How to Host a Nova-Life: Amboise Server (Dedicated Server Guide)

To host a Nova-Life: Amboise server, download the dedicated server with SteamCMD (app ID 1665030), start it with -batchmode -nographics -startServer "YourServer", and configure it in Servers/YourServer/Config/server.json. The server uses port 7777 by default. Two details trip almost everyone: the server starts private ("isPublicServer": false), so it is not in the list until you change that, and the name you pass to -startServer is also the folder name, so changing it later points the game at a new, empty city.

Nova-Life: Amboise is a free to play French city roleplay game from TeamNova, still in Early Access. Most communities are French speaking, with whitelists and staff teams, and almost all of them run a dedicated server so the city's economy and property persist.

What you need

• SteamCMD to download the server. The game and its server are free.
• A machine that stays on. A small whitelist city fits in about 4 GB of RAM. A busy public city near 50 players with plugins wants around 8 GB.
• Port 7777 forwarded to that machine, or whichever port you set in server.json.
• A name for your city. Pick it once. It becomes the folder that holds the database and config.

Step 1: Download the server

On Linux:

./steamcmd.sh +force_install_dir ../nova-life_server +login anonymous +app_update 1665030 validate +quit

On Windows, use steamcmd.exe and a Windows path such as C:\servers\novalife. Run the same line again whenever the game updates. Players on a newer client than your server cannot join.

Step 2: Create the city folder and start it

Each city lives in its own folder, Servers/<name>/, which holds Config/server.json, a Plugins folder and the city database life.db. The usual way to get one is to create the server from the game client, then copy that folder into the dedicated server's Servers folder. You can also create Servers/MaVille/Config/server.json by hand with the keys in Step 3.

Then start it from the server folder:

./nova-life.x86_64 -batchmode -nographics -startServer "MaVille" -logFile "logs.log"

The name after -startServer must match the folder name exactly. Keep it simple: letters, numbers, dashes and underscores. Starting with a different name does not rename your city, it points the server at a different folder.

Step 3: Edit server.json

Open Servers/MaVille/Config/server.json. The keys you will touch:

A complete file for a public city with the default save interval looks like:

{
  "serverName": "MaVille",
  "serverListName": "Ma Ville RP | Whitelist",
  "serverSlot": 32,
  "serverPort": 7777,
  "isPublicServer": true,
  "useAdminPinAuth": false,
  "tabletUrl": "",
  "isWhitelisted": true,
  "useWhitelistProtection": false,
  "whitelist": { "intro": "", "questions": [], "date": "" },
  "autoSaveIntervalSeconds": 1800,
  "disconnectClientsBeforeStop": true,
  "mapId": 0,
  "serverFramerate": 60,
  "hasShop": false
}

Edit only with the server stopped, and keep the file valid JSON: a missing comma or quote stops the server from reading it. Paste it into a JSON validator if the server will not start after an edit.

The Config folder also holds the roleplay side of the city, such as starting money, bank balance, the car dealership's stock and prices, and shop checkpoints. Change those once the basics work.

Step 4: Open the port

Forward port 7777 (or your serverPort) on your router to the server machine and allow it through the firewall. Our port forwarding guide covers the router side. If you run two cities on one machine, give each its own port.

Step 5: Start it and join

Start the server again with the same -startServer name. In the game, open the server list from the main menu and search for your serverListName. If it is not there, the first suspect is isPublicServer. Our Nova-Life server list fix guide covers every other cause.

Step 6: Make yourself admin

Admin rights are not in server.json. They live in the city database: join once so your character exists, stop the server, open life.db with DB Browser for SQLite, and set your player's adminLevel to 5. Restart and press F5 in game for the admin menu. The full walkthrough is in our guide to becoming admin on a Nova-Life server.

Step 7: Add plugins

Nova-Life server plugins are .dll files that go in Servers/MaVille/Plugins/. Upload them, restart, and check the log. Most come from the French community on GitHub and Discord, many built on ModKit. A plugin that depends on ModKit needs ModKit.dll in the same folder, and a missing dependency is the most common reason one will not load. Add plugins one at a time so a crash points at the right file.

Keeping the city safe

life.db is your whole city: characters, money, property and jobs. Copy it before every game update, every plugin install and every manual database edit. Our game server backup guide covers a simple routine.

Hosting it without a spare PC

A roleplay city only works if it is online when citizens get home from work. A GamezServers Nova-Life: Amboise server creates the city folder on install from the Server Name you choose, with Server List Name and Max Players (1 to 50) written into server.json at install, and auto update on, so it follows game patches. After that first install, change those values in server.json itself. server.json, life.db and the Plugins folder are in the file manager and over SFTP, the port is already open on a fixed address, and one click backups protect the database. Remember to set isPublicServer to true when you are ready to open the doors. Staff can split the bill, up to 10 people each paying their share.

FAQ

What is the Nova-Life: Amboise server app ID?

1665030. Download it with SteamCMD using anonymous login.

What port does a Nova-Life server use?

7777 by default, set with serverPort in server.json.

Why is my Nova-Life server not in the list?

New servers are created with "isPublicServer": false. Set it to true in server.json with the server stopped, then start it again.

Can I switch to the Saint-Branchs map?

Yes. Set mapId to 1 in server.json and restart. 0 is Amboise.

Where do Nova-Life plugins go?

In the Plugins folder inside your server's folder, Servers/<name>/Plugins. Restart after adding one.