SimpleTextOnScreen
Keeping players informed and immersed on a Minecraft server often requires more than just chat messages. SimpleTextOnScreen for Minecraft is a powerful Paper plugin that puts dynamic on-screen displays right at your fingertips. Whether you need to broadcast a server restart warning, highlight a player’s achievement, or run a countdown timer during an event, this tool handles it all with clean commands and full color support. It is lightweight, easy to configure, and designed to work seamlessly with modern Paper servers.
Why SimpleTextOnScreen Stands Out
Unlike basic announcement plugins, SimpleTextOnScreen gives you granular control over how text appears on each player’s screen. You can target specific individuals, random players, or the entire server with a single command. The plugin supports standard Minecraft color codes using the ampersand symbol, so your messages can be vibrant and attention-grabbing. From large centered titles to subtle action bar hints, every message type serves a distinct purpose.
Core Message Types
- Title – A large, centered text that dominates the screen for a configurable duration.
- Subtitle – A smaller line of text that appears just below the title, perfect for additional context.
- ActionBar – Text displayed above the hotbar, ideal for non-intrusive tips or status updates.
- Timer – A countdown timer shown in the action bar, with a fully customizable message that can include the %time% placeholder.
- Repeat – Repeating action bar messages with adjustable interval and number of repeats, great for periodic reminders.
Flexible Targeting and Formatting
Every command accepts a selector argument, so you can send messages to @a (all players), @p (nearest), @r (random), @s (yourself), or a specific player name. Color and formatting codes like &6 for gold, &l for bold, and &c for red are fully supported, letting you create visually distinct alerts. Tab completion is built in, making command entry faster and reducing typos.
Commands and Usage
The main command is /stos, and its syntax is straightforward. Once you learn the pattern, you can craft any on-screen message in seconds.
Command Syntax
Here is the basic structure for each message type:
- /stos title <selector> <message>
- /stos subtitle <selector> <message>
- /stos actionbar <selector> <message>
- /stos timer <selector> <seconds> [message]
- /stos repeat <selector> <interval(sec)> <times> <message>
Practical Examples
To send a gold title warning all players about a restart, you would run: /stos title @a &6Attention! &cServer restart in 5 minutes. A welcome-back subtitle just for yourself: /stos subtitle @s &aWelcome back! An action bar message to a random player: /stos actionbar @r &b+10 XP. A 10-second timer with a custom countdown: /stos timer @a 10 &eTime left: &6%time% &eseconds. And a repeating warning every 3 seconds, 5 times: /stos repeat @p 3 5 &l&4WARNING!
Configuration and Localization
After the first run, SimpleTextOnScreen creates a configuration folder with two key files. config.yml lets you adjust the fade-in, stay, and fade-out times for titles and subtitles in ticks (20 ticks = 1 second). This means you can fine-tune exactly how long messages linger on screen. The lang.yml file stores all plugin messages, so you can translate every response into your server’s preferred language. Whether you need German, Spanish, or Japanese, the localization system makes it painless.
How to Install SimpleTextOnScreen
Getting started is simple. First, download SimpleTextOnScreen from the official source and place the JAR file into your server’s plugins folder. Then restart the server or run /reload confirm. The plugin requires Paper 1.21.11 or newer, though it may work on other Paper-based forks, and Java 21. If you use the foxygame.net launcher, you can find SimpleTextOnScreen in its add-on catalog and install it with a single click, ensuring version compatibility and automatic updates without manual file handling. After installation, edit config.yml and lang.yml to match your preferences, and you are ready to go.
Permissions and Support
The plugin uses a single permission node: stos.use, which defaults to operators. This keeps control in the hands of trusted staff while allowing you to grant access to other roles if needed. Should you run into any issues, the developer welcomes feedback and suggestions. The plugin is open-source under the MIT License, so you can even peek at the code or contribute improvements.
Conclusion
SimpleTextOnScreen transforms how you communicate with players, moving beyond the chat box and onto the screen itself. With support for titles, subtitles, action bars, timers, and repeating messages, plus full color formatting and flexible targeting, it is an essential tool for any server administrator. The clean command structure, tab completion, and easy localization make it accessible even for beginners. Whether you are running a minigame network, a survival world, or an event server, this plugin helps you deliver information exactly where players will see it.