Rank Viewer: Display Player Ranks with a Hoverable Tag in Minecraft
Managing a Minecraft server often means juggling multiple permission plugins and finding ways to visually distinguish your players. The Rank Viewer plugin solves a common problem: how to let everyone see a player's rank without cluttering chat with long prefixes. Instead of forcing every message to carry a full rank title, Rank Viewer adds a compact, hoverable tag that reveals all the details on demand. It is a lightweight yet powerful tool that integrates seamlessly with popular permission systems and even bridges the gap to Discord.
What Exactly Does Rank Viewer Do?
At its core, Rank Viewer inserts a small, customizable tag—by default, it looks like [R]—next to a player's name in chat. When someone hovers their cursor over that tag, a clean tooltip appears listing the player's ranks. This keeps the chat window tidy while still giving everyone instant access to rank information. Server owners can choose to display the top weighted rank as the visible prefix or show the rank name directly instead of the [R] symbol. The plugin handles multiple ranks gracefully, stacking them in the hover view according to the order defined by your permissions plugin.
Key Features That Make Rank Viewer Stand Out
- Hoverable Rank Display: The signature [R] tag appears in chat, and hovering over it shows all assigned ranks in a formatted list.
- Multiple Rank Support: Players with several ranks (e.g., from different permission tracks) see all of them in the tooltip, ordered logically.
- Full Color and Formatting Codes: You can use Minecraft's color codes, bold, italics, obfuscation, and more to style the tag and tooltip text.
- DiscordSRV Integration: When DiscordSRV is present, Rank Viewer automatically detects it and ensures that rank tags do not disrupt messages sent to Discord channels. You can even specify an alternate Discord channel for rank-related messages.
- Permission-Based Visibility: Commands and features are locked behind specific permissions, so only authorized staff can reload the plugin or toggle display modes.
- Lightweight and Easy to Configure: A single config file controls everything, from the tag's appearance to Discord channel settings.
Dependencies You Need to Know
Before installing Rank Viewer, make sure your server meets these requirements. The plugin is designed to work with specific permission backends, and while it can run without DiscordSRV, that integration is optional but highly recommended for cross-platform consistency.
- PermissionsEx or LuckPerms (Required): Rank Viewer v2.2 and above supports LuckPerms 5.0.63 and newer. For older versions of Rank Viewer (v2.1 and below), use LuckPerms 4.453 or earlier. PermissionsEx is also fully supported.
- EssentialsX (Required): This popular suite provides core chat functionality that Rank Viewer hooks into.
- DiscordSRV (Optional): If you want rank tags to appear cleanly on Discord, install DiscordSRV. Rank Viewer will automatically detect it and adjust its behavior.
Commands and Permissions at a Glance
Rank Viewer comes with a straightforward set of commands, all accessible through the base /rv alias. Each subcommand has its own permission node, giving you fine-grained control over who can do what.
- /rv or /rv version – Displays the current plugin version. Permission: rv.use or rv.version
- /rv userank
– Toggles whether the hoverable prefix shows the rank name instead of [R]. Permission: rv.userank - /rv help – Shows a list of available commands. Permission: rv.help
- /rv reload – Reloads the plugin configuration without restarting the server. Permission: rv.reload (default: op)
These permissions can be assigned to groups or individual players using your permission plugin of choice, ensuring that only trusted staff can alter the display behavior.
Configuration Made Simple
Once you drop the Rank Viewer jar into your server's plugins folder and restart, a config.yml file generates automatically. Inside, you will find clear options that let you tailor the plugin to your server's style. Here is a breakdown of the main settings:
- Default-Group-Name: Set the name of the default rank group (e.g., "default").
- Use-Group-Name: If true, the hoverable tag will display the group name instead of the prefix defined in your permissions plugin.
- Links: Configure the color and underline style for any links sent in chat.
- Tab-Config: Customize the format of the hoverable tag. The default is
&b[&cR&b], which produces a blue bracket with a red R. You can also enable Use-RankName to show the rank name directly. - Discord-Config: If DiscordSRV is installed, you can choose to use the main Discord channel or specify an alternate channel for rank-related messages.
While tweaking the config, you might find that the plugin's flexibility extends beyond just in-game chat. For instance, if you are running a network of servers and want to keep your rank display consistent, you can easily replicate the same config across all instances. And if you are using a modern launcher like foxygame.net, you can even download and install Rank Viewer directly from its built-in mod menu, making the process incredibly smooth without hunting through external sites.
Planned Future Additions
The developer has outlined several upcoming features that will make Rank Viewer even more versatile. These include expanding compatibility to other permissions plugins beyond LuckPerms and PermissionsEx, adding configurable rank display order (high to low, low to high, or by permission file order), and further Discord channel targeting options. Some of these, like hoverable tag color configuration and alternate Discord channels, have already been implemented in recent updates.
Why Rank Viewer Is a Must-Have for Organized Servers
Rank Viewer fills a niche that many server admins overlook: the balance between informative chat and visual clutter. By condensing rank information into a hoverable element, it respects the player's screen space while still providing transparency about roles. The DiscordSRV integration is a thoughtful touch, ensuring that your carefully formatted in-game chat doesn't break when relayed to Discord. With support for multiple ranks and full color codes, the plugin adapts to nearly any server theme. Whether you run a small community server or a large network, Rank Viewer helps maintain a professional and user-friendly chat environment. Its simple command structure and permission nodes also mean that you can delegate control without risking accidental misconfiguration.
In conclusion, Rank Viewer is a smart, unobtrusive solution for displaying player ranks. It respects the limitations of the chat window, integrates with essential plugins, and offers enough customization to feel like a natural part of your server's identity. The developer's commitment to expanding compatibility and adding requested features makes it a plugin worth watching. If you have ideas for new functionality, the author encourages feedback, so your server's specific needs might shape future updates. Give Rank Viewer a try, and transform how your community sees ranks—one hover at a time.