Maps & Arenas

AeroWars separates maps from arenas — one of the biggest changes in v1.1.0.

• A map is a layout: player spawns, chests (island and middle), and the spectator spawn. It's stored per template in maps/<template>.json.
• An arena is something players join. It references a map and defines the mode (Solo or Teams), the team size, and optionally a default cage.

Because arenas only reference maps, several arenas can share one map — and an arena can even draw from a random pool of maps.

Upgrading from 1.0.0

Arenas created before v1.1.0 had their layout stored inline. They are migrated automatically on load: the layout is lifted into a map file, and nothing needs to be redone.

Building a map

1. Create (or pick) a world template — for a blank slate: /aerowars world create mymap.
2. Start the wizard: /aerowars setup start mymap.
3. Work through the steps:
   • Player spawns — one per island. Left-click with the setup wand (at a block or in open air) to mark a spawn at your position, or stand in place and run /aerowars setup set. Right-click with the wand removes the spawn in front of you.
   • Chests — island chests, then middle chests (the tier is set by the step). Place a chest block where each one goes; breaking it removes it again.
   • Spectator spawn — where dead players watch from. Stand there and run /aerowars setup set.
4. Use /aerowars setup undo [count] to remove the last spawn/chest, /aerowars setup skip for optional steps, and /aerowars setup done to advance.
5. Save with /aerowars setup save.

Edit a saved map later with /aerowars setup edit mymap.

The setup wand

Setup worlds are creative, so you can freely edit the terrain. The wand (/aerowars wand to get it back) is locked in your hotbar until you finish. It is a weapon-style item, so both clicks register — which is why a replacement set in Setup.SpawnWand should be weapon-style too.

Creating arenas

Turn a map into a joinable arena, choosing the mode here:

/aerowars arena create sky1 mymap solo
/aerowars arena create duos1 mymap teams 2

Manage arenas with:

• /aerowars arena list — list every arena.
• /aerowars arena info <arena> — see its map, mode, status, and default cage.
• /aerowars arena enable <arena> / disable <arena> — control rotation.
• /aerowars arena cage <arena> <cage> — set the arena's default cage (reset clears it).

An arena needs a fully configured map (enough spawns for its mode) to be playable. Incomplete or chest-less maps are treated as drafts and hidden from matchmaking.

With Match.RandomizeSpawns on (the default), the island each player or team starts on is shuffled every match; turn it off to fill islands in order (1, 2, 3…).

Random map pool

By default an arena always uses its base map. You can instead give it a pool of maps and have each match pick one at random — and the pooled maps can have completely different layouts.

/aerowars maps add sky1 desert
/aerowars maps add sky1 volcano
/aerowars maps random sky1 on

Now every sky1 match clones a random map from { mymap, desert, volcano }. Manage the pool with /aerowars maps list <arena>, remove, and random <on|off>.