Project Zomboid Sandbox Settings Guide
Configure zombie population, loot rarity, infection settings, and survival difficulty on your MANAfuel Project Zomboid server with the sandbox preset system.
Understand Sandbox Presets
Project Zomboid offers built-in presets: Apocalypse (default — tough zombies, slow recovery), Survivor (medium difficulty), Builder (easier, more loot), and custom Sandbox mode where you control every parameter. Most multiplayer servers use custom Sandbox settings that blend elements from multiple presets. Your MANAfuel server starts with Apocalypse by default.
Open Sandbox Configuration
Navigate to your server in the MANAfuel dashboard. Open the File Manager and locate the sandbox preset file in your server data directory (Server/servertest_SandboxVars.lua or your named server). This Lua file contains every configurable gameplay parameter. Edit it inline — each setting has a descriptive variable name like SandboxVars.ZombieLore.Speed and SandboxVars.Loot.RarityModifier.
Configure Zombie Behavior
Key zombie settings include Speed (1=Sprinters, 2=Fast Shamblers, 3=Shamblers), Strength (1=Superhuman, 2=Normal, 3=Weak), Population Multiplier (0.0 to 4.0 — controls overall zombie density), and Transmission (1=Blood+Saliva, 2=Saliva Only, 3=Everyone Infected). For a balanced multiplayer experience, most communities use Shamblers with Normal strength and a population multiplier between 1.0 and 2.0.
Adjust Loot and Resources
Control the economy with RarityModifier (1=extremely rare to 5=abundant), FoodLootModifier, WeaponLootModifier, and OtherLootModifier (each 1=extremely rare to 5=abundant). Set HoursForWorldItemRemoval to control how long dropped items persist (default 24 hours). For longer multiplayer sessions, increase loot slightly and extend item persistence to reduce frustration from disconnected players losing gear.
Set Infection and Health Rules
The most impactful setting for multiplayer is zombie infection behavior. Transmission controls how bites work. For casual servers, set Transmission to Everyone Infected (bites still kill but scratches do not infect — reduces frustration). For hardcore, use Blood+Saliva where any scratch has a chance to end a character. Mortality controls how long after infection a player turns — Instant to 0-3 days.
Apply and Test
Save the sandbox file and restart your server. The server reads sandbox settings on world creation — some settings only apply to new worlds, while others (like zombie population) update on existing worlds. Test by joining and verifying zombie speed, loot frequency, and infection behavior match your configuration. Bob monitors for sandbox file syntax errors that can prevent server startup.