v1.5.0

v1.5.0 - The Holograms & Calendar Update! 📅🔮

This update brings two of the most requested features to make scheduling your Nether opening easier, along with a massive visual upgrade for your portals!

✨ New Features:

• Specific Date & Time (Calendar Mode): You no longer need to calculate how many minutes are left for your event! You can now set an exact real-world date in the config (e.g., 2026-07-12 17:30) and the plugin will automatically calculate the countdown. (You can still use the classic relative timer if you prefer).
• Temporary Holograms: When a player attempts to enter a sealed portal, a floating, highly-optimized holographic countdown will spawn directly inside the portal frame for a few seconds. Fully compatible from 1.16 to 1.21!

🔄 Command & Logic Changes:

• Fixed /netherblocker reload: Reloading the plugin will now only refresh your visual settings, texts, and effects without altering the active running timer.
• New Command /netherblocker reset: We've added a new command specifically for hard-resetting the timer. This will delete the active countdown and recalculate a fresh one using the values in your config.yml.

⚠️ Important Note for Updating:
Because this version introduces the new specific-date and display.hologram features, you MUST regenerate your config.yml.
Please delete your old config.yml file and let the plugin generate the new one upon restarting the server!

v1.4.0

v1.4.0 - Minor Update: The Immersion & Control Update!

This is a massive feature update that brings total control to server admins and makes the Nether restriction much more immersive and fun for players.

✨ New Features & Mechanics:

• Display Options (BossBar Integration): You now have total control over the UI! You can display the countdown using the traditional Action Bar, a brand new customizable BossBar (choose the color and style), both at the same time, or neither (if you solely rely on PlaceholderAPI).
• Dynamic Admin Commands: You no longer need to edit the config and reload just to adjust the timer. Manage the portal directly in-game:
  • /netherblocker open - Forcefully opens the Nether instantly.
  • /netherblocker add <minutes> - Adds time to the current countdown.
  • /netherblocker remove <minutes> - Removes time from the current countdown.
• Immersive Portal Effects: When a player tries to force their way into a sealed portal, the portal fights back! You can now enable:
  • Knockback: Pushes the player away from the portal frame.
  • Particles: Spawns visual effects (like flames or smoke) upon denial.
  • Potion Effects: Applies temporary debuffs (like Blindness or Nausea) for trying to cross.
  • (All effects are fully customizable and toggleable in the config).
• Multi-world Support: You can now specify exactly which worlds the plugin should affect. Perfect for servers that have separate Survival and Minigame worlds!

⚙️ Under-the-hood:

• Optimized code structure to handle the new BossBar and display toggles without impacting server performance.

⚠️ Important Note for Updating:
Because this version introduces major additions like the BossBar, multi-world support, and effects, you MUST regenerate your config.yml.
Please back up your current timer, delete the old config.yml file, and let the plugin generate the new one upon restarting!

v1.3.1

v1.3.0 - Major Update: Placeholders, Bypass & Sounds!

This is a massive update bringing some of the most requested features to give you ultimate control over your server's Nether access, alongside new immersive details.

✨ New Features & Mechanics:

• PlaceholderAPI Support: You can now use the %netherblocker_time% placeholder to display the remaining countdown anywhere on your server! Perfect for custom scoreboards, holograms, or UI menus.
• Bypass Permissions: Added the netherblocker.bypass permission. You can now grant your Admins, Staff, or VIP players the ability to walk through sealed portals without waiting for the timer.
• Immersive Auditory Feedback: Added a new sound effect! Players will now hear a denial sound when they try to cross a portal while the Nether is still locked, making the restriction feel much more natural.

📈 Integrations & Tweaks:

• bStats Integration: Securely implemented bStats to collect basic, anonymous statistics (like server version). This helps me understand the community's needs and focus on optimizing for the most used versions!
• Config Documentation: Added helpful comments inside the config.yml so you can easily reference permissions and placeholders directly from your editor.
• Under-the-hood: General code cleanup and optimization to ensure the plugin runs smoothly without impacting your server's performance.

💡 Note: You do not need to delete your old config.yml for this update to work, but regenerating it (or copying the new one from the Wiki) will show the new helpful comments!