Player handbook
Rules & Guide
Everything you need before your first session — the community rules, and a step-by-step guide to installing the pack and joining the server.
Welcome to MakeShift SMP — a Create Mod server focused on creativity, respect, and collaboration. Please review all rules carefully to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Core Rules
Griefing & Theft
- Griefing, stealing, and sabotage are strictly prohibited.
- Use chunk claims to protect your builds.
- Respect all player-owned and public structures.
- Claiming existing structures is only permitted 3,000+ blocks from Spawn (2,000 in the Nether). Villages are excluded.
Mods, Cheats & Exploits
- External mods, hacks, or exploits are not allowed.
- This includes Freecam, X-ray, or any unfair advantage.
- Auto-clickers or similar tools are prohibited.
- Gameplay must remain fair and balanced at all times.
Enforcement
- Follow all instructions given by staff and moderators.
- Rule violations may result in warnings, mutes, or bans.
- Severe or repeated offenses may lead to permanent bans.
Community Conduct
Behavior & Respect
- Treat all players with kindness and respect.
- Public chat should be conducted in English.
- Harassment, discrimination, or toxic behavior is not tolerated.
- Avoid discussions involving politics, religion, or controversial topics.
- No spamming, trolling, or offensive content.
- NSFW content is strictly prohibited (including chat, skins, builds, and usernames).
- Recommended age is 16+ (younger players must demonstrate maturity).
- Respect staff decisions, provided they are reasonable.
Gameplay & Building
- Focus on automation, machinery, and creative builds.
- Trading and shop systems are encouraged.
- PvP is only allowed with mutual consent.
Building Rules
Base Building
- Build your base at least 300 blocks away from Spawn.
- Maintain a distance of at least 8 chunks from other claims.
- Do not build inside the designated spawn protection.
- Remove or report abandoned builds.
- Cobblestone generators using contraptions and Silverfish XP farms are not allowed. Use approved alternatives from the #schematics channel in Discord.
- Optimize lag-heavy contraptions or ask staff for assistance.
Environment Rules
- Avoid unnecessary environmental damage — use the mining dimension for large-scale digging and tunnels.
- Do not create disruptive or low-effort structures (e.g., long cobblestone lines, basic dirt/cobble boxes).
Public Railways
Railway Standards
- Follow right-hand drive on all public main lines.
- Maintain 5 blocks of spacing between parallel tracks.
- Keep tracks straight where possible and use smooth, wide curves.
- Refer to the Rail Network section for approved designs.
- You can ask for help in the #train-network channel in Discord.
Main Highways
- Must be 7 blocks apart when running parallel.
- Must follow right-hand drive.
- Designed for long-distance travel between major settlements and public hubs.
Branch Lines
- Must be 5 blocks apart when running parallel.
- Connect towns, districts, and secondary destinations to the main network.
- Should follow the same direction conventions as the main highway they connect to.
Private Connections
- Tracks connecting a player's base to a branch line may use any spacing or design.
- Players may use either driving side within their private rail systems.
Station Naming
- To avoid confusion, all public stations must use a unique identifier prefix.
- THA_ — ThaMaTTeR locations.
- FACT_ — KSAW locations.
- Other communities or projects should use their own consistent prefix.
Spawn Shops
Shop Guidelines
- Plan your build before claiming a shop plot.
- Empty or inactive plots will be cleared after 48 hours (no refunds).
- Prices should remain fair and reasonable, considering effort and materials.
- Shop claims are intended for trading and storefronts only.
- Factories, automated production systems, and any form of resource generation are strictly prohibited within shop claims.
- Small decorative contraptions or display mechanisms are allowed, provided they do not produce items or cause lag.
Questions about a rule, or unsure whether something is allowed? Ask the staff team in Discord before acting — honest questions are always welcome.
First Time Joining Makeshift
Welcome aboard! Before joining the server, there is one important thing you need to do.
Reading the rules is considered a matter of course for all players. By joining the server, you are expected to have read and understood them.
Joining the Server
- 1
Install the Modpack
Follow the installation guide below and make sure you can launch the game successfully.
- 2
Start Minecraft
Launch the Makeshift Modpack through the Modrinth Launcher.
- 3
Add the Server
Navigate to Multiplayer — the server should already be added.
- 4
Join the Server
Click Join Server and wait for the world to load.
- 5
Complete Any Required Verification
If prompted, follow the instructions provided by staff or the server's onboarding system.
Multi-Server Network
Makeshift offers multiple worlds accessible directly from the lobby, each designed for a different purpose.
Survival World
The main Makeshift experience.
- Build your base and factory
- Explore, automate, and collaborate
- Create long-term projects with the community
- Home of the public railway network
Mining Dimension
A world dedicated to resource gathering.
- Mine without scarring the main world
- Perfect for large-scale excavation projects
- Gather resources efficiently
- Helps keep the Survival world looking great
Resets frequently — leave the dimension before you log off the server. Building bases here is not allowed.
Creative Plot Server
Concept phaseCurrently being explored as a future feature.
- Test builds before constructing them in Survival
- Design Create contraptions and train networks
- Experiment without resource limitations
- May be added based on community interest and technical feasibility
Before You Begin
- Read the rules
- Make sure your game is using the latest Makeshift version
- Be respectful to other players
- Ask questions if you're unsure about something
Welcome to Makeshift! Build big. Automate everything. Create something amazing.
Modpack Installation
The Makeshift team currently supports Modrinth as the official launcher.
- 1
Download the Modrinth Launcher
Get it from modrinth.com.
- 2
Open the launcher and sign in
Or create an account if you don't have one yet.
- 3
Search for MakeshiftSMP
Find the pack in the launcher's search.
- 4
Click Install
Wait for the download to complete.
- 5
Launch the game
And enjoy Makeshift!
Requirements & Recommendations
Makeshift is designed to run well even on older hardware, but for the best experience we recommend:
- 4 GB+ RAM allocated to Minecraft
- Installing on an SSD (recommended)
- Using optimized JVM arguments
Recommended JVM arguments
-Xms2G -Xmx4G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:G1NewSizePercent=20 -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=15 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=32M
These settings can help improve performance and reduce lag spikes on many systems.
Need Help?
Having issues installing the pack? Visit the #support channel in Discord and a staff member or community member will gladly help you get started.