What Is MinePermit and Why Your Server Needs It
Running a Minecraft server often means balancing player freedom with controlled progression, especially in economy-driven or survival worlds. MinePermit is a powerful Bukkit plugin that introduces a permit system for mining blocks, allowing server administrators to gate access to valuable resources behind purchasable permits. The newly rebuilt MinePermit 2.0 brings a wealth of advanced features, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to create a dynamic, tiered mining experience. Whether you want to restrict diamond ore to paying players or simply add a layer of strategy to underground exploration, this plugin delivers unparalleled flexibility.
Key Features of MinePermit 2.0
The latest version is a complete overhaul of the original iconic plugin, rebuilt from the ground up to support modern server needs. While the official release is expected by the 10th, the feature list already promises a significant upgrade. Here are the standout additions:
- Multi-World Support: Define unique permit rules for each world on your server. A mining world can have strict costs, while a creative world remains unrestricted.
- Custom Permit Areas: Create nested regions within a world that charge differently. You can have a global permit area with one set of prices, then define child areas with their own rates, coordinates, and depth requirements. Nest them infinitely without overlaps.
- Universal Permits: A single permit that covers all specified blocks. Players can buy a universal permit instead of juggling individual permits for iron, coal, or gold.
- Depth-Based Restrictions: Make permits mandatory only below a certain Y-level. Above the effective depth, mining is free; below it, players need the right permissions.
- Control Over Unspecified Blocks: Decide whether blocks not listed in the configuration can be mined freely or are completely unbreakable without a permit.
- Two Permit Types: Choose between Counted permits (limited by number of blocks mined) and Timed permits (expire after a set duration in seconds). Mix and match per block type.
Installing MinePermit Correctly
Before diving into configuration, you need to set up the plugin and its dependency. MinePermit relies on MineCore, which handles economy integration, permissions, and player data storage. Start by downloading MineCore from its Bukkit page (available at dev.bukkit.org/bukkit-plugins/minecore). Once MineCore is installed, place the MinePermit.jar file into your server’s /plugins directory. If you previously used any version of MinePermit prior to 2.0, delete the old /plugins/minepermit/ folder so the new version can generate fresh configuration files.
For server owners who want a hassle-free way to manage plugins, the foxygame.net launcher provides a modern, flexible environment where you can install mods and plugins directly from the menu. It streamlines the entire process, letting you add MinePermit and its dependency without manually moving files, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced admins.
Understanding the Configuration File
All customization happens inside /plugins/minepermit/config.yml. There are no in-game commands yet to edit settings, so you must modify this file and reload the server for changes to take effect. The default configuration gives you a solid starting point, but you will want to tailor it to your server’s economy and world layout.
World Permit Areas Structure
The configuration uses a hierarchical structure under the WorldPermitAreas section. Each world has its own entry, and within that, you define the permit rules. Here is a breakdown of the key settings:
- allowMiningUnspecifiedBlocks: When set to false, players can only mine blocks explicitly listed under
prices. Any unlisted block becomes untouchable. - effectiveDepth: The Y-level below which permits are required. Above this depth, mining is unrestricted regardless of other settings.
- prices: This section lists every block type you want to control. For each material (e.g., GOLD_ORE, IRON_ORE), you define permit types and their costs. The special
UNIVERSALmaterial defines the universal permit’s properties. - children: Nested permit areas inside the parent world. Each child has its own coordinates (
x1, z1, x2, z2), depth, and price overrides. Children inherit nothing from parents; you must redefine all settings.
For example, a child area named “DasMine” might have a smaller region where stone mining costs 600 units per 60 blocks (counted), while the parent world charges only 10 units for 60000 seconds of stone mining. This granularity lets you design intricate economic zones.
Permit Types Explained
Every block or universal entry can have two types of permits: COUNTED and TIMED. A counted permit tracks the number of blocks a player breaks and expires once the limit is reached. A timed permit lasts for a specified number of seconds, ignoring how many blocks are mined. You can offer both options for the same material, giving players choice. If a block has an empty types section (like LAPIS_ORE in the default config), it cannot be mined at all, even with a universal permit, unless you add permit types to it.
When a player breaks a block, MinePermit first checks for a specific permit for that material. If none exists, it falls back to a universal permit. This fallback only works for blocks that are explicitly defined in the configuration; unspecified blocks remain governed by allowMiningUnspecifiedBlocks.
Commands and Permissions for Players
Currently, the plugin offers a straightforward set of player commands. Admin commands are not yet implemented, but the developer is open to suggestions. Players interact with the permit system through the /permit base command:
/permit– Displays the list of available subcommands./permit buy [id/"universal"]– Purchases a permit for a specific material or the universal permit./permit cost [id]– Shows the cost of a given permit. Without an ID, it displays the universal permit cost./permit time {id}– Shows remaining time or block count for a permit. Without an ID, lists all owned permits./permit view {id}– Checks if a permit is required for the block in hand. Without an ID, returns all required permits for the current location.
Permissions are minimal and easy to manage:
minepermit.exempt– Players with this node bypass all permit requirements.minepermit.buy– Required to purchase any permit.minepermit.admin– Reserved for future admin commands.
Practical Tips for Server Owners
When designing your permit areas, start with a simple global setup and gradually introduce child areas for special zones. Test your depth settings thoroughly; if effectiveDepth is too high, players might never need permits, and if too low, early-game progression could stall. Always back up your configuration before making drastic changes. Since MinePermit does not auto-update, keep an eye on the Bukkit page for the official 2.0 release and any future patches.
Remember that the plugin uses anonymous metrics by default. If you prefer to disable data collection, set allowDataCollection: false in the config. This does not affect functionality in any way.
Conclusion
MinePermit 2.0 transforms the way servers handle resource access, giving admins precise control over who can mine what, where, and for how long. Its multi-world support, nested permit areas, and dual permit types make it one of the most versatile mining restriction plugins available. By combining it with a reliable economy plugin through MineCore, you can create a rich, player-driven environment that rewards progression and strategic spending. Whether you run a small community server or a large network, MinePermit is a tool worth integrating into your setup as soon as it launches. Prepare your configurations now, and be ready to elevate your server’s gameplay on release day.