The config_gameplay.txt file controls how your server behaves in-game. This guide bundles the most important settings for the intercom, AFK kick, idle mode, spawn protection, round restarts and broadcasts – each with a short overview of the keys and a ready-to-use recipe.
Prerequisite
The guide Edit configuration files shows you where the configuration files are located, how to edit them and how to apply changes safely. All settings in this guide belong in the following file – replace <Port> with the game port of your server shown in the Overview of the dashboard:
/.config/SCP Secret Laboratory/config/<Port>/config_gameplay.txt
Intercom
The intercom lets players make an announcement to everyone. These keys control how long players may speak and how long the intercom is locked afterwards:
| Key | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
intercom_cooldown |
120 |
Time in seconds before the intercom becomes available again after an announcement |
intercom_max_speech_time |
20 |
Maximum speech time in seconds per announcement |
Recipe – longer announcements, shorter cooldown:
intercom_max_speech_time: 30
intercom_cooldown: 60
AFK Kick and Idle Mode
AFK kick
Inactive players are removed from the server automatically:
| Key | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
afk_time |
90 |
Time in seconds until an inactive player is kicked – SCP-079 gets an extra 13 seconds |
constantly_check_afk |
false |
Enables the constant AFK check |
afk_kick_message |
AFK |
Message shown to the kicked player |
Recipe – more patience with inactive players and a clearer kick message:
afk_time: 180
afk_kick_message: You have been removed from the server for inactivity.
Idle mode
In idle mode, the server lowers its tickrate while nobody is connected – this saves CPU resources on empty servers:
| Key | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
idle_mode_enabled |
false |
Enables or disables idle mode |
idle_mode_time |
5000 |
Time in milliseconds until idle mode activates |
idle_mode_preauth_time |
30000 |
Idle mode wait time in milliseconds after a connection attempt (preauth) |
idle_mode_tickrate |
1 |
Tickrate of the server while in idle mode |
Recipe – save CPU while the server is empty:
idle_mode_enabled: true
You can leave the remaining idle mode values at their defaults.
Spawn Protection
Spawn protection keeps freshly spawned reinforcements from being killed right as they enter the game:
| Key | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
spawn_protect_enabled |
false |
Enables spawn protection |
spawn_protect_time |
8 |
Spawn protection length in seconds |
spawn_protect_can_shoot |
false |
Controls whether protected players may shoot – by default, protection ends as soon as a player equips a firearm |
spawn_protect_prevent_all |
false |
Set to true, the protection blocks all damage; by default only friendly fire damage is blocked |
spawn_protect_team |
1, 2 |
Teams with spawn protection – 1 = MTF, 2 = Chaos Insurgency |
Recipe – enable spawn protection for reinforcements:
spawn_protect_enabled: true
spawn_protect_time: 10
Round Restarts
These keys control what happens after a round ends and whether late joiners still spawn in:
| Key | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
auto_round_restart_time |
10 |
Time in seconds between the end of a round and the automatic round restart |
restart_after_rounds |
0 |
Full server restart after the specified number of rounds – 0 disables the feature |
enable_fast_round_restart |
false |
Enables the fast round restart – according to the official reference, this feature can be buggy |
fast_round_restart_delay |
3.2 |
Delay of the fast round restart |
late_join_time |
0 |
Time in seconds after the round starts during which newly joining players still spawn in |
Recipe – free up memory regularly: A full server restart every few rounds counteracts slowly growing memory usage. Since your server runs behind LocalAdmin, it is restarted automatically after shutting down – you do not have to do anything in the dashboard.
restart_after_rounds: 15
Broadcasts for Kicks and Bans
Your server can show a message to all players when someone is kicked or banned. The guide Kick and ban players shows you how to kick and ban players.
| Key | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
broadcast_bans |
true |
Shows a broadcast message when a player is banned |
broadcast_ban_text |
%nick% has been banned from this server. |
Text of the ban message – %nick% is replaced with the player name |
broadcast_ban_duration |
5 |
Display duration of the ban message in seconds |
broadcast_kicks |
false |
Shows a broadcast message when a player is kicked |
broadcast_kick_text |
%nick% has been kicked from this server. |
Text of the kick message – %nick% is replaced with the player name |
broadcast_kick_duration |
5 |
Display duration of the kick message in seconds |
Recipe – enable kick broadcasts with custom messages:
broadcast_kicks: true
broadcast_kick_text: %nick% was kicked from this server.
broadcast_ban_text: %nick% was banned from this server.
Special Topics in the Same File
Two frequently requested topics also live in config_gameplay.txt but have their own guides:
- Friendly fire including the automatic teamkill punishments: Configure friendly fire
- Whitelist, so only listed players can join: Set up a whitelist