Skip to main content

Map handling

BF4 PC game servers are designed to rotate through a sequence of maps. The exact configuration is specified in the server’s internal map list. Different maps in the map list can use different game modes. (Note however, that some game modes will not work properly if there are more players on the server than the game mode is designed for.)

Upon startup, the MapList.txt file is read. During runtime, the mapList.* commands can be used to edit the set of maps.

When the same map is played for several rounds, all 2-team game modes stipulate that the teams will switch sides after a run. This way, a 2-round session of Rush will have players play both attackers and defenders.

Set the map rotation on the Maps tab​

The Maps tab in the Fragnet dashboard edits MapList.txt for you.

  1. Open the Fragnet dashboard, go to My servers and select your server.
  2. Open the Maps tab. The Map rotation card lists the maps your server plays, top to bottom, with the mode and how many rounds each. A server without a map list says "Your server plays its default map until you add maps."
  3. Select Add map. A new row appears at the bottom of the list.
  4. In the new row, choose the map, then the mode, and enter the number of Rounds (1 to 99). The mode list only offers the modes that map runs.
  5. Use the up and down arrows to change the order, and the bin icon to remove a map.
  6. Select Save in the bar at the bottom of the page. Discard throws your changes away.
  7. Restart the server. The rotation applies when the server restarts. See Power controls.

If a mode is made for fewer players than your server has slots, the row shows a warning such as "This mode is made for 32 players and your server has 64 slots." See Player slots.

For the engine names behind the map and mode names, see Maps and game modes list.

Controlling map switching (via console)​

You can type these commands in the Console on the Overview tab (see Send a command) or send them from PRoCon.

  • mapList.* can be used to edit the map list while the server is running.

  • mapList.setNextMapIndex sets which will be the next map.

  • mapList.getMapIndices returns information on which is the current and next map in the list.

  • mapList.runNextRound switches to the next round, without finishing the current.

  • mapList.restartRound makes all players reload the current map, and restarts the current round.

  • mapList.endRound declares a specific team as the winning team, and then moves directly to the end-of-round screen.

info

Changes made with mapList.* commands only last until the server restarts, unless you save them to MapList.txt with mapList.save. Saving replaces the rotation you set on the Maps tab.

Maplist.txt format​

The file is MapList.txt in the Instance/Admin folder. Each line in the file has three entries: the map name, the game mode, and the number of rounds to be played on the map until proceeding to the next map in the list.

Example Maplist.txt:

LineDescription
MP_Siege ConquestLarge0 1The first one round of Conquest will be played on Siege of Shanghai.
MP_Naval Obliteration 1Followed by one round of Obliteration on Parcel Storm, this sequence then restart.

You normally don't need to edit the file by hand. Use it for maps or modes the Maps tab doesn't offer, or when the tab says "Your map list has lines this editor does not read, so it is left as it is. Edit MapList.txt in Files.":

  1. On the Maps tab, select Open in Files, or open the Files tab and go to Instance/Admin.
  2. Open MapList.txt, make your changes and select Save file. See Edit a file.
  3. Restart the server.

The Configuration tab also lists MapList.txt, but only to read: "Edit the map rotation on the Maps tab."

Editing Maplist.txt with Procon Layer​

Maplist can also be configured with the Procon Layer. It provides a GUI where you add the maps with a simple click, rather than writing the lines in the config. For more information please refer to this article.