Dimension Locks

Control access to the Nether and End dimensions on your server.

Overview

This feature locks the Nether and End dimensions, preventing players from entering.

Why Lock Dimensions?

On a new SMP server, experienced players often rush to the Nether and End within the first few days:

• Players obtain powerful gear (netherite, elytra) before others have iron
• The Ender Dragon is killed before most players can participate
• The shared exploration experience is lost
• Server economy becomes unbalanced quickly

Locking dimensions initially keeps all players at the same progression level.

How It Works

Dimension locks prevent players from entering the Nether or End through portals:

• Nether Portals - Blocked, player sees a customizable message
• End Portals - Blocked, player sees a customizable message

When a player attempts to enter a locked dimension, they receive a configurable message explaining that the dimension is not yet available.

Configuration

Nether Lock

features:
  dimension-lock-nether:
    enabled: false
    locked: false
    locked-message: "§cThe Nether is currently locked!"

End Lock

features:
  dimension-lock-end:
    enabled: false
    locked: false
    locked-message: "§cThe End is currently locked!"

Configuration Options

Option	Type	Default	Description
enabled	boolean	false	Whether the lock feature is active
locked	boolean	false	Whether the dimension is currently locked
locked-message	string	(see above)	Message shown when access is blocked

Message Formatting

The message supports Minecraft color codes:

locked-message: "§c§lACCESS DENIED! §7The Nether opens on §eJanuary 15th§7."

Code	Color
§c	Red
§7	Gray
§e	Yellow
§a	Green
§l	Bold

Using the GUI

Opening Dimension Lock Settings

1. Run /smp to open the main menu
2. Click on "Nether Lock" or "End Lock"

Toggling the Lock

In the dimension lock menu:

1. The current status is displayed prominently
2. Left-click to toggle the feature on/off
3. Right-click to toggle the lock state (locked/unlocked)

Commands

Nether Commands

Command	Description	Permission
/nether	Display current Nether lock status	smp.dimension.nether
/nether open	Unlock the Nether	smp.dimension.nether
/nether close	Lock the Nether	smp.dimension.nether

End Commands

Command	Description	Permission
/end	Display current End lock status	smp.dimension.end
/end open	Unlock the End	smp.dimension.end
/end close	Lock the End	smp.dimension.end

Bypass Permissions

Staff members may need to enter locked dimensions for testing or administration:

Permission	Description
smp.dimension.bypass.nether	Enter the Nether even when locked
smp.dimension.bypass.end	Enter the End even when locked

Progression Strategies

Weekly Unlock Schedule

A common approach for new SMPs:

Week	Status	Milestone
Week 1	Both Locked	Players establish bases, gather overworld resources
Week 2	Nether Opens	Players can access nether materials, brewing
Week 3	Both Open	Players can fight the dragon, access End cities

Event-Based Unlocks

Unlock dimensions as community milestones or events:

Dragon Fight Event:

1. Keep the End locked until you're ready
2. Announce the event date in advance
3. Have all players gather at spawn at the scheduled time
4. Run /end open to unlock
5. Players race to the stronghold and fight together

Nether Rush Event:

1. Announce a specific time when the Nether will unlock
2. Players prepare by gathering obsidian and building portals
3. At the designated time, run /nether open
4. The race for nether resources begins

Integration with Other Features

• Netherite Disabler: Combine with Nether Lock for complete netherite control
• Mob Manager: Control mob spawning in dimensions when unlocked