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Godlike.Host offers modded Minecraft server hosting with one-click modpacks, a built-in mod installer and up to three free backups a day.
Host The Last War on Minecraft: Java Edition 1.20.1 with the Forge server pack supplied through CurseForge. Install the matching server archive on a Java-capable machine, start Forge once to create its files, set eula=true, and give every player the identical modpack release. Plan for at least 10 GB of assigned RAM as a conservative starting point, then tune view distance, simulation distance, and player count after observing real usage.
What The Last War server requires
The Last War – Guns And Adventure is a Forge modpack for Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1. Its client and server must agree on the Minecraft version, Forge loader, modpack release, and any added TaCZ (Timeless and Classics Zero) or other companion mods. A player running a different release can be refused at the handshake stage or trigger a loading crash.
| Item | Requirement or current reference | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft edition | Java Edition | Bedrock clients cannot join this Forge pack. |
| Minecraft version | 1.20.1 | Do not substitute another 1.20.x release unless the pack explicitly moves to it. |
| Mod loader | Forge | The server pack and every client must use the same Forge line. |
| Current CurseForge release identified by the project page | The Last War – MC 1.20.1 – 57.2.0, uploaded September 6, 2026 | Use one release consistently on the server and all clients; read its changelog before updating. |
| Memory guidance | Modrinth describes 7 GB as a minimum; the current CurseForge description recommends at least 10 GB and more for larger populations. | Use 10 GB as the safer initial allocation, not as a guarantee of a fixed player count. |
The two project pages give different memory floors. The 7 GB figure is a minimum stated on the Modrinth project page, while 10 GB is the current minimum recommendation on CurseForge. Treat the higher number as the practical starting point for a dedicated server, especially when several players explore new terrain or use the pack’s gun and quest content simultaneously.
Choose where to run the server
Self-hosting on your own computer
Self-hosting gives you direct control over files, Forge builds, RAM, backups, and network settings. It is suitable when the computer can remain powered on, has enough memory beyond what the operating system and other applications need, and your internet connection permits inbound connections. You are responsible for Java and Forge maintenance, firewall rules, router configuration, backups, and diagnosing crashes.
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- Advantages: no separate hosting subscription, complete file access, and freedom to pin a tested pack release.
- Costs and constraints: electricity, upload bandwidth, a computer that stays online, and possible carrier-grade NAT or blocked inbound ports.
- Security responsibility: expose only the Minecraft port, keep the operating system and Java runtime patched, and use a whitelist for a private group.
Using managed Minecraft hosting
A managed host runs the Java process for you and normally supplies a web panel, automated restarts, backups, and network connectivity without router port-forwarding. Confirm that the provider can import the exact CurseForge server pack, select Forge for Minecraft 1.20.1, and pin a specific release rather than silently updating it.
One documented managed-host workflow is to open the provider’s modpack browser, search for The Last War – Guns And Adventure, and select Install. If you add a mod afterward, it must target the same Forge loader and Minecraft 1.20.1 version as the pack. The project author warns that a setup on an unverified host may not work, so check the host’s current compatibility statement and test a disposable world before paying for a long term.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted machine | Managed host |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | No hosting fee, but you supply hardware, electricity, and bandwidth. | Recurring fee; exact price depends on the provider and selected resources. |
| Setup time | Download, extract, configure Java, firewall, router, and backups yourself. | Often faster when the panel has a compatible modpack installer. |
| Router access | Usually required for friends outside your home network. | Normally handled by the provider. |
| RAM controls | Set the Java heap within your machine’s available memory. | Limited by the plan; verify that at least 10 GB can be assigned. |
| Backups | You must schedule and test copies manually or with your own tools. | Many panels offer snapshots, but retention and restore behavior vary. |
| Forge and pack pinning | Full control over the exact 1.20.1 files. | Available only if the host lets you select or upload a fixed release. |
| Troubleshooting | You inspect logs, Java, mods, and network settings. | The host handles infrastructure, while you still handle pack and mod mismatches. |
Prepare a self-hosted server
1. Make a clean server directory
Create a new directory dedicated to this world, separate from any other Minecraft installation. Avoid placing it inside a cloud-synchronized folder that might lock files while the server is writing. Leave several gigabytes of free disk space for the world, region files, logs, backups, and future pack downloads.
2. Download the matching server pack
- Open the CurseForge project for The Last War and select the release you intend to run. For the current release identified in the project materials, that is The Last War – MC 1.20.1 – 57.2.0.
- Download the server-pack archive, not merely the client profile. The server archive contains the Forge-side files and configuration expected by the pack.
- Record the release number and download date in a text file beside the server. This makes it possible to identify exactly what a backup contains.
- Extract the archive completely into the new server directory. Running from inside the compressed archive can leave libraries or configuration files missing.
Use the Java runtime supported by the pack’s Forge build. The exact executable and Forge launcher filename differ by operating system and by installer revision, so follow the launch script included in the archive or the instructions shown by the Forge installer rather than copying a filename from another pack.
3. Run Forge once and accept the EULA
Start the Forge server launcher from the extracted directory. On the first run it normally stops after creating files, including eula.txt. Open that file, change only the agreement line to eula=true, save it, and start the launcher again.
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An equivalent Java command, when the extracted launcher uses that filename, looks like this:
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →java -Xms10G -Xmx10G -jar forge-1.20.1-<build>-server.jar noguiThe build portion is a variable supplied by your downloaded Forge files; use the actual launcher name in your directory. On a host panel, select the supplied Forge jar or startup script instead of entering this command. Do not allocate all physical memory to Java: leave enough for the operating system and any panel, monitoring, or backup process.
4. Configure the first successful boot
After the second start reaches a stable server console, stop it cleanly and inspect server.properties. Set the values that match your group, then start again:
- Server port: keep the configured TCP port unless you have a reason to change it. If you change it, use the new value in the firewall and router rule.
- Whitelist: enable it for a private server and add players by their Java Edition names. This prevents unknown accounts from joining even if they discover the address.
- View distance and simulation distance: begin conservatively. These settings affect CPU, memory, and bandwidth, especially while players generate unexplored terrain.
- Motd and difficulty: set them before inviting players so the server list and gameplay match your plan.
5. Open the network only when necessary
Players on the same home network can usually connect using the host computer’s local address. Friends elsewhere need the server’s public address and a router rule forwarding the configured TCP port to the host computer’s fixed local address. Also allow that port through the computer’s firewall.
Some internet connections use carrier-grade NAT, which prevents inbound forwarding even when the router interface has a port-forwarding page. If the rule never reaches the server, ask your internet provider whether a public IPv4 address is available or use a managed host instead. Never publish the administrative panel, remote desktop service, or other unrelated ports just to make Minecraft reachable.
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6. Test before inviting anyone
- Join from the host computer or local network using the exact client profile.
- Join from a second account or an external connection if available.
- Travel far enough to generate new chunks and watch the server console for errors, memory pressure, or repeated tick delays.
- Stop the server with its console
stopcommand and confirm that the world saves without errors. - Restore a copy of the world to a separate test directory and verify that it boots. A backup that has never been restored is not a tested backup.
Install the matching client for every player
Every player should install the same distribution and release that the server uses. The simplest path is the CurseForge profile for the selected release; use the project’s supported distribution method if your launcher does not use CurseForge.
- Install a launcher capable of running Minecraft Java Edition modpacks.
- Import or install the exact The Last War release used by the server.
- Verify that the profile reports Minecraft 1.20.1 and Forge, not vanilla or another loader.
- Do not add performance, shader, weapon, or library mods until the unmodified profile can join successfully.
- Launch once, allow the client to finish downloading dependencies, and then connect to the server.
When a client has additional mods, compare the complete mod list and versions with the server. A file that is harmless on the client can still cause a rejection if it changes a shared dependency, and a server-only mod copied into the client can crash during startup. Keep a copy of the working profile before experimenting.
RAM, CPU, storage, and performance planning
How much RAM should you assign?
Use the published figures as boundaries rather than promises of a specific player count. Modrinth states at least 7 GB; CurseForge currently recommends a minimum of 10 GB and says to increase it for larger player counts. Start around 10 GB for a small group, monitor actual heap usage and garbage-collection pauses, and increase the allocation only when the machine has unused memory.
More heap cannot fix every lag problem. Excessive view distance, simulation distance, rapid exploration, entity-heavy builds, and mismatched add-ons can overload CPU or disk even when free RAM remains. Conversely, a heap that is too small commonly produces loading failures, stalls, or an operating system that starts swapping.
Practical tuning order
- Confirm the server is using the intended Forge profile and not a vanilla jar.
- Set the heap near the 10 GB recommendation while leaving headroom for the operating system.
- Start with moderate view and simulation distances, then raise them one setting at a time.
- Generate or explore new terrain with the expected number of players while watching the console and system monitor.
- Lower distances or reduce concurrent exploration before adding unrelated optimization mods.
- Change one variable per test and record the result so you can revert a bad change.
Storage and backups
Use fast local storage with free capacity for region files, logs, crash reports, and at least several dated backups. Back up while the server is stopped, or use a backup tool that explicitly supports live-world snapshots. Keep one copy outside the server directory; a disk failure, accidental deletion, or bad update can destroy every copy stored beside the live world.
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Updating the pack safely
The pack’s mods are added, removed, or updated between releases. Read the CurseForge changelog for the target release and do not assume that a newer file is compatible with an older world.
- Announce a maintenance window and stop the server cleanly.
- Copy the entire world and server directory to a dated backup location.
- Record the current release, Forge build, Java runtime, and any manually added mods.
- Install the new server-pack release in a separate test directory rather than overwriting the working server.
- Copy a duplicate of the live world into the test directory and launch it there.
- Join with a client updated to the same Minecraft, Forge, modpack, TaCZ, and add-on versions.
- Check quests, inventories, dimensions, custom weapons, and recently generated terrain.
- Only after the test succeeds, schedule the production update and retain the pre-update backup.
Never test an update by repeatedly launching the only copy of a valuable world. If the new version damages the world or refuses to load, stop and restore the pre-update copy instead of allowing more attempts to modify it.
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The server exits immediately
- Confirm that the Java runtime is supported by the pack’s Forge build and that the launcher is the one included with the extracted server pack.
- Check that the archive was fully extracted and that Forge libraries and the
modsdirectory are present. - Read the first error and its “caused by” section in the latest log; do not treat the final shutdown line as the root cause.
- Remove any manually added mod and retry with the untouched server pack.
A client cannot join
- Compare Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge, the modpack release, TaCZ, and every shared add-on on both sides.
- Make sure the player launched the modded profile rather than a vanilla 1.20.1 profile.
- Check that the address and port are correct and that the server is listening before investigating mods.
- Use a clean client profile to distinguish a network problem from a client-side modification.
Loading stalls or the server crashes under load
- Move the heap toward the 10 GB recommendation if the machine has capacity, but do not starve the operating system.
- Lower view distance and simulation distance, then test with the normal number of players.
- Remove unauthorized client-only or server-only additions and retest the original pack.
- Inspect disk space, CPU saturation, and swapping; memory alone is not a complete performance diagnosis.
Quests or content are missing
Use the CurseForge distribution when possible. The Modrinth project notes that it cannot include every content or optimization mod and cannot upload server packs; it also notes that FTB Quests may require separate handling. Do not mix a partial Modrinth download with a complete CurseForge server and expect identical content.
The world appears corrupted after an update
Stop the server, preserve the affected directory for log analysis, and restore the backup made before the update. Repeatedly launching a mismatched version can make recovery harder. Test the target pack against a copy first, then migrate only after the copy is stable.
Private-server security checklist
- Enable the whitelist before sharing the address.
- Use a strong, unique operator password and grant operator status only to people who need it.
- Keep Forge, the modpack, Java runtime, operating system, and host panel updated within a tested maintenance process.
- Do not download replacement mods from random file mirrors; verify that files belong to the intended release.
- Keep backups offline or on separate storage and periodically perform a restore test.
- Tell players which release is authoritative so they do not “fix” join errors by adding arbitrary mods.
Self-hosting or managed hosting: a practical decision
Choose self-hosting when you already have a machine with roughly 10 GB of spare memory, reliable uptime, router access, and the confidence to maintain Java, Forge, backups, and firewall rules. Choose managed hosting when avoiding port forwarding and operating-system maintenance is worth a recurring fee, provided the plan can assign the required memory and install or upload the exact Forge 1.20.1 server pack.
In either case, the technical contract is the same: Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge, the identical modpack release, and synchronized TaCZ or add-on versions. A one-click installer saves setup time, but it does not remove the need to read changelogs, test updates, and keep a restorable backup.
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