WorldEdit and WorldGuard basics for Paper servers

WorldEdit lets staff edit large areas of blocks in seconds, and WorldGuard uses WorldEdit selections to create protected regions. Together they are the standard way to build and protect a server spawn.

Install

Download the Bukkit/Paper builds of WorldEdit and WorldGuard that match your Minecraft version. Both are made by EngineHub.
Upload both jars to plugins. WorldGuard will not load without WorldEdit.
Restart the server.

Operators can use all commands. For other staff, grant permissions such as worldedit.* and worldguard.region.* with your permissions plugin, but only to people you trust.

WorldEdit: making a selection

WorldEdit works on a cuboid between two corners.

Run //wand to get the selection tool (a wooden axe).
Left-click a block to set position 1.
Right-click another block to set position 2.

You can also stand in a spot and run //pos1 or //pos2.

WorldEdit: common commands

Command	What it does
`//set stone`	Fill the selection with stone.
`//replace dirt grass_block`	Replace dirt with grass in the selection.
`//walls stone_bricks`	Build walls around the selection.
`//copy` then `//paste`	Copy relative to where you stand, then paste.
`//rotate 90`	Rotate the clipboard.
`//undo` and `//redo`	Undo or redo your last edits.
`//expand 10 up`	Grow the selection.
`//size`	Show the selection size.

Large edits (millions of blocks) can freeze the server for a while and spike memory. Work in smaller chunks on the free package, and take a snapshot before major terraforming.

WorldGuard: protecting an area

Select the area with the WorldEdit wand. To protect from bedrock to sky, run //expand vert after selecting.
Create the region:

/rg define spawn

By default, only region members and owners can build in a region, so everyone else is now blocked from breaking or placing blocks there.

WorldGuard: flags

Flags change what is allowed inside a region:

/rg flag spawn pvp deny
/rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny
/rg flag spawn creeper-explosion deny
/rg flag spawn greeting &aWelcome to spawn!

To clear a flag, run the command without a value, for example /rg flag spawn pvp.

WorldGuard: members and owners

/rg addowner spawn Steve
/rg addmember spawn Alex
/rg removemember spawn Alex

Owners can manage the region; members can build in it.

The global region

__global__ covers the whole world. Use it for world-wide rules:

/rg flag __global__ pvp deny

Be careful with the build flag on __global__, since denying it blocks building everywhere for non-members.

Useful region commands

Command	What it does
`/rg info`	Show the region you are standing in.
`/rg list`	List regions in this world.
`/rg redefine spawn`	Change the region to your current selection.
`/rg remove spawn`	Delete a region.
`/rg priority spawn 10`	Higher priority wins when regions overlap.

WorldGuard settings are in plugins/WorldGuard/config.yml, and regions are stored per world in plugins/WorldGuard/worlds/. After editing config files, run /wg reload.