Craftoria at a glance
| Type | kitchen-sink modpack with quest progression, by TeamAOE |
|---|---|
| Minecraft version | 1.21.1 |
| Mod loader | NeoForge (not Forge) |
| Java | Java 21 required - Minecraft 1.21.1 won't start on Java 17 |
| Scope | more than 500 mods and over 2,000 quests |
| Focus | automation and tech, magic, exploration, adventure and building |
| Source | CurseForge, with a separate server pack for each version |
| Maintenance | active - new versions come out at short intervals |
| Recommended plan | plan L for two to three players, plan XL for larger groups |
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Craftoria server hosting
Prepaid from €2.99 / month, unlimited slots, no minimum term. The right plan is listed in the RAM table below.
Plans & pricesA kitchen-sink pack with a common thread
Large packs with several hundred mods have a well-known problem: after the first few hours, nobody knows where to go next. Craftoria counters this with a dense quest book of more than 2,000 entries that ties tech, magic and exploration together. Newcomers find their way in through it, and a group can split up without anyone being left without a goal.
For the server, this means one thing above all: the save grows wide quickly. While one player processes ores, the next builds a magic line and a third explores new dimensions. Each of these corners keeps chunks loaded and machines running, and that is where the memory requirement comes from - less from the raw number of mods.
If you know ATM10, you'll feel at home quickly. The two packs aren't copies of each other, but they share the Minecraft version, the loader and the scale. The decision usually comes down to style: ATM10 leaves more freedom on the way to the end goal, Craftoria guides you more closely through its quests.
NeoForge, Java 21 and the server pack
Craftoria runs on NeoForge for Minecraft 1.21.1. NeoForge grew out of Forge but is a separate loader - in the setup you must explicitly choose NeoForge, not Forge. The differences are explained in Forge server.
Minecraft 1.21.1 requires Java 21. With Java 17, the server stops immediately and logs an UnsupportedClassVersionError mentioning class file version 65. This is the most common error with packs of this generation and quick to fix: in the web interface under Startup, set the Docker Image to Java 21 and restart.
For each version, a separate server pack is published on CurseForge. It only contains what the server needs - mods that only affect what the player sees are deliberately left out. The CurseForge installer in the panel gives you this selection automatically. If you upload the pack by hand, use the server pack and not the client files, otherwise graphics mods will break the start.
Updates at short intervals
Craftoria is actively maintained, and new versions often arrive a few weeks apart. That's good for bug fixes, but on a shared server it calls for discipline: the server and all players need exactly the same version. Announce an update in your group instead of installing it quietly - otherwise half your friends will be staring at an error message the next evening.
A backup of the world belongs before every update. New versions can change recipes, quests or entire mods, and going back to the old state is only possible with a backup. How to create and restore one is covered in Create backups. Note down your own changes to the configuration files, because an update can overwrite the config folder.
Which plan for Craftoria?
The thresholds below apply to this pack - a light Vanilla+ pack and a kitchen-sink pack with a hundred running machines behave completely differently. You can upgrade at any time without losing data and only pay the difference.
| Group | Plan | RAM | Price | Why | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-3 players, start | Plan L | 8 GB | €11.99 / month | Enough for the early game - with growing factories and several dimensions it gets tight. | Order L |
| 4-8 players | Plan XL | 16 GB | €21.99 / month | The usual case for Craftoria: 16 GB absorb parallel projects in tech, magic and exploration. | Order XL |
| Late game | Plan XL | 16 GB | €21.99 / month | Large automation chains and permanently loaded areas run all the time. | Order XL |
| Solo to try it out | Plan L | 8 GB | €11.99 / month | For a single person, the 8 GB tier is enough to get to know the pack. | Order L |
The memory is taken proportionally from the plan via -XX:MaxRAMPercentage - you don't need to maintain a fixed -Xmx. The basics are covered in the RAM guide.
Setting up Craftoria on the server
- Stop the server in the web interface. Setup and version changes only apply while the server is stopped.
- In the guided setup, choose NeoForge for Minecraft 1.21.1 and search for Craftoria in the CurseForge installer. Alternatively, upload the server pack from CurseForge via SFTP.
- Under Startup, set Java 21 in the Docker Image field.
- Start the server. The first start takes several minutes because NeoForge registers more than 500 mods - don't cancel it.
- Wait for
Donein the console and connect via IP and port. All players need the same Craftoria version. - Add a daily restart in the restart scheduler - it keeps memory usage in check with large packs.
Common pitfalls with Craftoria
Server stops immediately with UnsupportedClassVersionError
Cause: Java 17 is set. Minecraft 1.21.1, and therefore Craftoria, requires Java 21.
Fix: Under Startup, set the Docker Image to Java 21 and restart. The mapping is in Change Java version.
Server crashes on start with a graphics error
Cause: The client files were uploaded instead of the server pack. They contain mods that can only run on the player's side.
Fix: Use the server pack of the matching version, or use the CurseForge installer, which makes the selection itself.
The server gets sluggish after a few hours
Cause: Memory is maxed out, or many permanently loaded areas and machines are weighing on the tick.
Fix: Schedule a daily restart and switch to plan XL if needed. How to spot memory and tick bottlenecks is shown in Lag and TPS.
Players are rejected after an update
Cause: The server already runs the new version while some players are still on the old one - or the other way round.
Fix: Bring everyone to the same Craftoria version. Other causes in Fix connection errors.