---
name: "pioneers-server-console"
section: "6"
platform: "linux"
package: "pioneers-console"
version: "15.6-1+b5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pioneers-server-console"
---

# pioneers-server-console(6)

command-line game server for Pioneers

## NAME

pioneers-server-console - command-line game server for Pioneers

## SYNOPSIS

**pioneers-server-console** \[ OPTIONS \]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **pioneers-server-console** command.

**Pioneers** is an implementation of the popular, award-winning "Settlers of Catan" board game for the GNOME desktop environment.  It uses a client/server model for networked play of between two and eight players.  This program provides a console-only server that **pioneers** clients can connect to.

## OPTIONS

### Application options

**-g,--game-title** *game title* Load the ruleset specified by *game title*. The title can be found in the \*.game files. You need quotes for titles with spaces.

- **--file***filename*

  Load the ruleset in the file *filename*.

- **-p,--port** *port*

  Use port *port* for player connections.

- **-P,--players** *num*

  Start a game for *num* total players (including computer players).

- **-v,--points** *points*

  Specify the number of "victory points" required to win the game.

- **-R,--seven-rule***\[0\|1\|2\]*

  "Sevens rule": Specify gameplay behavior when a player rolls a seven.  A value of *0* (the default) means that rolling a seven always moves the robber.  A value of *1* requires the player to re-roll if a seven is rolled on the first two turns.  A value of *2* means the player always re-rolls.

- **-T,--terrain***\[0\|1\]*

  Choose a terrain type: *0* for the default, or *1* for random terrain.

- **-c,--computer-players** *num*

  Start up *num* computer players.

- **--version**

  Show version information.

### Metaserver options

- **-r,--register**

  Register with a metaserver.  The metaserver to use can be overridden with the **-m** option. Default metaserver: pioneers.debian.net

- **-m,--metaserver** *metaserver*

  Register this server with the metaserver at the specified address.

- **-n, --hostname** *hostname*

  Use this hostname instead of the hostname reported by  **[hostname(1)](/hostname/1.md)**.

### Miscellaneous options

**-x,--auto-quit** Automatically exit after a player has won.

- **-k,--empty-timeout** *secs*

  Automatically stop the server if no one has connected after *secs* seconds.

- **-t,--tournament** *mins*

  Tournament mode: add AI players after *mins* minutes.

- **-a,--admin-port** *port*

  Listen for administrative commands on port *port*.

- **-s,--admin-wait**

  Don't start the game immediately; wait for a command on the admin port (**-a**) instead.

- **--fixed-seating-order**

  Give players numbers according to the order they enter the game.

- **--debug**

  Enable debug messages.

## ENVIRONMENT

The default settings of the server can be influenced with the following three environment variables:

- **PIONEERS\_METASERVER**

  The hostname of the metaserver when no metaserver is specified on the command-line.

- **PIONEERS\_SERVER\_NAME**

  The hostname of the server. If it is not set, the hostname is determined by  **[hostname(1)](/hostname/1.md)**.

- **PIONEERS\_DIR**

  The path to the game definition files. If it is not set, the default installation path will be used.

## FILES

**/usr/share/games/pioneers/\*.game** and **$XDG\_DATA\_HOME/pioneers/\*.game**

Game definitions

**/usr/share/games/pioneers/computer\_names**

A list of names the computer player can use

## AUTHOR

This manual page was written by Steve Langasek \<vorlon@debian.org\>,  and updated by Roland Clobus \<rclobus@rclobus.nl\>. Pioneers was written by Dave Cole \<dave@dccs.com.au\>, Andy Heroff \<aheroff@mediaone.net\>, and Roman Hodek \<roman@hodek.net\>, with contributions from many other developers on the Internet; see the AUTHORS file in the pioneers distribution for a complete list of contributing authors.

## SEE ALSO

**[pioneers(6)](/pioneers/6.md)**, **[pioneers-server-gtk(6)](/pioneers-server-gtk/6.md)**, **[pioneersai(6)](/pioneersai/6.md)**, **[hostname(1)](/hostname/1.md)**