Eco server settings explained: world size, day length, meteor and economy

Eco has more configuration options than virtually any other survival game. From the day length to the impact of pollution on the climate: every setting changes how your server feels. In this article we cover all the important settings, so you know exactly what each parameter does and which value suits your group best.

Configuration files

The server settings are spread across multiple files in the Configs/ folder. The most important ones are:

• Network.eco: server name, password, port and maximum number of players.
• World.eco: world size, seed and generation options.
• Difficulty.eco: collaboration level, skill speed and survival parameters.
• Disasters.eco: meteor and other natural disasters.

You can edit these files through the web interface on port 3001 or directly with a text editor. Changes to most files require a server restart.

World size and seed

The world size determines the playing field. Eco generates a 3D world with oceans, mountains, forests and deserts. The seed determines which world is generated; the same seed always produces the same world.

Day length and time

In Eco the day length is tied to real time. By default, 1 real day equals 1 in-game day. You can adjust this:

• Shorter days (for example 12 real hours = 1 in-game day) speed up progression. Suitable for groups that only play a few hours per week.
• Longer days (for example 48 real hours = 1 in-game day) slow everything down and give players more time to build their civilization.

The day length also affects the ecology system. Shorter days mean the climate reacts faster to pollution.

Meteor settings

The meteor is the central threat in Eco. These settings determine how the meteor behaves:

For a relaxed server you can increase the number of days to 60 or more. Competitive groups go for 14 or 21 days to increase the pressure.

Collaboration level

The collaboration setting determines how strongly players depend on each other. There are multiple levels:

• Low: players can do most things themselves. Suitable for solo or duos.
• Medium: specialization matters, but a single player can still function fairly independently.
• High: full dependency. Without other players you will not get beyond basic survival.

We recommend a medium to high collaboration level for groups of 10 to 25 players. This provides the most dynamic gameplay experience.

Economy settings

Eco has a built-in economic system with shops, currency and trade. You can configure:

• Starting money: how much currency each player receives at the beginning.
• Shop prices: prices are set by players, but you can set limits.
• Taxes: the elected government can levy taxes. As administrator you can enable or disable the tax system.

Ecology and pollution

The ecology system is what makes Eco special. The world simulates ecosystems with populations of animals and plants that respond to each other. Industrial pollution affects the climate and can cause species to go extinct.

• Pollution speed: how quickly industrial activities affect the environment.
• Recovery time: how quickly nature recovers when pollution stops.
• Climate sensitivity: how strongly the climate reacts to changes in the atmosphere.

Skill speed

The speed at which players learn new skills is adjustable with a multiplier. Default is 1x. A higher value suits servers where people play for shorter periods or smaller groups that need to fill more roles.

What day length is best for a weekend server?

For a group that mainly plays on weekends, a day length of 48 to 72 real hours per in-game day is ideal. This prevents the meteor from approaching too fast while most players are offline. Combine this with a longer meteor deadline of 45 to 60 days.

Can I change settings without resetting the world?

Most settings in Difficulty.eco and Network.eco can be changed without regenerating the world. Only the world size and seed are locked at creation. After modifying a configuration file you need to restart the server.