How to Add Vanilla and Custom/Workshop Maps to Your Over the Top: WWI Server

The trenches are dug, the artillery is prepped, and your server is ready—but where are you fighting? Customizing your map rotation is one of the most important aspects of hosting an Over the Top: WWI server.

Whether you want to strictly cycle through the classic vanilla maps or introduce community-created Workshop maps to spice up the frontlines, this process is entirely in your control. Over the Top: WWI handles maps differently depending on whether you are running a standard casual rotation or a structured Campaign mode.

This guide will walk you through understanding how the server reads map files, how to locate and upload Workshop content, and exactly how to configure your rotation files so your players always have a new battlefield to conquer.

Overview — How maps work (vanilla and custom)

Maps in Over the Top: WWI come in two flavors: vanilla (built-in) maps and custom/workshop maps that you or other creators add. The server loads maps only when they are listed in the correct configuration file. There are two different map-list systems depending on whether campaign mode (Basic Settings or Config file) is turned on or off:

• Campaign mode disabled: The server uses MapRotation.txt. Each map is added one-per-line with the Addmap = syntax. This is the standard rotation file for casual or standard play.
• Campaign mode enabled: The server ignores MapRotation.txt and loads maps from MpCampaign.txt. That file defines campaign progression and the order maps are visited in the campaign.

Important notes:

 

• Map names used in rotation must match the internal map name (found in the map's map.json as MapName).
• Custom/workshop maps must be copied to the server (they are not automatically available just because you subscribed in Steam).
• If you change rotations or upload new maps, you typically need to restart the server for changes to take effect.

How to set up map rotations for campaign and non-campaign modes

Below are clear step-by-step instructions for selecting maps and adding them to the correct rotation file depending on the mode you want.

For non-campaign (standard) servers — using MapRotation.txt

1. Shut down the server by going to Actions > Restart

   

    

2. Open the server's File Manager and locate MapRotation.txt.

   

    

3. For each map you want in rotation, add a single line using this format:

    

   Addmap = 

    

   Example:

   Addmap = Fort_De_Saint-Armand
   Addmap = Alpenflugplatz

    

   

    

4. Make sure campaign mode is turned off in the Basic Settings. (so the server reads MapRotation.txt).

   

    

5. Save the file and restart your server by going to Actions > Restart to apply the new rotation.

   

    

   

    

6. Verify in-game that the maps appear in rotation and load correctly.

For campaign servers — using MpCampaign.txt

1. Shut down the server by going to Actions > Shutdown

   

    

2. Open the server's File Manager and locate MpCampaign.txt.

   

    

3. Edit this file to define the campaign progression and the order of maps. Campaign setups vary by server and by how the map author designed the campaign, so follow the structure already present in your file (usually map entries and progression rules).

   

    

4. Make sure campaign mode is enabled in Basic Settings. (so the server uses MpCampaign.txt instead of MapRotation.txt).

   

    

5. Save the file and restart the server by going to Actions > Restart to apply the campaign setup.

   

    

   

    

6. Test progression by playing through the campaign or watching the server change maps according to the campaign rules.

Quick reminders:

• One map per line in MpCampaign.txt.
• Map names must match the name inside the map's map.json (look for MapName).
• If campaign mode is on, the server ignores MapRotation.txt.

How to get and locate custom/workshop maps

You can obtain custom maps in two common ways: by subscribing to a map on the Steam Workshop or by receiving the files from a server or another source. Here's where those files are stored on a typical Windows setup and how to find them.

Subscribe to maps from the Steam Workshop

1. Open the Over The Top: WWI Workshop page in Steam and click "Subscribe" for the maps you want.

   

    

2. After Steam downloads them, locate the files on your PC at:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\2778610\WORKSHOPID

   • 2778610 is the game ID.
   • WORKSHOPID is the folder name for each workshop item (one folder per subscribed map).

    

   

    

3. Inside the WorkshopID folder you will typically find the map files and a .json map descriptor (map.json).

    

Maps downloaded from servers or other sources (non-Workshop)

Some maps are distributed outside the Workshop or are downloaded by the game when you join a server. Those files usually live in a different folder on your machine. Common location is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Over The Top WW1\Over_The_Top_WWI_Data\CustomMaps

If you find a custom map in that folder, copy the map's .json so you can use it in the next step.

How to upload maps to your server, load them, and set them in map rotation

Once you have the map files locally (from the Workshop folder or CustomMaps), follow these steps to get them onto your server and into rotation.

Steps to upload map files to the server

1. Shut down the server by going to Actions > Shutdown

   

    

2. Locate the map files on your PC (see the previous section).

   

    

3. Take note of the map's .json.
4. Connect to your server using the method provided:
   • Use the server panel's File Manager (Recommended).
   • Or use SFTP with the credentials supplied. Follow this guide in connecting to SFTP: How to connect to SFTP

5. Upload the maps .json into the server's Server/CustomMaps directory by dragging and dropping them on the bubble above the folder path if you're using File Manager.

   

    

6. After upload completes, confirm the files are present on the server and that file names match exactly (case and characters).

   

Adding the uploaded map to rotation

1. If you use standard (non-campaign) mode:
   1. Edit MapRotation.txt on the server.

   2. Add a new line with Addmap = , where it matches the MapName entry inside the map's map.json. EG: Addmap = Lochnagar_Crater

      

       

   3. Save the file and restart the server by going to Actions > Restart.

2. If you use campaign mode:

   1. Edit MpCampaign.txt to include the map in the right campaign slot and progression order.

      

       

   2. Save the file and restart the server by going to Actions > Restart.

After the restart, join the server or watch the server console/logs to confirm the map is recognized and loads correctly.

Extra tips

 

• If a workshop map depends on other workshop items, ensure you also upload those dependencies or include instructions so players have the required subscriptions.

Troubleshooting — Common issues and fixes

If a map doesn’t load or doesn’t show in rotation, check these common problems:

• Incorrect map name in rotation: The name in MapRotation.txt must match the map's MapName from map.json. Even small typos will prevent the map from being found.

   

• Using the wrong rotation file: If campaign mode is enabled, MapRotation.txt will be ignored. Make sure the campaign mode in the Basic Settings matches the rotation file you edited.

   

• Map not uploaded to server: Custom or workshop maps must be copied to Server/CustomMaps on your server. If they're only on your PC (in the Steam workshop folder), the server won't see them.

   

• Syntax errors in MapRotation.txt: Ensure each map is on its own line and uses exactly Addmap = formatting. No extra characters or commas.

   

• Case sensitivity and special characters: The server may require exact names. Try copying the map name straight from map.json instead of typing it manually.

   

• No restart: After changes, restart the server so it reloads rotation files and new custom maps.

   

• Permissions/transfer errors: If files were corrupted or upload was interrupted, re-upload and verify file sizes and integrity.

   

• Missing dependencies: If the map requires other workshop items or mods, ensure those are installed or provided to players. Workshop server official support is new, so things may get dicey.

If you still have issues after checking the above, collect the server console errors (or screenshots) and the map.json contents for the map in question — that information will help support identifying the exact problem.

Conclusion

Adding custom maps is the best way to keep your Over the Top: WWI community engaged and the battles feeling fresh. While the manual upload process takes a few steps, mastering your MapRotation.txt or MpCampaign.txt files gives you total control over the war effort.

Always remember to double-check your spelling against the map.json file and restart your server after making changes!

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 [email protected]. 

Happy gaming!