> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://esmp-fun.gitbook.io/plugins/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://esmp-fun.gitbook.io/plugins/better-end-cities/getting-started/quick-start.md).

# Quick Start

Everything is on as soon as the server starts. Use this page to see each feature working.

***

## What's on by default

| Feature                 | Default        | What it does                                       |
| ----------------------- | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| **Finding cities**      | on             | Cities register as players travel near them        |
| **Renewable elytras**   | on, free       | Each player can take one elytra from each ship     |
| **Per-player loot**     | on, 12 hours   | Each player gets their own copy of a city's chests |
| **Protection**          | on, whole city | City blocks can't be broken, built on or blown up  |
| **Saved copies**        | on             | A copy of each city is saved when it's found       |
| **Putting blocks back** | **off**        | A refresh gives fresh loot only                    |

Putting blocks back is off because rewriting blocks can hurt players standing inside. [Turn it on](/plugins/better-end-cities/features/snapshots-and-resets.md#putting-blocks-back-on-every-refresh) if cities are only for farming.

***

## See it working

1. **Go to an End City.** When it loads, the console logs it:

   ```
   [BetterEndCities] Discovered End City #1 in world_the_end (1264,0,-368)..(1329,100,-303), 14 pieces
   ```

   Staff with `betterend.discovery.notify` also get a chat message they can click to teleport there.
2. **Punch the ship's elytra frame.** You get an elytra and the frame keeps its own. A second player can do the same.
3. **Open a chest and take the loot.** Another player opening the same chest still finds it full.
4. **Try breaking a tower block** on a non-op account. It's stopped, and a message above the hotbar says why.
5. **Check the city** with `/betterend list` and `/betterend info 1`.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Nothing in the console?** The city has to load in. Flying past fast can outrun that, so stop for a moment. See [Troubleshooting](/plugins/better-end-cities/troubleshooting/troubleshooting.md#cities-arent-being-found).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Testing protection as an op?** Ops are let through by default. Use a normal account, or remove `betterend.bypass.protection` from yourself.
{% endhint %}

***

## Change a setting

```
/betterend          # the settings menu
/betterend setup    # a guided tour, five screens
```

Ops get a one-time reminder to run the tour when they join, until it's finished or skipped.

{% content-ref url="/pages/s6sLK62VtKP3BkIPxwy8" %}
[The Settings Menu](/plugins/better-end-cities/getting-started/config-menu.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

***

## Three settings worth deciding

### How often can a player get an elytra?

`elytra.claim-mode`: `per-ship` (default, one per ship), `per-refresh` (again after each loot refresh) or `global` (one in total). [More](/plugins/better-end-cities/features/elytra-claims.md#claim-modes)

### Should an elytra cost something?

Free by default. Charge an item, XP levels, or both, in `/betterend` on **Elytra Frames** and **Choose Cost Item**. [More](/plugins/better-end-cities/features/elytra-claims.md#claim-cost)

### How often does loot come back?

`loot.refresh-hours`, 12 by default. `0` means never, so each player loots each chest once. [More](/plugins/better-end-cities/features/per-player-loot.md)

***

## What's next?

{% content-ref url="/pages/HBSmQYLJO9t1sqbEUg78" %}
[Basic Configuration](/plugins/better-end-cities/getting-started/basic-configuration.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/kjnSSn5qMYcFNhy15bUA" %}
[Elytra Claims](/plugins/better-end-cities/features/elytra-claims.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}