> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hotpotato.arrowtan.cc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# FAQ

> Common questions and quick fixes.

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  <div>
    **An arena will not start. Why?**

    The arena needs enough players and a complete setup. Run `/hotpotato arena save <arena>`, and the message lists anything missing, such as a spawn or a bounds corner. Also check that minimum players is at least the potato count plus the `min-players-margin` from `config.yml`.
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  <div>
    **My changes to config.yml did nothing.**

    Run `/hotpotato reload`. Most settings, including powerup tuning, apply live. A few only take effect for new games. If a setting still seems ignored, check you edited the right key and that the file still parses as valid YAML.
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  <div>
    **Players are wandering off as spectators.**

    Set a bounds box for the arena with `setcorner1` and `setcorner2`. Any spectator who leaves the box is sent back to the spectator spawn. See [arena bounds](/features/arena-bounds).
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  <div>
    **A powerup is showing a plain Steve head.**

    That powerup has no custom head texture set, so it falls back to its icon material. Add a `head-texture` for the type in `powerups.yml`, or leave it on the material icon.
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  <div>
    **My placeholders show as raw text.**

    Install [PlaceholderAPI](https://www.spigotmc.org/resources/placeholderapi.6245/). HotPotato's placeholders are only registered when it is present. See [placeholders](/reference/placeholders).
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  <div style={{ flexShrink: 0, width: "2.25rem", height: "2.25rem", borderRadius: "9999px", backgroundColor: "#C68642", color: "#ffffff", display: "flex", alignItems: "center", justifyContent: "center", fontWeight: 700 }}>6</div>

  <div>
    **A picked-up powerup item disappeared.**

    Make sure you are on a current build. The potato slot is set by `potato-item.slot` in `config.yml`. A picked-up item that would land in the potato slot is moved aside, not destroyed.
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  <div style={{ flexShrink: 0, width: "2.25rem", height: "2.25rem", borderRadius: "9999px", backgroundColor: "#C68642", color: "#ffffff", display: "flex", alignItems: "center", justifyContent: "center", fontWeight: 700 }}>7</div>

  <div>
    **How do I turn off the usage metrics?**

    Set `metrics.bstats: false` in `config.yml`. The plugin sends anonymous stats through bStats only when this is on.
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  <div>
    **Can I run this on Spigot, or do I need Paper?**

    Either works. HotPotato runs on Spigot and Paper, Minecraft 1.18 and newer, on Java 17 or newer.
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***

Still stuck? Head to [Support](/help/support).