Sandbox settings + Workshop mods

Project Zomboid's behavior is driven by:

• <servername>.ini — server-level settings (max players, password, etc.)
• <servername>_SandboxVars.lua — gameplay settings (zombie pop, loot, weather)

Both live in /data/zomboid/Zomboid/Server/. Stop the server before editing.

Common sandbox tweaks (_SandboxVars.lua)

SandboxVars = {
    Zombies = 3,           -- 1=Insane 2=High 3=Normal 4=Low
    Distribution = 1,
    DayLength = 2,         -- 1=15min 2=30min 3=1hr ...
    StartYear = 1,
    StartMonth = 7,
    StartDay = 9,
    StartTime = 2,         -- 1=7am 2=9am 3=noon ...
    WaterShut = 14,        -- days until water cuts off
    ElecShut = 30,
    LootRespawn = 1,       -- 1=none 2=every hour 3=every day
    Lore = 1,
    XpMultiplier = 1.0,
}

There are 60+ knobs. The full list is in the official sandbox docs.

Workshop mods

Project Zomboid uses Steam Workshop directly — the server downloads mods automatically when you list them in the ini.

In <servername>.ini:

Mods=ModID1;ModID2;ModID3
WorkshopItems=2169435993;2657661246;2865727927

Mods is the mod's internal ID (in the mod's mod.info file). WorkshopItems is the Steam Workshop ID (the ?id= URL number). Both lists must match — workshop ID per mod ID.

Restart the server. Workshop downloads on boot.

Joining a modded server

Players must subscribe to the same mods on Steam Workshop (or the game prompts them to on join). Restart the game after subscribing.

Admin commands

Use the panel console. Some useful ones:

Command	What
/grantadmin <user>	Make admin
/removeadmin <user>	Demote
`/setaccesslevel <admin	moderator
/teleport <user>	TP to user
/kick <user> "reason"	Kick
/ban <user> "reason"	Ban
/unban <user>	Unban
/save	Force save
/quit	Graceful shutdown (saves first)

Add a chat-side prefix with say if you want broadcasts: say "Server restarting in 5 minutes".

Map and lore

The default map is Kentucky. You can swap to a custom map with the Map= line in the ini — value is the map's mod ID. Multiple maps stack with ;.

Wipe the existing world (saves folder) before swapping maps — the old terrain doesn't migrate.