PC Clarification on Chunk persistence

[roughgalaxy]

I've seen a few questions (in discords) on what Chunk persistence does and doesn't do, also what the timers are for options that aren't "unlimited."

If you turn this setting off unlimited, what exactly happens to chunks that "time out"? Is everything reset (like if you made a little stash base near a trader, does it get wiped) or is the chunk just unloaded and put into storage until you go back to it?

 

[Riamus]

I've seen a few questions (in discords) on what Chunk persistence does and doesn't do, also what the timers are for options that aren't "unlimited."

If you turn this setting off unlimited, what exactly happens to chunks that "time out"? Is everything reset (like if you made a little stash base near a trader, does it get wiped) or is the chunk just unloaded and put into storage until you go back to it?

The chunk gets reset back to the original.  That means any holes dug, building built, crates dropped, etc. will disappear.  And random decorations (trees, grass, rocks), as well as any random parts in POI that are reset will be randomized.

To prevent that, you need to place a bedroll or land claim block in the area.  Bedrolls don't give you a visual of how much is covered, so use at your own risk.  Also, only the most recent bedroll per person counts.  Land claims, by default, allow 3 per person. 

As far as timers go, the chunk will reset after the time period you set... from the last time someone visits the chunk.  So, if you set it to 1 day and visit the chunk after 23 hours, it won't reset until 1 day after that visit rather than an hour later. 

Note that you are actually loading multiple chunks and not just the one you are standing in, so that the may reset if you visit an adjacent chunk of the chunk in question gets loaded.  I'm not positive about that part.

 

[roughgalaxy]

As far as timers go, the chunk will reset after the time period you set... from the last time someone visits the chunk.  So, if you set it to 1 day and visit the chunk after 23 hours, it won't reset until 1 day after that visit rather than an hour later. 

To be sure, the Chunk persistence is a setting only available on world gen, and does not have specific time stated. Only "unlimited/very long/long/medium/short" etc There is no stated amount of time.

 

[Riamus]

To be sure, the Chunk persistence is a setting only available on world gen, and does not have specific time stated. Only "unlimited/very long/long/medium/short" etc There is no stated amount of time.

Yes, but it is still a time period.  You would need to look into the XML to see exactly what that time period is.  I was just giving specific examples to clarify how it works.