NearbyCraft+
If you have ever played modded Minecraft, you know the sheer convenience of crafting directly from nearby containers. No more running back and forth between chests and your crafting table. NearbyCraft+ brings that exact quality-of-life magic to Paper servers — fully server-side, with zero client mods required. It is a clean, fast, and intuitive plugin that transforms how your players interact with storage and crafting.
What Makes NearbyCraft+ Special?
NearbyCraft+ is a Paper plugin that scans containers around a workbench and lets players use those materials for crafting. Instead of memorizing recipes and digging through chests, players see exactly what they need, what they have, and how many times they can craft an item — all in one smart interface. The best part? It works entirely on the server. Players join your world and immediately enjoy the feature without installing a single client-side mod.
Crafting from Nearby Containers
The core idea is simple: place a NearbyCraft+ workbench, and it automatically detects storage blocks within a configurable radius. The default scan range is 10 blocks, but server owners can adjust it up to 50. Every accessible chest, barrel, or shulker box becomes part of a unified crafting inventory. No more endless trips between storage rooms and crafting corners.
Smart Recipe Preview
One of the biggest highlights of NearbyCraft+ is the recipe preview system. When a player selects a recipe, the interface instantly shows:
- How many items are required
- How many are available in nearby containers
- How many times the recipe can be crafted right now
This clarity eliminates guesswork and makes bulk crafting incredibly smooth.
Categories, Search, and Quick Navigation
Recipes and items are organized into browsable categories. Players can switch categories rapidly with left and right clicks, or use the built-in search function. Typing something like "axe" into chat filters the menu to show matching materials. A right-click on the search button clears the filter instantly. Paginated browsing keeps the interface clean even when hundreds of items are available.
How to Install NearbyCraft+
Getting started is straightforward. Download the NearbyCraft+ plugin file and place it into your server's plugins folder. Restart your Paper server, and the plugin will generate its configuration files automatically. The plugin is designed for modern Paper versions, supporting 1.19 through 1.20.4 and beyond. If you manage your server through a platform like the foxygame.net launcher, you can locate NearbyCraft+ in its integrated add-on catalog and install it with a single click, complete with automatic updates and version compatibility checks.
Configuration and Scan Radius
After installation, you can tweak the config.yml to set the maximum scan radius, enable or disable workbench ownership, and adjust protection hook settings. Permissions allow you to grant different scan radii per player or group, so VIP ranks can enjoy a wider reach.
Commands and Permissions
NearbyCraft+ uses a simple command structure under /nearbycraftplus, /ncp, or /nearbycraft. Here are the essential commands:
/ncp reload– Reloads configuration and language files./ncp scan– Runs a debug scan of nearby containers./ncp recipereport– Generates a recipe availability report./ncp give <player> [amount]– Gives NearbyCraft+ workbenches to a player./ncp trust <player>– Allows another player to use your placed workbench./ncp untrust <player>– Removes a trusted player./ncp trustlist– Lists all trusted players for your workbench.
Permissions are granular. By default, everyone can place, break, and use the workbench, but admin features like reloading and giving workbenches are restricted to operators. You can also assign radius permissions like nearbycraftplus.radius.32 to expand the scan range for specific groups.
Workbench Ownership and Trust System
When a player places a NearbyCraft+ workbench, they become its owner. If owner protection is enabled in the config, only the owner and explicitly trusted players can use that workbench. This prevents strangers from tapping into your storage. Owners can manage trust with /ncp trust and /ncp untrust, and view their list with /ncp trustlist. The system can be disabled entirely if you prefer open access for all placed workbenches.
Protection Hooks and Compatibility
NearbyCraft+ respects container protection. It will never scan or count items from chests a player cannot access. The plugin supports multiple protection systems out of the box:
- SimpleClaimSystem – Ignores containers inside claims where the player lacks access.
- WorldGuard – Honors region protections and container access rules.
- JustLootIt – Filters out loot chests and plugin-managed containers so they are not used as crafting storage.
Additionally, NearbyCraft+ can ignore containers with custom block data or loot tables, protecting dungeon chests and event loot from being drained. These soft dependencies are optional; the plugin runs perfectly without them, but integrates seamlessly when present.
Why Choose NearbyCraft+ for Your Server?
If you run a survival server, an SMP, or a building-focused world, storage management can become a tedious chore. NearbyCraft+ eliminates that friction. Players craft faster, stay in the flow, and appreciate the polished, mod-like experience without any client-side hassle. The interface is intuitive, the search and category system is snappy, and the recipe preview gives a clear overview of resource availability.
Server owners also benefit from deep configurability, robust protection hooks, and a permission system that lets you tailor the experience to different player tiers. Whether you want a small 10-block scan for everyone or a generous 50-block radius for donors, NearbyCraft+ adapts.
For those who want the smoothest setup possible, the foxygame.net launcher offers a curated add-on catalog where NearbyCraft+ is available for instant installation, keeping your plugin up to date without manual file management. This makes it even easier to bring CraftFromContainers-style crafting to your community.
Final Thoughts
NearbyCraft+ was created to fill a gap many server owners felt: the lack of a true, server-side crafting-from-containers solution for Paper. It delivers that experience in a clean, fast, and intuitive package. If you want to upgrade your server's quality of life, reduce inventory juggling, and give your players a feature they will love, NearbyCraft+ is ready to transform your crafting workflow.