firefrost-operations-manual/docs/planning/subscription-tiers.md

Firefrost Gaming: Subscription Tier Structure

Version: 1.0
Created: February 8, 2026
Status: Final - Approved by Michael & Meg
Payment Processor: Stripe
Primary Platform: Minecraft (13+ servers)

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The Foundation: Fire + Frost Philosophy

Firefrost Gaming operates on a dual-path subscription model that reflects the balance of passion and precision:

• 🔥 Path of Fire - The Way of the Flamecrafter
• ❄️ Path of Frost - The Way of the Crystal Engineer

Both paths offer identical mechanical perks but different community identity and Discord access.

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The $1.00 "Awakened" Gateway (The Handshake)

Purpose

The $1.00 one-time payment is not a revenue stream - it is a security protocol.

Core Philosophy:

"If you want to be an asshole, you have to pay for it."

What The Handshake Provides:

1. 🛡️ Bot & Troll Frostwall - Financial friction stops 99% of automated spam and drive-by harassment
2. 📋 Traceability & Accountability - Payment creates financial identity trail, enables permanent bans
3. 🧠 Psychological Investment - Even $1 creates "citizen mindset" and community respect
4. 🎮 Server Whitelist - Access to all 13+ Firefrost Minecraft servers
5. ⚙️ Technical Gateway - Automated webhook → Discord role → whitelist sync

What It Does NOT Do:

• ❌ Age verification (handled separately with proper legal methods)
• ❌ Revenue generation (this is infrastructure protection)

Meg's Pitch (The Emissary):
"One dollar, one time, one family. The Handshake proves you're here to build with us, not break what we've made."

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Complete Tier Progression

Tier	Price	Server Access	Homes	Chunks	Force-Load	/rtp Cooldown	Path
Wanderer	Free	❌ None	0	0	0	❌ None	None
Awakened	$1 (once)	✅ All servers	1	0	0	❌ None	Pre-Path
Elemental	$5/mo	✅ All servers	5	25	0	60 min	Fire OR Frost
Knight	$10/mo	✅ All servers	10	49	4	30 min	Fire OR Frost
Master	$15/mo	✅ All servers	20	100	9	15 min	Fire OR Frost
Legend	$20/mo	✅ All servers	35	121	16	10 min	Fire OR Frost
Sovereign	$499 (life)	✅ All servers	50	225	81	None	BOTH

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Tier Descriptions

Tier 0: Wanderer (Free)

Status: No subscription
Access: Discord public channels only
Server Access: None (not whitelisted)
Purpose: Browse community, see what Firefrost offers, decide if they want to join

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Tier 1: The Awakened ($1.00 One-Time)

Status: Pre-Path (no Fire/Frost assignment yet)
Server Access: Whitelisted on all 13+ Minecraft servers
Discord Access: The Crossroads channels (can see Path channels, but locked until $5 Elemental)

In-Game Perks:

• 1 home - /sethome and /home commands
• 0 claimed chunks - Cannot claim territory yet
• 0 force-loaded chunks - No persistent chunk loading
• No /rtp access - Cannot random teleport

Chat Display:

[The Awakened] PlayerName: message here

Color: #FFFFFF (White)

Purpose: Entry to the family. Prove you're serious. Explore servers with minimal perks. Decide if you want to commit to a Path at $5.

The Handshake: This payment unlocks permanent server whitelist and Discord community membership.

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Tier 2: Elemental ($5.00/month)

Status: CHOOSE YOUR PATH - Fire OR Frost
Server Access: All 13+ Minecraft servers
Discord Access: Path-exclusive channels unlock

In-Game Perks:

• 5 homes - Multiple safe points across servers
• 25 claimed chunks - Protected territory
• 0 force-loaded chunks - Chunks unload when offline
• /rtp with 60 minute cooldown - Random teleport exploration

Discord Roles & Chat Display:

Fire Elemental:

[🔥 Fire Elemental] Gingerfury: message here

Color: #FF3D00 (Deep Orange/Red - Fire Primary)

Frost Elemental:

[❄️ Frost Elemental] Frostystyle: message here

Color: #00E5FF (Electric Cyan - Frost Primary)

Path Identity:

• Fire Path: Access to Fire-exclusive Discord channels, Flamecrafter community
• Frost Path: Access to Frost-exclusive Discord channels, Crystal Engineer community

Purpose: Commit to a path. Join either Meg's Fire community or Michael's Frost infrastructure. Begin building with territory protection.

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Tier 3: Knight ($10.00/month)

Status: Fire OR Frost (chosen at Elemental)
Server Access: All 13+ Minecraft servers

In-Game Perks:

• 10 homes - Expanded mobility across network
• 49 claimed chunks - Medium-sized protected base
• 4 force-loaded chunks - Small automation stays active 24/7
• /rtp with 30 minute cooldown - More frequent exploration

Chat Display:

Fire Knight:

[🔥 Fire Knight] PlayerName: message here

Color: #FF3D00

Frost Knight:

[❄️ Frost Knight] PlayerName: message here

Color: #00E5FF

Purpose: Deeper commitment. Automation begins with force-loaded chunks. Larger builds supported.

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Tier 4: Master ($15.00/month)

Status: Fire OR Frost
Server Access: All 13+ Minecraft servers

In-Game Perks:

• 20 homes - Maximum mobility and organization
• 100 claimed chunks - Large-scale protected territory
• 9 force-loaded chunks - Medium automation networks
• /rtp with 15 minute cooldown - Regular exploration capability

Chat Display:

Fire Master:

[🔥 Fire Master] PlayerName: message here

Color: #FF3D00

Frost Master:

[❄️ Frost Master] PlayerName: message here

Color: #00E5FF

Purpose: Serious player. Large-scale builds and moderate automation systems. Advanced territorial control.

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Tier 5: Legend ($20.00/month)

Status: Fire OR Frost
Server Access: All 13+ Minecraft servers

In-Game Perks:

• 35 homes - Elite mobility across entire network
• 121 claimed chunks - Massive protected territory
• 16 force-loaded chunks - Large automation networks run continuously
• /rtp with 10 minute cooldown - Near-constant exploration access

Chat Display:

Fire Legend:

[🔥 Fire Legend] PlayerName: message here

Color: #FF3D00

Frost Legend:

[❄️ Frost Legend] PlayerName: message here

Color: #00E5FF

Purpose: Elite player. Massive builds and complex automation systems. Maximum territorial control for single-path subscribers.

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Tier 6: Sovereign's) ($499.00 Lifetime)

Status: The Ascended - Access to BOTH Fire + Frost
Server Access: All 13+ Minecraft servers (forever)

In-Game Perks:

• 50 homes - Ultimate mobility and organization
• 225 claimed chunks - Enormous protected territory
• 81 force-loaded chunks - Massive automation networks running 24/7
• /rtp with NO COOLDOWN - Unlimited random teleport access

Chat Display:

[⚡ Sovereign] PlayerName: message here

Color: #FFD600 (Amber Gold - Fire Accent)

Discord Access:

• ALL Fire Path exclusive channels
• ALL Frost Path exclusive channels
• Exclusive Founder-only channels (The Nexus)
• Permanent council voting rights

Purpose: Lifetime commitment. The bridge between Fire and Frost. Elite status and recognition. Maximum perks across all dimensions.

The Ascended: Founders embody the complete Firefrost philosophy - passion AND precision united.

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Path Philosophy

🔥 Path of Fire - The Flamecrafters

Identity: Keepers of the Flame
Focus: Community, creativity, social connection
Inspired By: Magic mods (Mystical Agriculture, Ars Nouveau, Botania)
Chat Color: #FF3D00 (Deep Orange/Red)

Playstyle:

• Aesthetic builds and artistic expression
• Collaborative community projects
• Social spaces and events
• Creative freedom and experimentation

Leader: Meg "Gingerfury" (The Emissary)
Discord: Fire Path exclusive channels, community-focused

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❄️ Path of Frost - The Crystal Engineers

Identity: Guardians of the Foundation
Focus: Technical mastery, automation, systems
Inspired By: Tech mods (Create, Mekanism, industrial automation)
Chat Color: #00E5FF (Electric Cyan)

Playstyle:

• Redstone contraptions and automation
• Efficient systems and optimization
• Technical excellence and precision
• Infrastructure and performance

Leader: Michael "Frostystyle" (The Wizard)
Discord: Frost Path exclusive channels, technical-focused

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⚡ Sovereign (The Ascended) - Nexus Builders

Identity: The bridge between Fire and Frost
Focus: Mastery of both passion and precision
Chat Color: #FFD600 (Amber Gold)

Access:

• All Fire AND Frost exclusive Discord channels
• Exclusive Founder channels (The Nexus)
• Direct access to both The Wizard and The Emissary

Purpose: Elite founders who embody the complete Firefrost philosophy.

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Competitive Structure

Michael vs Meg: The Path Wars

Both The Wizard (Michael) and The Emissary (Meg) recruit from the same pool of Awakened members ($1 tier).

The Competition:

• Who can convert more Awakened → their Path at $5 Elemental tier?
• Fire vs Frost subscriber counts displayed in Discord category headers
• Monthly challenges and recognition for winning path
• Founders (Sovereign) can support both sides but choose allegiance per challenge

Fair Competition:

• Both paths start from same $1 gateway (The Awakened)
• Identical mechanical perks at each tier (homes/chunks/force-load/rtp)
• Different community identity and Discord access creates genuine choice
• Neither path has mechanical advantage

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Technical Implementation

Current Implementable Perks (Minecraft)

Via LuckPerms:

• Permission group hierarchy (Awakened → Elemental → Knight → Master → Legend → Sovereign)
• Chat formatting and color codes
• Rank prefix display in game chat

Via FTB Chunks:

• Claimed chunk limits per tier
• Force-loaded chunk limits per tier
• Territory protection

Via FTB Essentials:

• Home set limits (/sethome, /home)
• Random teleport with cooldowns (/rtp)
• Basic quality-of-life commands

Payment Flow (Stripe)

1. User checks out via Paymenter/Ghost CMS
2. Stripe processes payment
3. Webhook triggers on successful payment
4. Discord bot receives webhook
5. Assigns appropriate role (Awakened, Fire Elemental, Frost Knight, etc.)
6. LuckPerms syncs Discord role → in-game permissions
7. User gains instant access

Multi-Server Sync Strategy

Challenge: 13+ Minecraft servers need identical rank configurations

Recommended Solution: LuckPerms MySQL backend

• Single database for all servers
• All servers read permissions from same source
• Update once, applies everywhere instantly
• No manual config syncing required

Alternative: Ansible/scripting to push configs via SSH

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Future Expansion: Multi-Game Vision

Currently Supported Games

• ✅ Minecraft - 13+ servers (NC1 Charlotte, TX1 Dallas)
• 🔄 Hytale - 1 server (waiting for game release)
• 🔄 FoundryVTT - 1 instance (separate GM addon system)

Future Game Integration

Firefrost Gaming is building toward a multi-game community platform with unified subscriptions.

Potential Future Games:

• Valheim servers
• Terraria servers
• ARK: Survival Ascended
• Palworld
• Other community-requested games

Framework: The $1 Awakened gateway and tier system will extend to future games with game-appropriate perks.

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FoundryVTT Integration (Separate System)

Note: FoundryVTT access is handled separately from Fire/Frost paths.

Player Access

• Awakened+ subscribers can join GM-hosted campaigns as players
• Create characters, participate in games
• Standard player permissions

GM Time Add-On (Separate Purchase)

• Independent from tier subscriptions - any subscriber can purchase
• Grants ability to host and run campaigns
• Pricing TBD (e.g., $X/month = Y hours GM time)

Campaign Lifecycle Policy

Active GM Subscription:

• Campaign live and accessible to players

Grace Period (Subscription Lapses):

• 14 days - Campaign remains live
• Warning emails sent (Day 1, 7, 14)
• Encourages renewal before archiving

Archive Phase:

• Campaign automatically archived after 14 days
• Secure download link generated
• Email sent to GM with download instructions

Download Window:

• 30 days - Secure download link remains active
• GM can retrieve campaign backup
• After 30 days, file permanently deleted from server

Reactivation:

• GM renews subscription → can re-upload archived campaign

Discord Integration

Separate Discord category: 🎲 FOUNDRY REALMS

• Not tied to Fire/Frost paths
• GM-only channels for GM addon subscribers
• Player discussion channels for all subscribers

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Builder Terminology

When discussing Minecraft builders in the community:

• 🔥 Fire Path: Flamecrafters (creative, magic-inspired builds)
• ❄️ Frost Path: Crystal Engineers (technical, automation-focused)
• ⚡ Sovereigns: Nexus Builders (balanced mastery of both)

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Chat Rank Display (Minecraft)

Color Specifications

All colors from Firefrost Design Bible v1.1:

Path	Color Code	Usage
Fire Path	#FF3D00	Deep Orange/Red - Fire Primary
Frost Path	#00E5FF	Electric Cyan - Frost Primary
Founder	#FFD600	Amber Gold - Fire Accent
Awakened	#FFFFFF	Pure White

Implementation

• LuckPerms chat formatting
• FTB Ranks integration
• Prefix displays tier + path in chat
• Color codes applied per tier

Example Chat Appearance:

[The Awakened] NewPlayer: How do I claim chunks?
[🔥 Fire Elemental] Gingerfury: Use /fchunks claim!
[❄️ Frost Master] Frostystyle: Check the tutorial at spawn
[⚡ Sovereign] Holly: Welcome to Firefrost!

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Revenue Model

Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) Potential

• Elemental: $5/mo × subscribers
• Knight: $10/mo × subscribers
• Master: $15/mo × subscribers
• Legend: $20/mo × subscribers

One-Time Revenue

• The Awakened: $1 × new members (security gate, not profit center)
• Sovereign: $499 × lifetime founders

Primary Goal: Sustainable infrastructure funding and community growth, NOT profit maximization.

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Implementation Tasks

Immediate (Phase 0.5)

• LuckPerms MySQL backend setup
• FTB Chunks configuration per tier
• FTB Essentials home/rtp limits
• Chat formatting and color codes
• Discord role → LuckPerms sync

Future Phases

• Multi-server permission sync system
• FoundryVTT campaign archive automation
• Hytale integration (when game releases)
• Additional game platform integrations
• Cosmetic perk system (optional future enhancement)

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Notes & Limitations

Current Implementation Scope

What we CAN deliver now:

• ✅ Home set limits
• ✅ Chunk claim limits
• ✅ Force-loaded chunk limits
• ✅ /rtp cooldowns
• ✅ Chat rank display with colors
• ✅ Discord role integration

What we CANNOT deliver yet:

• ❌ Cosmetic perks (particle effects, custom skins, etc.)
• ❌ In-game auras or visual effects
• ❌ WorldEdit permissions (not applicable to most modpacks)
• ❌ Game mode changes or flight outside creative servers

Future Enhancement: As infrastructure matures, cosmetic and quality-of-life perks may be added to differentiate Fire vs Frost paths beyond Discord access.

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Revision History

Version	Date	Author	Changes
1.0	2026-02-08	Michael & Meg	Initial tier structure finalized. Implementable perks only. Multi-game vision documented.

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END OF DOCUMENT