CharacterVault

CharacterVault keeps your Valheim character on the server. When you join, the server loads its trusted copy, preventing items from being imported or duplicated with another save or a restored backup.

Features

• The server loads its latest trusted copy before your character enters the world; local saves still work normally.
• A status below the minimap shows when the character is saving and confirms when the save is complete.
• The server keeps up to 15 automatic backups per character.
• CharacterVault requires a new character when joining a server for the first time.
• CharacterVault supports crossplay servers.
• The server records when each platform account and character was first connected and last seen online.
• Last-seen timestamps are updated when a character is admitted and before each world save, entirely on the server.

When characters are saved

Characters are saved:

• after their first enrollment;
• during automatic and manual saves;
• when the player logs out, quits, or is disconnected by the server;
• before a graceful server stop or restart (when configured on the server).

Characters are not saved after a client crash or network loss because the connection is already unavailable. Guests are not saved (see ModSentry).

Installation

Server configuration

Add these optional switches to the dedicated-server command line:

Example:

--charactervault-allow-multiple-characters false
--charactervault-starting-items Hammer:1,PickaxeAntler:1

Graceful server stop and restart support is optional on dedicated servers and requires integration with the service that stops Valheim. See the graceful server stop and restart guide.

Contact

Report bugs through GitHub Issues. For questions and feedback, use GitHub Discussions.

Changelog

1.0.29

• Migration to Valheim 1.0.x.

1.0.26

• Fixed intermittent PlayFab invalid handle connection failures.

1.0.24

• Updated documentation

1.0.23

• Optionally use a CharacterVault-verified character across multiple worlds.

1.0.22

• Updated README.

1.0.21

• Remember when each character was last online.

1.0.20

• Show existing character names when selecting an unregistered character or attempting to create an additional one.

1.0.19

• Stop showing an acknowledged character rejection again after returning to the menu.

1.0.18

• Minor fix

1.0.17

• Kick rejected pre-spawn clients and preserve the custom rejection message without forcing a local logout.

1.0.16

• Log local save failures after a rejection and continue to the menu without retrying the save.

1.0.15

• Allow vanilla kicks for guest players.

1.0.14

• Add Xbox support alongside Steam.

1.0.13

• Let temporary ModSentry guests enter their server-controlled destination without character validation or persistence.

1.0.12

• Move character admission settings under dedicated-server authority.

1.0.11

• Add unit tests.
• Limit retained character backups and log every retention deletion.

1.0.10

• Bug fix

1.0.9

• Display the server's admission rejection reason and return rejected players to the main menu instead of leaving them on a black screen.

1.0.8

• Updated documentation

1.0.7

• Resolve the local save source by name across stable and public test enum layouts.
• Document Valheim version compatibility
• Support Valheim save API variants
• Fix CharacterVault save API compatibility
• Fix Valheim public test compatibility

1.0.6

• Update thunderstore readme

1.0.5

• Enforce CharacterVault rejection before Valheim can admit or spawn the peer.
• Require an unregistered character to have been created during the current game session.

1.0.4

• Replace ServerCharacters with an independently implemented authoritative server vault.
• Admit new characters only after ModSentry validation and the first durable profile commit.
• Save connected characters whenever Valheim starts a world save.
• Add server-authoritative starting items and command-line configuration overrides.
• Preserve the existing graceful dedicated-server shutdown trigger.

1.0.3

• Log when the mod is unloaded.

1.0.2

• Rebuild the package as an immutable artifact shared by test and production.

1.0.1

• Update the package icon.

1.0.0

• Initial version.