Soulmask Dedicated Server Help: Your Comprehensive Guide to Setup

Setting up your own dedicated server for Soulmask can significantly enhance your gameplay experience, allowing you and your friends to explore the primal world of masks together without relying on player-hosted sessions. This guide provides comprehensive Soulmask Dedicated Server Help, walking you through each step to get your server up and running, ensuring a seamless and persistent multiplayer adventure.

This guide will cover everything from downloading the necessary server files using SteamCMD to configuring your server settings, managing firewalls, and enabling port forwarding so your friends can join you online. Whether you’re new to server hosting or looking to optimize your Soulmask server, this article will provide the Soulmask dedicated server help you need.

Downloading the Soulmask Dedicated Server via SteamCMD

Unlike some games, the Soulmask Dedicated Server isn’t directly listed in the Steam Tools section. Instead, it’s distributed through SteamCMD, a command-line version of the Steam client. Don’t worry, this process is straightforward, even if you’re not a command-line expert. You don’t even need to have Steam installed or own the game on the computer you’re using for the server.

Download SteamCMD: First, you need to download SteamCMD for Windows. You can find the official download link here.
Extract SteamCMD: Create a new folder where you want to install your Soulmask server files. Extract the contents of the downloaded steamcmd.zip file into this folder.
Create Update Script: Open a text editor (like Notepad) and paste the following command:
```
steamcmd.exe +login anonymous +app_update 3017310 +quit
```
Save this file as update.bat in the same folder where you extracted SteamCMD. This script will download the Soulmask Dedicated Server files and will be useful for future updates.
Run the Update Script: Double-click the update.bat file. SteamCMD will open, log in anonymously to Steam, download the Soulmask Dedicated Server files, and then close. This process might take a while depending on your internet speed.

Alt Text: SteamCMD command prompt window showing the download progress of Soulmask Dedicated Server files.

Note: If you are running the server on Linux, use 3017300 instead of 3017310 in the update.bat script.

Preparing to Launch Your Soulmask Server

Once SteamCMD has finished downloading, navigate to the installation directory. Inside, you’ll find the server files in SteamAppscommonSoulmask Dedicated Server For Windows (or Soulmask Dedicated Server For Linux on Linux).

Within this folder, you’ll see StartServer.bat. While you can use this to launch the server, it uses default settings. For better control and customization, we’ll set up a custom start file and configure the server files directly.

Creating a Custom Server Start File

Create a New .bat File: Create a new text document in the server folder and rename it to something descriptive like MySoulmaskServer.bat. Make sure to change the extension from .txt to .bat.
Edit the .bat File: Open MySoulmaskServer.bat with a text editor and add the following lines:
```
@echo off
call StartServer.bat -SteamServerName="Your Server Name" -MaxPlayers=50 -PSW="yourpassword" -adminpsw="adminpassword" -pvp
exit /B
```
Customize the following parameters in the script:
- -SteamServerName="Your Server Name": Replace "Your Server Name" with the name you want to give your server. This is the name that will appear in the server browser.
- -MaxPlayers=50: Set the maximum number of players allowed on your server. Adjust this number as needed.
- -PSW="yourpassword": Set a password for your server. Replace "yourpassword" with a secure password if you want to make your server private. If you want a public server, you can remove this parameter.
- -adminpsw="adminpassword": Set an admin password. Replace "adminpassword" with a secure password to protect admin access.
- -pvp: This enables Player vs Player mode. If you prefer Player vs Environment (PvE), replace -pvp with -pve.
Alt Text: Example content of a custom Soulmask server start .bat file showing server name, max players, passwords, and PvP setting.

Configuring Server Configuration Files

For more advanced settings, you can directly edit the server configuration files.

Navigate to Configuration Folder: Go to WSSavedConfigWindowsServer within your Soulmask Dedicated Server folder.
Edit GameUserSettings.ini: This file contains various game settings. You can adjust settings like item spawn rates, difficulty, and more. Open GameUserSettings.ini with a text editor to customize these options.
Create and Edit Engine.ini: Create a new file named Engine.ini in the same WindowsServer folder. Add the following content to this file:
```
[URL]
Port=8777

[OnlineSubsystemSteam]
GameServerQueryPort=27015

[Dedicated.Settings]
SteamServerName=Your Server Name
MaxPlayers=50
pvp=True
backup=900
saving=600
```
Make sure to match the SteamServerName, MaxPlayers, and pvp settings in Engine.ini with those in your MySoulmaskServer.bat file for consistency.
- Port=8777: Specifies the game port. 8777 is the default port.
- GameServerQueryPort=27015: Specifies the query port used for server listings. 27015 is the default query port.
- backup=900: Sets the server backup interval in seconds (900 seconds = 15 minutes).
- saving=600: Sets the server auto-save interval in seconds (600 seconds = 10 minutes).
Alt Text: Example content of Engine.ini configuration file for Soulmask server showing port settings, server name, max players, PvP, backup, and saving intervals.

Launching Your Soulmask Dedicated Server

With both the start file and configuration files set up, you’re ready to launch your server. Simply navigate back to your main Soulmask Dedicated Server folder and double-click MySoulmaskServer.bat.

A command prompt window will appear, indicating that your Soulmask server is starting. Keep this window open as long as you want your server to run.

Saving and Closing Your Server Properly

It’s crucial to shut down your server correctly to prevent data loss and ensure smooth operation. The recommended method for saving and closing your Soulmask server involves using Telnet.

Open PowerShell or CMD: Open a new PowerShell or Command Prompt window.
Connect via Telnet: Type the command telnet 127.0.0.1 18888 and press Enter. This will attempt to connect to your server’s Telnet interface.
Use Telnet Commands: Once connected, you can use various commands to manage your server. Type help to see a list of available commands.
Save and Quit: To save your server state and shut it down, use the command quit 180. This command initiates a save and then closes the server after a 180-second (3-minute) delay. This delay allows for the server to properly save all data before shutting down.

Closing the server window directly without using the quit command can lead to data corruption or loss. Always use the Telnet method for a clean shutdown.

Letting Players Join Your Soulmask Server Over the Internet

To allow players outside your local network to join your Soulmask server, you need to configure your firewall and router to allow incoming connections.

Firewall Configuration

You need to allow inbound and outbound traffic on ports 8777 and 27015 through your firewall. If you are using Windows Firewall, follow these steps:

Open Administrator PowerShell: Open PowerShell as an administrator.

Add Firewall Rules: Run the following commands one by one:

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server TCP Inbound" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8777,27015 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server TCP Outbound" -Direction Outbound -LocalPort 8777,27015 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server UDP Inbound" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8777,27015 -Protocol UDP -Action Allow
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server UDP Outbound" -Direction Outbound -LocalPort 8777,27015 -Protocol UDP -Action Allow

These commands create rules to allow TCP and UDP traffic on ports 8777 and 27015 for the Soulmask Server through Windows Firewall.

Alt Text: Screenshot of Windows Firewall Advanced Security showing newly added inbound and outbound rules for Soulmask Server ports 8777 and 27015.

Remove Firewall Rules (Optional): If you need to remove these rules later, use the command:

Remove-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server TCP Inbound"
Remove-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server TCP Outbound"
Remove-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server UDP Inbound"
Remove-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Soulmask Server UDP Outbound"

Port Forwarding Configuration

Port forwarding on your router directs traffic from the internet to your server. This process varies depending on your router model.

Find Your Local IP Address: Open Command Prompt and type ipconfig. Look for the “IPv4 Address” under your network adapter (e.g., “Ethernet adapter Ethernet” or “Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi”). This is your local IP address.
Access Your Router Settings: Open a web browser and enter your router’s IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Log in using your router’s username and password (check your router documentation for default credentials).
Find Port Forwarding Settings: Look for “Port Forwarding,” “NAT Forwarding,” or similar settings in your router’s configuration. The location varies by router manufacturer.
Create Port Forwarding Rules: Create new port forwarding rules for ports 8777 and 27015. You’ll need to create separate rules for both TCP and UDP if your router requires it.
- Rule 1 (TCP & UDP Port 8777):
  - Port Range: 8777
  - Local Port: 8777
  - Protocol: TCP/UDP (or Both)
  - Destination IP Address: Your local IP address (from step 1)
- Rule 2 (TCP & UDP Port 27015):
  - Port Range: 27015
  - Local Port: 27015
  - Protocol: TCP/UDP (or Both)
  - Destination IP Address: Your local IP address (from step 1)
Alt Text: Example of router port forwarding configuration interface showing rules set up for ports 8777 and 27015, both TCP/UDP, directed to a local IP address.
Save and Apply: Save the port forwarding settings and restart your router if required.

Joining Your Soulmask Server

Once your server is running and port forwarding is configured, players can join your server.

Find Your External IP Address: Search “What is my IP” on Google to find your external IP address. This is the IP address your friends will use to connect.
Direct Connect in Soulmask: In the Soulmask game, navigate to the server browser and use the “Direct Connect” option.
Enter Connection Details: Enter your external IP address and port 8777 in the appropriate fields.
Connect and Play: Click “OK” to connect to your server. It might take a few minutes for your server to appear in the public server list, but direct connect should work immediately.

Now you and your friends can enjoy playing Soulmask on your dedicated server! This Soulmask dedicated server help guide has provided you with the steps to set up and run your server, ensuring countless hours of tribal adventures. Have fun exploring the world of Soulmask together!