Server Mechanics

The server stays online 24/7 without needing a player to host. Several automatic behaviors handle game progression.

Host Player

The server runs an invisible "host" player that handles game progression:

Behavior	What It Does
Auto-sleep	Host goes to bed when all players are sleeping
Auto-pause	Game pauses when no players are online
Event skipping	Cutscenes are automatically skipped (festivals excluded)
Menu handling	Dialogs, level-ups, and shipping menus are dismissed
Mailbox checking	Mail is automatically checked each morning

Pause Behavior

• Players online: Game runs normally
• No players: Game pauses between 6:10 AM and 1:00 AM
• After 1:00 AM: Game unpauses to allow the forced pass-out at 2:00 AM

Progression Unlocks

The host automatically unlocks certain progression items:

• Pet naming
• Cave choice (mushrooms or bats)
• Community Center door
• Sewers key (at 60+ museum artifacts)
• Fishing rod (Day 2)

Crop Preservation

Crops track their owner (the player who planted them). When owners go offline:

• Unwatered crops get extra days instead of dying
• Season-end death is delayed while the owner is offline
• Normal rules apply once the owner returns

Desync Protection

Network desyncs can freeze the game. The server automatically kicks stuck players:

Situation	Timeout	Action
Stuck at day transition	20 seconds	Kicked
Not ready during save	60 seconds	Kicked

Kicked players can reconnect immediately — progress is not lost.

Chest Protection

To prevent griefing, the server locks player storage:

• Players cannot access other players' cabin chests
• Fridges and inventories are protected
• Only the cabin owner can access their storage

Festival Handling

• Host automatically joins festivals
• Players participate normally
• If stuck, use the !event command to force-start