[V3.0] sandbox_overrides.xml and SandboxCode — Consolidating Server Settings

V3.0’s flagship system, Sandbox Options, consolidates roughly 150 game rules (GameDifficulty/BloodMoon*/AirDrop*/LootAbundance/StormFreq/XPMultiplier, and more) into a single screen on the new game menu, and encodes the result into a single string called SandboxCode.

Changes to serverconfig.xml

• Individual properties (StormFreq/LootAbundance, etc.) have disappeared from serverconfig.xml, consolidated into a single line: <property name="SandboxCode" value="..."/> (the default is a code equivalent to Adventurer difficulty).
• SandboxCode is an opaque, shortened code that packs the values of roughly 150 options into one string—it is not a human-readable key=value format. The only way to generate or decode it is through the official UI: “Sandbox Options window → Copy Code.”
• ServerDescription remains in V3.0 as an independent property.

The new sandbox_overrides.xml

This is a file where MOD/server operators declare “preset definitions” and “locking of setting items” (everything is commented out on shipment). There are only two kinds of child elements:

• <preset name="..." code="..." default="true" /> … Adds a choice to the new game menu. code is a SandboxCode captured via Copy Code. Either description or description_key is required.
• <sandbox_override option="MaxEnemyTier" /> … Fixes the specified option to its Default value and locks it so players cannot change it (this is not for directly overriding to an arbitrary value).

Impact on tools and external integrations

• The technique of “replacing a single line such as StormFreq in serverconfig.xml with a regular expression” breaks down, because the target properties no longer exist.
• If you want to change values dynamically, your options are: (a) tabulate the SandboxCode for each tier and swap out the entire SandboxCode, or (b) use setgamepref-style console commands if they still work for the setting in question. Which of these is viable should be confirmed on a live server first.

Reference: Example Definition

<sandbox_overrides>
    <preset name="My Preset" description="Test Preset" code="ABEABTBBWADFP" default="true" />
    <sandbox_override option="MaxEnemyTier" />
</sandbox_overrides>

*Based on investigation immediately after applying the experimental version (equivalent to B252).

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Related: List of MOD-making articles