LuckPerms – Part 1: What is a Permissions Plugin and Why Use It?

What is a “Permissions” Plugin in Minecraft?

Permissions plugins give a Minecraft server owner far greater control over which commands and abilities players can access while playing, without compromising server security or leaving it vulnerable to malicious actions like griefing.

Think of these plugins as traffic police for your server—stopping some actions while allowing others to proceed.

How Permissions Plugins Work

Groups and Permissions:You can create groups (like “Novice,” “Moderator,” or “Admin”) and assign specific commands or abilities to each group. Players assigned to a group automatically inherit its permissions. You can also assign permissions directly to individual players if needed.

Enhanced Functionality

• Permissions plugins often include additional features that enhance the player experience, such as restricting access to certain areas or disabling overpowered items.

Replacing or Improving OPs

• Minecraft’s built-in system, Operators (Ops), provides four levels of authority but is limited and “all-or-nothing.” Many permissions plugins (like Luckperms) replace or enhance this system, offering much finer control. Some plugins, like EssentialsX, include their own permissions systems, but these are often limited and can disable themselves when a more advanced permissions plugin is detected.

Integration with Other Plugins

• A properly configured permissions plugin works hand-in-hand with other plugins. It controls which commands and features players can use, can disable overpowered or disruptive functions, and ensures players don’t interfere with protected areas of the server. A well-set-up permissions plugin often serves as the backbone for an entire plugin ecosystem on a server.

Why Use Luckperms?

Luckperms is one of the most widely used permissions plugins. Other plugins may exist, but many are no longer actively developed or supported, lacking new features, bug fixes, or updates. Some haven’t been updated in years, and developers often recommend switching to actively maintained plugins like Luckperms.

Why Not Just Use the Built-in OP System?

The default Operator system in Minecraft gives players four authority levels.

• High-level operators have access to all commands at that level, including some that you might not want to allow.

• For example:

  • Level 3 OPs can kick players.

  • Level 4 OPs can shut down the server entirely.

    
    

Granting uncontrolled OP access, especially to strangers on a public server, can enable malicious players to disrupt gameplay. Most server owners reserve Level 4 OP exclusively for trusted, senior players or themselves.

By installing a permissions plugin like Luckperms, you can allow specific commands normally restricted to OPs while blocking others—something the default system cannot do.

Requirements for Using Permissions Plugins

• You must first have a plugin manager installed on your server.

• Luckperms has versions for Spigot and Sponge:

  • Spigot: For servers that run only plugins, no mods.

  • Sponge: Comes in two versions: one for plugin-only servers, one for Forge + mods.

Note: Depending on the plugin manager, your server may need more RAM to handle additional processes, which could increase operating costs.

Immediate Effects of Installing Luckperms

Once installed, a permissions plugin immediately locks down all commands and abilities on your server. Any command request defaults to “NO!” until it is explicitly allowed. Only when a player, group, or command is verified in the plugin’s list will it respond with “YES!”

• Until you create the necessary configuration, all commands and abilities will be inaccessible—even to the server owner.

• If the configuration file or database is deleted later, all access will revert to blocked.

  
  

Planning Groups and Commands

Before installing a permissions plugin like Luckperms, you should decide:

• Which commands should players be able to use?

• Which commands should be restricted?

• Which areas are off-limits?

• Which items should be disabled or forbidden?

• Who has access to server maintenance commands?

• Who has unrestricted access to everything?

Finally, make a list of your players and decide which groups they will belong to when configuring the plugin.

This structured approach ensures a secure, fair, and highly customizable Minecraft server experience.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has been helpful! 🚀 Remember, don’t hesitate to ask questions on the HolyHosting Discord or contact our support team.

Follow us on Twitter @HolyHosting to stay up to date.

Stuffy @ HolyHosting