How to Customize Day/Night Cycle on a Rust Server (Vanilla)

Introduction

This guide will explain how to customize the day/night cycle on your Rust server without using plugins. Adjusting these settings can improve player experience by creating longer days for PvP or shorter nights to reduce darkness-related frustrations.

Prerequisites

Access to the server console or an RCON tool
Administrative privileges on the server
Basic understanding of command inputs

Method: Customizing Day/Night Cycle

1. Understanding Time Scale

The time scale determines how fast time passes on your server compared to real time:

1.0 = Default speed (one 24-hour cycle takes 60 minutes)
2.0 = Double speed (one 24-hour cycle takes 30 minutes)
0.5 = Half speed (one 24-hour cycle takes 120 minutes)

2. Access the Server Console

Open the Rust server console through a direct console window or an RCON tool
Log in with your credentials if required

3. Configure Day/Night Settings

Adjust Time Scale
Control how quickly time passes using:
```
env.time_scale <multiplier>
```
- Example for Default Speed:
```
env.time_scale 1
```
- Example for Faster Cycles:
```
env.time_scale 2
```
- Example for Slower Cycles:
```
env.time_scale 0.5
```
Set Day Length
Control how many minutes daylight lasts:
```
env.daylength <minutes>
```
- Example for 50-Minute Days:
```
env.daylength 50
```
Set Night Length
Control how many minutes darkness lasts:
```
env.nightlength <minutes>
```
- Example for 10-Minute Nights:
```
env.nightlength 10
```

Common Day/Night Configurations

Balanced (Default-like):

env.daylength 30
env.nightlength 30
env.time_scale 1

PvP-Friendly (Long Days, Short Nights):

env.daylength 45
env.nightlength 15
env.time_scale 1

Extended Day Cycle:

env.daylength 40
env.nightlength 20
env.time_scale 0.75

Set Specific Time
Manually set the current time (0-24):
```
env.time <hour>
```
- Set to Noon:
```
env.time 12
```
- Set to Midnight:
```
env.time 0
```

4. Save Configuration

To ensure settings persist after server restart:

server.writecfg

5. Test the Settings

Join the server
Observe a full day/night cycle
Confirm the timing matches your intended configuration
Check with players for feedback

Best Practices

Balance Considerations
- Keep nights short enough to maintain player engagement
- Ensure days are long enough for meaningful gameplay
- Consider your server's primary activities (PvP, farming, etc.)
Player Experience
- Poll your community for preferred day/night ratios
- Consider different time zones of your player base
- Balance realism with gameplay enjoyment
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't make nights too long as it can discourage players
- Avoid changing time settings too frequently
- Don't set time scale too high as it can be disorienting

Conclusion

Customizing your Rust server's day/night cycle can significantly improve player experience. By following these steps, you can create a cycle that suits your community's needs, whether that's longer days for PvP or shorter nights for easier resource gathering.