WELCOME TO THE MEGAPACK
for Multiplayer
This combines "Project Zomboid Maps" collection and many car, gun, armor, and QoL mods for the MEGA EXPERIENCE IN MP
Map collection here (not necessary to subscribe, only for credit where it is due) https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2968702010

Important info: you can choose between Chinatown, KY and Xonics mega mall. also, you can enable "no mo culling" (info on how on that steam page) to remove the deletion of zombies in mp after looking away from them


A visual guide to the install: https://youtu.be/N4FfIQTrNMI
How to install:
1. Subscribe to this collection, allow it to download.

2. Start project zomboid, disable all mods except for Mod Manager and Mod Manager: Server, and ensure MM:server is loaded after MM. Save and go back to the main menu (to allow Mod Manager to load).

3. Go to Mods -> In the bottom middle click server -> it should show a LOT of mods. Then create new server setting option (ie, go to host -> manage settings -> create new, and name it something memorable).

4. In file explorer, go to: %USERPROFILE%\Zomboid\Server and find the files with the memorable name used in (3). You will want to open the .ini file.
SKIP TO BOTTOM IF YOU ARE OK WITH TAKING MY SETTINGS

Note: You MUST disable anticheat type 12!!! (explained below)
Copy and paste the "Mods" and "Map" section from this pastebin [pastebin.com] into your own file:
Copy what is in this pastebin [pastebin.com] to replace your "WorkshopItems":
Now save the .ini, relaunch PZ if you closed it, and go to Mods -> Server -> Select the (memorablename) that is in the right drop down menu. You should notice that a ton of mods were just selected, and the load order was already figured out by me so no need to mess with it.

If you want to just copy a file from me, with all of these modifications, copy it from here [pastebin.com]into the ini. If you want relatively-balanced other sandbox variables copy it from here [pastebin.com] into your SandboxVars file, which is in the same location as the .ini
The rough part is over.

5. Go to Host, set the RAM to as much as you can give it as this collection needs it. If you have 32GB, give it 16, if you have 16, see how much your system is using at idle and give it the rest of the RAM to use. (I'd recommend disabling most auto start apps on your pc, and only having the bare minimum open in the background!)
Edit any zombie / character / etc settings you want to. These can be changed in the sandbox settings, but DO NOT touch any mods in the mod-related sections.
Start up the game and have fun!!





Now if you want to drive even less laggier, read on.
if you trust your friends, disable these. If you copied from my INI & sandbox vars file, this paragraph was already done.
You can drive at the speed limit (150) if you take these measures to reduce lag. To do this:
Start by opening (memorablename).ini and search through it using Ctrl+F. Change all applicable settings to false:
"GlobalChat", "SteamVAC", "PlayerSafehouse", "AdminSafehouse", "DiscordEnable", "VoiceEnable", "Voice3D", "Faction"
"DisableRadio" (change all similar to true)
"ServerWelcomeMessage" (delete everything after =)
"AntiCheatProtectionType" (replace all to false, ignore threshold values. if preferred, you can copy and paste all of those lines from here on pastebin [pastebin.com]
Don't forget to set the SpeedLimit to 150.0.

If you have a PC with a CPU that has "Efficiency" and "Performance" cores (intel 12th gen and newer) and you are on windows 10 (although it may help on windows 11), go to task manager after you open project zomboid, right click zomboid, "go to details", right click ProjectZomboid64.exe, "set affinity", and select only the CPU cores that are Performance cores. For example, my computer has 6 P-Cores w/ threads, 8 E-cores w/ no threads, The E-cores will be the last ones in the list, so I would deselct CPU cores 12,13,14,15,16,17,18, and 19. (threads will count as a core, so 0-11 are P-cores). Keep all P-cores selected, hit ok. You will need to do this EVERY time you launch zomboid, although, it is not difficult.

Lower settings in game. I know, it sucks. But if you play zomboid for the fidelity of the textures you are crazy.
Recommended changes:
Disable steam overlay for zomboid in steam. it is not needed.
Lock framerate - 60 (or something below 100), Disable - V-sync, Enable - ui off-screen rendering,
UI rendering FPS - 20, disable - show survival guide on startup, enable - texture compression,
disable - double-sized textures, max. texture size - 512, max texture vehicle - 1024, simple clothing textures - zombies only,
tiered zombies update - enable, disable - corpse shadows, lighting quality - lowest, lighting updates - 15,
dynamic skybox - no, water - low, dynamic puddles - none, puddles quality - low, disable - environment reflections,
render rain and snow - never, fog - legacy, search mode overlay - no effect

An example of how cleanly you can drive at 150 max speed (note: you will lag around towns at super speed, this is for the long journeys inbetween them):
https://youtu.be/Upl9ejHrTsQ