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How to Host an RLCraft Server With Friends — RAM, Setup & Fixes
RLCraft is a brutal, mob-dense Forge 1.12.2 survival pack that punishes under-powered servers as hard as it punishes new players. It's old enough that it leans on a single CPU core, so raw clock speed and a clean config matter more than throwing endless RAM at it.
How much RAM does RLCraft need?
RLCraft is lighter on memory than the modern kitchen-sink packs, but its dragons, mob spawns and Lycanites entities can spike CPU. RAM keeps it stable; single-thread CPU speed keeps it smooth.
| Players | Recommended server RAM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 4 GB | Comfortable for a small group. |
| 5–8 | 6 GB | Watch mob density and Lycanites spawns. |
| 9–15 | 8 GB | Pre-generate the world; cap mob-heavy areas. |
| 15+ | 8–10 GB | Performance, not slots, is your ceiling. |
Setup steps
- Choose a plan with 4–6 GB RAM for a normal friend group.
- Install 'RLCraft' from the modpack installer or paste the CurseForge pack.
- MineXEngine detects Forge 1.12.2 and selects Java 8 automatically — RLCraft will not run on modern Java, and getting this wrong is the #1 cause of instant crashes.
- Enable the recommended RLCraft world type when prompted (the pack ships its own world settings).
- Set your whitelist, then start and let world-gen settle before joining.
Common RLCraft problems
- Crash on startup — usually the wrong Java version. RLCraft needs Java 8; MineXEngine pins this for you.
- Lag spikes near villages or Lycanites mobs — reduce mob-spawn caps and view-distance; pre-generate chunks.
- 'Bad packet' / disconnects — keep server and client RLCraft versions identical and use the pack's recommended Forge build.
- World corruption after a hard crash — RLCraft is crash-prone by design; frequent backups are not optional.
MineXHost runs RLCraft on MineXEngine — our launcher auto-detects the modpack, picks the right Minecraft loader and Java version, tunes the JVM for your RAM, and auto-recovers from the crashes that normally end a modded server's evening. Pick your RAM, paste the pack, and play.
See hosting plansFrequently asked questions
How much RAM does an RLCraft server need?
4 GB is comfortable for 1–4 players, 6 GB for 5–8, and 8 GB for larger groups. RLCraft is more CPU-bound than memory-bound — beyond ~8 GB you see diminishing returns.
Why does my RLCraft server crash immediately on start?
Almost always the wrong Java version. RLCraft is Forge 1.12.2 and requires Java 8. MineXHost's MineXEngine pins Java 8 automatically.