Hi Hytaler,
Hardcore landed with Update 6, together with Spectator mode, and the two belong together. Here's what each mode does and which one I'd pick for which kind of group.
Where you find it
Hardcore is set when you create a world: hit Customize, then the Hardcore dropdown. Life counts can be adjusted (anything but zero). It's a world setting, so decide before you start, not halfway through a run.
The modes
Off. Normal Hytale.
Permadeath. Every player has one life. Die and you're out. The classic, and brutal with friends who like to explore ahead.
Three Strikes. Three lives each, then you're out. My pick for most groups. You still feel every death, but one bad jump into lava doesn't end someone's evening ten minutes in.
Nine Lives. Nine lives in one shared pool for the whole world. This one changes how a group plays: suddenly the reckless player is spending everyone's lives. Great for groups that like to argue.
Soulbound. Everyone's fate is linked. If anyone dies, the run is over for everybody. Only for groups you really trust, or for streams where chaos is the point.
Why Spectator mode matters here
When you die in Update 6 you don't get kicked to a menu. You become a spectator: invisible, ignored by NPCs, and you can follow the players still alive or fly the camera wherever you want. That's what makes Hardcore work with friends. Being out doesn't mean you're out of the session.
Hardcore on a server
If you're thinking about a hardcore server or event:
- Set it at world creation and say clearly in your server listing which mode it is. "Hardcore" alone tells people nothing now that there are four flavours.
- Back up anyway. Permadeath is a game rule, not a reason to skip backups. Crashes and griefers don't care about your rules.
- Shared pools need trust. Nine Lives and Soulbound on a public server will end with one troll and an empty server. Keep them for whitelisted groups or one-off events.
- Seasons work well. A fixed-length hardcore season with a fresh world afterwards keeps it exciting and gives people a reason to come back.
Running a hardcore world or planning one? Post your setup and which mode you picked. I'm curious which one people actually stick with.
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