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Nicked

Packet-level nickname plugin with skin changing, a full developer API, and PlaceholderAPI support.

Nicked lets operators and players adopt a completely different identity on the server — a different name and a different skin — without the real player ever being exposed to others. Everything is handled at the packet level, so the change is seamless and requires no client mods.

Features

  • Packet-level nicking

    Names are rewritten inside PLAYER_INFO_UPDATE packets before they reach clients. No client mods needed. Works with 1.20+ Paper and Spigot servers.

  • Skin changing

    When a nick is applied, Nicked fetches the corresponding Mojang skin asynchronously and rewrites it in the same packet. The nicked player even sees their own new skin (optional, enabled by default).

  • Developer API

    A clean, well-documented Java API lets other plugins check nick state, apply or remove nicks programmatically, and listen to five purpose-built events.

  • PlaceholderAPI support

    Three placeholders — %nicked_displayname%, %nicked_is_nicked%, and %nicked_real_name% — integrate with any chat, scoreboard, or tab-list plugin that supports PlaceholderAPI.

  • Persistence

    Nicks can survive player logouts and full server restarts. Persistent data is stored in plugins/Nicked/nicks.yml and restored automatically on join.

  • Customisable messages

    Every message is defined in messages.yml using MiniMessage format. Gradients, hex colours, hover events — anything MiniMessage supports is fair game.

Requirements

Requirement Version
Java 21 or newer
Spigot / Paper 1.20 or newer
PacketEvents Bundled (no separate installation needed)

Optional dependencies

Plugin Purpose
PlaceholderAPI Enables %nicked_*% placeholders
ProtocolLib / ViaVersion / ViaBackwards / ViaRewind / Geyser-Spigot Soft-depend listed for compatibility; no active integration

Quick Start

  1. Drop Nicked.jar into your plugins/ folder.
  2. Restart the server.
  3. Grant nicked.admin to yourself (OPs have it by default).
  4. Run /nick Dream and watch your name and skin change instantly.
  5. Run /nick again (no arguments) or /unnick to revert.
Page What you'll find
Getting Started Installation walkthrough, first-run tips
Commands Every command with arguments, examples, and edge cases
Configuration Full config.yml reference
Messages Customising every plugin message
Permissions All permission nodes
Developer API Accessing the API, listening to events, code examples
PlaceholderAPI All three placeholders and usage examples