Terraria first released in 2011 and received positive accolades from the gaming community. In fact, by 2019, the game has sold over 27 million copies making it a highly successful venture. The game (of course) received cosmic attention due to its resemblance with Minecraft. Despite some basic gameplay similarity, Terrarian has its unique take on the whole “sandbox” game-genre. Terraria provided with a more objective-based gameplay rather than sticking with the traditional sandbox culture that gave little significance to the story progression. The concept of Minecraft was simple – Lay out some fundamental rules and let the individual players do what they want. Terrarian, in contradiction, provided the players with some sense of direction or reason to complete specific objectives.
Terraria is a very adventurous game with a somewhat surprising turn of events. Many mods are available to make the already adventurous game even more enjoyable. But Modding on an online server can be a bit tricky. Most of the time, because they are designed to be alter-proof in order to encourage fair-play. But that does not mean Terraria cannot be modded, but does that mean a player can play unfairly? Not necessarily.
TModLoader is an API tool designed for Terraria. It is basically a script extender, and it helps people load mods and create them as well.
How to install tModLoader
TModLoader is a great tool to create and apply mods. It is especially useful if players want to make sure that multiple mods don’t alter each other while running at the same time. Yes, without even having to decompile or recompile the Terraria Executable.
TModLoader is meant for Terraria version 1.3 or above, so it is best to upgrade if running older vanilla versions.
Download tModLoader:
The first thing to do, of course is to download the TModLoader. It can be downloaded by simply searching for it on Google. The file will be downloaded in a Zipped Folder, so once downloaded, unzip the file and the contents.
Install tModloader:
The next step is to install the Loader. The file also includes a readme.txt file. It will contain the instructions for installing the tModLoader for further reference. There is an Installer.jar file in the contents. Run the installer, and a setup prompt will start. After that, the set up will be complete.
How to use tModloader:
To use tModLoader, open Terraria as usual. Once done, there should be a new extra menu option. If the menu is not present, the installation might not have worked well. In that case, remove and reinstall tModLoader.
How to Install Mods using tModLoader:
There are many mods that can be downloaded. Terraria Mods are .tmod files. Using the tModloader menu, open the Mod browser. The method to download is simple: browse, and click on the download button.
The directory is set by default, but are not enabled. After downloading the mod, open the Mods Menu, click on the necessary mod and click on reload.
If the mod is downloaded from a different source, the mod folder can be moved to the preset mod directory.
tModLoader with other players:
TModLoader will work with any servers, but if mods are installed, the server will only be shared with other TModLoader users. Thus, maintaining a fair and equal environment. To be able to play with friends, either remove tModLoader back to its vanilla version or let friends download.
TModLoader Errors
There are not many TmodLoader errors. It does not work on pirated versions, however.
To avoid any errors, follow the instructions below:
- Unzip all files before the installation
- Run TModloader from the Steam install directory
- Verify the integrity of the data on Steam
- Disable Antivirus during installation
- Check the Ram usage as well as the requirements of different mods.
How to Host a Modded Terraria Server with TShock
Terraria by itself has a lot of content. A single play through can take over 30 hours to beat. However, Terraria is a game best played with friends. And how does one best play with friends? With servers of course. But what if you’re tired of normal Terraria content and want to expand the gameplay? You get mods. Today you will learn how to setup a modded server, how to add plugins, and how your friends can join.
1. Download TShock
Download the latest release of TShock from their github.
TShock is a server hosting software and API that allows players to have a standard modded server that allows players to easily connect.
Once downloaded, extract the TShock ZIP file to its own folder. This part is very similar to a vanilla server setup.
2. Run TerrariaServer.exe and create a new world
Type n (this will create a new world), hit Enter
Select World Size, hit Enter
Choose the difficulty, hit Enter
Name the world, hit Enter
The server will now generate a world.
3. Configure the server
Type the corresponding number for the world if you have more than one.
Set the maximum number of players. 255 is the default, Enter.
Set the server port. 7777 is the default, Enter.
You server is now setup.
4. Make Yourself a SuperAdmin
You have to become a SuperAdmin to manage your Terraria server in-game.
Join the game.
Open the chatbox and enter /auth
If you want to remain a SuperAdmin you can type /user add superadmin. To login as a superadmin simply enter /login next time you join.
This same method can be used to make other players SuperAdmins.
Configuring your New Server
To configure your server, locate your server’s config.json file.
There are a ton of options in here that are pretty self-explanatory. For example you can set the server port, name, max slots, and spawn protection.
There’s also some more advanced stuff you will find, such as auto-saving, MySql, statue spawns, invasions, and ban/kick types. I highly recommend taking a look at the TShock.co website for a complete wiki.
Adding plugins
Check out our other guide on adding plugins to your Terraria server.
This is just the basic tutorial. Problems with things such as port forwarding? For a full, comprehensive wiki be sure to check out the official TShock wiki.
If you’d like to contribute a more comprehensive guide, please let us know!
