The most common RimWorld Open World problem on PlayNHost is "You have a different version of the mod from the server!": the server's Player Version and the player's Open World mod do not match. A new server is set to 1.3, the last mod version, so check that Player Version under Settings, Game Settings still says 1.3 and that the player runs mod version 1.3. The other messages below each name their cause; the server's Console also logs every refused join with the player's IP.
Joining
"You have a different version of the mod from the server!"
Why: the server's Player Version does not match the mod version the player runs. The Console shows [Wrong version at join] with the player's IP.
Fix:
- In the panel, click the Settings tab.
- In Game Settings, set Player Version to
1.3and press Enter. - Click Restart now in the card, or Restart at the top.
If it still happens for one player, that player has an old copy of the mod. In RimWorld, Options, Mod settings, Open World shows Running version:. See Which RimWorld version does a RimWorld Open World server need?
"Mods are not permitted in the server"
Why: Enforce Mods is on, and the player runs a mod whose DLL is in neither Mods enforced nor Mods whitelisted. The list in the message names the DLLs. Harmony, HugsLib and Open World count too. The Console shows [Extra mods at join].
Fix: upload the listed .dll files to Mods whitelisted (allowed but optional), or have the player turn those mods off. See How to add mods to your RimWorld Open World server.
"Mods are missing from the game"
Why: Enforce Mods is on and the player does not run a mod whose DLL is in Mods enforced. The Console shows [Missing mods at join].
Fix: the player subscribes to and activates the listed mods. If a mod should be optional, move its DLL to Mods whitelisted.
"Mods are forbidden in the server"
Why: Use Mod Blacklist is on and the player runs a mod whose DLL is in Mods blacklisted. The Console shows [Forbidden mods at join].
Fix: the player turns off the listed mods.
"You are not whitelisted in the server"
Why: Use Whitelist is on and the username is not in Data/Whitelist.json.
Fix: add the exact username to the file and restart: How to use a whitelist on your RimWorld Open World server.
"The requested server is currently full"
Why: as many players as your player slots are connected. The Console shows [Tried to join but server is full].
Fix: wait for someone to leave, or raise the slots up to your plan's limit: How many players can a RimWorld Open World server have?
"You are banned from this server"
Why: the account was banned with ban, or another banned account last played from the same IP address. Open World checks bans by the saved IP too.
Fix: type pardon and the banned username in the Console: How to become admin and ban players on your RimWorld Open World server.
"The provided login information was wrong"
Why: the username or password does not match an account on this server. Usernames and passwords are case sensitive, and an account exists only on the server where it was registered. The Console shows [Incorrect login].
Fix: a player who forgot the password asks the owner to type changepass, the username and a new password in the Console.
"This account is already registered in the server"
Why: the player clicked Register with a username that already exists.
Fix: click Login with that username instead, or register a different name.
The connection times out or nothing happens
Why: the server is not Online, or the IP or port is wrong. The Open World wiki lists the same two causes for a connection timeout.
Fix: check the badge in the panel, then copy the Server Address from Overview again. The part before the colon goes in Server IP, the number after it in Server Port.
The world
"You must generate the world without DLC first!"
Why: you are the first player on a server with no world, and Royalty, Ideology or Biotech is active.
Fix: turn the expansions off, keep only Core, Harmony, HugsLib and Open World, and connect again: How to generate the world on your RimWorld Open World server.
The server asks for a new world although one was made
Why: the server treats the world as made only while Data/World.json exists. Without it, the next new player is asked to generate a world. This happens when World.json was deleted or did not come over in a move.
Fix: restore Data/World.json and Data/WorldGenData/BaseGame.zipx together from the same backup. If World.json is there but BaseGame.zipx is missing, new players cannot load the world: restore it the same way. How to back up and restore your RimWorld Open World server.
The panel
My change to Data/Config.json disappeared
Why: before every start the panel writes all nine settings in Data/Config.json from Game Settings.
Fix: change them in Settings, Game Settings: RimWorld Open World server settings reference.
Changing Open World Version did nothing
Why: Open World Version is used only when the server is installed, so a restart does not change it. The server already runs v1.0.4, the last release of Open World (5 May 2023).
Fix: none is needed. If you have a reason to run an older release, set it in Open World Version and click Update and reinstall to apply in the note that appears. The panel takes a backup first and keeps your Saves, Players and Data.
The Console says a command is not recognized
Why: the command is misspelled, or has a slash in front. In the panel Console, type commands without a slash. A wrong number of words gives had incorrect parameter count.
Fix: type help for the list: How to use the Console and commands on your RimWorld Open World server.
The server stopped after I typed wipe
Why: a confirmed wipe deletes the world and shuts the server down by design.
Fix: click Start and generate a new world. To undo it, restore a backup from before the wipe: How to wipe or reset a colony on your RimWorld Open World server.
The Backups folder keeps growing
Why: Open World copies its data into a new folder under Backups every 6 hours and never deletes old ones.
Fix: delete old Backup Date ... folders in Files now and then. See How to back up and restore your RimWorld Open World server.
For a server that never reaches Online, see the general guide How to fix a server that will not start.
