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
server_name |
Sunkenland Server |
Server display name in the browser. |
server_password |
(empty) | Join password. Leave empty for public access. |
max_players |
8 |
Maximum concurrent players. |
game_mode |
PvE |
Game mode: PvE (cooperative) or PvP (competitive). Controls whether players can damage each other. |
difficulty |
Normal |
World difficulty: Easy, Normal, or Hard. Affects enemy strength, loot scarcity, and hunger/thirst rates. |
loot_respawn_time |
3600 |
Time in seconds before looted containers respawn their contents. Default is 3600 (1 hour). |
island_density |
Normal |
Density of islands in world generation: Low, Normal, or High. Only affects new worlds. |
autosave_interval |
600 |
Time between auto-saves in seconds. Default is 600 (10 minutes). |
Example Configuration
server_name=My Sunkenland Server
server_password=
max_players=8
game_mode=PvE
difficulty=Normal
loot_respawn_time=3600
island_density=Normal
autosave_interval=6004. World Settings
Sunkenland worlds are procedurally generated with several customisable parameters. These settings only apply when a new world is created -- changing them on an existing world has no effect on already-generated terrain.
Island Generation
- Island Density: Controls how many islands are scattered across the world.
Highdensity means shorter travel distances but more crowded exploration.Lowdensity creates a more open, ocean-focused experience. - World Seed: If available, set a specific seed to generate a reproducible world. Players can share seeds to play on identical maps.
Loot Settings
- Loot Respawn Time: Controls how quickly underwater ruins and containers restock their loot. Lower values (e.g.,
1800) make resources more abundant; higher values (e.g.,7200) create scarcity.
Difficulty Levels
| Difficulty | Description |
|---|---|
Easy |
Reduced enemy damage and aggression. Slower hunger and thirst drain. More abundant loot. Ideal for casual play or building-focused sessions. |
Normal |
Balanced enemy strength, resource availability, and survival pressure. Recommended for most groups. |
Hard |
Increased enemy damage, health, and aggression. Faster hunger/thirst drain. Scarcer loot. For experienced survival players. |
PvP vs PvE
- PvE: Players cannot damage each other or destroy each other's structures. Ideal for cooperative groups focused on exploration and building.
- PvP: Players can damage each other and raid bases. Adds a competitive element alongside the survival gameplay.
5. How to Connect
Option A -- In-Game Server Browser
- Launch Sunkenland via Steam.
- From the main menu, select Multiplayer.
- Browse or search the server list for your server name.
- Select your server and click Join. Enter the password if prompted.
Option B -- Direct Connect via IP
- Launch Sunkenland via Steam.
- From the main menu, select Multiplayer.
- Choose Direct Connect.
- Enter your server IP and port from GPanel's Network tab:
<your-server-ip>:<port> - Enter the server password if one is set.
Need help finding your server's IP and port? Ports are randomly assigned unless you have a private IP. See How to Find Your Server IP and Port.
6. Save Management
Save File Location
World saves are stored on the server at:
saves/Each world has its own subdirectory named after the world_name setting.
Manual Backups via SFTP
- Stop the server from GPanel to ensure all data is written to disk.
- Connect to your server via SFTP. See How to Upload Files via SFTP for instructions.
- Navigate to the
saves/directory. - Download the entire world folder.
Restoring a Save
- Stop the server from GPanel.
- Connect via SFTP and navigate to
saves/. - Upload your backup folder, ensuring the name matches the
world_namesetting. - Start the server from GPanel.
Tip: Always keep a local backup before replacing save files. Corrupted or version-mismatched saves may not load correctly.
Troubleshooting
- Server not appearing in browser: Confirm the server is fully started in GPanel. Allow 2-3 minutes for the browser to index the server.
- Cannot connect: Verify your server IP and port in GPanel's Network tab. Ensure the password is correct.
- Long world generation: The first start may take several minutes while the world generates. Check the console for progress messages -- do not restart during generation.
- Crashes on startup: Delete the configuration file and restart to regenerate defaults. If the issue involves a corrupted save, try loading a different world name.
- Performance issues: Reduce
max_playersor increaseloot_respawn_timeto reduce server load.
Related Articles
- Sunkenland Admin Commands
- How to Find Your Server IP and Port
- How to Upload Files via SFTP
- Server Startup Guide
Need Help?
If you run into issues not covered here, open a support ticket and include your server IP, a description of the problem, and any error messages from the GPanel console.
