Start with the gamemode core

An SMP does not have a single required gamemode core. Start with stable server software, permissions, moderation and backups; claims, shops and RPG progression are optional based on the community rules.

Core administration

LuckPerms controls roles, EssentialsX supplies common commands and CoreProtect supports incident investigation. They serve different purposes. Staff++ and InventoryRollbackPlus add administration/recovery workflows, but do not replace a full server backup.

Land and containers

GriefPrevention and Lands are alternative land-claim models to evaluate. Decide whether towns, subdivisions and admin overrides are needed, then test block placement, containers, TNT and trust permissions with two players.

Choose an economy

Choose one balance provider before installing shops. QuickShop-Hikari, ChestShop and PlayerAuctions offer different player trading workflows; compare them rather than installing overlapping shops without a clear purpose. Test refunds and economy transactions after a restart.

Optional progression

AuraSkills, mcMMO, Jobs Reborn and LevelledMobs can change survival difficulty or progression. Choose what your players want; avoid mixing multiple similar leveling systems until reward stacking is tested.

Quality of life

BetterRTP, TAB, VotingPlugin and PlayerWarps extend convenience but should not be treated as critical dependencies. Verify the vote listener/backend combination if offering vote rewards, and restrict teleport bypass permissions.

How to choose the stack

Minimum viable SMP: server backups, permissions, protection and basic moderation. Add one claim system; then decide whether economy or RPG mechanics help your specific community. Test new-player onboarding and restore procedure.

  1. Download each selected plugin from its official publisher and verify the exact server/version requirements.
  2. Start a disposable staging world; inspect startup logs and dependency warnings before inviting players.
  3. Test the main gameplay loop as a non-operator, including failure and restart cases.
  4. Back up plugin data and world files, document ownership of each feature, then expand the stack one component at a time.
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