Choose the mode when creating a character
Online characters use server-managed important character data and have access to online features such as leaderboards. Singleplayer is the offline character mode. The launch-day hotfix made Online the default for new character creation, so check the selected mode before starting a hero.
If you plan to use an online character, check both your game version and the Steam account’s license first. Since patch 1.0.0h, access depends on owning the game on that account.
| Your license | Online Mode | Singleplayer |
|---|---|---|
| Your account owns Deskrawl | Available, subject to a working connection | Available |
| Steam Family Sharing | Unavailable under the 1.0.0h rule | Available |
| Free Weekend or PC café license | Unavailable under the 1.0.0h rule | Available |
When Online Mode will not connect
The September 28 hotfix addressed Steam connection failures with very old Steam clients and added more detailed connection errors. The developer still recommends updating Steam. A license restriction and a connection error have different next steps.
- Update Deskrawl and your Steam client, then launch from the account with the game license.
- For a shared, Free Weekend or PC café copy, choose Singleplayer. Repeating the connection attempt does not change the license requirement.
- For a connection failure on an owned copy, note the exact error, game version and character mode when reporting it through the developer’s support channels.
An offline character and offline rewards are different choices
Character mode describes the hero’s save and online features. Offline rewards describe the XP and gold earned while the application is closed after unlocking the Expedition Camp. An Online character can still use the expedition system; keeping the game open is not a requirement for choosing Online Mode.
Unlock the Expedition Camp before relying on rewards while away. The current reference lists a base cap of eight hours, extendable to sixteen through camp upgrades. Collect rewards when you return to town; equipment, materials and keys require active farming.
Plan your Expedition Camp routine ↗Returning from the demo
The original 0.1.13 announcement converted existing characters to offline characters when Online Mode was introduced. That announcement also added the choice of an online character at creation. Check the mode shown for your hero before expecting online features.
Keep a familiar character for the progress you have already made. When creating another hero, make the mode choice deliberately and check the license requirement before planning an online progression route.
Set up a new character’s first hour ↗