Your entry in the multiplayer list is an advert you get to write once. Four elements make it up, all of them are under your control, and most servers leave three of them at the default.
The four elements
| Element | Set in | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MOTD | server.properties | Two lines. Colour codes work. This is the one people read. |
| Icon | server-icon.png | 64 by 64 pixels, in the server root. Restart to apply. |
| Player count | Automatic | Can be customised by plugins. See the warning. |
| Version name | Automatic | What the client compares against to show «outdated». |
Writing a MOTD that does something
- Put the name on line one
Short, readable, and not full of decorative characters. A name people can type is a name people can tell a friend.
- Put a reason on line two
«Survival · Claims · 1.21 · No P2W» tells a stranger more than «✦ Welcome to the best server ✦» does. Say what kind of server this is.
- Use colour sparingly
Two colours read as intentional. Five read as a gradient generator, and everyone recognises the look.
- Include the version if you are not on the newest
It saves a connection attempt and a disappointed player.
Plugins can display any number you like. A server that shows 200 and has 3 online is discovered within seconds of joining, and the impression that leaves is worse than an honest small number. The people who stay are the ones who liked what they found, not the ones who were misled into looking.
It is the only visual in a list of text. A simple, high-contrast image at 64 by 64 reads at a glance; a detailed logo shrunk down becomes a grey square. Design for the size it will actually be.
Add your own server in the multiplayer list from a client that has never seen it, and read the entry the way a stranger would.