Build a duel GUI with ZMenu

Solar does not include built-in menus. It focuses on match handling and keeps the interface configurable through other plugins. A dedicated menu plugin can provide more control over layout and interactions without adding another GUI system to Solar.

This guide wires ZMenu to Solar’s duel command. The examples use ZMenu’s command and inventory configuration. ZMenu’s configuration format can change between releases, so check the documentation for the version installed on your server if a key or action differs.

How the command is connected

Solar registers /duel <player> <kit> with optional --rounds and --map flags. Paper may expose this command under its plugin namespace, such as /solar:duel. If another plugin already owns the unnamespaced /duel label, use a Paper alias to send /duel requests to ZMenu while the menu calls Solar’s namespaced command.

The steps below use /d as the ZMenu command that opens the menu. If that label is already taken on your server, choose another unused label and update both files.

Redirect /duel to ZMenu

Open the server’s commands.yml and add this entry under aliases:

aliases:
  duel:
    - d $1-

$1- forwards everything after /duel to /d. For example, /duel Steve becomes /d Steve. If commands.yml already has an aliases section, add the duel entry there rather than creating a second section.

Register the ZMenu command

Create plugins/ZMenu/commands/duel/duel.yml:

commands:
  duel_command:
    command: d
    inventory: duel
    arguments:
      - name: "target"
        type: ONLINE_PLAYER
        required: true

This registers /d <target> and opens the duel inventory. The inventory name must match the next file.

Create the duel inventory

Create plugins/ZMenu/inventories/duel.yml:

name: 'Duel request for <color:#FCD05C>%zmenu_argument_target%</color>!'
size: 27

items:
  btn-11:
    slot: 11
    item:
      material: CLOCK
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>Rounds</color> <white><italic>(Current: %zmenu_player_value_rounds%)</italic></white>'
    actions:
      - type: inventory
        inventory: duel
        page: 2

  btn-13:
    slot: 13
    item:
      material: DIAMOND_SWORD
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>Send request!</color>'
    close-inventory: true
    playerCommands:
      - 'solar:duel %zmenu_argument_target% %zmenu_player_value_kit% --rounds %zmenu_player_value_rounds%'

  btn-15:
    slot: 15
    item:
      material: CHEST_MINECART
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>Choose the kit!</color> <white><italic>(Current: %zmenu_player_value_kit%)</italic></white>'
    actions:
      - type: inventory
        inventory: duel
        page: 3

  btn-64:
    slot: 10
    page: 2
    item:
      material: CLOCK
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>FT1</color> <italic>(First to 1)</italic>'
    actions:
      - type: data
        action: SET
        key: rounds
        value: '1'
      - type: back

  btn-66:
    slot: 12
    page: 2
    item:
      material: CLOCK
      amount: 2
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>FT2</color> <italic>(First to 2)</italic>'
    actions:
      - type: data
        action: SET
        key: rounds
        value: '2'
      - type: back

  btn-68:
    slot: 14
    page: 2
    item:
      material: CLOCK
      amount: 3
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>FT3</color> <italic>(First to 3)</italic>'
    actions:
      - type: data
        action: SET
        key: rounds
        value: '3'
      - type: back

  btn-70:
    slot: 16
    page: 2
    item:
      material: CLOCK
      amount: 4
      name: '<color:#FCD05C>FT4</color> <italic>(First to 4)</italic>'
    actions:
      - type: data
        action: SET
        key: rounds
        value: '4'
      - type: back

  btn-118:
    slot: 10
    page: 3
    item:
      material: DIAMOND_SWORD
      name: '<aqua>Sword</aqua>'
    actions:
      - type: data
        action: SET
        key: kit
        value: Sword
      - type: back

  btn-124:
    slot: 16
    page: 3
    item:
      material: CREEPER_HEAD
      name: '<dark_green>CreeperSMP</dark_green>'
    actions:
      - type: data
        action: SET
        key: kit
        value: CreeperSMP
      - type: back

The menu stores the selected rounds and kit as player data. The Send request button runs Solar’s namespaced command with those selected values. Change the kit values to IDs that exist on your server. To select a specific arena as well, add --map <arena> to the command; if omitted, Solar selects a random arena allowed by that kit.

The --rounds flag defaults to 1 when used without a value. The example supplies the selected value explicitly.

Reload and test

1. Make sure both example kit IDs exist in Solar, or change them to your own.
2. Restart or reload Paper after changing commands.yml as required by your server.
3. Run /zmenu reload.
4. Test with /duel <online-player>, choose a rounds option and a kit, then send the request.

If Paper reports an unknown command, test /solar:duel <player> <kit> directly first. If it works, check the namespace and playerCommands syntax against your installed ZMenu and Paper versions.