Why your WARDOGS server won't start (minimum players explained)

A WARDOGS round only starts when the number of connected players reaches the server's MinimumRequiredPlayers, which the owner sets and which cannot be lower than 20. Below it, everyone waits in the lobby, and random players skip empty servers. A coordinated seed call with real players bridges that gap until the round starts.

Every WARDOGS server has a minimum player count, MinimumRequiredPlayers. Only when that many players are connected does the round begin. The owner sets the value; WARDOGS does not allow anything below 20. Until then everyone waits in the lobby.

So a 100-slot server with a threshold of 20 needs 20 players waiting at the same time. Without coordination, that rarely happens.

In the server browser most players pick a server where people are already playing. Whoever joins an empty server only sees the lobby and leaves after a few minutes. So a server stays at 0 of 100 even when enough players are online in the evening. Seeding solves this by bringing many players at the same time and keeping them there.

1. Check MinimumRequiredPlayers in your hoster panel. Higher than needed means a longer wait; enter the same value on seedmyserver.
2. Make sure the server shows up in the Community tab with «Show Empty», and share the server ID. IDs stay the same across restarts.
3. Add the server on seedmyserver and connect it through Warcon with a read-only API key.
4. Start a seed call just before your busiest hours and ask your own members to seed along.

A seed call reaches players from other communities through the Seed calls page, browser push and #seed-calls on Discord. Presence is checked through Warcon or RCON, and seeders earn points and, if you want, queue priority on your server. All free, without bots. Get more players

What is MinimumRequiredPlayers?

The server setting that decides how many players must be connected before a round begins. The owner sets it; WARDOGS does not accept less than 20. Below it, everyone waits in the lobby.

Can I set the threshold below 20?

No, 20 is the lowest value. You can set a higher threshold, but then an empty server takes longer to start. Enter the same number on seedmyserver as on the server.

Does seedmyserver fill the gap with bots?

No. Only real players join, with their own Steam accounts. seedmyserver coordinates who seeds where and when, and checks presence through Warcon or the RCON API.

How long does it take until the round starts?

It depends on the time of day and the community. Every server has a statistics page on seedmyserver with its success rate, median time to start and busiest hours — start your seed call just before those hours.

Next step: add your server

Sign in with Steam, create a community, connect the server through Warcon. Then start your first seed call.