Advice on server version

Hello! I'm making a Minecraft server network, and I'm wondering what server version to choose for each server. I'm planning on having a main lobby, some minigames and maybe an SMP as well. For servers like an SMP I would probably choose the latest version since it doesn't make sense to support older versions. But for the lobby, what version would be the best choice there (maybe latest with ViaVersion?)? And for minigames with 1.8 combat, would it be the best to run a 1.8 server, or a later version with a plugin that reverts the combat changes? For a simpler version of the question, what versions did for example Hypixel choose for their servers (lobby, minigames)? I would also like to use a plugin that implements the Slime world format, for example SWM (1.8-1.14) or ASWM (custom server for 1.20.6) for the lobby and minigames servers.
67 Replies
Admincraft Meta
Admincraft Meta7mo ago
Thanks for asking your question!
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Requested by bludood#0
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
Older versions often have exploits / crash exploits requiring you to either use later versions (1.20.4+) or use things like LPX, whatever. I don’t recommend using SWM / ASWM because: 1. not the most stable 2. Just not practical If by ‘minigames’ you mean something like bedwars where it creates a small server and deletes after a game, what’s the point in ASWM? They won’t go beyond generated chunks and the storage usage would be minimal regardless
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
1.21
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
^ There are plugins that bring back old combat mechanics
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
(they all suck ass) (if you want 1.8 combat just use 1.8) (there's no reason for you to want 1.8 combat, 1.8 combat sucks ass) so, anyways: 1.21 the only answer is whatever latest version is available
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
1.8 combat is much better for PvP
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
That is subjective I like 1.9 combat more Because it isn't revolved around abusing my mouse But instead actual skill
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yesh that's why I considered 1.8
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
then you have skill issue good luck finding a good 1.8 fork that is updated and good luck finding plugins that even support 1.8
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
I do want 1.8 combat on the minigames servers but I don't know if it's better to use 1.8 as the server version or use a plugin which reverts the combat changes
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
Just use 1.21 and use via version so players can join on 1.8
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
no.... don't
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
what is your point here, Jenkins? use 1.21 and only allow 1.21?
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
You know there is an 11 year difference between 1.21 and 1.8 right
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah that's what I'm also considering, but as pointed out they do suck a bit
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
Letting 1.8 clients join to a 1.21 server will NOT BE GOOD
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
replying to this lol
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
:Shrug:
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
it does work, but yeah some things are very broken as expected lol
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
There is a 11 year gap of content updates, protocol changes, texture updates, all that kind of stuff
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
mhh
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
You can't just slap a plugin on the server and say "yeah that works good"
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
ViaVersion and its add-ons do a great job on emulating stuff though
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
If you need 1.8 just do 1.8 If you need 1.21 just do 1.21
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
same the other way around, 1.21 on 1.8
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
1.21 on 1.8 will work a lot better
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
ViaVersion is generally fine, but ViaBackwards isn't
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
that's what I'm saying yep
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
just Make sure you protect against crash exploits
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
and for a lobby, should I do 1.21 then I assume
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
Ngl lobby I always do 1.16.5, idk why
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah it's gonna be whitelisted anyways
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
it's like a sweet spot lmao
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah it does have better support true true
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
no, not because of that, but because of via compatability
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah that's better wording lol but yeah the reason I wanted to use something like SWM was because then it's one file instead of a whole directory easier to replicate
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
Yeah… You can try it
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah I should probably just try the different versions and see the ups and downs of all of them
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
fyi by default you can't save worlds with aswm they're gona after a restart
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
wdym I did try it on 1.8
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
aswm doesn't have world saving support by default
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
worked fine
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
^
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
oh right yeah I didn't try that
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
the changes you make will be gone after a restart that's what I know, anyways
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
probably gonna stick with SWM instead
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
but i'm sure it doesn't swm is 1.8 fyi
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
only supports up to 1.14 but doesn't replace the server jar
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
you’ve got SWM, ASWM and advanced slime paper
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah 1.8 - 1.14 haven't heard of advanced Slime paper, I'll check it out
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
It’s for later versions
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
GitHub
GitHub - InfernalSuite/AdvancedSlimePaper: Advanced Slime World Man...
Advanced Slime World Manager as a Paper Fork. Contribute to InfernalSuite/AdvancedSlimePaper development by creating an account on GitHub.
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
oh right I have heard of that but didn't notice the name difference I guess lol on the spigot site it says ASWM but links to ASP
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
ASWM moved to ASP For the future updatss
BluDood
BluDoodOP7mo ago
yeah I noticed that now lol
Dovias
Dovias7mo ago
imanity spigot is usually updated but its paid fork its pumped with shit ton of optimizations for minecraft 1.8
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
I’ve heard imanity spigot is alright
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
imanity is good I have it
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
I’ve heard panda spigot is better but eh
Jenkins
Jenkins7mo ago
no lmao not at all
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
:Shruge: just saying what I’ve heard
Dovias
Dovias7mo ago
we've used imanity spigot before but our country somehow closed the gap after 6 years of 1.8 and everyone migrated to newer versions
Skullians
Skullians7mo ago
fair enough
Dovias
Dovias7mo ago
not sure what had happened, but people just accepted that new content overweighs cons probs
BluDood
BluDoodOP6mo ago
yeah after some testing I did find out that indeed 1.8 on 1.21 is a lot worse than vice versa. I also see that most minigame servers that use 1.8 combat use a modified version of either 1.7 or 1.8, are there any recommended jars I should try? I see imanity is good but I'd like to keep it free since it's such a small server. I could also start out with an open source project and try to patch some stuff? I know a little bit of java from a search I can see that kigpaper and pandaspigot pops up
Secroza
Secroza6mo ago
Just saying the “value” you get of keeping 1.8 diminishes more and more every year. I ran servers back in the day and it mattered so much more than it does now. There is a new generation of players and most of the user base does not care or prefers latest versions. If you want to continually support 1.8 there is less plugins and support on those versions. So be prepared to hire a dev or two to handle some of this if you can’t yourself.

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