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Multiplayer and Mods

By ScotUpdated

Tactical Quick Answer

Barony supports co-op for two to four players through a Steam lobby, LAN, direct IP, or local splitscreen. The Steam lobby is the easiest route because it needs no port forwarding, while direct IP requires forwarding UDP port 57165. Enemy spawns do not scale with party size, so a full team spreads the same dungeon across more hands. Mods install automatically through Steam Workshop subscriptions and activate in the Custom Content menu.

Barony supports co-op for up to four players online, plus local splitscreen for up to four on the same machine. The dungeon does not change in multiplayer: enemy generation rolls the same monsters for one player as for four, so a full team with dedicated roles (tank, healer, DPS, utility) spreads the same danger across more hands while also splitting the same loot and XP. The game also has full Steam Workshop support for mods that range from cosmetic retextures to custom dungeon maps.

Multiplayer Setup​

The easiest way to play with friends. No port forwarding needed.

  1. Launch Barony and click Start Game from the main menu.
  2. Go through character creation (race, class, name).
  3. In the lobby screen, click View Game Settings.
  4. Set the lobby visibility to Public (anyone can join) or Friends Only (Steam friends only).
  5. Your friends can join through the Steam friends list by right-clicking your name and selecting Join Game, or by browsing the in-game lobby browser.
tip

If friends cannot see your lobby in the browser, have them restart their game. The lobby list sometimes takes 30 seconds to refresh after a new lobby is created.

Option 2: Direct IP / LAN​

For players on non-Steam versions or those who prefer a direct connection.

Host setup:

  1. Open Barony and select Host LAN Lobby from the multiplayer menu.
  2. Forward port 57165 on your router for UDP to the machine hosting the game. TCP forwarding is optional.
  3. Share your public IP address with the players who need to connect.

Client setup:

  1. Open Barony and go to the lobby browser.
  2. Select the option to enter a direct IP address.
  3. Type the host's public IP followed by the port:
123.456.7.8:57165
  1. Connect.
warning

If port forwarding is not an option (corporate networks, university dorms, restrictive ISPs), use a VPN service like Hamachi or ZeroTier to create a virtual LAN. Both players need to join the same virtual network, and the "host" shares their VPN IP instead of their public IP.

LAN Play​

If everyone is on the same local network:

  1. Host selects Host LAN Lobby.
  2. Clients open the lobby browser. The host's lobby appears automatically on the LAN tab.
  3. Click the lobby and join. No port forwarding needed.

Multiplayer Rules and Limitations​

RuleDetail
Party size2 to 4 players
Drop-in/drop-outNot supported. All players must be present from the start of the run.
Save compatibilityIf you save a multiplayer run and resume later, all original players must be present with compatible save files. Missing players break the save.
Difficulty scalingNone. Enemy count and HP do not change with party size, so co-op spreads the same dungeon across more players while splitting the same loot and XP.
LootLoot is shared. Items are first-come, first-served. Coordinate with your team to distribute gear effectively.
PermadeathIf one player dies, they stay dead for the rest of the run unless another player has a Resurrect scroll or spell.
info

Starting a fresh game is almost always easier than resuming a save in multiplayer. Save files are fragile and mismatch issues are common. Treat each multiplayer session as a standalone run.

Co-op Strategy​

RoleBest ClassJob
TankWarriorLead the party. Enter rooms first. Absorb damage.
HealerCleric or HealerStay behind the tank. Keep the party alive with Thaumaturgy healing spells.
DPSHunter or NinjaDeal damage from range or backstab priority targets. Let the tank hold aggro.
SupportBard or BrewerBuff the party (Bard instruments) or brew potions (Brewer alembic). Manage resources for the group.

Communication Tips​

  • Call out traps. The player with the highest Perception should scout ahead.
  • Share food. The player with the lowest hunger should eat first.
  • Coordinate loot. The tank gets the best armor, the healer gets mana potions, the DPS gets weapon upgrades. Do not compete for drops.
  • Stick together. A lone player who stumbles into a monster pack fights it with none of the party's support, and that is how runs end on Floor 3.
tip

The Healer class is weak solo but shines in co-op. A dedicated healer who focuses entirely on keeping the tank alive lets the whole party push 5 to 10 floors deeper than a party of four DPS characters.

Steam Workshop​

Barony has built-in Steam Workshop support. Mods install automatically when you subscribe to them.

Installing Workshop Mods​

  1. Open the Barony Steam Workshop page in your browser or through the Steam client.
  2. Browse or search for mods.
  3. Click Subscribe on any mod you want.
  4. Launch Barony. Go to the Custom Content menu.
  5. Your subscribed mods appear in the list. Toggle them on or off.

Types of Mods​

Mod TypeWhat It ChangesExamples
Custom MapsNew dungeon layouts or standalone challenge floorsCommunity dungeons, arena modes
Voxel ModelsReplaces character and item 3D models (.vox files)HD weapon models, character reskins
RetexturesSwaps dungeon and item texturesHigh-res floor textures, themed dungeon packs
Audio/MusicReplaces sound effects or background musicCustom soundtracks, retro sound packs
Gameplay ModsChanges mechanics, items, or balanceNew classes, rebalanced enemies, added items

Manual Mod Installation​

If you are not using the Steam version, or a mod is not on the Workshop:

  1. Download the mod files.
  2. Place them in the mods/ directory inside your Barony installation folder.
  3. Launch the game and activate the mod through the Custom Content menu.
warning

Mods can conflict with each other. If you experience crashes or visual glitches after installing multiple mods, disable them one at a time to find the conflict. Always keep a backup of your save files before testing new mods.

Multiplayer and Mods Together​

Workshop mods work in multiplayer, but all players must have the same mods installed and activated. If the host is running a custom map mod and a client does not have it, the client will either fail to connect or experience desynchronization.

Before starting a modded multiplayer session:

  1. Agree on a mod list with all players.
  2. Have everyone subscribe to the same mods on the Workshop.
  3. Verify that all players have the mods toggled on in the Custom Content menu.
  4. Host creates the lobby.
  5. Test with a quick Floor 1 run to confirm everything syncs.

Frequently Asked Questions​

What port does Barony use for direct IP hosting?

Port 57165. Forward it on your router for UDP to the machine hosting the game. TCP forwarding is optional.

Can players join a Barony co-op run in progress?

No. Drop-in and drop-out are not supported. Every player has to be present from the start of the run, and resuming a saved multiplayer run requires all original players with compatible save files.

Does Barony get harder with more players?

No. Enemy generation does not scale with party size, so four players face the same dungeon one player would. The trade-off is that the same loot, food, and XP now split four ways. Dedicated roles and coordinated looting are what close that gap.

How do I install Barony mods?

Subscribe to mods on the Barony Steam Workshop page, launch the game, open the Custom Content menu, and toggle them on. For non-Steam versions, drop the mod files into the mods directory inside your Barony installation folder and activate them the same way.

Do all players need the same mods in co-op?

Yes. If the host runs a custom map mod and a client does not have it, that client either fails to connect or desynchronizes. Agree on a mod list, have everyone subscribe and toggle the same mods on, then test with a quick Floor 1 run.