Arma Reforger Scenarios: Choose the Right Mode

The right Arma Reforger scenario depends on what your group wants to do together: fight over territory, run a commander-led conflict, complete co-op objectives, create a live event, or play a shorter objective match. Start with an official scenario on the main stable version, then add Workshop content only after checking the exact item against every player’s platform and build.

If you would rather choose scenarios and manage restarts through a panel, Game Hosting’s Arma Reforger service documents an official and Workshop scenario picker, rotation at restart, progress-save settings and backup controls. For self-hosting, the sections below help you choose the session first and change its configuration only after you have a recoverable copy.

Choose by the kind of session your group wants#

Think about the activity before comparing map names. Does the community want a persistent contest where players move the frontline? Does one person want to direct an event? Or is the group looking for a short co-op operation with a clear objective? Those answers usually narrow the choice faster than a long list of scenario IDs.

Arma Reforger’s main official multiplayer families cover those different rhythms. Conflict is the broad territory-control experience. HQ Commander adds command roles to a Conflict-style fight. Game Master lets a host assemble and direct a session in real time. Combat Ops focuses on cooperative objectives against AI. Capture & Hold centers play on taking and holding objectives.

These are modes, not a promise that every map has every mode or that every Workshop version is available on each platform. The list of scenarios installed on a particular server can change as the game and its content change. Bohemia’s official game-mode overview explains the core mode differences; use your current server’s scenario list when you are ready to select an exact entry.

Pick Conflict for an open-ended territory contest#

Conflict is a good fit when the community wants a sustained battle around locations, supply and territory rather than a single short round. Players can join different sides and contribute to a changing frontline. This creates a recognizable objective for public communities, but it also means that the pace and balance depend on how many people are active and how the server is configured.

Choose it when your group enjoys returning to a world that keeps developing during a session. Before settling on a particular Conflict scenario, confirm its map and installed path in the current server list. Avoid copying a path from an old forum post: scenario names and availability can vary by game update and installed content.

If your group wants more explicit leadership, look at HQ Commander. It keeps the larger conflict setting but gives the session a command structure. That can suit organized groups that want people to coordinate objectives and logistics. It may feel like extra overhead for a casual group that just wants to join and play, so agree on who will take those roles before making it the community’s default.

Bohemia’s HQ Commander overview describes its commander-focused play. Treat any player count shown in a server setting as a configurable limit, not proof that a machine or a particular scenario will perform well at that number.

Choose Game Master, Combat Ops, or Capture & Hold for a focused session#

Game Master fits an organizer who wants to build an event while players are in it. The host can shape encounters and objectives instead of relying on one fixed sequence. It is useful for role-play, training, or a one-night operation when someone is willing to direct the session. The tradeoff is that the experience depends heavily on the Game Master’s preparation and decisions.

Combat Ops is a clearer starting point for a small group that wants cooperative objectives. It is built around a team working against AI rather than competing for territory against another organized human side. If your friends want to squad up, move through objectives and finish a contained operation, try an official Combat Ops scenario before assembling a large Workshop collection.

If the group has not chosen where to play yet, compare every way to play Arma Reforger with friends first, then pick a scenario that fits the route and the time you have.

Capture & Hold is better when you want a direct contest around objectives and less emphasis on a long-running frontline. It gives players an immediate shared goal, which can work for a shorter community event or a server that needs a simpler loop between restarts. Check the current scenario entry for the exact map and rules instead of assuming one mode’s layout applies to every version.

You can read the official descriptions in Bohemia’s Game Master, Combat Ops and Capture & Hold setup reference. These describe how the modes work; they are not a live inventory of what your server has installed.

Match the map and scenario list to your server build#

Maps shape sightlines, travel time and the kind of operation a group can sustain. Bohemia’s releases have added mode and map combinations over time, so verify the pair you want in the current version. A guide or configuration copied from an older server can mention content that has since moved, changed or is not installed on your instance.

For a self-hosted dedicated server, Bohemia documents scenarioId as a scenario configuration path. Its Server Config reference and Startup Parameters reference explain how to list available scenarios with -listScenarios; the resulting paths are written to the server log. Use that output from the build you are running instead of guessing an ID from a search result.

In Game Hosting’s panel, choose from the currently available entries shown for the server rather than pasting a path from an unrelated build. The current Arma Reforger service page documents the scenario picker and rotation on restart. A scenario rotation can make sense for a community that wants to alternate maps or activities, but confirm the restart schedule and expected save behavior before enabling it.

Check platform and Workshop compatibility before inviting everyone#

The main game supports crossplay among PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5 when the dedicated server enables cross-platform play. Everyone still needs a compatible game version. As of October 7, 2026, Bohemia lists 1.8.0.13 as the stable release; 1.9.0.10 is an Experimental update for the separate Steam and Xbox Experimental apps. Experimental is not a drop-in update for a stable server, and Bohemia does not list a PS5 Experimental app. Check the stable release notes and Experimental release notes before planning a mixed-platform event.

Reforger content comes through Bohemia Workshop, not Steam Workshop. A Workshop scenario may require one or more mods, and platform support belongs to each item. Before choosing one for a mixed PC and console group, check its current Workshop listing, required dependencies, supported platforms and game version. Bohemia has announced 25 GB of persistent Workshop storage on PS5 and 50 GB on Xbox; a mod list that fits PC may still exceed a console player’s available space (PS5 mod support, Xbox storage increase).

For the lowest-friction crossplay session, use a current official scenario without extra mods. Add Workshop content one item at a time, and confirm that each console player can download it before scheduling the event. A server’s ability to load a mod does not prove that every client can use it.

Change a scenario only after confirming your recovery copy#

Treat a scenario switch as a change to a live world. Before editing config.json or choosing a new entry in a control panel, confirm that you have a separate copy of the current configuration and the profile or save data, and know where that copy can be restored from. A backup indicator is useful only if the backup exists and is recoverable. Do not wipe the profile just to make an unfamiliar scenario start.

For self-hosting, record the current scenarioId, make the separate copies, and check the candidate path against -listScenarios. Change only the intended setting, verify the JSON syntax, then restart during a window when players know the server may be unavailable. JSON parsing only catches formatting problems; it does not prove that the scenario loads or that an existing save is compatible.

After restart, inspect the server log and connect to confirm the expected world actually loaded. If it fails, restore the previous configuration and the matching profile/save copy before trying another scenario. Do not assume that replacing only the config file restores the world state. Our Arma Reforger server persistence guide explains what the built-in save settings document and how to check a recovery copy.

Keep version changes in mind too: a Bohemia update can change whether an older save loads. The Partisan Update notes warned that saves from the previous version would not carry over. Read the current release notes before updating and retain a matching recovery copy; a backup is a rollback point, not a conversion tool.

For managed hosting, Game Hosting documents periodic progress saves, copies before major changes and three backup slots with one-click restore on its Arma Reforger page. Its panel also lists official and Workshop scenarios and can rotate them on restart. Those controls can reduce routine administration; keep a separate recovery plan for changes that could affect a community’s saved world, and verify the available backup before applying one.

Pick one scenario, then review how the group responds#

Start with one official mode that matches the group’s play style. Ask players whether the session felt too slow, too structured or too dependent on one organizer. Then adjust the mode or map at a planned restart, preserving the previous configuration and save first. This gives the community a clear comparison and makes it easier to roll back if the new choice does not suit the group.

Use Workshop scenarios when the official modes no longer fit what players want, but treat the item’s author page and compatibility notes as part of the choice. If the scenario needs several mods, confirm the full set on each target platform before promoting it. The goal is to choose a session your actual group can join and recover cleanly, not just an interesting name from a long list.

For exact setup steps, see our Arma Reforger server hosting comparison, dedicated server guide and config.json field guide. Use the official documentation and current installed scenario list when changing a running server.

Quick answers

What scenarios can I run on an Arma Reforger server?

You can load official modes such as Conflict, HQ Commander, Game Master, Combat Ops and Capture & Hold, plus compatible Workshop scenarios. The exact installed scenario paths depend on the game build, map and downloaded content; use -listScenarios or the current panel list instead of copying an old ID.

Which Arma Reforger scenario is best for a small group?

Combat Ops is the clearest official co-op starting point, while Game Master works when one person wants to shape a session live. The right fit still depends on your group’s preferred pace and how much setup the organizer wants.

Can PC, Xbox and PS5 use the same Arma Reforger scenario?

The main game supports cross-platform play across PC, Xbox and PS5 when the server allows it. Keep everyone on the same stable branch and check each Workshop item on every target platform; Experimental is a separate branch and is not listed for PS5.

Can a Workshop scenario run on a dedicated server?

Yes, when the server has the scenario and its required mods installed and the clients can use them. Reforger uses Bohemia Workshop, and compatibility depends on the individual item, platform and game version.