Urban Terror server.cfg Explained: Game Types, Gear, Votes and Auth

Urban Terror 4.3 reads its rules from q3ut4/server.cfg, a copy of the server_example.cfg that ships with the game. The settings that change how matches feel are g_gametype (the mode, by number), timelimit and g_maxrounds (when a map ends), g_friendlyfire and g_maxteamkills (team damage), g_gear (banned weapons), g_allowvote (which votes players can call) and g_matchmode (scrim features). Everything else is server identity, admin access, logging and per mode tuning.

This walks through the file in the order FrozenSand wrote it, with the shipped values, and skips nothing that a server owner is likely to change.

Two rules before you edit

1. Keep values short. The example file's first note warns that long values can push the server info string past its limit ("infostring length exceeded"), which can stop the server from starting. Short hostnames and messages are safer.
2. Some cvars only work at startup. net_port, dedicated, fs_game and com_hunkmegs belong on the launch line with +set, not in server.cfg.

Changes to server.cfg take effect when the file is executed again: on a restart, or with /rcon exec server.cfg followed by a map change.

Identity and messages

Auth system

Urban Terror 4.3 has an account system run by FrozenSand.

• auth_enable 1 turns it on. Leave it on for a public server; it shows players' account names and lets you ban accounts, not just IPs.
• auth_notoriety 0 lets everyone in. Raising it keeps out accounts below a notoriety level, which helps against fresh accounts made to dodge bans.
• auth_owners takes auth group IDs whose members can run admin commands from chat without the RCON password.
• auth_groups limits who can join to listed groups. Empty means anyone.

Admin and referees

set  rconpassword  ""
set  g_referee     "0"
set  g_refpass     ""
set  g_refnoban    "0"
set  g_refNoExec   "0"
set  filterban     "1"

rconpassword is full control; empty disables RCON. Referees are a lighter role for match admins: with g_referee 1 and a g_refpass, a ref can swap teams, pause, restart, change map and veto votes. g_refnoban 1 stops refs from banning, and g_refNoExec 1 stops them running config files. filterban 1 enables the IP ban list in banlist.txt. The commands themselves are in our Urban Terror RCON commands guide.

Connection limits

Game type numbers

g_gametype takes a number. From the official example file:

There is no mode 2. g_instagib 1 turns any mode into one shot kills.

General gameplay

• timelimit (20) and fraglimit (0): minutes and points before the map ends. 0 means no limit.
• g_followstrict 1: dead players can only spectate their own team, so they cannot call out enemy positions.
• g_warmup 15: seconds of warmup after a map loads.
• g_gravity 800: lower it for "moon mode" fun nights (the file suggests 300 or 100).
• g_inactivity and g_inactivityAction: seconds before an idle player is kicked (0) or moved to spectators (1).
• g_funstuff 1: allows cosmetic funstuff items. g_skins 1 lets players choose skins; 0 forces plain red and blue.

Gear restrictions with g_gear

g_gear lists weapons and items to ban, as letters. Empty means everything is allowed. Each weapon or item has its own letter, and rather than guess them, use the generator FrozenSand links in the config comments on urbanterror.info. Typical uses are banning snipers on small maps or banning grenades for a cleaner scrim.

Votes with g_allowvote

g_allowvote is a bitmask: each vote type (kick, map, next map, gametype, time limit and so on) is a bit, and the number is the sum of the ones you allow. The shipped value 603981055 allows the common set. Use the calculator linked in the config comments to build your own number. g_failedvotetime 300 is the cooldown after a vote fails.

Team settings

Match mode

g_matchmode 1 adds ready up, timeouts and captains. g_timeouts 3 and g_timeoutlength 240 set how many and how long. g_stratTime 5 is the planning time at round start in Team Survivor and Bomb. g_allowchat 3 restricts chat to captains during a match. Leave match mode off for public play.

Per mode settings

• Round modes (LMS, TS, FTL, Bomb): g_roundtime 2 minutes per round, g_maxrounds rounds per map, g_survivorrule decides who scores when time runs out, g_suddendeath adds a tie breaker round.
• Respawn modes (FFA, TDM, CAH, CTF, Gun Game): g_respawndelay 5, g_respawnprotection 2, g_forcerespawn 20.
• CTF: g_waverespawns 1 with g_redwave and g_bluewave (15 seconds), g_flagreturntime 30, g_hotpotato (minutes before both held flags explode), capturelimit.
• Capture and Hold: g_cahtime 30 seconds between flag point awards.
• Bomb: g_bombplanttime 3, g_bombdefusetime 5, g_bombexplodetime 30 in the shipped file.
• Jump: g_walljumps (3 to 100), g_stamina (2 for infinite), g_allowPosSaving and g_persistentPositions for save and load points, g_nodamage 1 to remove fall damage.
• Freeze Tag: g_thawTime 6, g_meltdownTime 60.
• Gun Game: g_hardcore and g_randomorder change the weapon order.

Logging

Keep g_logsync "1" if you run B3 or Spunky Bot: both read games.log live. g_loghits 1 gives them hit data but makes huge logs.

Settings the GamezServers panel manages

On a GamezServers Urban Terror server, the control panel writes some server.cfg lines on every start: hostname, join message, max players, RCON password, server password, friendly fire (on or off), game type, time limit, bot count and the starting map. Change those in the panel, because edits to those lines in the file are replaced at the next start. Everything else in this guide (gear, votes, auth, match mode, per mode rules) you edit in server.cfg with the file manager, and a one click backup before a big rework costs nothing. New to running one? Start with how to host an Urban Terror server.

FAQ

What is the g_gametype number for Capture the Flag?

7. Team Survivor is 4, Bomb mode is 8, Team Deathmatch is 3 and Jump is 9.

How do I turn off friendly fire on an Urban Terror server?

Set g_friendlyfire "0". With 1, team damage is on and players are kicked after g_maxteamkills team kills; with 2 it is on with no kicks.

How do I ban sniper rifles on my server?

Put the sniper rifles' letters in g_gear. The letters are listed by the g_gear generator on urbanterror.info, linked from the config's comments.

Why did my server stop starting after I edited server.cfg?

Usually a value is too long and broke the server info string, or a quote is missing. Shorten the hostname and messages, check the quotes and try again.