9cfec1333c
New 2-year modpack server concept: All of Create + Towny + MineColonies on NeoForge 1.21 via Arclight hybrid loader. Includes: - Full technical README with stack, JVM flags, open questions - 2-year roadmap (Industrial Age → Era of Nations → Legacy Era) - Non-technical proposal document for Meg and Holly - Dependencies on Task #45 (sunset eval) and Task #6 (Vaultwarden) Concept developed in collaboration with Gemini (March 18, 2026). Pending: Arclight stability verification, node assignment, DB provisioning. Chronicler #32
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)
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
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
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 |
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.
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)
Plugin List (via Arclight Bridge)
- Towny Advanced (land claims + nations)
- Vault (economy bridge)
- CoreProtect (block logging + rollback)
- EssentialsX (basic commands)
Open Questions (Resolve Before Deployment)
-
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.
-
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.
-
Database backend — Towny and MineColonies should use MySQL not flat files for a 2-year server. Needs MariaDB database provisioned on the target node.
-
World pre-generation — Pre-generate the map before launch to eliminate chunk loading lag. Chunky mod recommended.
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
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
Dependencies
- Task #45 (Server Sunset Evaluation) — must complete first
- Task #6 (Vaultwarden) — for storing database credentials
- MySQL database provisioned on target node
Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Love Builds Legacy 💙🔥❄️