Empyrion 1.20 puts a Creative mode build lot inside your survival game

Eleon Game Studios started the experimental phase for Empyrion - Galactic Survival version 1.20 on 2 October. Its headline feature is Creative mode instances: build lots inside a normal survival game where you design blueprints alone or with others. You no longer have to leave the server or start a separate Creative save to do it.

Version 1.19.5 only came out recently, but Eleon wrote on Steam that it wanted the new system tested properly. To that end it is running an official experimental server with the “Invaders vs. Defenders” scenario.

On that server you will find two portals. One opens an instance for your faction, the other a public one any player can enter. You can only go in with an empty inventory, and anything you took from the Creative menu stays behind when you leave.

Inside, the H key opens a window for pulling blocks and items into your inventory. You don’t need to eat, you can’t take damage and the jetpack never runs dry. PDA progress, XP, reputation and achievements are not counted. Eleon notes that some features from the regular Creative mode are still missing. Instances in space and a godmode that lets you pass through blocks are listed as coming soon.

Setting up a build lot on your own server

The changelog for build 5204 doubles as a guide for server admins and modders, and none of it needs code. Everything goes into the Instance: block of the playfield’s playfield.yaml:

• CreativeMode: true enables the creative build functions
• Time: 0 keeps the instance running indefinitely
• InstancePerFaction: true gives each faction one shared lot
• EnterWithNoInventoryNoArmor and LeaveWithEmptyInventory are mandatory; the game logs a warning if either is missing
• DropInventory keeps the backpack inside on logout or respawn

You also need a portal outside that targets the lot and one inside that leads back. Eleon suggests putting a locker next to the entrance so players can empty their pockets first. Oxygen, food, temperature and fall damage still follow the game mode, so a friendly planet makes the better playfield.

A new block property, UsableInCreativeInstance: false in BlocksConfig.ecf, stops a block from being used inside a lot while still allowing it to be placed. It is set by default on ATMs, trading stations, NPC traders, NPC dialogue blocks and teleporters. Each player can hold at most five instance tickets.

For now the feature only exists in the experimental build. If you want a head start, a test server is the place to try the configuration before 1.20 goes stable.