runescape-dragonwilds: self-hosted setup guide for Xbox players

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

runescape-dragonwilds/README.md

@@ -2,34 +2,79 @@
 
 ## Overview
 
-Dedicated server for RuneScape: DragonWilds, run via SteamCMD. Server files are downloaded/updated on start and saves persist to a host volume.
+Dedicated server for RuneScape: DragonWilds. Runs on a Linux Docker host and accepts players from PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 (crossplay, game 1.0+). Server files are downloaded/updated on start and saves persist to a host volume.
 
 ## Project Details
 
 -   **Project Repository:** [indifferentbroccoli/runescape-dragonwilds-server-docker](https://github.com/indifferentbroccoli/runescape-dragonwilds-server-docker)
 -   **Container Image:** [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com/r/indifferentbroccoli/runescape-dragonwilds-server-docker)
 -   **Compose Example:** [Compose](https://github.com/indifferentbroccoli/runescape-dragonwilds-server-docker#docker-compose)
+-   **Documentation:** [Dedicated Servers - A How-To Guide](https://dragonwilds.runescape.com/news/how-to-dedicated-servers)
 -   **Reverse Proxy Port:** none — game traffic is UDP `7777` (game) and `8888` (beacon), not proxied through NPM
 
 ## Getting Started
 
-1. Copy `sample.env` to `.env` and set `RSDW_OWNER_ID` (your Player ID, found in the game's Settings) and `RSDW_ADMIN_PASSWORD`
-2. Forward UDP `7777` and `8888` on your router/firewall to the Docker host
-3. Start the container: `docker compose up -d`
-4. Watch the first start (it downloads the server files): `docker compose logs -f`
-5. In game, find the server by `RSDW_SERVER_NAME` and use `RSDW_ADMIN_PASSWORD` for Server Management
+Consoles can't run the server, so you need a separate always-on machine (home server, VPS). These steps assume a Linux x86_64 (amd64) host — the image has no ARM build — with at least 8 GB RAM, and that you only own the Xbox version of the game.
+
+### 1. Get your Player ID (on the Xbox)
+
+1. On the Xbox, open RuneScape: DragonWilds → **Settings** and scroll to the bottom
+2. Note the **Player ID** — 32 letters and numbers. There's no clipboard from Xbox to the server, so copy it out carefully (a photo of the screen helps). One wrong character and the server won't recognise you as owner.
+
+### 2. Install Docker on the server
+
+```bash
+curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh
+sudo usermod -aG docker $USER   # log out and back in afterwards
+docker network create proxy     # once per host, required by every stack in this repo
+```
+
+### 3. Open the ports
+
+Players connect straight to the server over UDP, so both ports have to be reachable from the internet.
+
+Host firewall (if `ufw` is active):
+
+```bash
+sudo ufw allow 7777/udp
+sudo ufw allow 8888/udp
+```
+
+Router: forward UDP `7777` and UDP `8888` to the server's LAN IP (give the server a static IP / DHCP reservation first). On a VPS, open the same two UDP ports in the provider's firewall / security group instead.
+
+If you are behind CGNAT (your router's WAN IP is not your public IP — check with `curl -4 ifconfig.me`), port forwarding won't work; use a VPS or ask your ISP for a public IP.
+
+### 4. Configure and start
+
+```bash
+git clone <this-repo> && cd <this-repo>/runescape-dragonwilds
+cp sample.env .env
+nano .env   # set RSDW_OWNER_ID, RSDW_ADMIN_PASSWORD, RSDW_WORLD_NAME
+docker compose up -d
+docker compose logs -f   # first start downloads several GB of server files
+```
+
+`.env` must have `RSDW_OWNER_ID` set or the container exits with `OWNER_ID is not set`.
+
+### 5. Join from the Xbox
+
+1. Xbox **Settings → Account → Privacy & online safety**: allow playing with people outside Xbox (crossplay is blocked at the console level otherwise). An Xbox Game Pass Core/Ultimate subscription is needed for online play.
+2. In game: **Play → Worlds → Public** tab, search for the exact `RSDW_WORLD_NAME` (case sensitive), wait a few seconds, then join.
+3. Enter `RSDW_WORLD_PASSWORD` if you set one. Use `RSDW_ADMIN_PASSWORD` under **Server Management** to change world settings.
+
+If the world shows up in search but you can't join, the ports aren't reachable — recheck step 3.
 
 ## Environment Variable Notes
 
-    RSDW_OWNER_ID – REQUIRED. Your RuneScape: DragonWilds Player ID (in-game Settings)
+    RSDW_OWNER_ID – REQUIRED. Your Player ID (bottom of the in-game Settings menu, see Getting Started)
     RSDW_ADMIN_PASSWORD – REQUIRED. Server Management password, default: ChangeThisPassword
     RSDW_WORLD_PASSWORD – optional join password; empty = public
     RSDW_SERVER_NAME – server display name, default: DragonWildsServer
-    RSDW_WORLD_NAME – world created on first start, default: MyWorld
+    RSDW_WORLD_NAME – world created on first start; this is what players search for, default: MyWorld
     RSDW_MAX_PLAYERS – default: 6
     RSDW_PORT – game UDP port, default: 7777 (also sets DEFAULT_PORT in the container)
     RSDW_BEACON_PORT – world settings beacon UDP port, default: 8888 (also sets BEACON_PORT)
-    RSDW_UPDATE_ON_START – set false to skip SteamCMD download/validation on start
+    RSDW_UPDATE_ON_START – set false to skip the server download/validation on start
     RSDW_PUID / RSDW_PGID – owner of the server files, default: 1000
 
 ## Volume Notes
@@ -64,6 +109,7 @@ See compose.yaml for the full set of environment variables.
 - Host and container ports **must match** — mismatched ports cause join failures. The compose file uses the same var for both sides; don't remap one without the other.
 - The beacon port (8888) is required for creating/editing worlds.
 - The server won't show up without working port forwarding and a valid `OWNER_ID`/`ADMIN_PASSWORD`.
+- Joining players never need the Owner ID — only the host does.
 - RAM: about 2 GB + 1 GB per player (8 GB for a full 6-player server).
 - `stop_grace_period: 30s` gives the server time to save on shutdown.
 - Crossplay (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2) is supported since 1.0. The image doesn't set `PlatformPolicy` in `DedicatedServer.ini`, so the game default (`Crossplay`) applies. It rewrites that file on every start, so a manual `PlatformPolicy=` edit to lock the server to one platform won't survive a restart.