Towny Guide: Building and Managing Your Minecraft Town

If you’re eager to create a thriving community within your favorite Minecraft server, you’ve come to the right place. Towny is a fantastic plugin that allows you to build and manage towns, fostering collaboration, economic growth, and friendly competition. This guide will help you every step of the way as you embark on creating the town of your dreams.

What is Towny?

Towny enhances Minecraft by adding town-building features, enabling players to claim land, create towns, and form nations. It introduces a new layer of gameplay that encourages teamwork, economic development, and strategic alliances. Whether you’re aiming to build a peaceful village or a bustling city, Towny provides the tools to make it happen.

Getting Started with Towny

Joining a Town

Before starting your own town, it’s beneficial to join an existing one to learn the mechanics and get a feel for town life. Here’s how you can join a town:

1. List Available Towns: Use /town list to view all towns on the server.
2. Find a Suitable Town: Consider factors like size, location, and community.
3. Request an Invitation: Contact the town’s mayor or assistants.
4. Accept the Invitation: Use /accept to join.
5. Teleport to Your New Town: Use /t spawn.

If a town is open to all, you can join directly with /t join <townname>.

Command	Description
/town list	Lists all towns on the server
/accept	Accepts an invitation to join a town
/t spawn	Teleports to the town’s spawn point
/t join <townname>	Joins an open town directly

What to Look for in a Town as a Resident

When selecting a town to join, consider the following:

• Town Size: Larger towns may offer more amenities, while smaller towns might provide a tighter community feel.
• Location: Choose a town situated in a biome you like or near resources you need.
• Town Rules: Ensure the town’s policies on building, taxes, and plot ownership align with your playstyle.
• Community Activity: Active towns with friendly players enhance the gameplay experience.
• Town Projects: Towns with ongoing projects, such as constructing public buildings or organizing events, can offer more engagement opportunities.

Creating Your Own Town

Ready to establish your own town? Here’s how to get started:

1. Accumulate Funds: Ensure you have enough in-game currency to start a town (the cost varies by server).
2. Choose a Location: Find an area that inspires you and suits your plans.
3. Create Your Town: Use /town new <townname> to officially found your town.

Command	Description
/town new <townname>	Creates a new town
/town claim	Claims the current chunk for your town
/town claim outpost	Claims a non-connected chunk as an outpost

Managing Your Town

Claiming Land

Expanding your town’s territory is essential for growth:

1. Stand in the chunk you want to claim.
2. Use /town claim to add it to your town.
3. For non-connected land (if allowed by the server), use /town claim outpost.

Command	Description
/town claim	Claims the current chunk for your town
/town unclaim	Unclaims the current chunk
/town unclaim all	Unclaims all town land (use with caution)

Personal Plots

Allowing residents to own plots within your town encourages investment and creativity:

For Mayors:

• Set a plot for sale using /plot fs [price].

For Residents:

• Find an unclaimed plot and purchase it with /plot claim.

Command	Description
/plot fs [price]	Sets a plot for sale (Mayor only)
/plot claim	Claims a plot for personal use
/plot unclaim	Unclaims a personally owned plot

Setting Permissions

Controlling permissions ensures your town operates smoothly and securely:

• Town-Wide Permissions: Use /town set perm to define what residents and outsiders can do within town borders.
• Individual Plot Permissions: Use /plot set perm to customize permissions for specific plots.

Examples of Permissions:

• Build: Allow or deny building.
• Destroy: Control block breaking.
• Switch: Permit or restrict the use of doors, levers, etc.
• Item Use: Manage the use of items like flint and steel or buckets.

Command	Description
/town set perm	Sets global town permissions
/plot set perm	Sets individual plot permissions
/town toggle pvp	Toggles PvP in the entire town
/plot toggle pvp	Toggles PvP for a specific plot

Adding Residents

Growing your town’s population adds vitality and resources:

• Invite Players: Use /town add <playername> to invite someone.
• Remove Residents: If necessary, use /town kick <playername>.

Command	Description
/town add <playername>	Invites a player to the town
/town kick <playername>	Removes a player from the town

Town Ranks and Roles

Assigning ranks helps in delegating responsibilities and managing the town efficiently:

• Mayor: The town’s leader with full control.
• Assistant: Can manage day-to-day operations, invite residents, and set plot permissions.
• Resident: Regular town member.

You can also create custom ranks to suit your town’s needs.

Assigning Ranks:

Command	Description
/town rank add <playername> <rank>	Assigns a rank to a resident
/town rank remove <playername> <rank>	Removes a rank from a resident

Viewing Your Town Map

Visualizing your town’s layout aids in planning and development:

Command	Description
/t map	Displays a map of your current location
/t map big	Shows a larger version of the map
/t map hud	Toggles a persistent map display on your screen

Creating a Nation

Forming a nation allows you to ally with other towns, offering mutual benefits:

Command	Description
/nation new <nationname>	Creates a new nation
/nation add <townname>	Invites a town to join the nation

Managing Town Finances

A healthy economy is vital for your town’s sustainability:

Command	Description
/town deposit <amount>	Deposits money into the town bank
/town withdraw <amount>	Withdraws money from the town bank
/town set taxes <amount>	Sets the daily tax for residents
/town baltop	Displays the wealthiest residents in the town

Customizing Town Settings

Tailor your town’s environment and rules to suit your vision:

Command	Description
/town toggle pvp	Enables or disables PvP combat within town borders
/town toggle peaceful	Makes your town peaceful
/town toggle public	Controls whether outsiders can visit your town
/town toggle open	Determines if anyone can join your town without an invitation

Building a Great Town

Creating a cool and functional town is essential to attract and keep residents. Here are some tips:

Plan Your Layout

Design your town with clear areas:

• Residential Areas: Set aside plots for houses.
• Commercial Districts: Create spots for shops and marketplaces.
• Industrial Zones: Allocate spaces for farms, mines, and resource production.
• Public Spaces: Add parks, plazas, and community buildings.

Establish a Town Center

Build a main hub that includes:

• Town Hall: The admin center for your town.
• Bank: Handle money and transactions.
• Market Square: Place shops and trade stalls here.
• Community Board: Use /town set board <message> to post announcements.

Provide Infrastructure

Build facilities that make town life better:

• Roads and Pathways: Link different parts of the town.
• Bridges and Tunnels: Get around natural barriers.
• Transportation Systems: Set up railways or boat routes for easy travel.

Build Public Amenities

Improve life for your residents with:

• Farms: Community farms for food and resources.
• Mob Farms: Create mob grinders for experience and loot (make sure they follow server rules).
• Shops: Player-run shops to boost trade and the economy.
• Libraries and Enchanting Rooms: Access to books and enchantments.
• Community Storage: Shared storage with the right permissions and protections.

Set Building Guidelines

Keep your town looking unified by:

• Establishing Themes: Choose architectural styles like medieval or modern.
• Providing Building Materials: Give residents blocks that match the theme.
• Setting Rules: Define guidelines for building heights, styles, and plot usage.

Designate Special Areas

Create zones for specific purposes:

• Resource Gathering: Areas for mining or logging.
• Event Spaces: Places to host games or competitions.
• Tourist Attractions: Unique builds to attract visitors.

Tips for Attracting and Keeping Residents

A lively community makes your town successful:

• Keep Your Town Public: Use /town toggle public to make your town visible and open to new players.
• Set Fair Taxes: Balance the town’s income needs with keeping residents happy.
• Offer Affordable or Free Plots: Help new players join and start building.
• Host Events: Organize building contests, PvP tournaments, or scavenger hunts to engage players.
• Communicate Regularly: Keep everyone informed with the town board or a Discord server.
• Delegate Responsibilities: Assign assistants to help manage the town.
• Provide Protection: Make sure residents’ builds and items are safe by setting the right permissions.
• Foster a Friendly Environment: Promote teamwork and discourage griefing or toxic behavior.

Advanced Town Management

Plot Groups

Managing multiple plots collectively can streamline administration:

Command	Description
/plot group new <name>	Creates a new plot group
/plot group add	Adds the current plot to a group
/plot group remove	Removes the current plot from its group

This allows you to set permissions or sell multiple plots at once.

Town Upkeep

Ensure your town remains operational:

• Maintain the Town Bank: Keep enough funds to cover daily upkeep costs.
• Encourage Contributions: Ask residents to deposit money or resources.
• Adjust Taxes and Plot Prices: Reflect the town’s financial needs.

Generate Income:

• Town Shops: Sell goods to other players.
• Resource Farms: Produce items for sale or use.
• Services: Offer specialized services like building or enchanting.

Common Problems and Solutions

Can’t Claim Plots?

• Check Chunk Borders: Ensure you’re within the chunk (use F3+G).
• Verify Funds: Make sure your town has enough money in the bank.
• Ownership Conflicts: Confirm the land isn’t already claimed by another town or protected area.

Residents Can’t Build?

• Plot Permissions: Check with /plot perm to ensure residents have building rights.
• Town Permissions: Use /town set perm to adjust global settings.

Town Bank is Low?

• Adjust Taxes: Use /town set taxes <amount> to increase revenue.
• Organize Fundraisers: Host events or sell resources to raise funds.
• Review Expenses: Unclaim unused plots to reduce upkeep costs.

Inactive Residents?

• Check Activity: Use /town online to see who’s active.
• Remove Inactives: Consider removing residents who haven’t logged in for an extended period.
• Re-engage Community: Plan projects or events to encourage participation.

How Do I Share a Chest?

Towny doesn’t natively support container locks, but many servers offer plugins to help:

• Use Trust Commands: Some servers have a /trust command to grant access to specific players.
• Use LWC: If your server has the LWC plugin, you can share chests with /lwc share <playername>.

Steps with LWC:

1. Lock a Chest: Interact with the chest to lock it.
2. Share Access: Use /lwc -c private <playername> while looking at the chest.

Server-Specific Plugins: Check if your server has other chest protection plugins and learn their commands.

Final Thoughts

Building and managing your own town in Minecraft is an exciting and rewarding endeavor. With careful planning, community engagement, and effective management, your town can become a thriving hub that players are eager to join.

Remember, the success of your town isn’t just about impressive builds or wealth—it’s about creating a welcoming community where players can collaborate, have fun, and make lasting memories.

Good luck on your journey, and may your town flourish in the world of Minecraft!

With this guide, you’re now equipped to create and manage a vibrant town in Minecraft using the Towny plugin. Embrace the challenges, enjoy the process, and watch your vision come to life!