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Updated 10 October 2026
Few modpacks punish players like RLCraft. You manage thirst and temperature, food no longer heals you, skills lock away better gear, and the world is crawling with dragons, monsters and deadly ruins. Surviving it is far more fun with friends covering your back, which means running a server. This guide walks through both ways to do it, a one-click host and a manual install, plus the handful of settings RLCraft needs that a normal Minecraft server does not.
The short version: RLCraft’s current release, 2.9.3, is built for Minecraft 1.12.2 and Forge, and it needs Java 8. Plan on 6 or 8 GB of server memory for a handful of friends, use Forge build 2860 or newer, switch on command blocks, and make sure every player installs exactly the same pack version. A one-click host does all of this in minutes; a manual install takes an evening.
What an RLCraft server needs
| Item | Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft version | 1.12.2 | RLCraft has stayed on 1.12.2; remakes for newer versions are different packs and cannot join |
| Mod loader | Forge 14.23.5.2860 or newer | The pack’s author recommends 2860 or higher for security |
| Java | Java 8 | Mojang’s own version data lists Java 8 for 1.12.2 |
| Server memory | 6–8 GB to start | Hosts’ guidance; scale up with players and view distance |
| Player memory | 4 to 6 GB in the launcher | Godlike.Host’s suggested client range |
| Command blocks | enable-command-block=true | Without it, some structures may not generate correctly |
| Pack version | The same release everywhere, 2.9.3 today | Mismatched versions cause login errors |
RLCraft releases are rare. Version 2.9.3 came out on 27 June 2023 and is still the latest, so a server you set up today should stay current for a long time.
Option 1: use a one-click RLCraft host
A ready-made RLCraft template is the quickest way in. Godlike.Host is a strong choice here: its one-click template installs RLCraft on Minecraft 1.12.2 and Forge, gets the world running within a minute, and its panel lets you change memory, difficulty, mod options and player permissions. Its RLCraft page answers the questions this guide covers, from the Forge build to command blocks, and RLCraft Dregora has a template of its own. Every server gets free backups, up to three a day, plus DDoS protection, with 10 locations to choose from.
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- Choose the RLCraft template and a plan of 6 GB or more.
- Choose a data center near where most of your friends live.
- Deploy, then check in the settings that command blocks are enabled.
- Set up the whitelist and share the address with your friends.
One caveat: Godlike’s 10 locations are in North America, Europe and Singapore, so groups in South America or Australia will play with higher ping.
Option 2: set up RLCraft yourself
A manual install works on a spare PC at home or on a rented VPS. It takes longer, but you control every file.
- Install Java 8 (64-bit). Forge for 1.12.2 is built for Java 8, so keep a newer Java away from this server, or point the start script at the Java 8 install directly.
- Download the official server pack. On RLCraft’s CurseForge page, open the files for release 2.9.3 and download the server pack that accompanies it, then extract it into an empty folder.
- Install Forge if the pack needs it. If the folder has no Forge server jar, download the 1.12.2 installer, build 14.23.5.2860 or newer, from Forge’s official site, run it, choose the server option and select your folder.
- Start the server once. It stops almost straight away and creates eula.txt. Open it and set the eula line to true to accept Mojang’s terms.
- Edit server.properties with the settings in the next section, starting with enable-command-block=true.
- Give it memory. Forge for 1.12.2 has no user_jvm_args.txt file, so set the heap in the start command or script, for example -Xmx6G for 6 GB.
- Open the port. Minecraft listens on TCP 25565 by default. At home, forward it on your router; on a VPS, allow it in the firewall.
- Invite players. Each player installs RLCraft 2.9.3 through the CurseForge app, gives it 4 to 6 GB of RAM, and joins from the Multiplayer menu with your address.
A note on security: Forge’s official changelog shows that build 14.23.5.2856, released in December 2021, updated Log4j to fix the CVE-2021-44228 vulnerability known as Log4Shell. Builds 2860 and newer include that fix, which is one more reason to follow the pack author’s advice and never run RLCraft on an older Forge.
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Hosting at home costs nothing extra, but the computer has to stay on whenever anyone wants to play, your upload speed limits how many friends can join smoothly, and some internet providers share one public address between customers, which makes port forwarding impossible. A host or VPS avoids all three, adds a fixed address and keeps running while you sleep. For a group that plays at different hours, renting usually wins.
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Running RLCraft on a Linux VPS
On a rented Linux machine, a few extra steps keep things tidy and safe:
- Install a Java 8 runtime, such as Eclipse Temurin 8 or your distribution’s OpenJDK 8 package, and check it with java -version.
- Create a dedicated user for the server rather than running Minecraft as root.
- Upload the server folder with SFTP, accept the EULA and set the heap in your start script.
- Allow TCP 25565 in the firewall, and nothing else beyond SSH.
- Keep it running with a terminal multiplexer such as tmux, or a system service that restarts the server after a crash.
- Schedule backups of the world folder to somewhere other than the VPS itself.
The server.properties settings RLCraft cares about
- enable-command-block=true. RLCraft needs it. Without it, some structures may not generate correctly.
- allow-flight=true. With flight disallowed, Minecraft kicks any survival player who stays in the air for five seconds. Dragon rides and other airborne moments in a pack like RLCraft can trip that rule, so most modded servers switch it on, accepting that it makes life slightly easier for griefers.
- view-distance. The default is 10 chunks. The Minecraft Wiki recommends lowering it if players see heavy lag, and on a busy RLCraft world that is the quickest win.
- white-list=true. Keep a friends-only server private, then add each player by name.
- Game rules. Settings such as keepInventory soften RLCraft’s punishment considerably. Agree on them as a group before the first night, not after the first death.
Sizing the server: memory for RLCraft
Hosts land in a similar place. Godlike.Host’s RLCraft card lists 6 GB, and its FAQ gives servers a range of 6 to 8 GB. WinterNode pre-selects 8 GB, BerryByte begins at 6 GB and suggests 8 GB once more people explore, while Kinetic Hosting advises 12 GB.
As a rule of thumb, 6 GB keeps two to four players comfortable and 8 GB suits a group of five to ten. Past that point, more memory rarely cures lag on 1.12.2, because RLCraft fills the world with creatures and Minecraft handles most of that work on one main thread. A fast CPU core does more for a busy RLCraft server than a few extra gigabytes, and an oversized heap can bring longer garbage-collection pauses of its own.
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RLCraft Dregora is a separate pack, also built for Minecraft 1.12.2 and Forge, so it needs its own server pack rather than an update to your RLCraft world. Plan for a little more memory: Godlike.Host’s Dregora page lists 8 GB. As with the original, every player must install the exact Dregora version the server runs.
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Keeping an RLCraft server running smoothly
Minecraft aims for 20 ticks per second, which gives the server 50 milliseconds to process each tick. Forge’s built-in /forge tps command shows how long each dimension is taking; if the figure sits above 50 ms, the server is falling behind and players will feel it as lag. When that happens, lower view-distance first, then look for the busiest areas, such as huge mob farms or chunks packed with creatures, and schedule a daily restart for a time when nobody is online.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copying your client folder to the server. Client-only mods, such as OptiFine and shader packs, do not belong on a server and can stop it from starting. Use the official server pack.
- Running it on modern Java. A 1.12.2 Forge server wants Java 8, even if Java 21 is what the rest of your games use.
- Skipping the command block setting. Some of RLCraft’s structures depend on it, and chunks generated without it will not fix themselves later.
- Mixing pack versions. One player on an older release is enough for login errors, so update everyone together.
Troubleshooting common RLCraft server problems
- The server crashes on start-up. Check the Java version first. A server started with anything newer than Java 8 is the most common cause.
- Players cannot join. Confirm that everyone runs 2.9.3, that the port is open, and that the player is on the whitelist.
- Structures are missing or broken. Set enable-command-block=true, then explore new chunks, since areas already generated will not change.
- Players get kicked while riding or falling. Turn on allow-flight.
- A player’s game crashes with OptiFine. On RLCraft 2.9, Godlike.Host notes that the author recommends the latest OptiFine G5 for 1.12.2 rather than E3, which can crash.
- The server lags in busy areas. Lower view-distance, restart the server daily at a quiet hour, and check the CPU before buying more RAM.
Admin commands you will use
RLCraft runs on a standard Forge server, so the usual Minecraft commands apply from the console or as an operator in game:
- /op <player> gives a trusted friend operator rights.
- /whitelist add <player> lets a new player in when the whitelist is on.
- /gamerule changes rules such as keepInventory, if your group agrees to it.
- /save-all writes the world to disk, which is worth doing before a manual backup.
- /stop shuts the server down cleanly. Always use it rather than closing the window, so the world saves properly.
Backups and updates
RLCraft worlds are hard-won, so back up the world folder before any change: a new pack release, a Forge update or an experiment with extra mods. The pack’s author cautions that certain mods clash with RLCraft and that additions could derail progression or trigger crashes, so try any new mod on a duplicate world first. When a new release does arrive, move the server and all players to it on the same day.
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FAQ
Which Minecraft version does RLCraft run on?
It is a Forge pack for Minecraft 1.12.2. Unofficial RLCraft remakes on newer versions are separate packs and cannot join a 2.9.3 server.
Can I run RLCraft on a newer Java version?
No. Minecraft 1.12.2 and its Forge builds use Java 8, so install Java 8 for the server even if your computer has a newer version for other games.
How much RAM should I give an RLCraft server?
Start at 6 GB and move to 8 GB as the group grows. Players should give the game 4 to 6 GB in their launcher.
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How many players can an RLCraft server handle?
Memory and CPU decide that more than any slot number. Hosts size a small group at around 6 GB and five to ten players at 8 GB; beyond that, a faster processor core helps a busy RLCraft world more than extra RAM does.
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Do I really need command blocks enabled?
Yes. Set enable-command-block=true in server.properties, or some structures may not generate correctly.
Can I add more mods to RLCraft?
Only with care. According to the pack’s author, some mods conflict with RLCraft, and extras can break progression or cause crashes, so experiment on a backup copy.
Can Bedrock players join an RLCraft server?
No. RLCraft is a Forge modpack for Minecraft Java Edition, so every player needs Java Edition with the same pack installed.
