Just Nicks
Privacy and anonymity are becoming increasingly important in online gaming, and Minecraft is no exception. Whether you are running a public server, a private community, or a competitive minigame hub, sometimes you need to give players the option to hide their identity. That is exactly where Just Nicks comes into play. This clever server-side mod is designed to "nick" players, meaning it anonymizes them by assigning a random nickname and a matching signed skin. It is a simple, effective solution that works entirely on the server, so your players do not need to install anything on their own clients.
What Makes Just Nicks Stand Out?
If you have ever run a Bukkit or Spigot server, you are likely familiar with the concept of nicknames. Just Nicks replicates that familiar functionality for modern modded setups. It handles everything server-side, which is a huge advantage. It means that even vanilla clients can connect to your server and benefit from the anonymity features without any extra mods or resource packs. The mod is designed for Fabric and NeoForge, and it supports the latest Minecraft versions, ensuring you can keep your server up to date without losing this essential feature.
Core Features and Commands
The mod is built around a few intuitive slash commands that give you full control over the nicknaming system. Here is a breakdown of what you can do:
- /nick - This command grants you a random nickname and a signed skin. It requires the
justnicks.permission.nickpermission, or operator level 4. - /nick <name> - You can set a specific custom nickname. The mod will attempt to fetch a matching signed skin for that name. This also requires the same permission as
/nick. - /unnick - This removes your nickname and restores your real identity. It requires
justnicks.permission.unnickor operator level 4. - /justnicksoptions <option> <value> - This allows you to change mod options at runtime. It requires
justnicks.permission.edit_optionsor operator level 4.
For those who love to tweak things, the /justnicksoptions command is a godsend. It uses the same option keys found in the options.txt file, and the value type must match (boolean, number, or string). Tab-completion makes it easy to see available keys and example value formats.
Permissions and Configuration
Managing who can use these commands is straightforward. You have three distinct permission nodes: justnicks.permission.nick, justnicks.permission.unnick, and justnicks.permission.edit_options. Operator level 4 bypasses all permission checks, but for finer control, you can use a permission mod like LuckPerms to assign these permissions to specific player groups. This is essential for larger servers where you want to restrict the ability to change identities to trusted members or staff.
By default, Just Nicks does not show you your own nick identity. This is a deliberate design choice because it requires a "soft-respawn" to apply the new skin, which freezes your player for a few seconds. If you want to see your own nick skin, you can run the following commands:
/justnicksoptions show_original_identity_to_self_player false/justnicksoptions refresh_self_player_on_nick true
Persistent Nick Storage
One of the more advanced features is the remote persistent nick storage. By default, the mod saves nick states in a local SQLite database file. However, if you are running a network of servers, you might want to sync this data. In options.txt, you can set persistent_nicks to true and provide a persistent_nicks_remote_url (e.g., https://your.host/justnicks/api) and a persistent_nicks_remote_token. The remote payload fields include uuid, real_name, nickname, and optional skin data. If you leave the URL blank, it simply uses the local file.
When you are ready to get started, you will need to know how to install the mod. The process is simple: download the jar file for your specific loader (Fabric or NeoForge) and drop it into your server's mods folder. You can easily download Just Nicks from popular mod repositories like Modrinth or CurseForge. Just make sure to check the file details to ensure it matches your server's Minecraft version.
If you are looking for a hassle-free way to manage your modded server, consider using the foxygame.net launcher. It offers a one-click install for mods like Just Nicks, and its integrated add-on catalog keeps everything organized. The launcher also handles auto-updates and version compatibility checks, so you can be sure that Just Nicks for Minecraft runs smoothly without manual file management.
Support and Community
Should you run into any crashes or issues, the developer encourages you to write a bug report on GitHub. For general support, tips, and to connect with other users, you can join the official Discord server. The mod is copyrighted by Keksuccino and is licensed under DSMSLv3, so be sure to read the LICENSE.md file for usage terms.
Just Nicks is a robust and reliable tool for any server administrator who values player privacy. Its server-side nature makes it universally compatible, and its range of commands gives you all the flexibility you need. Whether you are hosting a small friends-only server or a large public network, this mod delivers a polished anonymity feature that is easy to manage and even easier for players to use.
In conclusion, if you want to add a layer of privacy to your gameplay, Just Nicks is the perfect addition. It is lightweight, feature-rich, and respects the client-side experience by requiring zero installation from your players. Give it a try on your next server update and see how it enhances the community experience.