Minecraft Floor Lava Minigame Plugin Setup

Overview

Minigames can keep a Minecraft server fresh, especially when the usual Spleef, Parkour, and Skywars rotation starts feeling predictable. The Floor Is Lava plugin adds a simple but tense survival challenge: players get a short preparation window, lava appears, and the safe space keeps shrinking upward.

The idea is easy to understand. A world area is contained by a border, players gather blocks and supplies, then the lava begins rising in timed rounds. Anyone who cannot stay above it is removed by fire, which is not the gentlest referee. The round ends when one player or one team is still alive, depending on how the server is running the game.

This guide explains how to install The Floor Is Lava plugin, start a match, adjust the main configuration options, and fix the most common setup problems on a HolyHosting Minecraft server.

Installing The Floor Is Lava

The Floor Is Lava was released by rtm516 for Minecraft 1.14. Although it has not received frequent updates, it can still work on many newer Spigot and Paper versions, including later releases such as 1.19. Results can vary by server version, so testing it on a spare world is a smart move.

1. Open The Floor Is Lava page on Spigot and download the plugin JAR file.

1. Open your HolyHosting server panel, then go to the file access area for your server.

1. Log in if prompted, then open the `plugins` folder.

1. Upload the downloaded plugin JAR into that folder.

1. Wait for the upload to complete, then restart the Minecraft server.

1. Join the server and run `/plugins` to confirm that the plugin loaded. If the plugin name appears green, it should be active. If it appears red or is missing, the server rejected it or the file did not load correctly.

What Changes After Installation

After the plugin loads, the server will not look dramatically different at first. The most obvious change is a smaller world border around spawn, using the size set in the plugin configuration. The lava event does not begin automatically just because the plugin is installed.

Once the minigame starts, lava fills the world from the configured starting height and rises over time until it reaches the upper build limit. This lava remains in the world afterward, so avoid running the game on a map you want to keep clean. Use a throwaway world, a copied save, or a custom arena made specifically for the minigame.

Starting a Match

To begin the minigame, run this command in chat:

`/start`

The player using it must be a server operator or have the `thefloorislava.start` permission node. After the command is entered, chat confirms the game and displays the configured grace period before lava appears.

By default, players get 20 minutes to collect resources before the first lava round. That gives everyone time to gather blocks, food, tools, water buckets, and anything else that might buy a few extra seconds. The plugin's built-in chat messages are not customizable, so those notices will remain in their default format.

Surviving the Rising Lava

When the lava starts rising, the goal is straightforward: stay above it. Players usually survive by building upward, climbing terrain, placing water, or using blocks to bridge toward higher ground.

Water is especially useful because it can turn lava into obsidian, giving players a temporary platform. It can also help with climbing cliffs or forming quick lavacast structures. That said, the lava keeps advancing by round, so standing still for too long is usually just a slower way to lose.

The default settings spawn new lava every 60 seconds and raise it by 3 blocks each round. Those values can be changed in the configuration file.

Editing the Configuration

The plugin has a small configuration file with the core settings for the minigame. It is not packed with options, but the available values control the parts that matter most: start height, border size, lava block type, grace period, round timer, and rise amount.

1. Open the file access area in your server panel.

1. Log in, then open the `plugins` folder.

1. Enter the `TheFloorIsLava` folder and edit `config.yml`.

1. Adjust the values as needed:

```yaml startHeight: 64 borderSize: 200 block: LAVA gracePeriod: 20 roundTimer: 60 increaseAmount: 3 ```

1. Save the file, then restart the server so the changes apply.

`startHeight` controls where the lava begins. `borderSize` changes how large the playable area is. `block` decides which block is placed, though lava is the intended choice. `gracePeriod` controls the preparation time before the first lava appears. `roundTimer` sets the delay between lava increases, and `increaseAmount` controls how many block levels are added each round.

Common Problems

The Plugin Does Not Work

If the plugin is red in `/plugins`, missing from the list, or the `/start` command fails, first check the server version. The plugin was made for Minecraft 1.14, so versions older than that, such as 1.12.2, are likely to fail. Newer versions may work, but compatibility is never guaranteed with an older plugin.

Next, check permissions. The player starting the game needs operator access or the `thefloorislava.start` permission. If permission nodes are not working as expected, temporarily granting operator access can confirm whether permissions are the issue.

The Config File Is Missing

The `config.yml` file is generated only after the plugin loads. If the folder or file is missing, restart the server after uploading the JAR. If it still does not appear, the plugin probably failed to load because of a version or server software mismatch.

Lava Damaged the Wrong World

The lava stays in place after the game begins, so it can permanently alter the map. Restore from a backup, use a copied world for future games, or build a dedicated arena where lava damage is expected.

Useful Links

• The Floor Is Lava Spigot page
• How to add Minecraft plugins
• How to join a Minecraft server
• How to become a server operator