This page bundles together many of the questions I keep seeing in support, plus the usual debugging steps I take. I’ll keep it concise but practical.
Right now this wiki is focused on Ark: Survival Ascended (ASA). There is ASE plugin, which is mostly similar so you can still follow this guide.
No. The entire system is built around a shared SQL database. The plugin reads and writes chat there; the bot also uses it for linkage and status.
You don’t need to write SQL queries yourself, but you do need a running MySQL or MariaDB instance and correct credentials in the config.
Yes. It’s very common to share the same DB between:
Each plugin creates its own tables inside the DB. Just make sure the DB user has sufficient privileges.
For Crosschat itself, modern MariaDB versions generally work fine. However, other ASA plugins may still rely on older MySQL client libraries, so to keep everything compatible I recommend:
If you see driver errors or SSL negotiation problems, try:
Free plugin:
Trial / premium:
/trial asa to request a trial license./licenses in DM to see your account key and license information.Commands and exact names can change over time, so always check the latest instructions in the Discord server or on the store.
In short:
CrosschatAscended plugin folder (DLL + config) into the API Plugins directory.MySQL settings in the config to point at your DB.CrosschatAscended logs.Full details are in Setup (Free Plugin).
If you only care about cross-map in-game chat, free is fine. For Discord integration, you need the bot; for full customization and UX, add premium as well.
That line means the plugin didn’t manage to authorize your premium license. Common reasons:
AccountKey missing or mistyped in CrosschatAscended.json.How to debug:
/licenses in DM with the licensing bot to confirm the license is active.This depends on the license type. Typical patterns:
Exact limits change over time, so always check the store description. If your cluster spans multiple physical machines and you’re not sure how to license it correctly, DM me with details (number of machines, number of maps, etc.).
If you accidentally started while on a VPN or otherwise changed your IP significantly, the license backend may bind to that IP.
To fix that, you can use /resethwid command in the PSoftware bot.
High-level steps:
bot and applications.commands and permissions like Send Messages, Read Message History, Manage Roles (for role sync).config.json under BotToken.Successfully authenticated bot, starting now....Details and examples are in Setup (Paid Bot).
This is a Discord error indicating the bot lacks permissions to perform an action.
Checklist:
Manage Roles permission.Once fixed, restart the bot or retry the action.
Sometimes Discord can be picky about shard sessions and clusters. If you see logs complaining about not being able to start enough sessions or cluster startup being aborted:
BotToken in config.json.This often fixes weird session limit issues.
Common culprits:
PermissionsMySQL not pointing at the correct DB or table name (TableName should usually be players).Manage Roles permission.VIP, VIP+), which in some versions can cause the bot to try to remove the wrong role because it matches based on substring.Recommended fixes:
PermissionsMySQL block match exactly.Use Discord channel permissions:
Crosschat doesn’t enforce this; it’s purely a Discord configuration.
This means the plugin or bot tried to use RCON features but couldn’t detect a working RCON setup.
Make sure:
-RCONEnabled and a valid -RCONPort.-RconIp, -ServerIP, or -MULTIHOME appropriately.Rcon block has the correct IP, port and password.If the bot is on the same machine, using the local IP (for example 192.168.x.x) is often more reliable than the public IP.
Look for lines like:
Failed to connect to RCON server: <ip>:<port>. Response: Connection failed.
If you see this, double-check:
Remember that IP detection order is roughly: -RconIp → -ServerIP → -MULTIHOME → public IP. If you want to enforce a specific IP, set -RconIp explicitly.
Crashes can happen if:
"..." for MapIcons without actual icon handling in that version).PermissionsFormatting are missing or inconsistent.Steps to debug:
CrosschatAscended.dll.MapIcons entries you don’t actually use.Default formatting group with sane settings."..." for icons; prefer empty strings "" or removing the field.I try to patch crash-causing edge cases quickly, but they sometimes slip through when configs are modified heavily.
Check the basics:
MySQL block.If some maps write and others don’t, compare their configs carefully; it’s almost always a config mismatch or firewall issue.
For ASA, I haven’t seen reported performance issues in normal use. It mainly:
FetchChatInterval.If your DB is on a very slow machine or over a congested network, excessively low intervals (for example 0.1) might add unnecessary load. For most clusters, 0.25–1.0 seconds works well.
If your question wasn’t covered here, check the dedicated Setup pages or open a support thread with logs and configs. The more details you include, the faster we can track down what’s wrong.
Last updated: 2025-11-25 13:50:13