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Arma Reforger reads the ordered game.mods array in config.json as the server’s required Workshop mod set. In practice, a reliable setup has three parts: include every author-declared dependency (including transitive dependencies), keep each Workshop ID only once, and choose a version policy you can maintain. Grouping frameworks before gameplay content makes the file easier to audit, but dependency completeness is more important than alphabetical order or a preferred category sequence.

What “load order” means in Arma Reforger

For a dedicated server, load order is not a separate in-game slider. It is the sequence of objects in the game.mods JSON array inside config.json. Each object identifies a Workshop mod with its GUID in modID and can also contain a human-readable name, a version, and a required flag. Bohemia Interactive’s server-configuration reference describes game.mods as the list of mods clients must have to join.

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That distinction matters because the array is both a technical requirement list and an administrator’s change log. Reordering entries does not automatically repair a missing dependency, an incompatible release, or a duplicate ID. Those problems must be fixed in the data itself.

A representative array

{
  "game": {
    "mods": [
      {
        "modID": "framework-workshop-guid",
        "name": "Shared Framework",
        "required": true
      },
      {
        "modID": "scenario-workshop-guid",
        "name": "Scenario Pack",
        "version": "1.2.3",
        "required": true
      }
    ]
  }
}

The GUIDs and version in this example are placeholders for the real values shown by the Mod Manager. Do not copy them into a live server.

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How to create or change the mod list

The least error-prone starting point is the game’s own Workshop and Mod Manager workflow. It produces the correct object syntax and reduces hand-typing mistakes.

  1. Activate the mods your server should use in Workshop.
  2. Open the Mod Manager.
  3. Switch the Mod Manager to its JSON tab.
  4. Copy the generated string into the game.mods section of the server’s config.json.
  5. Save a known-good copy of the existing configuration before replacing it.
  6. Validate that the resulting file is valid JSON, then restart the server and inspect its startup log.

If you are merging lists from several machines or administrators, normalize them before deployment. Preserve the generated name values so another administrator can identify an entry without looking up a GUID, and remove repeated modID values. A duplicate can create confusing update or startup behavior and offers no benefit.

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Where dependencies belong

Dependencies are declared by the mod author, not invented by the server administrator. Workshop downloads include the dependencies a mod needs, and the dependency relationship can extend through several levels. If mod A requires mod B and mod B requires mod C, the effective server set needs A, B, and C.

Do dependencies have to be listed manually?

Use the Mod Manager’s generated output and the mod’s Workshop metadata as your authoritative checklist. A top-level mod entry is not a substitute for checking the complete dependency chain. Some environments resolve downloads automatically, but your server configuration still needs a complete, compatible required set for clients to receive and load.

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Should a dependency be above its parent?

Putting shared frameworks and libraries before the systems that consume them is a sensible convention. It mirrors the conceptual relationship and makes a review easier, especially when a long list is edited by several people. However, Bohemia Interactive’s official configuration guidance does not establish a universal rule that every dependency must appear immediately before, or even above, its parent. Correct IDs, versions, and a complete dependency chain take priority over a visual ordering preference.

A maintainable category order

When no author-specific instruction dictates another sequence, use a stable category order. The goal is human maintenance, not a claim that the engine executes every category as a strict priority.

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  1. Shared frameworks and libraries: common APIs or foundation packages used by several other mods.
  2. Gameplay systems: rules, progression, logistics, medical systems, or other mechanics.
  3. Maps and scenarios: terrain, mission, and scenario content.
  4. Factions: uniforms, faction definitions, and related identity packages.
  5. Vehicles: vehicle platforms and their supporting assets.
  6. Weapons and equipment: firearms, attachments, clothing, and gear.
  7. Audio: sound replacements and music packages.
  8. Utilities: administration, diagnostics, or quality-of-life tools.

Keep entries in a consistent category order when adding or removing content. Do not alphabetize blindly if doing so separates a framework from the systems that use it, and do not move entries merely to make a visual pattern if the author documents a specific requirement.

Version fields: latest versus pinned

The optional version field controls reproducibility. When it is omitted, the server uses the latest published version of that mod. This minimizes manual updating, but an author’s new release can change the content your clients download or alter compatibility without a configuration edit.

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Pinning a version can make a production server more predictable: every restart requests the declared release until you deliberately change the configuration. The trade-off is operational work. When a dependency or bug fix requires an upgrade, an administrator must update the pinned value, test the set, and then roll it out.

Version policy Behavior Operational consequence
Omit version Uses the latest published version Less manual maintenance, but updates can arrive between restarts and change the effective set
Pin version Requests the declared release More reproducible deployments; upgrades require an intentional configuration change and testing

Apply one policy consistently within a server’s mod set where possible. A mixture of floating and pinned entries can be valid, but document why each exception exists so an emergency update does not accidentally remove the stability you intended.

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What joining clients experience

Bohemia Interactive states that “The game will automatically start downloading any required mods or load any previously downloaded required mods from your SSD.” It also states that “You cannot pick and choose which mods you want to download for a specific server (i.e., all players in a server must use the same mod set required by the server).”

Therefore, a player cannot decline one required package and still join. The client’s download burden is the combined size of the server’s required set, and version changes can cause additional downloads when a different release is needed. Large lists and frequent updates increase the time players spend preparing to connect, even when the JSON order itself is clean.

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Why a client may download again

Different servers can require different versions of the same mod. A client that already has one release may need another to satisfy the server’s requirement. This is expected behavior when the version sets differ; it is not evidence that moving an entry higher or lower fixed the problem.

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Diagnosing version mismatches and ADDON_LOAD_ERROR

When a player reports a version mismatch, missing content, or an ADDON_LOAD_ERROR, treat the problem as a set-and-compatibility issue first and an ordering issue second.

1. Confirm the server’s effective set

  • Check every modID in game.mods against the Workshop or Mod Manager output.
  • Look for duplicate IDs created by merging two lists.
  • Check that all author-declared dependencies are present, including dependencies of dependencies.
  • Verify that a pinned version is still published and compatible with the other entries.

2. Reproduce with a controlled list

Keep a backup of the failing configuration. Then use a copy to isolate the suspect content. Bohemia’s troubleshooting guidance recommends disabling mods one by one until the error disappears, identifying the conflicting mod, and re-adding compatible content. Remove or disable only one candidate at a time so you can identify the change that affects the result.

3. Rebuild from the last known-good state

  1. Restore the last configuration that successfully started and allowed clients to join.
  2. Add the framework or dependency group first.
  3. Restart and test.
  4. Add the next category or mod, restart, and test again.
  5. When the error returns, inspect the newly added mod’s declared dependencies and version compatibility before changing unrelated entries.

This staged approach distinguishes a malformed JSON edit from a content conflict. It also leaves you with a rollback point instead of a second, equally uncertain configuration.

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Backups, edits, and rollback

Keep dated copies of every known-good config.json before changing the mod array. Record the reason for a change, the version policy used, and the Workshop IDs added or removed. Retaining names in each object makes a diff readable; a list of GUIDs alone forces administrators to perform a second lookup during an incident.

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After editing, check four things before restarting a production server:

  • The file parses as valid JSON, with matching braces, brackets, commas, and quotation marks.
  • Each required entry has the intended modID and, when used, the intended version.
  • No ID appears more than once.
  • The backup is stored somewhere that can be reached if the restart fails.

If the new server fails to start or clients begin reporting errors, stop adding changes. Restore the previous file, restart, and confirm service recovery before investigating the new entry in isolation.

Comparing two load-order practices

Administrators usually choose between a dependency-aware, categorized list and a simple unstructured list assembled from copied entries. The first is easier to operate, but neither practice can compensate for an author-declared dependency that was never included.

Operational concern Dependency-aware categorized list Unstructured copied list
Dependency completeness Encourages an explicit check of direct and transitive dependencies Can omit dependencies when entries are copied from separate sources
Reproducibility Can combine documented version pins with a clear change record Often relies on latest versions without recording when content changed
Maintainability Uses names, stable grouping, and duplicate-free IDs Becomes difficult to audit as entries accumulate
Client download burden Still depends on total mod size and version churn, but unnecessary duplicates are avoided Duplicate or frequently changing entries can increase confusion and downloads
Recovery Backups and staged additions provide a defined rollback path Without backups, isolating a conflict requires rebuilding the list

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming order fixes a missing dependency: adding the dependency entry and matching its compatible version is the real remedy.
  • Listing a Workshop ID twice: deduplicate after every merge or manual edit.
  • Pinning and forgetting: a pinned server does not automatically receive a required fix; schedule deliberate reviews.
  • Floating everything in production: latest-version behavior can introduce an untested change between restarts.
  • Testing only the host: joining clients must download and load the same required set, so test with a clean or representative client.
  • Changing several variables at once: adding, removing, and reordering many mods prevents reliable diagnosis.
  • Editing without a rollback file: always preserve the last known-good configuration before a restart.

Practical decision checklist

Use this checklist whenever you add a mod or alter its order:

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  1. Identify the Workshop GUID and retain the generated human-readable name.
  2. Read the author’s dependency metadata and expand the chain transitively.
  3. Decide whether this server will follow the latest release or pin a specific version.
  4. Place the entry in the stable category sequence, with shared frameworks and libraries first for readability.
  5. Remove any duplicate GUID already present in the array.
  6. Validate the JSON and save a dated backup.
  7. Restart, test a representative client connection, and record the result.

The reliable principle is simple: treat game.mods as a complete, auditable contract with clients. Use ordering to make that contract understandable, but solve failures through dependency checks, version decisions, controlled isolation, and rollback—not by repeatedly shuffling entries.

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