---
task_number: 45
status: open
priority: P2
owner: Michael
created: 2026-03-18
---
task_number: 45

# Task: Firefrost "Steam & State" — Flagship Modpack Server

**Status:** PLANNING  
**Priority:** Tier 2 — Major Infrastructure  
**Created:** March 18, 2026  
**Created By:** Chronicler #32  
**Planned Lifespan:** 2 Years (2026–2028)  
**Target Node:** TBD (pending Task #45 Server Sunset Evaluation)

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## Vision

A long-term flagship Minecraft server built around physical industry,
player-run nations, and a living economy. Unlike standard servers that
players "finish" in weeks, Steam & State is designed to sustain a
community for two full years through layered content depth.

The three pillars:
- **Industry** — Create mod factories, machines, and automation
- **Logistics** — Physical train networks connecting player towns
- **Society** — Towny nations with land claims, taxes, and diplomacy

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## Why This Server

Most Minecraft servers die in 3–6 months because players run out of
things to do. Steam & State addresses this with:

- Physical economy (coins, vaults, vending machines — not virtual /pay)
- MineColonies NPCs that keep towns feeling alive at off-peak hours
- Progressive content eras: Industrial Age → Era of Nations → Legacy Era
- CoreProtect logging so 2 years of builds are protected

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## Technical Stack

| Component | Choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Modpack | All of Create (NeoForge 1.21.1) | Best brand recognition, deepest content |
| Server Loader | Arclight 1.21 | Hybrid — runs mods AND Towny plugin simultaneously |
| Java Version | Java 21 (LTS) | Required for NeoForge 1.21, best GC performance |
| Economy Mod | Lightman's Currency | Physical coins, integrates with Create |
| Land Management | Towny Advanced (Plugin) | Land claims, nations, taxes, upkeep |
| Colony Mod | MineColonies | NPC workers, living towns |
| Anti-Grief | CoreProtect (Plugin) | Block logging + rollback for 2 years |
| World Map | BlueMap | Browser-based 3D map, players see empires grow |
| Performance | FerriteCore + ModernFix | RAM reduction, memory leak prevention |

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## JVM Startup Flags (16GB Allocation)

```
-Xms14G -Xmx14G -XX:+UseZGC -XX:+ZGenerational -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch
-XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC
-XX:SoftMaxHeapSize=12G -XX:ParallelGCThreads=4 -XX:ConcGCThreads=2
```

**Why ZGC over G1GC:** Generational ZGC (Java 21 native) handles
Create mod's constant object churn (gears, belts, trains) with near-zero
pause time. Critical for a 2-year server that will grow increasingly complex.

**Memory math:** 14GB heap + 2GB OS/Wings overhead = 16GB total. Never
set heap to full allocation — OOM killer will crash the container.

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## Core Mods List (Confirmed)

- Create (base mod)
- Create: Steam 'n' Rails (train network)
- Create: New Age (electricity end-game)
- Create: Enchantment Industry (late-game content)
- FerriteCore (RAM optimization)
- ModernFix (memory leak prevention)
- MineColonies (NPC colonies)
- Lightman's Currency (physical economy)
- BlueMap (world map)

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## Plugin List (via Arclight Bridge)

- Towny Advanced (land claims + nations)
- Vault (economy bridge)
- CoreProtect (block logging + rollback)
- EssentialsX (basic commands)

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## Open Questions (Resolve Before Deployment)

1. **Arclight stability** — Gemini flagged Magma concerns and recommended
   Arclight 1.21. Needs community verification before committing to a
   2-year server. Check Arclight GitHub issues for NeoForge 1.21 stability.

2. **Node assignment** — Pending Task #45 Server Sunset Evaluation.
   Which existing server comes off the roster to make room? NC1 preferred
   (high entity count performance) but TX1 has more headroom currently.

3. **Database backend** — Towny and MineColonies should use MySQL not
   flat files for a 2-year server. Needs MariaDB database provisioned on
   the target node.

4. **World pre-generation** — Pre-generate the map before launch to
   eliminate chunk loading lag. Chunky mod recommended.

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## 2-Year Roadmap

**Phase 1 — Foundation (Month 1)**
- Deploy Arclight 1.21 + All of Create
- Build "Firefrost Grand Central" spawn station
- Configure Towny, CoreProtect, economy
- Invite founding players to seed first towns

**Phase 2 — The Industrial Age (Months 2–6)**
- Staff-built rail lines connect first three towns
- Economy balancing based on player behavior
- First community event: "The Great Railway Race"

**Phase 3 — Era of Nations (Months 6–18)**
- Large player empires emerge
- Nation wars and trade treaties
- Seasonal server events for prizes

**Phase 4 — The Legacy Era (Months 18–24)**
- World becomes a "digital museum"
- Grand finale event
- Planning for Season 2

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## Proposal for Meg and Holly

A full non-technical proposal document has been drafted for presenting
to Meg and Holly. See: `proposal-meg-holly.md` in this directory.

Key selling points for the team:
- "The Firefrost Express" — central rail hub at spawn
- NPC citizens make towns feel alive even at 3am
- Physical coins and player-owned vending machines
- A world designed to last — players build legacies, not just houses

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## Dependencies

- Task #45 (Server Sunset Evaluation) — must complete first
- Task #6 (Vaultwarden) — for storing database credentials
- MySQL database provisioned on target node

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**Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Love Builds Legacy** 💙🔥❄️
