A Sven Co-op server can have up to 32 players at once: the game accepts a player limit from 2 to 32 and uses 12 when none is set. On PlayNHost the limit is Max Players in Settings, Game Settings, a whole number from 2 up to the player slots of your plan. A new server starts at your plan's slots, and the Slots row on Overview shows the same number.
Where is the player limit set?
- Open your server in the panel and click the Settings tab.
- Click Game Settings in the Server Settings card.
- Type a whole number into Max Players, from 2 up to your plan's player slots, then press Enter or click outside the field to save it. The panel refuses a higher number with "Your plan allows between 1 and" your plan's slots.
- Wait for
Saved. The server must restart before these take effect. - Click Restart now. The new limit applies when the badge says Online again.
The panel passes Max Players straight into the server's start line as +maxplayers, so it is the real limit the game enforces. You can see the exact line under Settings, Launch Details.
You can also change it from Overview: click the pencil on the Slots row, set the number in Edit Player Slots and click Update. The dialog says "Your plan allows up to" your plan's number of players, and a running server restarts to apply it. Both ways change the same setting.
Where does the 2 to 32 range come from?
From the game. The official server manual describes +maxplayers as "The maximum number of players that can be on your server at one time (2-32). It will be 12 if you do not specify this." No setting or plan can go past 32. Within that range, your plan's player slots set the top: to see what your plan includes, open My plan in the left menu.
How many players is a good number?
The same manual adds: "Most maps become overcrowded with more than 12 players." The 2 to 32 range is what the game allows, and 12 is the number most maps are comfortable with.
What does the Slots row on Overview show?
The Slots row on the server card on Overview shows the Max Players your server runs with, so it changes when you change Max Players. Its pencil opens Edit Player Slots, which changes the same number. See How to rename your server and change player slots.
What happens when the server is full?
A player who tries to join a full server is refused until someone leaves.
Do more players need more memory?
A Sven Co-op server is light: an empty server used about 88 MiB of memory when measured on PlayNHost. Check what yours uses under load with the usage graphs: How much RAM does a Sven Co-op server need.
More: How to join your Sven Co-op server and How to invite friends to your Sven Co-op server.
