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ServerRoles

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What ServerRoles is

ServerRoles is a free role and permissions plugin for Paper or Purpur servers. Server administrators use the `/role` command to configure display names, prefixes, hex colors, priorities, permissions, inheritance, and operator status. Roles can be assigned for a set duration and revert to the default role when they expire. The plugin supports YAML storage by default, as well as SQLite and MySQL. Permission rules allow inherited permissions and negation with a leading hyphen. Role prefixes and colors can be added to chat through a configurable option. Optional PlaceholderAPI integration supplies nine placeholders, with examples for TAB, chat, hologram, and scoreboard plugins. Other plugins can query or change roles through the developer API, which documents a cancellable role-change event for online players. The documented requirements are Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later. Installation involves placing a release JAR in the server's `plugins/` folder. The documentation says ServerRoles is intended as the sole permission provider and warns that another permission plugin may conflict. Expiration checks run at player join and every five minutes, so a temporary role can remain active briefly after its set duration.

Who it suits

ServerRoles suits administrators of Paper or Purpur servers who need role-based permissions, prefixes, and temporary assignments. It is also relevant to server operators who want YAML, SQLite, or MySQL storage and plugin API access.

What it does well

Roles support prefixes, priorities, permissions, and inheritance.
Temporary roles revert to the default role.
Supports YAML, SQLite, and MySQL storage.
Optional PlaceholderAPI integration supplies nine placeholders.
Licensed under GPL-3.0.

What to know first

Requires Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later.
Another permission plugin may conflict.
Expiry checks can lag by up to five minutes.

Limits

Role expiration is checked when a player joins and every five minutes, so expiration can be delayed by up to five minutes. ServerRoles is designed to be the sole permission provider, and another permission plugin may conflict.

Getting started

Use a Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 server with Java 21 or later.
Download the JAR from the repository's releases page.
Place the JAR in the server's `plugins/` folder.
Use `/role` commands to configure roles and assignments.
Configure YAML, SQLite, or MySQL storage as needed.

Verdict

ServerRoles brings role configuration, timed assignments, storage choices, and plugin integration to supported Paper and Purpur servers. Its sole-permission-provider design and possible conflicts with other permission plugins are important considerations before installation.

Questions

How much does ServerRoles cost?

ServerRoles is free.

Which servers does it support?

The documented requirements are Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later.

How is it installed?

Download a JAR from the releases page and place it in the server's `plugins/` folder.

Which storage backends can it use?

It supports YAML, SQLite, and MySQL. YAML is the default.

Can it assign temporary roles?

Yes. Assignments can use day, hour, and minute durations, then revert to the default role when they expire.

What license does it use?

The repository identifies ServerRoles as GPL-3.0 licensed.

Facts from ServerRoles's own pages

Access control: All /role administration commands require the serverroles.admin permission, which defaults to operators. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Chat formatting: The plugin can automatically add a player's role prefix and color to chat, and this feature can be toggled in configuration. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Developer API: Other plugins can query and change player roles and permissions through the ServerRoles API, and listen for a cancellable role-change event that fires for online players. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Expiry timing: Expired temporary roles are checked every five minutes and when a player joins, so scheduled expiry may be delayed by up to five minutes. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Installation: Installation consists of placing the downloaded ServerRoles JAR in the server's plugins folder and starting or restarting the server. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Integrations: Optional PlaceholderAPI integration provides nine placeholders, usable by compatible plugins such as TAB, DeluxeChat, Essentials, HolographicDisplays, DecentHolograms, and scoreboard plugins. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
License: The repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Localization: Player-facing messages are translatable, and the repository lists English (en_US) and Portuguese (pt_PT) as bundled options. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Notable limitation: The project says ServerRoles is designed to be the sole permission provider, and warns that another permission plugin such as LuckPerms may conflict. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Permission provider limitation: The documentation says ServerRoles is designed to be the sole permission provider and warns that another permission plugin such as LuckPerms may conflict. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Permission rules: Roles support permission nodes, inherited permissions, and permission negation using a leading hyphen. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Purpose: ServerRoles is a lightweight role-based permission and prefix management plugin for Paper and Purpur 1.21.11 servers running Java 21 or later. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Requirements: The documented requirements are Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Role management: It lets admins create and edit roles with display names, hex-colored prefixes, priorities, permission inheritance, and optional operator status. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Storage: Role data can be stored in YAML, SQLite, or MySQL, with YAML as the default backend. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Temporary assignments: Temporary roles accept combined day, hour, and minute durations, then revert players to the default role when they expire. · github.com, 3 Oct 2026
Temporary roles: Roles can be assigned for a set duration and revert to the default role when they expire. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026

Where ServerRoles stands on Freedom251

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