How to Change Your Team Fortress 2 Server Settings and Map Cycle

Team Fortress 2 is a Source engine server, so its settings are console variables written into a config file the server executes at startup.

Where the files live

In the panel open Files and go to:

tf/cfg/

• server.cfg, executed on every map change. This is where your settings go.
• mapcycle.txt, the list of maps played in order.
• motd.txt and motd_text.txt, the message shown to joining players.

server.cfg

hostname "My PlayNHost TF2 Server"
sv_contact "[email protected]"
rcon_password "a-long-password-here"
sv_password ""
sv_lan 0
sv_region 3
mp_timelimit 30
mp_winlimit 5
mp_maxrounds 5
sv_alltalk 0
sv_pure 1
sv_allow_votes 1
mp_autoteambalance 1
mp_teams_unbalance_limit 1
sv_setsteamaccount "YOUR_GSLT_TOKEN"

• hostname is the name in the browser.
• sv_password empty is an open server. Setting it makes the server private.
• rcon_password gives full remote control. Make it long and never share it.
• mp_timelimit is in minutes, and is what decides how long a map lasts.
• sv_pure 1 stops clients using custom content that changes gameplay visuals.
• sv_setsteamaccount is your Steam game server login token, which the server needs to be listed publicly. See the troubleshooting guide for how to create one.

The map cycle

Edit tf/cfg/mapcycle.txt, one map name per line, no file extension:

ctf_2fort
cp_dustbowl
pl_upward
koth_viaduct
pl_badwater

The server plays them in order and loops. To start on a specific map, set it on your server's Startup Settings page, reachable from the server overview, or change it live from the panel console:

changelevel pl_upward

Slots

Your plan's slot count is applied through the MAX_PLAYERS variable on your server's Startup Settings page. Note that TF2 counts spectator and bot slots against the same total. Upgrade the plan in the billing area to run more players.

Apply the changes

Save the file and either restart the server or, from the panel console, run:

exec server.cfg

Some variables only take effect on a map change, so a changelevel is the safest way to confirm a setting has applied.