The Front Server Modes: PvP vs PvE, Standard Mode and Maps
A The Front server host does not pick from a list of maps. Every guide we checked launches the same start map (ProjectWar_Start), and the main choice you control is PvP or PvE through ServerFightModeType. Everything else (loot rules, base raiding, wipes, XP) is set with individual rules in ServerConfig_.ini.
This page explains the modes that exist, what the PvP and PvE switch changes, and which rules to combine for common server types. Checked against sources current as of November 2026; The Front updates often, so check the current patch notes before building a server around a specific rule.
- There is no map selector for dedicated servers in the references we found: the launch line uses the single start map
ProjectWar_Start. ServerFightModeType=0is PvP and1is PvE. In PvE, enemy players and their followers cannot be attacked.- The game has Standard Mode and the co-op Adventure Mode (up to six players). Dedicated-server guides cover the Standard persistent world.
- Death drops, corpse looting, base-beacon limits and wipe dates are separate rules that change the feel of a server far more than the PvP/PvE switch alone.
On this page
Which maps can you choose?
In practice, none. The launch line in every community guide ends the map argument with ProjectWar_Start, and host references list no other map name. A third-party recap says more maps were promised during Early Access, but the same recap does not confirm a new region in the 1.0 release (October 30, 2025), so do not expect to switch worlds on a dedicated server.
What you can do is run separate servers with different rules, each with its own config profile. Pterodactyl's community egg names a profile with -ConfigServerName, and a separate data folder with -UserDir, which keeps saves apart when several servers share a machine.
Standard Mode vs Adventure Mode
The game itself has two modes, named on the developers' own news page: Standard Mode, the persistent open-world survival game, and Adventure Mode, added with 1.0. Third-party coverage describes Adventure as a mission-based co-op experience for up to six players, with bosses and objectives and without the risk of a persistent world.
Dedicated-server guides only document the Standard persistent world. Whether Adventure can be hosted on a dedicated server, and how, is not documented in anything we could verify, so we are not going to guess. If you need it, check the current patch notes and the game's Discord.
The game also has three kinds of servers: official servers run by the developers, player-hosted solo servers, and dedicated servers. Official PvP servers wipe on a schedule (45 days is reported), which is a useful template for your own wipe plan.
PvP or PvE: what the switch changes
ServerFightModeType in [BaseServerConfig] takes 0 for PvP and 1 for PvE. A host reference describes the difference this way: in PvP, enemy players and their followers can be attacked; in PvE they cannot. Pterodactyl's egg exposes the same switch as a game-mode toggle (off is PvP, on is PvE).
[BaseServerConfig]
ServerFightModeType=1
IsCanFriendDamage=0
IsCanSelfDamage=0Two companion switches matter on either mode: IsCanSelfDamage and IsCanFriendDamage, which control self-damage and squad friendly fire (0 blocks, 1 allows).
Rules that define the type of server
These are the settings that shape how a server plays beyond the PvP/PvE switch. Valid values are from the BisectHosting and LOW.MS references.
| Key | Values | Effect |
|---|---|---|
GMDeathDropMode | 0 none, 1 all, 2 inventory only | What drops on death; mode 2 leaves equipped and hotbar items |
CorpsePickAuthority | 0 self, 1 squad/friendly, 2 everyone | Who may loot a corpse |
GMDeathInventoryLifeSpan | 0 to 3600 seconds | How long dropped items stay |
HealthDyingState | 0 or 1 | Downed state at 0 HP instead of instant death |
GreenHand | 0 or 1 | Novice protection for new characters |
GMMaxHouseFlagNumber | 1 to 5 | House flag (beacon) limit per player |
GMHFTrapMaxNum / GMHFTurretMaxNum | 0 to 10000 | Traps and turrets allowed per beacon |
CHFDamagedByPlayer | 0 to 100 multiplier | How much damage a beacon takes from player guns; sibling keys exist for vehicles and NPCs |
GMRebirthBaseCD | 0 to 60 seconds | Base respawn cooldown |
Remember that two references disagree about a few defaults and one swaps descriptions between keys, so confirm any setting in-game after changing it.
Server tags and wipe schedules
The server list can be filtered by tags. Pterodactyl's egg documents up to five tag IDs, comma-separated, mapping 0 to PvP, 1 to PvE, 2 to an XP multiplier, 3 to a gathering rate, 4 to keep-inventory, and 5, 6, 7 and 8 to 45-, 15-, 30- and 60-day wipes. In the config file the key is ServerTags; LOW.MS lists 1,2,3,4 as the value on its live servers.
Tags describe the server, they do not enforce it, so make them match your real settings. For wipes, ClearSeverTime holds the date the wipe scheduler uses. Announce the schedule in WelcomeMessage so players are not surprised.
Rates that change the pace
Beyond rules, the multipliers in ServerConfig_.ini decide how fast the world moves. BisectHosting's reference gives these practical ranges: PlayerAddExpRate and its kill, farm and craft siblings 0 to 100, GMTreeGainRate, GMBushGainRate and GMOreGainRate 0 to 1000, GMCraftTimeRate 0 to 10, MoveSpeedRate 0 to 5 and WildNPCDamageRate 0 to 100. LOW.MS lists its XP, survival and NPC multipliers at a default of 1, so confirm any value in your own file.
Change a few at a time and test in game. A boosted server and a hardcore server can use exactly the same PvP or PvE setting, which is why the tags above matter for players choosing where to join.
Picking a setup
| Server type | Suggested starting point |
|---|---|
| Co-op PvE with friends | ServerFightModeType=1, friendly fire off, GMDeathDropMode=2, password set |
| Public PvP with regular wipes | ServerFightModeType=0, GMDeathDropMode=1, CorpsePickAuthority=2, tags for PvP and your wipe cycle, GreenHand=1 |
| Boosted casual server | PvE or PvP, raised PlayerAddExpRate and gathering rates, GMDeathDropMode=2 |
These are starting suggestions built from the documented keys, not tested defaults. Hosting with ChicagoServers? The The Front server hosting page lists what is included, such as free server backups and SFTP file access.
Frequently asked questions
What maps can I use on a The Front dedicated server?
Host references and community guides only use the start map ProjectWar_Start. We found no documented way to choose another map on a dedicated server.
How do I make a The Front server PvE?
Set ServerFightModeType=1 in ServerConfig_.ini and restart. A value of 0 is PvP.
Can I host Adventure Mode on a dedicated server?
We could not verify it. Adventure Mode is a co-op mode for up to six players, but dedicated-server guides only document the Standard persistent world.
What do the server tags mean?
Up to five IDs describe your server in the list: 0 PvP, 1 PvE, 2 XP multiplier, 3 gathering rate, 4 keep inventory, and 5 to 8 for 45-, 15-, 30- and 60-day wipes. They do not enforce anything by themselves.