Presets, Test Mode, and Troubleshooting

This page covers the operator tools that make CriticalHealthFX practical on a live server: presets, forced test mode, status output, and the first checks to run when something looks wrong.

Presets

CriticalHealthFX ships four preset lanes:

• mcwar
• subtle
• hardcore
• off

Apply them with:

/chfx preset <mcwar|subtle|hardcore|off>

or through the Presets page in the GUI.

What each preset does

MCWAR

This is the public default release target:

• critical_threshold_hp: 10.0
• light red at 5 hearts
• strongest red at 1 heart
• blackout only at half a heart
• heartbeat enabled
• frost enabled
• tier potions and particles enabled globally

Subtle

This profile backs the intensity down:

• threshold lowered to 8.0
• blackout disabled
• softer tier curve
• tier potions and particles disabled globally

Hardcore

This profile pushes danger earlier and harder:

• threshold raised to 12.0
• faster scan cadence
• stronger warning distance
• blackout enabled earlier
• frost still enabled
• tier potions and particles disabled globally by default

Off

Disables the plugin globally.

Treat presets as full package swaps

Presets do not only flip one boolean. They rewrite several global settings together and replace the tier list. Do not use them casually in the middle of a detailed hand-tuned profile unless you actually want to replace that profile.

Test mode

The normal testing command is:

/chfx test on

That forces the effect loop on your own player account regardless of current health.

Turn it off with:

/chfx test off

This is the safest way to:

• tune the red curve
• compare presets
• verify the blackout threshold
• confirm the GUI changes are really taking effect

Status output

Use:

/chfx status

to read the active runtime summary instead of guessing from memory. The output includes the big switches that usually explain why a server owner thinks the plugin is broken.

Debug flags

The debug block currently includes:

debug:
  actionbar: false
  log_state_changes: false

debug.actionbar

Shows extra state information while the effect is active.

debug.log_state_changes

Logs enter and exit state changes to console.

Leave both off in normal production unless you are actively diagnosing a problem.

First checks when the effect is missing

No red vignette

Check:

• the server is Paper, not just Spigot
• enabled: true
• the player is in an allowed gamemode
• the player is at or below critical_threshold_hp
• the tier curve is not overly soft

Red exists but feels too weak

Check:

• warning_blocks
• per-tier warning_blocks
• low-tier diameter

Heartbeat is missing

Check:

• heartbeat.enabled
• the sound key is valid
• the volume is not too low
• the active tier is actually inside the threshold range

Blackout fires too early

Check:

• overlays.blackout.min_hp
• whether a preset was recently applied
• whether a separate darkness layer is also enabled and being confused with blackout

Frost is not appearing

Check:

• overlays.frost.enabled
• overlays.frost.min_hp
• overlays.frost.biomes
• whether the player is really in one of the configured cold biomes

Potion or particle extras are missing

Check:

• tier_effects.potions_enabled
• tier_effects.particles_enabled
• the active tier really contains those entries
• the particle type is valid for the current API

Good support request checklist

When a server owner reports a problem, ask for:

1. server type and exact Paper build
2. CriticalHealthFX version
3. full console error if one exists
4. the current config.yml
5. exact reproduction steps

That is usually enough to tell whether the issue is:

• a runtime environment problem
• a threshold misunderstanding
• a biome-key problem
• a preset overwrite
• a config typo

Final rule of thumb

If the plugin feels wrong, do not start by changing ten tier values at once. Check the basics first:

1. Is the plugin active for the player?
2. Is the global threshold correct?
3. Is the border tuning sane?
4. Is the overlay threshold where you think it is?
5. Is a preset hiding the change you expected?