What Is the Ships Vault Addon and Why Your Server Needs It
Minecraft servers that run the popular Ships plugin already let players build and pilot custom vessels across oceans, rivers, and even the skies. But without an economy hook, ship creation becomes a free-for-all. The Ships Vault Addon bridges that gap by connecting the Ships plugin with Vault, the standard economy API for Bukkit servers. Suddenly, every ship type can carry a configurable price tag, turning your floating creations into meaningful in-game investments.
This addon belongs to the Ships Addons series, a collection of lightweight plugins designed to extend compatibility between Ships and other major server tools. Instead of reinventing the wheel, it taps directly into Vault’s currency system, so any economy plugin that supports Vault (like EssentialsX, CMI, or Gringotts) will work seamlessly. The result is a balanced gameplay loop where players must earn money before they can launch a warship, cargo freighter, or agile skiff.
How the Economy Integration Works
At its core, the Ships Vault Addon intercepts the ship creation process. When a player attempts to spawn a new ship, the addon checks the configured cost for that specific ship type. If the player’s Vault balance meets or exceeds the price, the amount is deducted and the ship appears. If not, creation is blocked, and the player receives a clear message about the missing funds. This simple check prevents spam-building and adds a layer of progression that survival and roleplay servers crave.
The addon requires Ships minimum version 6.0.0.0 alpha 3.4 and Vault minimum version 1.4.1. It runs on any Bukkit-based server (CraftBukkit, Spigot, Paper) and stays out of the way until a ship is created. There are no complex dependencies beyond those two core plugins, making it a low-risk addition to even heavily modded environments.
Configuring Ship Costs to Fit Your Economy
One of the strongest features of the Ships Vault Addon is its flexibility. Every price can be adjusted without touching the addon’s own configuration file. Instead, you edit the ship type files that come with the Ships plugin. Each ship type definition now accepts a cost value, which the addon reads automatically. For example, a basic raft might cost 100 coins, while a massive galleon could demand 50,000. You can also set costs using the in-game flags command, letting admins tweak prices on the fly without a server reload.
Here is a quick configuration workflow:
- Open your Ships plugin folder and locate the ship type files (usually .yml format).
- Add a cost entry under the desired ship type, specifying a decimal number.
- Save the file and reload the Ships plugin or restart the server.
- Alternatively, use /ships flags [shipType] cost [amount] to set prices live.
If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to get this addon running, the foxygame.net launcher offers a modern, flexible platform where you can download and install plugins like Ships Vault Addon directly from its menu, streamlining your entire server setup. This launcher keeps your mods organized and up to date, so you can focus on fine-tuning those ship costs rather than wrestling with file transfers.
Permissions and Bypass Options
Not every player should be subject to ship creation fees. The addon includes a single permission node that grants complete cost immunity:
- vaultaddon.ignore.create – Players with this permission can create any ship type without paying. Ideal for staff members, VIP ranks, or creative-mode builders who need unrestricted access.
Since the addon hooks into your server’s existing permission system (LuckPerms, PermissionsEx, etc.), you can assign this node to specific groups or individuals with ease. There are no other permissions to manage, keeping administration simple and focused.
Practical Use Cases for Server Owners
The Ships Vault Addon shines in several common server scenarios. On survival economy servers, it transforms ships into luxury items that players must work toward, encouraging mining, trading, and shop activity. Faction and towny servers can use ship costs as a gold sink, preventing runaway inflation while giving factions a reason to pool resources for a flagship. Even minigame hubs benefit: you can set a token cost for temporary ship rentals, adding a microtransaction layer without any real-money involvement.
Because the addon respects Vault’s multi-currency support, servers with custom currencies or multiple worlds can assign different costs per world or per ship type. A pirate-themed world might charge doubloons, while a modern port uses dollars, all managed through the same Vault backbone.
Performance and Compatibility Notes
This addon is intentionally minimal. It listens for a single event, performs a quick balance check, and then hands control back to the server. There is no noticeable TPS impact, even with dozens of ships being created per minute. It has been tested alongside other Ships Addons (like Ships Protection Addon or Ships MoveCraft Addon) without conflicts, so you can stack multiple compatibility layers safely.
Keep in mind that the addon does not handle recurring costs like ship maintenance or docking fees. It only charges at the moment of creation. If you need ongoing expenses, you would pair it with a separate scheduling plugin that deducts money while a ship is active. However, for most servers, a one-time creation cost is the perfect sweet spot between accessibility and economic control.
Getting Started Without the Headache
Installation follows the standard Bukkit plugin routine: drop the Ships Vault Addon jar into your plugins folder, ensure both Ships and Vault are already running, and restart the server. No additional configuration file is generated because all settings live inside the Ships plugin’s own ship type definitions. That means zero clutter in your plugins directory.
After restarting, test the integration by trying to create a ship as a regular player. If you see a message about insufficient funds, the addon is working. Then assign costs to your favorite ship types and watch your server’s economy come alive on the high seas.
Final Thoughts: Why This Addon Matters
The Ships Vault Addon might be small, but it fills a critical gap for any server that wants to blend naval engineering with a living economy. By leveraging Vault’s universal API, it avoids vendor lock-in and works with virtually any economy plugin you already trust. The ability to configure costs per ship type and grant bypass permissions gives admins total control without overwhelming complexity. Whether you run a hardcore survival world, a bustling roleplay city, or a competitive factions realm, adding a price tag to ship creation makes every voyage feel earned. Drop it into your server, set your prices, and let the economic tides shape your players’ adventures.