What Is ServerListPlus and Why Your Minecraft Server Needs It
When you run a Minecraft server, first impressions matter. The moment a player sees your server in their multiplayer list, they decide whether to click or scroll past. That tiny line of text, the player count, and even the icon can make all the difference. ServerListPlus is a plugin that hands you complete control over that crucial first glance. Instead of a static, boring server entry, you can craft a dynamic, personalized ping that changes based on who is looking, the time of day, or even the hostname they used to connect. Whether you run a small community server or a large network, this tool turns your server list presence into a polished, inviting experience.
Customize Every Pixel of Your Server Ping
The default server list shows a motd, a player count, and a tiny icon. ServerListPlus lets you rewrite all of that. You can load server icons from files, pull them from a URL, or even use a player’s own head as the favicon. The maximum player count can be displayed as a static number, a custom format string, or something that changes with the actual player load. Want to show “Slots: 20/20” instead of just “20”? No problem. The plugin supports multiple random entries, so your motd can cycle through funny quotes, server news, or welcome messages. Everything is defined in a clean YAML configuration file, so you never have to touch a line of code.
Personalization That Speaks to Every Player
One of the standout features is per-player customization. By using placeholders, you can insert the viewer’s name directly into the motd or hover message. Imagine a player seeing “Welcome back, Steve!” in the server list before they even join. That small touch builds loyalty and makes your server feel alive. The player hover message—the text that appears when someone hovers over the player count—can also be personalized. You can show a brief server rules summary, a mini staff list, or a fun fact. These details are what separate a forgettable server from a memorable one.
Virtual Hosts and Multi-Configuration Magic
If your server uses multiple domain names or IPs to route players into different game modes, ServerListPlus supports virtual hosts. You can define a completely different configuration for each hostname. For example, players connecting via “survival.yourserver.com” might see a wilderness-themed motd and a grass block icon, while “creative.yourserver.com” shows a rainbow text and a paintbrush icon. The plugin detects which address the player used and applies the matching rules. This is incredibly useful for BungeeCord networks where a single proxy handles many backend servers. With ServerListPlus, your network looks cohesive and professional right from the server list.
Easy Installation and First Steps
Getting started is straightforward. The plugin works on Bukkit, Spigot, Paper, BungeeCord, Waterfall, Canary, Sponge, and even as a standalone server. You will need the latest release of ProtocolLib for most features on Bukkit-based servers—download it from the official Spigot resource page. Once you have both files, drop them into your plugins folder and restart the server. The configuration file, ServerListPlus.yml, will appear in the plugin directory. Open it with a text editor, and you’ll find a well-commented template that guides you through every option. For those who prefer a more visual approach, the foxygame.net launcher offers a streamlined way to manage server plugins and mods directly from its menu, making the installation process even smoother. After editing the configuration, run /serverlistplus enable in the console or in-game to activate the changes. The plugin stays disabled until you explicitly enable it, so you can test your setup without affecting live players.
Commands and Permissions at a Glance
ServerListPlus keeps administration simple with a handful of commands, all requiring the serverlistplus.admin permission. Here’s what you need to know:
- /slp – Shows an information page and lists all available commands.
- /slp reload (or /slp rl) – Reloads the configuration from disk without a full server restart.
- /slp save – Saves the current in-memory configuration back to the file.
- /slp enable – Activates the plugin and starts customizing the status ping.
- /slp disable – Turns off the plugin, reverting to the default server list appearance.
- /slp clean
– Clears cached favicons, player heads, or request data.
If another plugin uses /slp, you can always fall back to /serverlistplus. These commands let you tweak everything on the fly, so you never need to take the server offline for a small change.
Diving Into the Configuration
The heart of ServerListPlus lies in its YAML file. You can define multiple profiles, each with its own motd, player count format, hover message, and favicon. The motd supports Minecraft color codes and can be split into two lines. You can use variables like %player%, %online%, %max%, and many others to inject dynamic data. For example:
Motd: - '&aWelcome to MyServer, %player%!' - '&eOnline: %online%/%max%'
The plugin randomly picks one motd from the list each time a client pings, keeping the server list fresh. You can also define weighted randomness if you want certain messages to appear more often. The wiki page (linked in the plugin’s documentation) details every option, from favicon loading methods to advanced virtual host matching.
Privacy and Statistics
ServerListPlus uses MCStats (Plugin Metrics) to collect anonymous usage data. This helps the developer understand which versions are popular and how the plugin is being used. The data includes plugin version, server version, online mode status, player count, and basic system info like OS and Java version. No identifiable information is ever transmitted. If you prefer to opt out, simply set Stats: false in the configuration file. The plugin is fully open source under the GNU General Public License, so you can audit the code yourself or even contribute improvements on GitHub.
Why ServerListPlus Is a Must-Have for Serious Server Owners
A server list entry is your handshake with every potential player. A generic motd and a default icon tell visitors nothing about your community. With ServerListPlus, you can broadcast your server’s personality, current events, or even a live player count with a custom message. The ability to personalize per player and use virtual hosts makes it indispensable for networks. It’s lightweight, actively maintained, and works across all major server platforms. Once you see the difference a well-crafted ping makes, you’ll wonder why you ever settled for the default. Take a few minutes to set it up, and watch your server stand out in a crowded list.