What Is the MoreMembers Plugin for Minecraft Servers?
Growing a Minecraft server community takes time, but clever server owners know that word-of-mouth is still the most powerful tool. The MoreMembers plugin transforms your existing player base into a motivated referral network. In simple terms, it rewards players for inviting friends, and those friends can then invite others, creating a chain of new logins. The plugin is lightweight, fully customizable, and works on almost any Spigot or Paper server version without causing lag.
If you have ever struggled to get those first few dozen regulars, MoreMembers offers a straightforward solution. Instead of relying solely on server listings or social media ads, you give your loyal players a reason to do the promoting for you. The psychology is simple: a diamond or a few in-game dollars can turn a casual player into your best recruiter.
How the Invite System Works
The core mechanic revolves around the /promote command (with aliases like /further and /boost). When a new player joins the server for the first time, they can type /promote [playername] to credit the person who invited them. That inviter instantly receives a configurable reward — anything from a stack of diamonds to a custom amount of virtual money if you use an economy plugin like Vault. The promoted player also gets a confirmation message, and you can even broadcast their successful promotion to the whole server to encourage others.
One of the smartest features is the firstjoinonly setting. When set to true, a player can only promote someone during their first session. This prevents abuse where players create alt accounts later just to farm rewards. The plugin also tracks who has already been promoted, so nobody can double-dip. If someone tries to promote themselves, the plugin catches it and displays a playful “Idiot” error message — a small touch that adds personality without being mean-spirited.
Full Customization Without the Bloat
MoreMembers shines in its configurability. Every message, prefix, and reward is adjustable directly in the config file. You can use Minecraft color codes like §4 for dark red or §3 for dark aqua to make announcements pop. The default prefix §3 MoreMembers already looks polished, but you can brand it with your server’s name. The reward item is set to GOLD_NUGGET by default, but you can change it to anything — netherite ingots, enchanted books, even custom heads. The numberof setting lets you control how many of that item are given, and moneyreward integrates seamlessly with economy plugins.
What makes this plugin especially appealing is how resource-friendly it remains. Many server owners worry that tracking invitations and storing player data will cause TPS drops, but MoreMembers was built to be “VERY Resource light” as the developer emphasizes. It only checks permissions and runs logic when a command is executed, so there is no constant background scanning.
Commands, Permissions, and Player Management
Using the plugin is dead simple. Players only need the moremembers.promote permission node, which you can grant to default groups or keep exclusive to certain ranks. The command /promote requires exactly one argument — the name of the player who invited them. If they forget the argument, a clear error message tells them “Not enough arguments use /promote PLAYER”. If the target player is offline or doesn’t exist, another message appears. All these strings are fully editable, so you can translate them into any language or add your own humor.
For admins, the config also includes a players list where you can manually add names of players who are no longer allowed to promote anyone. This is useful if you catch someone trying to game the system. The plugin even sends anonymous usage statistics to mcstats.org by default, but you can opt out by changing a single line in the PluginMetrics config. Transparency like that builds trust with server operators who are cautious about data collection.
Turning One-Time Visitors into Long-Term Communities
The chain effect is where MoreMembers truly earns its place in your plugin folder. A new player promotes their inviter, gets a warm welcome message, and immediately understands that the server values growth. They are then incentivized to invite their own friends, who will in turn promote them. This turns a linear invite system into an exponential one. The broadcast message — “You promoted” or a custom version — acts as social proof, showing everyone online that the community is active and welcoming.
When you combine this with a well-designed spawn area and clear instructions, the plugin practically runs itself. Some servers even set up leaderboards or additional rewards for the top promoters each month, layering MoreMembers with other engagement plugins. Because it’s so lightweight, it won’t conflict with anti-cheat systems or custom terrain generators. You can also manage all your server plugins effortlessly using a modern launcher like foxygame.net, where you can browse and install tools like MoreMembers right from the menu without digging through external sites.
Setting Up Rewards That Make Sense
Getting the reward balance right is crucial. If you give out too little, players won’t bother. Too much, and you risk inflating your economy. Start with something modest like 5 diamonds or 10 gold nuggets and adjust based on feedback. The moneyreward option is perfect for servers with a shop system — 10 in-game dollars per successful invite can add up quickly for dedicated recruiters. You can also create tiered rewards by combining MoreMembers with a permissions plugin: give higher ranks access to a boosted /promote reward through a separate permission node if you slightly modify the config.
Remember to update your welcome book or tutorial NPC to mention the /promote command. Many players will simply never use a feature if they don’t know it exists. A simple hologram at spawn reading “Invite a friend? Type /promote their name for a reward!” can multiply your referral rate overnight.
Metrics, Support, and the Developer’s Touch
The original developer, active on the German Minecraft scene, built MoreMembers with both English and German server owners in mind. The config file includes bilingual comments, and the plugin’s page even features a small comic explaining the concept visually. While the plugin itself is stable and complete, the developer has mentioned plans to add a command for toggling metrics without manually editing files, showing ongoing commitment. For German-speaking admins, there is also a dedicated homepage for direct contact.
One thing to watch: the already message tells a player they have “already promoted somebody” if they try to promote more than one person. This is tied to the firstjoinonly logic, so if you allow multiple promotions per player, you will need to adjust that setting to false. The config is forgiving and well-documented, so even a novice server owner can tweak it without breaking anything.
Final Thoughts on MoreMembers
MoreMembers is not a magic bullet that will bring thousands of players overnight, but it is a remarkably efficient tool for organic growth. It respects your server’s performance, gives you total control over messages and rewards, and taps into the natural desire of players to share fun experiences with friends. By removing the friction from the invite process and attaching a tangible benefit, you create a self-sustaining cycle of new joins.
Whether you run a small survival world with a handful of regulars or a larger network looking to boost concurrent player counts, this plugin deserves a spot in your setup. The fact that it requires almost no maintenance after the initial configuration makes it a set-and-forget asset. Pair it with a welcoming community and a stable server, and you will see your player list grow one promotion at a time.