Keeping It Grounded: Disabling Flight for Specific Players on Minecraft Servers

12. 18. 2022

Minecraft, the popular sandbox game, offers players a sense of freedom and exploration through its vast and immersive worlds. In many Minecraft servers, the ability to fly is a coveted feature that allows players to navigate landscapes effortlessly. However, there may be instances where server administrators want to restrict flight for specific players, whether for balance, gameplay reasons, or to maintain a grounded experience. In this article, we will explore methods for disabling flight for specific players on Minecraft servers, ensuring a more grounded gameplay experience.

1. Vanilla Server:

   If you are running a vanilla Minecraft server without any plugins or mods, disabling flight for specific players can be challenging. In the vanilla game, flight is primarily granted through creative mode or the use of elytra wings. To restrict flight for specific players, you can follow these steps:

   • Change the affected players' game mode from creative to survival or adventure mode, where flight is not available.
   • Ensure that the affected players do not have any elytra wings in their inventory.
   • Regularly monitor and enforce the game mode for these players to prevent them from accessing creative mode or obtaining flight abilities.

2. Bukkit/Spigot Servers:

   Bukkit and Spigot are popular server implementations that support plugins and offer more extensive customization options. If you are running a Bukkit or Spigot server, you can utilize plugins to disable flight for specific players. Here are a few plugin options:

   • EssentialsX: The EssentialsX plugin provides a wide range of features, including the ability to control flight permissions for individual players. By modifying the permissions for flight, you can grant or restrict the ability to fly as needed.
   • PermissionsEx: PermissionsEx is a versatile permissions plugin that allows you to assign permissions to players and groups. With PermissionsEx, you can create a specific group for players who should not have flight privileges and remove the necessary permissions.
   • NoFly: The NoFly plugin is designed specifically to disable flight for players. It prevents players from flying or using elytra wings and ensures a grounded gameplay experience.

3. Paper Servers:

   Paper is a high-performance fork of Spigot that offers enhanced server performance and additional customization options. If you are running a Paper server, you can utilize plugins similar to those mentioned above for Bukkit/Spigot servers. Additionally, the following plugins can be useful:

   • LuckPerms: LuckPerms is a powerful permissions plugin that allows for fine-grained control over player permissions. You can create custom permission nodes to disable flight for specific players or groups.
   • EssentialsX AntiBuild: The AntiBuild module of the EssentialsX plugin includes features to prevent flight and other actions for specific players. It provides more control over player interactions and can be configured to suit your server's needs.

When utilizing plugins to disable flight, it is important to follow the plugin documentation and configure the settings correctly. Ensure that you assign the appropriate permissions to the affected players or remove any permissions that grant flight abilities. Regularly review and update player permissions as needed to maintain the desired gameplay experience.

Remember, communication is key. If you are disabling flight for specific players, it is important to clearly communicate the reasons for this decision. Engage with the affected players and explain any rule changes or adjustments to ensure transparency and prevent confusion.

By implementing the appropriate methods and utilizing plugins, you can effectively disable flight for specific players on your Minecraft server. Whether you are aiming for a more grounded survival experience or balancing gameplay, these measures allow for customization and maintain the desired gameplay atmosphere.