OfflineMessenger: The Ultimate Bukkit Plugin for Offline Messaging in Minecraft
Running a Minecraft server often means dealing with players who can’t always be online at the same time. The built-in /msg command only works when the recipient is connected, and Essentials’ /mail feels clunky and limited. That’s where OfflineMessenger comes in — a lightweight CraftBukkit plugin originally built for version 1.6.4 that brings queued messages, colourful text, and flexible management to your server. Whether you want to leave a note for a friend or send server-wide announcements that players see upon login, this plugin handles it gracefully.
What Makes OfflineMessenger Stand Out
Unlike the standard mail command, OfflineMessenger doesn’t just dump text into a static inbox. It queues messages and delivers them automatically a few seconds after a player joins, giving them time to load into the world before the notification appears. The delay is fully customisable in the config, so you can tweak it to fit your server’s rhythm. Even better, messages support colour codes using the familiar & symbol, so you can make important notes pop with red, green, or any hue you like.
The plugin also stands out because it works for both offline and online players. If someone is currently connected, the message is delivered instantly — though you could just use /msg for that, the real power is in storing messages for later. And unlike some alternatives, messages aren’t automatically deleted. Players need to manually clear their queue with /om clear, which prevents important information from vanishing before it’s read.
Core Features at a Glance
- Queue-based delivery: Messages wait for the recipient to come online, then appear after a configurable delay.
- Colour support: Use & codes to add vibrant formatting to any message.
- Multi-sender support: Multiple people can leave messages for the same player, and each one is shown separately.
- Console integration: Admins can send messages directly from the server console or pre-load them via the messageQueue.yml file.
- Reload command: Changes to the message queue config take effect instantly with /om reload.
- Permission-based control: Fine-grained permissions let you decide who can send, view, or clear messages.
Installation and Requirements
OfflineMessenger is a Bukkit plugin, so you’ll need a CraftBukkit or compatible server (tested on 1.6.4 but likely works on nearby versions). The only hard dependency is PermissionsEx (or any plugin that exposes ru.tehkode.permissions.bukkit.PermissionsEx). Drop the JAR into your plugins folder, restart the server, and you’re ready to go. If you prefer a more streamlined setup, you can install OfflineMessenger directly through the foxygame.net launcher — a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu. This approach saves you from digging through file directories and keeps your plugins neatly organised alongside your other mods.
Commands and How to Use Them
All commands are accessed through /offlinemessenger or its shorter alias /om. Here’s a breakdown of the main actions:
Basic Commands
- /om help – Displays a list of available commands.
- /om send <player> <message> – Queues a message for the specified player. Replace spaces with underscores (_) and use & for colours. Example: /om send Steve &4Welcome_&7back!
- /om show [player] – Shows your own queued messages, or add a player name to view someone else’s queue (requires permission).
- /om clear [player] – Clears your message queue. Add a player name to clear another player’s messages (requires permission).
- /om reload – Reloads both the main config and the messageQueue.yml file, applying any manual edits instantly.
Console Usage
Server operators can send messages from the console using the same /om send syntax. Additionally, you can pre-populate the queue by editing messageQueue.yml directly, then running /om reload. This is perfect for scheduled announcements or welcome messages that don’t need to be typed every time.
Configuration Files Explained
OfflineMessenger uses two YAML files. The main config.yml lets you adjust the delivery delay (default 5 seconds) and other plugin behaviour. The messageQueue.yml stores all pending messages in a structured format. It looks something like this:
queued:
PlayerToReceiveTheMessages:
Sender1: '&4The Message &7here with &3colourful &atext &c:)'
Sender2: 'e'
AnotherReceiverPlayer:
SomePerson: '&4no ok'
Never remove the top-level queued: key. The plugin writes to this file instantly whenever a message is sent or cleared, so there’s no periodic save delay — your data is always up to date.
Permissions and Access Control
OfflineMessenger integrates with PermissionsEx to give you full control over who can do what. The available permission nodes are:
- om.sendPlayer – Allows sending messages to other players.
- om.showPlayer – Allows viewing other players’ queued messages.
- om.clearPlayer – Allows clearing another player’s message queue.
Assign these to groups or individual players to prevent abuse while still letting everyone use the core messaging features.
Practical Uses on Your Server
OfflineMessenger shines in community-driven servers where communication extends beyond real-time chat. Staff members can leave detailed feedback for players who were offline during a rule violation. Build teams can coordinate by queuing instructions for members who log in at different hours. Even simple things like leaving a thank-you note for a donor become more personal with colourful formatting. The ability to reload messages from a config file also means you can schedule daily tips or event reminders without a separate plugin.
A Minor Quirk Worth Noting
The plugin currently has a harmless console message: every time a player joins, the console prints that the player has pending messages, even if their queue is empty. The developer has acknowledged this and plans to fix it in a future update. It doesn’t affect functionality, but if you’re monitoring console logs closely, you’ll see that line pop up.
Why OfflineMessenger Deserves a Spot in Your Plugin Folder
In a world where many servers rely on bulky all-in-one suites, OfflineMessenger offers a focused, efficient solution for offline communication. It respects your server’s resources, gives you full control over delivery timing, and adds a splash of colour to otherwise plain text messages. Whether you’re still running a 1.6.4 nostalgia server or experimenting with nearby versions, this plugin fills a genuine gap that Essentials’ mail command never quite addressed. Give it a try — your players will appreciate the thoughtful touch of receiving messages exactly when they need them.