I just noticed our dedicated server (using the previously posted docker image version that runs in wine on linux) doesn't stop when people are logged out. I keep seeing people say in the forums "playfields will pause when empty" but that doesn't seem to be happening, the base ran out of fuel and hundreds of food items spoiled. Do I need to configure something differently? I can't have the base using fuel when we're not there, that makes no sense. We aren't always able to log in each day. Thanks!
That's how dedicated servers work. As long as the server is up and running the game, time flows, plants grow, fuel is consumed. If you want to pause the game you need to turn the server off. The references on the forums to "playfields will pause when empty" is for singleplayer games I think.
As far as I know empty playfields do pause, there are no drone attacks and so on. it might even be for bases that are not rendered even if on same playfield? BUT as it is rendered again a few things are CATCHED UP: solar and fuel power consumption is calculated and fuel removed, food ages and spoils, the power reserve is taken in acount for stuff in fridges. the terain placables consume fuel and produce ore/water... this is seen best with autominers: they are rendered as active but then quickly deactivate (if you were away long enough for it to run out of fuel) as you get in range. also solar output gets frozen, so if you leave at noon the solar produces 100% in the offline time, but if you leave at night they produce nothing. plant grow is not catched up, I think; same for constructor progress. I don't know of anny way to change this, other than to turn the server off while no one plays.
Ok, thanks, I guess I need to add as much solar power as I can, having all your food and medicine supplies go bad is not cool.
Ok, thanks that is helpful to know. Realistically, my friends probably won't play often without me, but I wish there was an easy way for them to launch the docker container that runs the server somehow. I'm sure it's possible, i.e. build a simple API end point on the VPS that listens for a command via https, but I'd need to research it or get some help, not sure I quite know how to do that.
