Installation

Install Gamesmith on Paper, add your PRO licence key and build your first game.

Requirements

• Server software: Paper 1.20.6 through 26.3. Spigot and Folia are not supported.
• Java: 21 or newer. Paper 26.x servers need Java 25.
• PRO only: a licence key and internet access for the licence check.
• Optional: MythicMobs, Typewriter, Vault with an economy plugin, PlaceholderAPI, AdvancedSlimePaper. See Integrations.

No other plugins are required. Missing optional plugins never stop Gamesmith from starting.

Install the jar

1. Stop the server

   Avoid Bukkit /reload. Install and update plugins with a full restart.

2. Add the jar

   Place Gamesmith-PRO-1.0.0.jar (or Gamesmith-Lite-1.0.0.jar) in the plugins folder. Use one edition, not both.

3. Start the server once

   Gamesmith writes plugins/Gamesmith/ with config.yml, messages.yml and editor.yml. Lite is ready now. PRO stops itself until you add a key.

Claim your licence key

Gamesmith PRO needs a licence key. Lite does not.

1. Join Discord and verify

   Join the support Discord and run /verify to link your Voxel Shop account to your purchase.

2. Claim the key

   Run /claim GAMESMITH. The bot gives you your key.

3. Paste it into config.yml

   Open plugins/Gamesmith/config.yml and replace the placeholder.

   plugins/Gamesmith/config.yml

   license_key: "PASTE-YOUR-KEY-HERE"
   
4. Restart the server

   The key is checked when the plugin enables. /gs reload does not re-check it, so a new key needs a restart.

PRO needs internet access on startup. It sends the key to the licence server (matt-drm.vercel.app) and looks up the server’s public IP (checkip.amazonaws.com) to identify the machine. If the licence server cannot be reached, PRO starts on a cached check for up to 72 hours after the last successful check with the same key. An invalid key never starts.

What the console says:

Console line	Meaning
Licence verified.	The key is good. PRO is running.
No licence key found. Run /claim GAMESMITH ...	license_key is empty or still YOUR_KEY_HERE.
Invalid licence key. Gamesmith PRO will not start.	The licence server rejected the key. Check you pasted all of it.
Unable to verify the licence. Gamesmith PRO will not start.	The server could not reach the licence server and has no recent cached check.
Licence server unreachable; using the cached verification for this key.	Running on the 72-hour cache.

After a failed check, the console prints Gamesmith PRO licence check failed. Disabling. and the plugin turns itself off.

Join Discord

Run /verify, then /claim GAMESMITH.

First checks

On a good start the console prints one summary line:

Gamesmith PRO 1.0.0: 0 game(s), native forms.

native forms means the editor asks for names and numbers in a native input form (Paper 1.21.6 and newer). Older servers print chat input and ask in chat instead.

PRO also prints a line for each optional plugin it found:

Registered PlaceholderAPI placeholders %gamesmith_...%.
MythicMobs found: mythic:<id> mobs are on.
Typewriter found: the Typewriter action is on.
AdvancedSlimePaper found: fresh-world matches are on.

Make your first game

Stand in an open, empty area. Then run:

/gs create lava lavarise

Gamesmith builds the Lava Rising map around you, moves you to its lobby and opens the editor. The hub shows Ready to play. Click Test to start a match on your own, or close the editor and have players run /gs join lava.

/gs create with a template places blocks where you stand. Templates with a map clear the map’s whole box first. Run it in an empty area, such as a flat or void world set aside for games. If the map does not fit between the world’s height limits, Gamesmith says That map doesn't fit at this height and builds nothing. See the space each map needs.

Template names: sumo, colordrop, lavarise, skysprint, domination, outpost, spleef, koth, waves and blank. See Preset games, or Build a game to start from blank.

Files written

Path	Purpose
plugins/Gamesmith/config.yml	Licence key, editor input, match timings, resets, fresh worlds, sounds
plugins/Gamesmith/messages.yml	Every chat line, title and boss bar text (MiniMessage)
plugins/Gamesmith/editor.yml	Editor button names, lore, materials and slots
plugins/Gamesmith/games/<id>.yml	One file per game, written by the editor
plugins/Gamesmith/data/stats.yml	Wins and games played per player and game
plugins/Gamesmith/data/snapshots/	Saved player state while someone is in a match
plugins/Gamesmith/data/journals/	Arena block changes, for recovery after a crash
plugins/Gamesmith/data/instances/	PRO on AdvancedSlimePaper: fresh-world templates
plugins/Gamesmith/license-cache.yml	PRO: when the key was last verified (stores a hash, never the key)

Keys added to messages.yml and editor.yml in later versions fall back to the copy inside the jar, so you do not have to merge them by hand.

Support template

Plugin: Gamesmith (PRO or Lite)
Version:
Server version:
Java version:
Other plugins:
Game id and template:
Steps to reproduce:
Expected:
Actual:
Console log:

Attach the game’s games/<id>.yml when a game behaves wrong.