⚡ ThunderRider

ThunderRider is a plugin that occasionally summons lightning near a player, followed by the appearance of a rider on a skeleton horse with a squad of helpers.
It adds an atmosphere of surprise and danger to the world, making surface travel slightly less safe.

🧩 Version Compatibility

Plugin version	Supported Paper	Java
1.2.0+	1.20 – 26.3	25
1.1.1	1.20 – 1.21.11	21

🌩️ Features

• Random spawn of lightning and a skeleton rider (Skeleton on a skeleton horse) near the player.
• Chance to spawn additional skeleton helpers that assist the rider.
• Configurable equipment, damage and health multipliers.
• Customizable names and messages (supports MiniMessages format).
• WorldGuard integration — lightning and riders do not spawn in regions where mob spawning is denied (MOB_SPAWNING: DENY).
• AFK check via Essentials — events do not trigger for inactive players.
• Check for existing nearby riders to avoid spam.
• Flexible configuration for chance, radius, frequency, and behavior in config.yml.

⚙️ Configuration (config.yml)

# ThunderRider config

check-interval: 1000             # spawn check interval (20 ticks = 1 second)
chance: 1.0                      # spawn chance in percent (0.0 - 100.0)
spawn-radius: 15                 # radius to search for spawn point around player
helpers: 3                       # number of helpers to summon
show-message: true               # show message to player on spawn
existing-rider-check-radius: 50  # radius within which new riders won't spawn if one already exists
debug: false                     # enable/disable debug mode (logging)

hp-multiplier:
  horse: 3.0       # health multiplier for horse (default 3.0)
  rider: 3.0       # health multiplier for rider (skeleton)
  skeleton: 1.5    # health multiplier for additional skeletons

attack-multiplier:
  rider: 1.5       # attack multiplier for rider (skeleton)
  skeleton: 1.5    # attack multiplier for additional skeletons

names:
  horse: ""                    # if empty — no name shown, horse's name
  rider: "<gold>Storm Rider"   # rider's name
  skeleton: ""                 # name for additional skeletons

Specify Material by name (e.g.: CHAINMAIL_HELMET, IRON_SWORD, BOW)

Empty string = do not equip item

equipment: rider: helmet: "CHAINMAIL_HELMET" chestplate: "" # example: "CHAINMAIL_CHESTPLATE" leggings: "" boots: "" weapon: "BOW" # weapon in rider's hand skeleton: helmet: "CHAINMAIL_HELMET" chestplate: "" # example: "IRON_CHESTPLATE" leggings: "" boots: "" weapon: "IRON_SWORD"

Messages

messages: no-permissions: "Insufficient permissions!" reloaded: "ThunderRider reloaded!" started: "ThunderRider started!" stopped: "ThunderRider stopped!" help: | === ThunderRider Commands === /thunderider reload - Reload config /thunderider start - Start plugin /thunderider stop - Stop plugin /thunderider spawn - summon storm rider spawned: "You summoned the Storm Rider" no-spawned: "Failed to summon the Storm Rider" hunting: "⚡ A Storm Rider is hunting you!"

## 🔧 Commands

| Command                  | Description                                                    |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| `/thunderider reload`    | Reload plugin config and settings                              |
| `/thunderider start`     | Force start the background spawning task                       |
| `/thunderider stop`      | Stop the background task                                       |
| `/thunderider spawn`     | Summon a skeleton rider at your location (on the surface!)     |

## 🔑 Permissions

| Permission             | Description                                               | Default       |
|------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
| `thunderrider.admin`   | Allows usage of plugin commands                           | `op`          |
| `thunderrider.ignore`  | Players with this permission are not targeted by lightning events | `op`   |

## 🧩 Integrations (Optional)

- **Essentials** — used to determine player AFK status.
- **WorldGuard** — protects regions from spawn if `MOB_SPAWNING: DENY` is set.

## 💡 Concept

The plugin is designed to add **unexpected challenges for players**, where even during regular travel a storm can erupt and **Storm Riders** can appear on the field.

> ⚔️ Beware, thunder doesn't always herald rain!