The biggest thing that decides how well your Windrose server runs is how many players are on it, and so how much RAM (the server’s memory) it has. Use the table below, keep your crew at 4 or fewer for the smoothest game, and check the graphs on Overview if it feels slow.
RAM for your crew
These numbers follow the developers’ hardware list for the dedicated server:
| Players | Plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 2 | 8 GB | The smallest plan we sell for Windrose |
| 3 or 4 | 12 GB | The sweet spot. The developers’ recommended crew size |
| 5 to 8 | 16 GB | The developers list 16 GB for up to 10 players |
Windrose has no mods to add on top, so you don’t need to plan extra memory for them.
The developers list the same CPU for every crew size: 2 cores at 3.2 GHz. So on our plans, RAM is the choice that matters.
Crew size matters most
Windrose supports up to 8 players. The developers still recommend crews of up to 4. They say bigger groups can hit performance limits, and some systems, like boss fights, aren’t balanced for more players yet.
If your crew is bigger than 4:
- Pick the 16 GB plan.
- Set
MaxPlayerCountin Settings to the number of people you really expect, so the server isn’t sized for more. - Think about turning
Coop.StatsCorrectionModifierdown if fights get too hard with a full crew. It makes enemies tougher as players join. See the config reference.
What costs the most
Windrose doesn’t have view distance or tick rate settings to tune. What makes the server work hardest is what your crew does:
- Big sea battles and boardings, with many ships and cannons at once.
- Players spread far apart. In most survival games, the server has to run every area where someone is, all at once.
- Very large bases, as your crew builds over time.
The developers keep improving this. Version 0.10.0.6, for example, cut disk use and made boarding and ship artillery a little faster. Keeping your server on the newest version is the easiest win.
Restarts and updates
A restart clears out anything the server has built up while running. Windrose doesn’t need a daily restart to stay healthy, but if it starts to feel slow after a long session, restart it from Overview. Your world is saved first.
Want it on a timer? Open Schedules and add a restart at a time when nobody plays. The Windrose server has no documented way to send chat messages, so tell your crew about the restart yourself.
When Windrose updates, your game and the server must be on the same version, or players can’t join. The server moves to the newest version on its next start, unless you pinned a version in Settings.
Pick the right region
Choose the region closest to most of your crew: EU or US East. A server on the other side of the world adds delay to every cannon shot, whatever the plan.
Read the graphs on Overview
Overview shows graphs for the last 24 hours and 7 days:
| Graph | What it tells you | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | How much memory the game uses, against your plan | If it sits near the top, or the server crashes when the crew is on, move up a plan |
| CPU | How hard the server works | Short spikes during battles are normal. If it stays maxed out for long, fewer players or a restart helps |
| Players | Who was on, and when | Use it to pick a quiet time for restarts |
| Network | Traffic in and out | Big jumps with no players can mean an attack, which our protection filters |
High RAM while nobody is on is normal: Windrose keeps the world in memory while it runs. What matters is whether it gets close to your plan’s limit.
Still slow?
If the server lags for everyone, check the RAM graph first, then restart. If only one player lags, the problem is usually on their side: their connection, a VPN, or the distance to the server. The common errors guide covers connection problems.
Questions
How much RAM does a Windrose server need for 4 players?
The developers list 12 GB for 4 players, 8 GB for 2 players and 16 GB for bigger crews. Pick 12 GB for a crew of 3 or 4.
Is 8 players too many for a Windrose server?
It works, with 16 GB of RAM. The developers recommend crews of up to 4 for the best experience, because boss fights aren't balanced for bigger groups yet.
Why does my Windrose server use so much RAM when nobody is on?
Windrose keeps its world in memory while it runs. High RAM on a quiet server is normal. It only matters if the graph sits close to your plan's limit or the server crashes.
Sources we checked
- Dedicated Server Guide (hardware requirements)Kraken Express
- FAQ and troubleshooting (player counts)Kraken Express
- Patch notes, version 0.10.0.6Kraken Express
