2025-11-13 5:32:11 AM
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Note
These instructions were written with Windows in mind but also work with Linux. You would just need to adjust the file paths in this guide to match the Linux file paths.
5 - Custom Maps
From what I have read, it seems that one way to use custom maps is to use the leaked Tribes: Ascend SDK/dev client. Have a copy of it for the client and a copy of it for the server. I haven't tested that, but I don't like that idea since that client is old and if I ever wanted people to play on my server they would most likely be using the latest client (called Parting Gifts) and wouldn't want to download a special client to connect. The Parting Gifts client requires a special shader file to play custom maps that the dev client doesn't require, but it's very simple to get that special shader file. So, this guide assumes you're using the Parting Gifts client only (for both the player and the server).
Parting Gifts players are able to install custom maps (manually or by using Tribes Launcher Sharp) along with the shader file to roam custom maps freely without the server needing any knowledge of the custom maps. But that's the extent of what players can do without the server's involvement. To be able to play in actual servers instead of just roam map mode, we need to provide the server with knowledge of the custom maps.
Basically, make the copy of the Parting Gifts client on the server look just like the player's copy. Copy over all of the map data and the shader file to the server's copy of the game client. It's possible that this isn't fully necessary and that the server only needs a small piece of this to operate, but I haven't tested that and just know that this method works.
Start the server up. Once it's started, you can join the server and use commands to set the next map to a custom server (doesn't need to be in the current map rotation). I did this by using the TAMods uber menu, which gives you the template command when you go to select another map. It doesn't have all maps listed, so you'll have to have map names at the ready such as TrCTF-Ascent. You don't have to use "" quotes around the map name when using this command, but I'm half suspicious because the first time I did it without quotes the game server went into a reboot loop. Then, I did it with quotes and it loaded fine. But then I tried it again without the quotes later and it worked fine.
Now, if you want to add custom maps to your map rotation, open your serverconfig.lua file. For me, it's here:
C:\Games\taserver-master\data\gamesettings\ootb\serverconfig.lua
Find the MAP ROTATION section at the bottom and add any custom servers you'd like to the list like this (using the map called Periculo as an example):
-- ServerSettings.MapRotation.VotingEnabled = true
ServerSettings.EndMatchWaitTime = 15
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.ArxNovena)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.BellaOmega)
-- ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Blueshift)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.CanyonCrusade)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Crossfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.DangerousCrossing)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Drydock)
-- ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Hellfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.IceCoaster)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Katabatic)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Perdition)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Permafrost)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Raindance)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Stonehenge)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Sunstar)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Tartarus)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.TempleRuins)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Terminus)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Periculo")
Note
It doesn't seem that the extra space before the other entries affects anything.
The quotes around the custom map name are required.
Map lists
Official full map list
-------------- Capture the Flag --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Katabatic)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.ArxNovena)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.DangerousCrossing)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Crossfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Drydock)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Terminus)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Sunstar)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.BellaOmega)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.BellaOmegaNS)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Blueshift)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.CanyonCrusade)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Hellfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.IceCoaster)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Perdition)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Permafrost)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Raindance)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Stonehenge)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.Tartarus)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CTF.TempleRuins)
-------------- Arena --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.WalledIn)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.Hinterland)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.FrayTown)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.Undercroft)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.AirArena)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.LavaArena)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Arena.Whiteout)
-------------- Rabbit --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Rabbit.Nightabatic)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Rabbit.SulfurCove)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Rabbit.Inferno)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Rabbit.Crossfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Rabbit.Outskirts)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Rabbit.Quicksand)
-------------- Team Death Match --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.Outskirts)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.Quicksand)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.SulfurCove)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.DrydockNight)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.Nightabatic)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.Inferno)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.TDM.Miasma)
-------------- CTF Blitz --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.ArxNovena)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.BellaOmega)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Blueshift)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Crossfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.CanyonCrusadeRevival)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Drydock)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Hellfire)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.IceCoaster)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Katabatic)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Perdition)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.Blitz.Terminus)
-------------- Capture and Hold --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CaH.Outskirts)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CaH.Katabatic)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CaH.Raindance)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CaH.SulfurCove)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CaH.Tartarus)
ServerSettings.MapRotation.add(Maps.CaH.CanyonCrusadeRevival)
Custom Map List
-------------- Capture the Flag --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Oceanus")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Blues")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Perisculo")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Incidamus")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Acheron")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Phlegethon")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-DesertedValley")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Styx")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Fracture")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Polaris")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Ascent")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Eclipse")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Crash")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Andromeda")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-Meridian")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTF-TreacherousPass")
-------------- Arena --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrArena-ElysianBattleground")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrArena-Ruins")
-------------- CTF Blitz --------------
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTFBlitz-AirArena")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTFBlitz-Broadside")
ServerSettings.MapRotation.addCustom("TrCTFBlitz-MazeRunner")
TrCTF-TreacherousPass and TrCTFBlitz-MazeRunner are very unique and aren't typical maps that you'd play. I guess TrCTFBlitz-AirArena is kind of the same.