tModLoader Server Guide

Installing tModLoader on Your Client

tModLoader is now its own separate game branch that you can use on Steam as free DLC for the base game. This is the easiest method to install and play using tModLoader.

If you don't wish to use Steam to install tModLoader, the creators do offer instructions on how to manually install it on their GitHub page HERE.

Using tModLoader

If you're using tModLoader for the first time, more options will appear in the main menu than what you usually see in the vanilla game. Use "Workshop" and then "Download Mods" to find a list of available mods. There may be a brief delay while a list of mods is generated. Select and install your desired mods.

Installing tModLoader on Your Server

tModLoader will also need to be installed on the server.

This can be done from the One Click Installer tab on the left side of the Nodecraft Pro Panel.

If your server has the Vanilla version installed, you'll want to do a Fresh Install of tModLoader. Having a mixture of vanilla and tModLoader files will cause your server to crash.

Adding Mods to Your Server

Now we need to transfer your mods from your Client onto your Server.

In the "Workshop" option on your Client, click on "Manage Mods".

Then either "Enable All" or enable the ones you want to use individually. You can also configure your mods while you're in here if you wish.

Then click the "Back" button for the client to load all the mods.

Once it's finished compiling everything, click on the "Mod Packs" option.

Then click "Save Enabled as New Mod Pack" and give your pack a name.

You can click on either "Export Pack Instance", or "Open Mod Pack Folder".

Either option will work, what you want is to see the Mods and ModConfigs folders like the following screenshot. Create a zip file of these 2 folders.

Head to the "Server Files" tab on the left-hand side of your panel, then navigate to /.local/share/Terraria/tModLoader.

If these folders don't exist, you can manually create them, or start up your server at least once for the server to automatically create them.

Upload the zip file using the Upload button or FTP.

Then you'll select the zip file and click on the "Unzip" button.

Start the Server

All that's left now is to start the server up, and then join it!

Troubleshooting

Here are some common reasons the server may not be able to find the mods you added to your Terraria server.

Configure the enabled.json File

For the server to recognize the mods, you'll need to make sure they're enabled. This is accomplished by using an enabled.json file in the Mods folder.

Within this file are all the names of each mod that you wish to use.

The information in the file needs to be in the format of a JSON file, of the names of the mods that you want to use. The file must begin and end in square brackets.

Each mod should have its name in quotes, and if you have more than one line in the file, it must have a comma at the end of each line (except for the last line).

When editing a .json format file, the dashboard will alert you if what you have typed does not match the proper syntax. Correct the file until the red-orange alerts disappear.

Below is an example enabled.json that you can copy/paste to get started:

[
	"CalamityMod",
	"chadsfurn"
]

These mod names should reflect the name of the .tmod files that you uploaded. Linux is case-sensitive, so make sure the file name matches exactly (i.e. "tremor" is not the same as "Tremor" in Linux).

Be sure to "Save" your file when you're done editing it.

Check the Directory Mods were Uploaded to

Double-check that when you uploaded your mods to the server and unzipped them, they didn't end up nested inside a duplicate Mods folder.

If they did, it's really easy to fix!

Select all of the .tmod files and click the Move button.

Then tell the panel to move them into the first Mods folder.

Then you can delete the extra (now empty) Mods folder.

Repeat this process if your ModConfigs folder also has a duplicate folder.

Server Crashes on Startup

If your server was originally on the Vanilla version of Terraria, and then you used SteamCMD to install tModLoader, then you very likely have a mixture of both vanilla and tModLoader files.

The way you can tell is if, in the main directory of your Server Files, you see the Terraria.exe file mixed in with these tModLoader files.

Do a Fresh Install of tModLoader from the One Click Installer, and re-upload your mods to the server.