Server administration
Introduction
This guide provides a consolidated reference for administrating a Insurgency: Sandstorm server.
It covers commonly used administrative commands, gameplay mutators, and configuration elements required for day-to-day server operation and moderation.
Reading time: 5mins
Prerequisites / Disclaimers
An active Insurgency: Sandstorm server
Panel or RCON access to the server
Some commands require prior authentication using admin credentials
Certain mutators will disable official player statistics when enabled
Low-level server startup and networking configuration is handled automatically by the game panel
Ref: https://mod.io/g/insurgencysandstorm/r/server-admin-guide
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to:
Provide a quick reference for administrative commands
Explain available gameplay mutators and their impact
Reduce misconfiguration that can affect stats, balance, or server stability
Support consistent moderation practices
Procedure
Administrative Commands
Administrative commands can be executed via Game Panel, the in-game console or RCON once authenticated.
Common Admin Commands
Command | Parameters | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
AdminLogin |
| Authenticates the admin | Required before admin actions |
AdminLogout | — | Removes admin privileges | Session-based |
ListPlayers | — | Lists connected players | Displays player IDs |
Kick |
| Kicks a player | Name or SteamID |
Ban |
| Bans a player | Persisted in Bans.json |
Unban |
| Removes a ban | Exact SteamID required |
Say |
| Sends server-wide message | Visible to all players |
ChangeMap |
| Changes map immediately | Ends current match |
RestartMap | — | Restarts the current map | Players remain connected |
RestartGame | — | Restarts the match | Safer than full restart |
DisableVoting | — | Disables map voting | Useful for fixed rotations |
EnableVoting | — | Enables map voting | Default behavior |
Gameplay Mutators
Most mutators disable official stats and progression.
Mutators modify core gameplay rules.
Mutators
Mutators (formerly rulesets) are packaged gameplay configuration assets that ship with Insurgency: Sandstorm.
They modify gameplay rules, equipment availability, pacing, or player abilities.
Multiple mutators may be enabled simultaneously using a comma-separated list.
Available Mutators
File Name | Mutator Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
AllYouCanEat | All You Can Eat | Start with 100 supply points. |
AntiMaterielRiflesOnly | Anti-Materiel Only | Only anti-materiel rifles are available along with normal equipment and explosives. |
BoltActionsOnly | Bolt-Actions Only | Only bolt-action rifles are available along with normal equipment and explosives. |
ArmsRace | Arm’s Race | Every two kills grant a new weapon; final weapon kill wins the round. |
Broke | Broke | Start with 0 supply points. |
BudgetAntiquing | Budget Antiquing | Normal equipment but limited to old and inexpensive weapons. |
BulletSponge | Bullet Sponge | Health is increased. |
ChadTeam666Night | ChadTeam666 | 100 supply points, melee enemies, special enemies, and vampirism. |
Competitive | Competitive | Higher equipment costs, shorter rounds, faster captures. |
CompetitiveLoadouts | Competitive Loadouts | Replaces player classes with competitive loadouts. |
DesertEaglesOnly | Desert Eagles Only | Only Desert Eagle pistols available. |
FastMovement | Fast Movement | Increased movement speed. |
Frenzy | Frenzy | PvE melee-only enemies with special variants. |
FullyLoaded | Fully Loaded | All weapons, equipment, and explosives unlocked. |
GrenadeLaunchersOnly | Grenade Launchers Only | Only grenade launchers available. |
Guerrillas | Guerrillas | Start with 5 supply points. |
Gunslingers | Gunslingers | Revolvers and explosives only. |
Hardcore | Hardcore | Slower movement speeds and longer capture times. |
HeadshotOnly | Headshots Only | Damage only applies to headshots. |
HotPotato | Hot Potato | A live grenade drops on player death. |
LMGOnly | First Blood | Only light machine guns available. |
LockedAim | Locked Aim | Weapons always point toward screen center. |
MakarovsOnly | Makarovs Only | Only Makarov pistols available. |
NoAim | No Aim Down Sights | ADS is disabled. |
NoDeathCam | No Death Camera | Death camera disabled for all players. |
NoDrops | No Drops | No weapon scavenging. |
NoThirdPerson | No Third Person | Disables spectator third-person camera. |
OfficialRules | Official Rules | Forces all game modes to default rules. |
PistolsOnly | Pistols Only | Only pistols available. |
Poor | Poor | Start with limited supply points. |
ShotgunsOnly | Shotguns Only | Only shotguns available. |
SlowCaptureTimes | Slow Capture Times | Objectives take longer to capture. |
SlowMovement | Slow Movement | Reduced movement speed. |
SmallFirefight | Small Firefight | Firefight tuned for lower player counts. |
SoldierOfFortune | Soldier of Fortune | Gain supply points as score increases. |
SpecialOperations | Special Operations | Start with 30 supply points. |
Strapped | Strapped | Start with 1 supply point. |
TacticalVoiceChat | Tactical Voice Chat | Dead players can speak to living teammates. |
TieBreaker | Tie Breaker | Enables overtime in Firefight draws. |
Ultralethal | Ultralethal | One-shot kills. |
Vampirism | Vampirism | Gain health equal to damage dealt. |
Warlords | Warlords | Start with 10 supply points. |
Welrods | WELRODS! | All players use the Welrod pistol. |
WelrodsOnly | Welrods Only | Only Welrod pistols available. |
Applying Mutators
When using the Game Panel, mutators are applied via Startup Parameters.
Open the server control panel
Navigate to Startup Parameters
Locate Additional Arguments
Add the mutator argument:
-mutators=HotPotato,VampirismNote: Use two dashes “--” when adding more than one argument to prevent issues.
An example showing the use of two "--" dashes and it appearing correctly on the Startup Command
Save changes by clicking away
Tip: You will see the Startup Command have the new arguments added
Restart the server
Mutators applied this way are loaded at server startup and affect all maps unless overridden.
Advanced Mutators (Game.ini)
Some scenarios require mutators to be defined at the configuration level, such as:
Enforcing mutators across all map rotations
Combining mutators with custom rule overrides
Avoiding conflicts with panel-managed startup parameters
Configuration Method
Make the .ini file if it is missing.
File location: /Config/Server/Game.ini
Example:
[/Script/Insurgency.INSGameMode]
Mutators=Hardcore,NoHudAfter saving changes, a full server restart is required.
Important Notes
Mutators are applied at map load time
Mutators cannot be toggled live during a match
Most mutators disable official player statistics
Invalid mutator names are silently ignored
Combining incompatible mutators may cause unexpected behavior
For stat-enabled servers, mutator usage should be kept to cosmetic or rule-neutral options only.
End
See our offers!
Check out our offers today! - Click here
Need support?
Raise a support ticket for any enquiries or issues. - Click here