AbyssalDao is a Paper 1.21.x Minecraft plugin that turns combat and progression into a Tao-inspired elemental system.
Instead of a static spell list, players choose an element, perform click-combos, record personal techniques, and grow through cultivation realms.
- Distinct PvP/PvE identity: five-element (Wuxing) combat with strengths, weaknesses, and readable feedback.
- High replayability: players create and evolve their own recorded skills.
- Progression that feels meaningful: meditation, breakthroughs, instability risk, skill trees, and Tao sensing.
- Config-first design: major mechanics are defined in YAML files for balancing without code edits.
- Storage flexibility: SQLite by default, with MySQL/MariaDB support.
- Elemental affinities: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.
- Combo casting engine: left/right click sequences resolve into manifestations.
- Recorded skills: capture combo behavior into personal reusable techniques.
- Skill evolution: recorded skills gain experience and can mutate over time.
- Tao Sense: detect signatures, affinity clues, and weakness points.
- Cultivation loop: gain XP/Insight/Mastery, meditate, and attempt breakthroughs.
- Skill trees: unlock node-based enhancements.
- Elemental environments: surroundings affect focus cost/regeneration.
- Synergy system: cast sequencing can trigger additional effects.
- Tao creatures: elemental PvE creatures with scaling levels and combat AI.
- Optional external integrations: MythicMobs/Fabled hooks when present.
- Build the plugin JAR.
- Drop the JAR into your Paper server
plugins/folder. - Start the server once to generate config files.
- Configure YAML files as needed, then restart.
Java 21 is required for development/build.
- Choose your affinity:
/dao choose <element> - Learn controls/help:
/dao help - Use combo casting while sneaking (default combo window is configurable)
- Record techniques:
/dao record start <name>then/dao record stop - Use and manage skills:
/dao skills,/dao cast ... - Progress:
/dao cultivate status,/dao cultivate meditate,/dao cultivate breakthrough
/dao choose <element>/dao info/dao help [page]/dao record <start|stop|cancel>/dao skills/dao cast <skill>|bind|unbind|bindings/dao cultivate <status|methods|method|meditate|stop|breakthrough|env>/dao tree <open|status|nodes|unlock>/dao admin <reset|level|add-exp|remove-exp|set-exp|add-insight|remove-insight|set-insight|add-focus|remove-focus|set-focus|set-instability-minutes|clear-instability|reload>
/plugins/AbyssalDao/config.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/messages.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/help.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/combos.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/elements.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/cultivation.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/skill_trees.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/synergies.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/focus-environments.yml/plugins/AbyssalDao/tao-creatures.yml
mvn clean package- Gameplay deep-dive:
docs/GAMEPLAY_MECHANICS.md