Windrose: Manage Worlds

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Introduction

Windrose supports multiple worlds on a single dedicated server, with each world using its own save data and WorldDescription.json configuration. In this guide, you will learn how to create new worlds, switch between existing worlds, back them up, and wipe them safely.

Preparation

Before you begin, make sure you have access to your Windrose gameserver through the ZAP-Hosting web interface and that your server is currently offline before making save or configuration changes.

Required Access

You need access to the ZAP-Hosting gameserver management, including the File Manager, Configs, and Backups areas, to manage your Windrose worlds safely.

Stop the Server First

You should always stop your server before editing ServerDescription.json, modifying WorldDescription.json, creating world folders, or deleting save data. This helps prevent corruption and incomplete world writes.

Understand the Windrose World Structure

Windrose stores all world data inside the save profile directory. The first world is created automatically when you start the server for the first time.

The relevant structure looks like this:

R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default
ServerDescription.json
RocksDB
<game_version>
Worlds
World_1_ID
WorldDescription.json
World_2_ID

In practice, the world folders are located in:

R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB/[your_game_version]/Worlds/

Each world folder is named after its unique IslandId. The server uses this ID internally to identify which world should be loaded.

File or Folder	Purpose
ServerDescription.json	Defines the active server configuration, including the currently loaded world
RocksDB/[your_game_version]/Worlds/	Stores all available world save folders
[your_world_id]/WorldDescription.json	Stores the configuration for a specific world
WorldIslandId	The value in ServerDescription.json that tells the server which world to load

Do Not Rename World Folders

You must never manually rename a world folder. Windrose uses the folder name as the internal IslandId in the RocksDB database. Renaming a folder can corrupt the world or leave it orphaned and unusable.

Find the Active World

Before switching or creating worlds, it is helpful to identify which world is currently active.

Check the Server Configuration

Open the Configs section in your gameserver management and locate ServerDescription.json. If the config is not listed there, use the File Manager and open ServerDescription.json from the root of the file list.

Look for the following field:

"WorldIslandId": "[your_world_id]"

This value defines the world the server will load on startup.

Check a World ID

To identify a specific saved world, open its WorldDescription.json file inside its world folder and look for the IslandId value.

Example:

{
  "Version": 1,
  "WorldDescription": {
    "IslandId": "World_Example_ID",
    "WorldName": "My World",
    "WorldPresetType": "Medium",
    "WorldSettings": {}
  }
}

The IslandId in this file must match the folder name exactly.

Switch Between Worlds

If you already have multiple worlds saved on your server, you can switch between them by changing the active WorldIslandId.

Update the Target World

First, stop your server from the ZAP-Hosting web interface.

Next, open ServerDescription.json in the Configs area or through the File Manager at the root of the server files.

Find this field:

"WorldIslandId": "PASTE_TARGET_WORLD_ID_HERE"

Replace the value with the IslandId of the world you want to load. You can find that ID by opening the target world's WorldDescription.json.

Save and Restart the Server

Save the file and start your server again. Windrose will now load the selected world.

Verify the World ID Carefully

If the WorldIslandId does not exactly match an existing world folder and its IslandId, the server may fail to load the intended world or generate a new one instead.

Create a New World

If you want to host multiple worlds game sessions on one server, you can create a fresh world manually.

Create the World Folder

Stop your server first.

Open the File Manager and navigate to:

R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB/[your_game_version]/Worlds/

Create a new folder with a unique name. This folder name becomes the new world's IslandId.

For example:

R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB/[your_game_version]/Worlds/MySecondWorld

Create the World Description File

Inside the new folder, create a file named WorldDescription.json and paste the following template:

{
  "Version": 1,
  "WorldDescription": {
    "IslandId": "YOUR_NEW_WORLD_ID",
    "WorldName": "My Second World",
    "WorldPresetType": "Medium",
    "WorldSettings": {}
  }
}

Replace YOUR_NEW_WORLD_ID with your chosen world ID.

Matching IDs Are Required

The IslandId inside WorldDescription.json must be identical to the folder name. Even small differences, such as uppercase and lowercase changes or extra spaces, can prevent the world from loading correctly.

Set the New World as Active

Now open ServerDescription.json and update the WorldIslandId value so it points to your new world ID.

Example:

"WorldIslandId": "MySecondWorld"

Save the file and start the server. Windrose will generate the new world fresh on startup.

Back Up a World

Before switching worlds, wiping data, or testing new settings, you should create a backup of your world save.

Use the ZAP-Hosting Backup Feature

Stop your server first.

In the panel sidebar, open Backups and create a new backup. This is the safest option if you want to restore the full server state later.

Download the World Files Manually

If you only want a direct copy of the save data, open the File Manager and download the entire RocksDB/ folder using the zip or download option.

Relevant path:

R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB/

Backup Method	Recommended Use
Panel backup	Best for full server recovery
Manual RocksDB/ download	Best for direct world save archiving
Both methods	Best for important worlds or before a wipe

Backup Recommendation

If you manage several worlds, keeping both a panel backup and a manual copy of RocksDB/ gives you the most flexibility when restoring a specific world later.

Wipe a World

If you want to reset a world completely, you can delete its save folder and let the server generate a new one.

Delete the World Save

Stop your server.

Open the File Manager and navigate to:

R5/Saved/SaveProfiles/Default/RocksDB/[your_game_version]/Worlds/

Delete the folder of the world you want to wipe.

Regenerate the World

Make sure ServerDescription.json still points to that deleted world ID through the WorldIslandId field.

When you start the server again, Windrose will detect that the target world folder no longer exists and generate a fresh world for that ID.

Confirm the Correct Folder Before Deleting

Deleting the wrong world folder permanently removes that world's save data unless you have a backup. Double-check the folder name and IslandId before continuing.

Manage World Settings

Each world has its own WorldDescription.json, which means you can maintain separate settings for different worlds on the same server.

Example World Configuration

{
  "Version": 1,
  "WorldDescription": {
    "IslandId": "MySecondWorld",
    "WorldName": "My Second World",
    "WorldPresetType": "Medium",
    "WorldSettings": {}
  }
}

Important Values

Key	Description
Version	Configuration version used by the file
IslandId	Internal world ID, must match the folder name
WorldName	Display name of the world
WorldPresetType	Preset type for world generation
WorldSettings	Additional world-specific settings if supported

Config Management in the Panel

Windrose configuration files can be managed in your gameserver management under Configs. If a file is not available there, use the File Manager to edit it directly.

Best Practices for Managing Multiple Worlds

Managing several worlds on one server is useful for testing, events, or separate player groups. To keep everything organized, follow these recommendations:

• Use clear and unique world IDs such as [your_pvp_world] or [your_build_world]
• Keep the folder name and IslandId exactly identical
• Create a backup before switching or wiping any world
• Avoid changing files while the server is running
• Document which WorldIslandId belongs to each world name

This approach helps you avoid confusion, especially if you maintain many worlds over time.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have successfully managed Windrose worlds on your server. For further questions or assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team, which is available daily to assist you!