NetworkNick

NetworkNick is a lightweight, network-aware nickname plugin for Paper and Spigot that provides persistent, Redis-backed nicknames with full support for PlaceholderAPI, LuckPerms, and modern multi-server environments.

Designed for modern servers and proxy networks, NetworkNick focuses on correctness, timing, and compatibility — ensuring nicknames apply before join messages, sync instantly across servers, and respect offline permissions.

Changelog

1.0.1

Network-wide nicknames via Redis
Join-time correctness (%player_displayname% works in join messages)
Offline-safe nickname exemption (LuckPerms integration)
Hide / unhide system with prior nickname restoration
Robust enforcement against late plugin overrides
PlaceholderAPI support
Clean reload support
Paper & Spigot compatible (no NMS, no ProtocolLib)

Overview

NetworkNick allows players to set nicknames that:

Persist across restarts and reconnects
Synchronize instantly across multiple backend servers
Appear correctly in join messages, chat, TAB, and scoreboards
Respect permissions, formatting rules, and offline exemptions

The plugin is built around a Redis source of truth, with careful handling of join timing to ensure %player_displayname% always reflects the correct nickname.

Core Features

Nicknames

Set custom nicknames with /nick
Supports legacy color codes (&a) and hex colors (&#RRGGBB)
Optional formatting permissions (&l, &o, &k, etc.)
Safe length enforcement (3–16 visible characters)

Hide / Unhide

/hide obfuscates your name using &k
/unhide restores your previous nickname or real name
Prior nicknames are stored safely and restored correctly

Network Sync

Redis-backed nickname storage
Real-time updates across all servers
Automatic re-application on join, reload, and reconnect

Exempt Players

networknick.exempt prevents other players from changing or unhiding your nickname
Uses the LuckPerms API to check permissions even when the player is offline
Safe asynchronous handling (no main-thread blocking)

Enforcement System

Optional short-term enforcement to beat late plugin overrides
Protects against plugins that reset display names after join

Placeholder Support

PlaceholderAPI integration
Custom placeholders for network-aware name handling

Requirements

Java 21
Paper or Spigot 1.20+
Redis server (required)
Optional but recommended: LuckPerms
Optional: PlaceholderAPI

Installation

Single-Server Setup

Download NetworkNick-1.0.0.jar
Place it in your server's plugins/ directory
Start the server
Configure permissions (LuckPerms recommended)
Restart or run /networknick reload

Multi-Server Setup

Recommended for Velocity or BungeeCord environments.

Requirements

Shared Redis instance
Identical plugin configuration across all backend servers

Steps

Configure Redis connectivity
Ensure all backend servers connect to the same Redis instance
Restart all servers

Features

Network-wide nicknames
Instant synchronization across servers
Consistent join messages everywhere

Redis acts as the source of truth
Local caches are ephemeral and safe

Commands

Player Commands

Command	Description	Permission
`/nick <name>`	Set your nickname	`networknick.nick`
`/nick off`	Clear your nickname	`networknick.nick.clear`
`/hide`	Hide your name	`networknick.hide`
`/unhide`	Restore your name	`networknick.unhide`

Admin Commands

Command	Description	Permission
`/nick <player> <name>`	Set another player's nickname	`networknick.nick.others`
`/nick <player> off`	Clear another player's nickname	`networknick.nick.others.clear`
`/unhide <player>`	Unhide another player	`networknick.unhide.others`
`/networknick reload`	Reload config and Redis	`networknick.reload`

Permissions

Core

Permission	Description	Default
`networknick.nick`	Use `/nick`	op
`networknick.nick.clear`	Clear own nickname	op
`networknick.hide`	Use `/hide`	op
`networknick.unhide`	Use `/unhide`	op

Moderation

Permission	Description
`networknick.nick.others`	Set others' nicknames
`networknick.nick.others.clear`	Clear others' nicknames
`networknick.unhide.others`	Unhide others

Formatting

Permission	Description
`networknick.nick.colors`	Color and hex codes
`networknick.nick.format.k`	Obfuscated
`networknick.nick.format.l`	Bold
`networknick.nick.format.m`	Strikethrough
`networknick.nick.format.n`	Underline
`networknick.nick.format.o`	Italic
`networknick.nick.format.r`	Reset

Protection

Permission	Description
`networknick.exempt`	Prevent others from changing or unhiding your nickname

(PlaceholderAPI)

Placeholder	Description
`%networknick_name%`	Visible nickname (or real name)
`%networknick_unhidden%`	Real name or prior nickname
`%networknick_hidden%`	`true` or `false`

Note: %player_displayname% will also reflect the nickname, as NetworkNick applies it before join messages are processed. Just make sure if you're using essentials you have change-displayname set to false in their config.

Planned Enhancements

None currently. Open to suggestions

License

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0
See LICENSE for details.

Credits

Developed by Chumbucket
Built for the Chumbucket Network
https://www.chumbucket.net