# How to Manage Prospects on Your Icarus Server (Create, Switch, Delete) (/docs/icarus/prospect-management)





import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';
import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';

In Icarus, the world isn't a single persistent map — it's a **prospect**. Each prospect is its own save: a chosen mission/map, difficulty, hardcore flag, and a save name. Your dedicated server can hold many prospects but only run **one at a time**. This page covers every way to create, switch, and delete them.

<img alt="Icarus prospect type selector" src={__img0} placeholder="blur" />

How Prospects Work [#how-prospects-work]

| Type           | What It Is                                                     | Timer | Persistence |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | :---: | :---------: |
| **Prospect**   | A timed mission (Tier 1–5). Gear is lost if the timer expires. |  Yes  |  Temporary  |
| **Outpost**    | A persistent base — ARCWOOD, ICEHOLM, HOLDFAST, Olympus        |   No  |  Permanent  |
| **Open World** | The Styx full sandbox (`OpenWorld_Styx`)                       |   No  |  Permanent  |

For an "always-on" server experience, run an **Outpost** or **Open World** prospect.

Where Prospects Are Stored [#where-prospects-are-stored]

```
Icarus/Saved/PlayerData/DedicatedServer/Prospects/
```

Each prospect is a single `.json` file named after the save name you chose. **Never rename or hand-edit these files** — RocketWerkz's docs warn it causes unrecoverable corruption. Always copy/move whole files.

Create a New Prospect [#create-a-new-prospect]

There are three ways: from the in-game lobby, from `ServerSettings.ini`, or from the startup parameter.

<Tabs items={['In-Game Lobby (Easiest)', 'ServerSettings.ini', 'Startup Parameter']}>
  <Tab value="In-Game Lobby (Easiest)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Make sure the server is running with no prospect loaded (you'll land in the **lobby**). If you have `ResumeProspect=true`, set it to `false` first and restart.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Connect to the server in-game. You'll see the prospect selection screen.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Pick the prospect type, difficulty, and save name. Hit **Launch**.
      </Step>
    </Steps>

    > **Allow players to launch?** Set `AllowNonAdminsToLaunchProspects=true` in `ServerSettings.ini` to let any connected player choose. Set to `false` to lock it to admins only.
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="ServerSettings.ini">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Stop the server, then open `Icarus/Saved/Config/ServerSettings.ini`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Under `[/script/icarus.dedicatedserversettings]`, add a `CreateProspect` line in the format `[Type] [Difficulty 1-4] [Hardcore true/false] [SaveName]`:

        ```ini
        [/script/icarus.dedicatedserversettings]
        CreateProspect=OpenWorld_Styx 1 false MyOpenWorld
        ```

        For an Olympus outpost on Hard:

        ```ini
        CreateProspect=Olympus 3 false OlympusBase
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Save and start from **Console**. The server creates the prospect on first boot, then auto-loads it.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        After it's been created **once**, comment out or remove the `CreateProspect` line and set `ResumeProspect=true` to keep loading the same save going forward.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Startup Parameter">
    In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com) **Startup** tab, add:

    ```
    -CreateProspect="OpenWorld_Styx 1 false MyOpenWorld"
    ```

    Same format as the INI version. Use this when you want to create a fresh prospect without editing files.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Prospect Type Names [#prospect-type-names]

The `Type` argument must match the internal name of the map/mission. The most common ones:

| Type Name              | What It Is                                  |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `OpenWorld_Styx`       | Full Styx sandbox (Open World)              |
| `Olympus`              | Olympus outpost — permanent base on Olympus |
| `Prometheus`           | Prometheus prospect map                     |
| `Styx`                 | Original Styx mission map                   |
| `OpenWorld_Olympus`    | Open World Olympus (where supported)        |
| `OpenWorld_Prometheus` | Open World Prometheus (where supported)     |

The exact list of type strings changes with game updates. To get the current list on your server, run the `Help` command in the server console.

Switch Between Saved Prospects [#switch-between-saved-prospects]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Edit `ServerSettings.ini`. Set `LoadProspect` to the save name (without `.json`):

    ```ini
    [/script/icarus.dedicatedserversettings]
    LoadProspect=OlympusBase
    ResumeProspect=false
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Save and start. The server loads `OlympusBase.json` from the Prospects folder.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can also switch live from the in-game admin chat (run `/ReturnToLobby` first to leave the current prospect, then choose a new one from the lobby).

Resume the Last Prospect on Restart [#resume-the-last-prospect-on-restart]

For most servers, you want the same prospect to auto-resume after every restart:

```ini
[/script/icarus.dedicatedserversettings]
ResumeProspect=true
```

When `ResumeProspect=true`, the server reads `LastProspectName` (auto-populated) and skips the lobby on boot.

Delete a Prospect [#delete-a-prospect]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Click **Files** and navigate to `Icarus/Saved/PlayerData/DedicatedServer/Prospects/`.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Delete the `.json` file for the prospect you no longer want.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    If that prospect was the active one, edit `ServerSettings.ini` and clear `LastProspectName=` and `LoadProspect=` so the server doesn't try to reload it.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Start the server.
  </Step>
</Steps>

> **Allow players to delete?** Set `AllowNonAdminsToDeleteProspects=true` in `ServerSettings.ini` to let players delete prospects from the lobby. Default is `false` — admins only.

Backup a Prospect Before Risky Changes [#backup-a-prospect-before-risky-changes]

Prospects are single `.json` files — backing one up is just downloading it.

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Stop the server.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    In **Files**, navigate to `Icarus/Saved/PlayerData/DedicatedServer/Prospects/`.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Right-click your prospect's `.json` → **Download**. Keep it somewhere safe.
  </Step>
</Steps>

To restore: stop the server, upload the `.json` back into the same Prospects folder (overwriting if needed), and start.

Common Mistakes [#common-mistakes]

| Mistake                                           | What Happens                                                         | Fix                                                |
| ------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Renamed the `.json` file                          | Save corrupts on load                                                | Restore from backup; never rename                  |
| Edited the `.json` by hand                        | Save corrupts                                                        | Restore from backup                                |
| Left `CreateProspect=` set after first boot       | Server creates a fresh prospect every restart, overwriting your save | Remove `CreateProspect`, set `ResumeProspect=true` |
| `LoadProspect` and `ResumeProspect=true` both set | Behavior is `ResumeProspect` wins                                    | Pick one                                           |
| Save name has spaces                              | Server can't find the file                                           | Use underscores or no spaces                       |

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Server Configuration](/docs/icarus/server-config)
* [Upload a Save](/docs/icarus/import-save)
* [Admin Setup & Commands](/docs/icarus/admin-setup)
* [Wipe & Reinstall](/docs/icarus/wipe-reinstall)