Arma Reforger Mods

Overview

While mods can greatly enhance your Arma Reforger experience—adding new weapons, maps, or gameplay mechanics—installing too many at once can lead to instability, performance degradation, or outright crashes. This article explains why overloading your server with mods can be problematic, outlines best practices for testing and managing mods, and details how Sammys Servers can assist in identifying which mod(s) are causing issues (without fixing them directly).

Why Too Many Mods Cause Issues

1. Increased Memory & CPU Load

   • Each mod adds additional assets (textures, models, scripts) that must be loaded into RAM and processed by the CPU. As you stack more mods, memory usage climbs and the server’s CPU scheduler spends more time managing mod code. In extreme cases, the server may run out of memory and crash, or suffer severe lag.

2. Longer Startup Times & Timeout Risks

   • On startup, the Arma Reforger engine scans and validates every mod in the "mods" array. If you have dozens of workshop mods, this will take longer.

3. Mod Conflicts & Dependency Issues

   • Two mods might override the same asset or script, leading to undefined behavior. For example, if Mod A and Mod B both modify weapon recoil parameters, the engine may load one incorrectly or crash when encountering duplicate class names.

4. Version Mismatches

   • Some mods rely on specific engine versions or other mods as dependencies. If you install Mod X (v1.2) alongside Mod Y (v1.4) but they expect different base files, the server may refuse to load one or both, or might crash mid-game.

5. Unoptimized or Corrupt Mod Files

   • Community-created mods vary in quality. A badly compressed PBO, missing file, or syntax error in a mod’s mod.hpp can cause the entire mod load to fail, often bringing down the server.

Best Practices for Managing & Testing Mods

1. Start Small & Incrementally Add Mods

   • Baseline Test: Begin with a clean config.json that lists only the essential mods. Verify the server starts and players can connect.

   • Add One at a Time: Add each new mod (workshop ID) individually, then restart and verify stability for at least a few minutes. This helps isolate which mod triggers crashes.

2. Verify Mod Compatibility

   • Check Workshop Page/Changelog: Ensure the mod author states compatibility with the current Arma Reforger version.

   • Community Feedback: Browse the Steam Workshop comments—if multiple users report crashes or incompatibility, consider skipping that mod.

3. Validate Mod Files Locally Before Uploading

   • If you develop or manually download, run a local validation:

     1. Load Arma Reforger in “Local Dedicated” mode with only that mod.

     2. Observe any errors or warnings in the local server’s log.

   • Only upload to Sammys Servers once you’re confident the mod file itself doesn’t crash on a minimal test.

4. Monitor Memory & CPU Usage

   • Use Sammys Servers’ Console tab to watch log output for memory warnings or prolonged script load times.

   • If your panel provides resource graphs (CPU/RAM), look for sudden spikes when adding a new mod. A mod that doubles RAM usage may need to be removed or replaced with a more optimized alternative.

5. Maintain a Stable Mod Load Order

   • Some mods must load before others (e.g., a framework mod that other content mods depend on). In your Mod Manager, list base or framework mods at the top of the array, followed by dependent or skin mods.

   • If two mods conflict, research whether one overrides the other or if a compatibility patch exists.

6. Backup Working Configurations

   • Whenever you confirm that “Mod Set A” is stable, download and save that config.json locally by exporting JSON in the Mod Manager. If future testing breaks stability, you can quickly revert to the known-good file.