Versions & compatibility
EternalSystem is one jar for Spigot/Paper from 1.8.8 to 26.x. Whatever a Minecraft version does not know yet is simply missing there – the plugin still starts and all other modules run. This page shows which version can do what, and how to check it on your server.
Supported versions
| Range | Status |
|---|---|
| 1.8.8 – 1.13.2 | supported |
| 1.14.x | not supported (see below) |
| 1.15.2 – 1.21.x | supported |
| 26.x | supported |
Tested on: 1.8.8, 1.9.4, 1.12.2, 1.13.2, 1.15.2, 1.16.5, 1.17.1, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.4, 1.20.6, 1.21.1, 1.21.4, 1.21.11 and 26.1.2.
Java
The server needs Java 17 or newer – even on 1.8.
The Eternal Cloud starts 1.8–1.16 on Java 17 automatically (and skips Paper's own Java check). The plugin only fails to load if the task pins an older Java version.
1.14 is not supported
Paper 1.14.4 refuses to start on Java 17 – and Eternal needs Java 17. For everything that exists from 1.14 (crossbow MagicItem, „Held des Dorfes“ ("Hero of the Village") perk …), 1.15.2 is effectively the first usable version.
Harmless messages on 1.13.2 and 1.15.2
On start, Paper 1.13.2 and 1.15.2 write lines like these to the log for every class:
Unsupported class file major version 61
Fatal error trying to convert …
This comes from Paper's legacy converter and is harmless – the plugin works normally.
Update proxy and Spigot together
With this release, BungeeCord and all Spigot servers must be updated at the same time. The plugin message channels were renamed so that 1.8–1.12 accept them as well (at most 20 characters there). Old and new versions do not understand each other.
The auto updater replaces the jar on the proxy and the Spigot servers; it only becomes active after each restart – so restart all of them together.
How Eternal stores data
| What | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Item data (e.g. item ID) | from 1.14 in the PersistentDataContainer; on 1.8–1.13 in a hidden lore line of invisible §-codes with the same key |
| Entity data | from 1.10 as scoreboard tags, below that in memory only |
| Chunk data (placed blocks) | persistent from 1.16, below that in memory only |
| Materials | modern names everywhere; on 1.8–1.12 automatically mapped to the legacy name + data value |
Features by version
| Feature | from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Core, bans, reports, chat, inventory sync, coins, perks, MagicItems basics, party/friends, clans, nick | 1.8 | |
| Farm worlds | 1.8 | up to 26.x; tested on 1.8.8 and 1.21.11 |
| Item locks and item tracking on pickup | 1.8 | from 1.12 via EntityPickupItemEvent, below via PlayerPickupItemEvent – same behaviour |
| Off hand (sync, MagicItems shield) | 1.9 | |
MagicItems shield and elytra, luck perk | 1.9 | |
| NPCs (shop NPC, lobby NPC) | 1.10 | |
| Trident MagicItem (thrown → lightning) | 1.13 | |
Perks dolphins_grace, conduit_power, slow_falling | 1.13 | |
| Hoe: area harvest + replant; axe: replant | 1.13 | |
| Legendary helmet: poison and wither never land | 1.13 | below, only the damage is blocked |
| Replay: world capture | 1.13 | |
| Districts & paid plot merge | 1.13 | needs PlotSquared 7 |
| MagicItems attributes (hearts, speed) | 1.13.2 | below, chestplate and leggings keep their normal values |
Crossbow MagicItem, hero_of_the_village perk | 1.14 → effectively 1.15 | 1.14 is not supported |
| A locked falling block jumps back instead of breaking | 1.14 → effectively 1.15 | below, it breaks into an item normally |
| GUI titles up to 32 characters | – | below 1.14, longer titles are cut automatically |
| Netherite tier for MagicItems | 1.16 | below, diamond is used; everything else works |
| Placed-block tracking, chunk data, hover text API | 1.16 | |
| Replay: players as real fake players | 1.19 | below, as armor stands |
| Scoreboard: red score numbers hidden | Paper 1.20.3 | Paper only; visible below and on Spigot |
| Coins below the name: hidden balances as text | Paper 1.20.3 | |
| Mace MagicItem | 1.21 | |
Spear MagicItem (DIAMOND_SPEAR / NETHERITE_SPEAR, enchantment Lunge) | 1.21.11 |
Sidebar scoreboard: on 1.8–1.12, lines are at most 32 characters long (2 × 16) and the title 32; from 1.13, 2 × 64 characters per line and a title of 128.
Details on MagicItems and perks per version: MagicItems & perks.
Overview: what is missing where
| Version | What is missing |
|---|---|
| 1.8 | Off hand, shield, elytra, luck perk, NPCs, the Mending enchantment; everything from 1.13 (trident, harvest/replant, water perks, MagicItems attributes, replay world capture) and everything later. Entity data in memory only, GUI titles and scoreboard lines 32 characters |
| 1.9 – 1.12 | NPCs only from 1.10, entity data persistent only from 1.10; everything from 1.13 and later. GUI titles and scoreboard lines 32 characters |
| 1.13 – 1.15 | Attributes only from 1.13.2; crossbow and „Held des Dorfes“ ("Hero of the Village") only on 1.15; GUI titles cut on 1.13; no netherite (diamond), no placed-block tracking, chunk data in memory only; replay with armor stands; no mace, no spear |
| 1.16 – 1.20 | Replay fake players only from 1.19; hidden scoreboard numbers and text formats for hidden coins only from Paper 1.20.3; no mace, no spear |
| 1.21+ | nothing – only the spear needs 1.21.11 |
Self check: /eternal compat
/eternal compat shows for this server what runs (permission eternal.admin, always from the console):
- server software and version
- how data is stored (item, entity, chunk data, materials)
- active modules
- MagicItem kinds – including which are missing on this version
- whether netherite is available
- perks – including which are missing
Common pitfalls
- The plugin does not load on an old server: the server runs on Java below 17. In the cloud, install Java 17, or remove or raise the Java version pinned in the task.
- Paper 1.14.4 does not start: 1.14 does not run on Java 17 – switch to 1.15.2 or newer.
- Log full of "Unsupported class file major version 61" (1.13.2/1.15.2): harmless, see above.
- Only the proxy or only Spigot updated: the channels no longer match – bring both to the same release and restart.
- A MagicItem kind is missing from the menu: the item does not exist on this version yet –
/eternal compatshows the missing kinds.