How to Connect to and Play on Metalforge Server

Updated

To play on Metalforge, download a current Crossfire client, point it at the server host crossfire.metalforge.net, and create a character. The important catch: Metalforge runs an older release of the Crossfire game code. Current clients are compatible, but not every client feature is supported on this server. If you want the full feature set, you may prefer a server running a newer release; if you want a long-established public server with plenty of maps and players, Metalforge works fine.

What Metalforge Is

Metalforge is a public gaming server for Crossfire, an open source, cooperative multiplayer graphical RPG and adventure game set in a medieval fantasy world. The game ships with over 150 monsters, about 3,000 maps, an elaborate magic system, 13 races, 15 character classes, a skill system, and many artifacts and treasures. Crossfire is distributed freely under the GNU license.

Before You Start

  • A Crossfire client. Get one from the Clients page linked on the Metalforge site. Current clients connect to this server.
  • A character concept. Crossfire uses races, classes, and skills, so decide roughly what you want to play before creating a character.
  • Time to read. The site links a New Players FAQ, a Crossfire Handbook, and a Survival Guide. These are the fastest way to avoid dying in the first ten minutes.

Step-by-Step: Connect and Play

  1. Download a client. Open the Clients page on the Metalforge site and download the current Crossfire client for your platform.
  2. Install and launch it. Start the client and open its server connection settings.
  3. Enter the server address. Use crossfire.metalforge.net as the host. This is the Metalforge game server itself.
  4. Create a character. Choose a race and class, then allocate skills as the client prompts you.
  5. Log in and start exploring. You begin in the game world; use the New Players FAQ and Survival Guide when you get stuck.

Expected result: you are connected to Metalforge and moving a character through the starting area. If the connection fails, re-check the hostname for typos and confirm your client is a current Crossfire build.

Common Snags

  • Missing client features. Because the server runs older code, some options in a current client will not work here. That is expected, not a bug in your install.
  • Not sure what to do first. Read the Survival Guide before wandering; Crossfire is unforgiving to unprepared characters.
  • Want to find other servers. The site links metaserver listings, so you can compare Metalforge with servers running newer releases.

Where to Get Help and More Information

Resource Use it for
New Players FAQ First questions about controls, death, and progression
Crossfire Handbook Game systems: magic, skills, classes
Survival Guide Staying alive early on
IRC / Discord Real-time help from other players
Crossfire Wiki and Map Atlas Maps, items, and reference detail

Official links listed on the site include the Crossfire website (crossfire.real-time.com), the wiki (wiki.cross-fire.org), the Map Atlas (crossfireatlas.net), and the SourceForge project page. Metalforge also has its own Twitter account, and the project maintains Facebook and BlueSky pages.

Is Metalforge the Right Server for You?

Choose Metalforge if you want a public, cooperative Crossfire server with a large map set and an established community, and you are comfortable with an older codebase. Look elsewhere if you need every feature of the newest client, since this server will not support all of them. Either way, the client download and the player guides above apply to any Crossfire server you try.