> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.incredibleplugins.com/lands/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.incredibleplugins.com/lands/players/nations-and-wars/wars.md). # Wars This page explains wars from a player's point of view: how to start one, what happens during it, and how a war is won or lost. > This page describes the latest plugin version. If these commands don't work on your server, it may still be running an older version where wars used a standalone `/wars` command and you selected a land first with `/lands edit ` before running commands against it. War commands are reached through `/land war ...` (also available as `/lands land war ...`), or `/nation war ...` if the fight involves your nation instead of just your land. Replace `` / `` with the land or nation on your side of the war throughout this page. ## 1. How a War Works, in Short 1. You mark the other side as an **enemy**, then **declare war**. 2. When declaring, you choose a **war mode** (how the war is scored and won) and a **war goal** (what the winner gets when it ends). See [War Modes and Goals](/lands/players/nations-and-wars/war-modes-and-goals.md). 3. There is a **preparation time**, then the war **starts** and both teams can fight. 4. The war ends when one side reaches the points needed to win, or when time runs out. The goal you picked then decides the reward - robbed money, unclaimed land, vassalage, a raid window, and so on. 5. At any point a side can **surrender** to end it early on gentler terms. ## 2. Before You Can Declare The other side must be marked as an **enemy** first (see [Relations](/lands/players/nations-and-wars/relations.md)). You also need a role that is allowed to manage wars. Your server may add extra requirements before a war can be declared, such as: * both sides having enough members, claimed chunks, money, or age, * only allowing wars between nations, * only allowing declarations on certain days or hours, * limiting how far apart in level the two sides may be. If the enemy has an active **war shield**, they can't be attacked until it runs out. Shields are given after events like creating a land, surrendering, or finishing a war. ## 3. Declaring a War Start with: ``` /land war declare ``` A short menu then walks you through the declaration: 1. **Pick a war mode** - how the war is fought and scored (a straight skirmish, or a King of the Hill contest). Some modes are only offered when the server has set them up. 2. **Pick a war goal** - what actually happens to the loser (money robbed, land unclaimed, vassalized, raided...). Some goals are only available in certain situations - for example, vassalizing requires your side to be a nation. 3. **Confirm** the declaration. Read [War Modes and Goals](/lands/players/nations-and-wars/war-modes-and-goals.md) for what each mode and goal does. **Mutual declarations.** Some servers require the defender to accept first. The defender accepts by running `/land war declare `, or refuses with `/land war decline`. Preparation time only begins once they accept. ## 4. Preparation Time After a declaration is sent (or accepted), the war enters **preparation time**. Both sides can get ready, but no fighting counts yet. Use `/land war info` or `/land war menu` to see: * who is fighting, * the war mode and goal, * when the war starts, * how many points are needed to win, * the capture flag recipe, if capture flags are used. If you chose the **King of the Hill (Player Lands)** mode, this is when each team sets its point - see [War Modes and Goals](/lands/players/nations-and-wars/war-modes-and-goals.md#king-of-the-hill-player-lands). ## 5. When the War Starts When preparation ends, both teams can fight. Use `/land war menu` to follow the current status: both teams, their points, the remaining time, and what you're allowed to do in enemy land. Use `/land war spawn` to teleport near the enemy, if your server can find a safe war spawn. (In a King of the Hill arena war, this sends you to your team's arena spawn instead.) **What you can do in enemy claims** depends entirely on the server. You might be able to enter enemy land, fight players, place ladders, break certain blocks, open containers - or none of these. Usually this only applies to the main lands that started the war, but some servers also turn allied lands into war zones. Always check the war menu for what's allowed. Some servers require defenders to be **online** before enemies can invade or capture. ## 6. Teams and Allies If you belong to several lands that end up in the same war, your team is chosen once and stays the same for the whole war (defending lands are prioritized). Allies can help fight - for example, lands in the same nation fight together. Allies that join a war can also be attacked by the enemy. ## 7. Capture Flags Capture flags are special war blocks used by the standard **Skirmish** mode. You craft them (the recipe is shown in `/land war info captureflag`) or receive them from the server. Place a capture flag on a **border chunk** of enemy war land during the war. It can't be placed if it's too far inside the claim, too close to another flag, outside the allowed height, or on cooldown. To capture the area, your team holds the flag until its progress bar fills. Progress only moves forward while the invaders have **more players in the area than the defenders** - defenders standing in the area stop, and can push back, the progress. Defenders are warned when a flag is placed and may fight for the area or destroy the flag. Depending on the server, a captured area becomes unclaimed or is claimed by the invaders, and destroying an enemy flag can award points. > King of the Hill wars use their own fixed points instead of craftable flags - see [War Modes and Goals](/lands/players/nations-and-wars/war-modes-and-goals.md). ## 8. Points and Winning Every war mode is scored in **points**; the mode decides where points come from (kills and captures in Skirmish, or holding a point over time in King of the Hill). A war ends when a team reaches the required points, or when the war time runs out. If time runs out, the team with the most points wins - but if the scores are tied (or too close, in King of the Hill), it's a **draw**. A draw has no winner, so the goal's reward does not apply. When there is a winner, the **war goal** decides what happens to the loser, and both sides may receive a war shield afterwards. ## 9. Surrender A side can surrender to end the war early - during preparation or once it's active. Surrendering still applies the war goal, but usually on **gentler terms** than losing the fight outright (for example, less money is robbed). You need permission to manage wars to surrender for your land or nation. Surrender from the war menu (`/land war menu`). There is no tribute to negotiate - the cost is whatever the server configured for that goal's surrender. ## 10. Independence (Vassals) If your land has been **vassalized** by a nation (see the Vassal goal), you can fight to break free: ``` /land war independence ``` This starts an independence war against your overlord. Win it and your land becomes free again. Lose it (or draw) and you stay a vassal and can't try again until a cooldown passes. ## 11. Useful Commands * `/land war menu` - open the war menu * `/land war info` - show information about your current or upcoming war * `/land war info captureflag` - show the capture flag recipe * `/land war declare ` - declare or accept a war * `/land war decline` - deny a mutual war declaration * `/land war spawn` - teleport near the enemy (or to your arena spawn) during war * `/land war koth set` - place your team's King of the Hill point in your own land * `/land war independence` - a vassal declares an independence war If your nation is fighting instead of just your land, use the same subcommands under `/nation war ...`.