Managing scenarios and saved games on an Empyrion: Galactic Survival server is one of the most important concepts to understand when running a dedicated server. Below is a simple explanation of the difference between a Scenario and a Game, a step-by-step process and a troubleshooting section for common issues.

Scenario vs Game

Scenario = The template used to generate a universe. It defines the planets, playfields, missions, progression, resource distribution, world-generation rules, and other gameplay elements that make up the game's content.
Path: Server/Content/Scenarios

Game = The entire saved universe that is created from that Scenario. When a new Game is created, Empyrion generates a new save folder using the currently selected Scenario.
Path: Server/Saves/Games/GAMENAME

Important:

Because world-generation values (seed, ore distribution, terrain, etc.) are locked to the Game at creation, simply changing the Scenario or editing gameoptions.yaml will not modify an already created save. If you want to switch to a different Scenario, you must create a new Game name so the server generates a brand new save using that Scenario.

How to change the Scenario and create a new Game

Before changing any configuration on the server, we recommend making a backup of your world in case a restoration is required.

1. Stop your server:
   Modifying files while the server is running can corrupt save data and break the server. Shut down the server by clicking on Actions > Shutdown.

    

2. Choose the Scenario:
   Open the Basic Settings panel and locate the Custom Scenario variable. In here you may select from the dropdown menu or type in the scenario that you prefer to use.
   Pick the scenario folder you want to use from Server/Content/Scenarios using the File Manager panel.

    

3. Set a new Game Name:
   In the same Basic Settings panel locate the Game Save Name variable. This variable controls the saved world that will be loaded into the server.
   Change the current name to create a new world with the custom scenario, instead of loading an existing one.

    

4. Start the server:
   Save the changes made under the Basic Settings and restart the server by clicking on Actions > Restart. Let Empyrion generate the new save at Server/Saves/Games/YourNewGameName containing the new scenario.

    

5. Verify and join:
   Once the server is Running, join the server to confirm the world matches the chosen scenario and that everything loads correctly. If you need the old world later, you still have the backup you made.

Troubleshooting

• Server won't start after changes: If you've created a custom configuration file, check dedicated.yaml syntax and the scenario name spelling. Restore your backup and retry.
   
• Scenario not listed in Basic Settings: Ensure the scenario folder exists under Server/Content/Scenarios. Simply type the folder's name under the Custom Scenario variable. Upload any missing scenario files and refresh the control panel.
   
• World did not change after switching Scenario: Most likely you started the server with the old Game name. Make sure you set a new Game Save Name so the server generates a new save folder for the new Scenario.
   
• Players lost items or progress: That happens when you switch to a new Game as it’s a brand new save. Keep backups of old folders to restore or run both saves side-by-side if needed.
   

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our customer care agents through our live chat or email at support@pingplayers.com.

Happy gaming!