Frequently asked questions
After the Fall FAQ: Project Zomboid PvPvE Server
Everything people ask before joining, answered plainly. If yours is not here, ask in Discord. Someone will answer faster than this page can be updated.
Is After the Fall free to play?
Yes. The server is free and there is no subscription. You only need to own Project Zomboid on Steam. Running the server does cost money, so donations are accepted through Ko-fi, but they are entirely optional and buy no in-game advantage. Income and operating costs are published publicly.
What does PvPvE mean on this server?
It means the whole map is PVP by default, with two exceptions: a safehouse you have claimed, and player-built settlements. Inside those, PVP is switched off automatically by our own mod, so you do not have to toggle anything or trust anyone to behave. Everywhere else, other survivors are as dangerous as the dead.
How do I join the server?
Join the Discord first, read the rules and agree to them, then take the connection info pinned there and join the game. Your game is handed the mod list when you connect, so let Steam download it and restart when it asks. That download is the slow part, usually around fifteen minutes, and you only do it once.
Do I need mods, and how many?
Yes. The server runs a curated collection of around 70 mods and you need all of them, but you do not have to hunt them down. The server hands your game the list when you connect and Steam downloads them for you. They cover vehicles, clothing and hairstyles, quality-of-life improvements, and the server's own systems. The collection is public on the Steam Workshop if you would rather pre-load it.
What version of Project Zomboid does the server run?
The server runs Build 42. The two builds have separate server lists, so a Build 41 client cannot see or join us. If you are still on the older branch you will need to switch first.
When does the server wipe, and what season is it?
We are currently on Season 9, which started on July 29, 2026. The server runs in seasons rather than wiping unpredictably: each one starts fresh with new features and changes, and the schedule is announced in Discord well in advance. Previous seasons are kept as history rather than deleted.
Can I claim a safehouse, and is my loot safe there?
Yes, once you have survived your first hour. Claiming a building marks it as your safehouse, and PVP is disabled inside it automatically. That is the core of the ruleset: you always have somewhere you cannot be shot in your sleep, which makes long-term basebuilding possible on a PVP server.
Can another player steal my car?
Not if it is claimed. Car claims are handled by one of our own mods, so a vehicle you have claimed belongs to you. You can grant permissions to other players when you want to, for example to let a mechanic repair it, which is a decision worth making carefully.
How does the player economy work?
The currency is Scraps. You earn them from paychecks for time played, bounties for killing zombies, selling valuables you have collected or crafted, and running your own store. Players set their own prices in player-run stalls, so the market moves on its own. We publish the real numbers on this site: money supply, spending, and every item currently for sale.
Is the server pay-to-win?
No. Donations go to hosting and to paying mod authors, map makers and artists for their work. Nothing you can buy affects gameplay, and staff are unpaid volunteers. The full breakdown of what comes in and what goes out is published.
Are there active admins, and how do I report cheating or griefing?
Yes. Admins are active daily and there is a ticket system in Discord for reports. Griefing a claimed safehouse, exploiting mods, or cheating is handled directly, and volunteer admins are recruited through a formal application process rather than handed the role.
What are the server rules?
The full rules live in Discord, where they can be kept current. The short version: PVP is fair game outside claimed safehouses and settlements, cheating and exploiting are not tolerated, and harassment gets you removed. Read the rules channel before your first session.
Can I play mostly PvE?
Largely, yes. Basing out of a claimed safehouse, trading through player stores and running supply trips gives you plenty to do without hunting other players. But the map outside your claims is genuinely dangerous, and that risk is the point. This is not a PvE server with optional duelling.
How many players are on the server?
It varies through the day, and we publish the live figure on the homepage rather than advertising a peak number. The same page shows how many zombies have been killed this season and how many survivors have died, all read from the game server itself.
Is After the Fall official, or affiliated with The Indie Stone?
No. After the Fall is an independent, community-run server. Project Zomboid is developed and published by The Indie Stone, and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by them. You buy the game from The Indie Stone; this server is a free community project built on top of it, and the mods it runs belong to their respective authors.
Who runs After the Fall?
A volunteer team operating as the Bureau of Anomalous Review, with a Discord community of 5,400+ members. Staff are not paid, the mod collection is maintained in the open on the Steam Workshop, and the server's finances are published rather than kept private.
Still stuck?
The joining guide covers setup and the usual mod problems, featuresexplains the server’s systems in detail, and about covers who runs it and how it is funded.
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