Set up a TerraFirmaCraft server

TerraFirmaCraft (TFC) is a total conversion mod that reworks survival: new world generation with layered rock and sparse ore deposits, a technology tree that starts with pottery and pit kilns, seasons, and food that expires. It is a mod, not a modpack, so you add it to a modded server from the Mods tab and then point the server at its world type. TFC has two current lines, 3.2.28 on Forge for Minecraft 1.20.1 and 4.2.12 on NeoForge for Minecraft 1.21.1. This guide covers both. The steps are the same apart from the loader and version you pick.

Checked against TerraFirmaCraft 3.2.28 on Forge 1.20.1, October 2026. TerraFirmaCraft 4.2.12 on NeoForge 1.21.1 was read from Modrinth's listings, and its install and start were not run.

What it needs

• For 3.2.28: Forge and Minecraft 1.20.1. TerraFirmaCraft's own mod file accepts Forge 47.1.3 to 47.1.5 and 47.2.6 or newer, and leaves out the builds in between, most of which it notes as crashing or failing to spawn entities, so keep the build the panel installs, which is Forge's recommended one (47.4.28 when this guide was checked). The panel runs Minecraft 1.20.1 on Java 17.
• For 4.2.12: NeoForge and Minecraft 1.21.1. The mod file asks for NeoForge 21.1.234 or newer. The panel installs the newest stable 21.1 build, which was 21.1.264 when this guide was checked. The panel runs Minecraft 1.21.1 on Java 21.
• Patchouli, a required library in both lines. The Mods tab offers it when you install TerraFirmaCraft.
• The same mods for every player. The server and each player need TerraFirmaCraft and Patchouli. JEI is optional and only used on the player's side.
• Memory. Your plan sets the RAM, so see how much RAM a Minecraft server needs and the Minecraft plans.

Switch the server to Forge or NeoForge

1. Open your server and choose JAR Manager under More in the left rail.
2. Under Server software, pick Forge and under Minecraft version pick 1.20.1, or pick NeoForge and 1.21.1 for TFC 4.
3. Press Apply change. The popup warns that the server reinstalls. Leave Take a backup first ticked and hold Confirm & reinstall until it fills.

Change your Minecraft version or mod loader covers this tab in full. When the install finishes, the left rail shows a Mods tab under Content.

Install TerraFirmaCraft

1. Open Mods and stay on Store. Press the Modrinth source button, then search for TerraFirmaCraft.
2. Press Install on TerraFirmaCraft. The Game version and Loader filters already match your server, so the panel installs 3.2.28 on Forge 1.20.1 and 4.2.12 on NeoForge 1.21.1.
3. The panel then says the mod needs one more add-on, Patchouli. Press Install all (2).
4. The panel says to restart the server to load the mods. Do not restart yet, because the world type comes first.

Set the TFC world type

The mod's Modrinth page says that for servers on Minecraft 1.20 and 1.21 you set level-type in server.properties to tfc\:overworld. That covers both lines.

1. Stop the server.
2. Open File Manager, click server.properties and add or change these lines. The backslash before the colon belongs in the file.

level-type=tfc\:overworld
level-name=tfcworld

3. Press Save.

The second line makes the server generate a new world in a new folder, called tfcworld here, instead of reusing your old one. Your old world folder stays on disk until you delete it. The Config Editor lists only the vanilla world types under World type, so use File Manager for this edit.

First start

Press Start on the Console tab. If the EULA has not been accepted yet, the panel asks you to accept it first. The server is up when the console prints a line containing For help, type.

TFC ships an in-game Field Guide, available from the moment a player spawns in. To send players the mods they need, open Mods, switch to Installed and press Export for players, which packs them into one zip with instructions.

Server settings worth knowing

TFC's server config is a tfc-server.toml file, normally in the world's serverconfig folder, here tfcworld/serverconfig. In the mod's source for both lines:

• Nether portals are off by default (enableNetherPortals = false).
• Time stops when no players are online (enableTimeStopWhenServerEmpty = true), so food does not spoil and the calendar does not advance while the server is empty.
• TFC forces some game rules, such as no natural regeneration and no phantoms (enableForcedTFCGameRules = true).

Change a value in File Manager, save, and restart the server.

Common problems

• The terrain looks like vanilla. The server loaded a world that already existed. Use a new level-name as above, or delete the old world folder.
• The server stops at boot and the log names Patchouli. Patchouli is a required dependency in TFC's mod file. Open Mods and install it.
• A player cannot join. Check they run the same TerraFirmaCraft version as the server, 3.2.28 on Minecraft 1.20.1 or 4.2.12 on Minecraft 1.21.1.
• A mod fails to load. Fix mod and plugin load errors covers reading the log. The TFC team keeps an online Field Guide and takes bug reports on its GitHub page.