Nightingale Server Admin Guide: Access, Players, Passwords, and Resets

Running a Nightingale server gives you control over how your shared Realm works. You can invite friends, lock the server with a password, adjust the difficulty, remove problem players, and wipe the world when everyone agrees that the current Realm has become a historical mistake.

This guide covers the main management tasks for a HolyHosting Nightingale server, from joining by IP to editing the ban list and resetting world data.

Join Your Nightingale Server

Before changing settings in-game, confirm that you can connect to the server.

1. Open your server panel and copy the server address shown as `IP Address:Port`.

1. Launch Nightingale, then choose Play from the main menu.
2. Select your character, choose Select Character, then click Join a Game.
3. Open the Connection Type dropdown and select IP/LAN.

1. Paste the IP address and port into the matching fields.

1. Click Play to connect.

If the connection fails, check that the server is online, the port was copied correctly, and any password has been entered exactly as configured.

Enable Admin Access

Admin access is required for server moderation and certain management actions. In Nightingale, this uses cheats on the client side plus an admin password from the server panel.

1. Open Steam.
2. Right-click Nightingale, then select Properties.
3. In Launch Options, enter `-enablecheats`.

1. Open your HolyHosting server panel and open your panel settings from the panel sidebar.

1. Set the Admin Password field to a secure password you can remember.

1. Restart the server so the new setting applies.
2. Join the server in-game.
3. Press `ESC`, then select Admin Mode: OFF.
4. Enter the admin password and press Confirm.

Once accepted, admin mode is active for that session. To turn it off, open the same menu, select Admin Mode: ON, and confirm. The player may need to reconnect before the access change fully applies.

Kick or Ban Players

Admin tools let you remove disruptive players without shutting down the server. A kick removes the player from the current session, while a ban blocks them from returning.

1. Join the server with admin mode enabled.
2. Press `O` to open the social screen.
3. Find the player you want to remove.
4. Select Remove, then choose Confirm to kick them.

1. To ban the player instead, repeat the process and choose Ban.

Use bans carefully. A kick is usually enough for connection issues, accidental trouble, or a player who needs to change settings. A ban is better reserved for repeat problems.

Unban a Player

Unbanning requires editing the server state file while the server is offline. Stop the server first so the file does not get overwritten while you are changing it.

1. Open the server panel and click Stop.
2. Open the FTP / file manager from the panel sidebar, then log in with your panel password.

1. Navigate to this folder:

```text .../NWX/Saved/Config/LinuxServer ```

1. Open `ServerState.ini` with the file editor.

1. Find the `Bans=` line and locate the banned player entry.

1. Delete the text inside the parentheses for that player.

1. Save the file.
2. Return to the main server panel and start the server again.

After startup, the player should be able to connect unless another restriction, such as the server password, prevents access.

Add a Server Password

A password keeps the Realm private, which is useful for friend groups or communities that are not ready for random visitors.

1. Open the server panel.
2. Open your panel settings from the panel sidebar.
3. Change the Server Password field to the password you want to use.

1. Return to the main panel and restart the server.
2. Join the server and enter the password to confirm it works.

Choose something easy for invited players to type but difficult for outsiders to guess. `password123` is memorable, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons.

Change Server Difficulty

Difficulty can be adjusted from the server panel whenever your group wants a different challenge level.

1. Open the server panel.
2. Open your panel settings from the panel sidebar.
3. Open the Server Difficulty option and choose the preferred level.

1. Return to the main panel and restart the server.

The new difficulty should apply after the restart. Let players know before changing it, especially if they are already deep into a Realm and expecting the old balance.

Reset the Nightingale World

Resetting the server creates a fresh world by removing existing saved data. This deletes current progress, so make sure everyone involved understands what is being wiped before continuing.

1. Open the server panel and click Stop.
2. Open the FTP / file manager from the panel sidebar, then log in.

1. Go to this directory:

```text .../NWX/Saved ```

1. Select the `Offline` and `Config` folders.
2. Click Delete.

1. Confirm the deletion.
2. Start the server again and allow it to generate fresh files.

Once the server finishes starting, join normally to enter the new world.

Final Checks

After changing any major Nightingale server setting, restart the server and test the result in-game. For admin changes, confirm that admin mode can be enabled. For passwords, verify that players are prompted correctly. For bans and unbans, have the affected player try connecting after the next startup.

With these basics handled, your Nightingale server is ready for regular play, moderation, difficulty tweaks, and the occasional clean slate when the Realm needs a reset.