If Essentials core fails to read one of the configs now, it will disable itself. If other modules detect that Essentials is not enabled, they will be disabled too. EssentialsProtect will go into emergency mode, canceling all events that could hurt your world. Fix the file and either restart or reload the server.

Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Essentials.java

@@ -47,17 +47,21 @@ import org.bukkit.command.PluginCommand;
 import org.bukkit.entity.Player;
 import org.bukkit.event.Event.Priority;
 import org.bukkit.event.Event.Type;
+import org.bukkit.event.player.PlayerJoinEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.player.PlayerListener;
 import org.bukkit.plugin.InvalidDescriptionException;
 import org.bukkit.plugin.Plugin;
 import org.bukkit.plugin.PluginDescriptionFile;
 import org.bukkit.plugin.PluginManager;
 import org.bukkit.plugin.java.JavaPlugin;
 import org.bukkit.scheduler.BukkitScheduler;
+import org.yaml.snakeyaml.Yaml;
+import org.yaml.snakeyaml.error.YAMLException;
 
 
 public class Essentials extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentials
 {
-	public static final int BUKKIT_VERSION = 1522;
+	public static final int BUKKIT_VERSION = 1526;
 	private static final Logger LOGGER = Logger.getLogger("Minecraft");
 	private transient ISettings settings;
 	private final transient TNTExplodeListener tntListener = new TNTExplodeListener(this);
@@ -112,6 +116,36 @@ public class Essentials extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentials
 		i18n = new I18n(this);
 		i18n.onEnable();
 		execTimer.mark("I18n1");
+		final PluginManager pm = getServer().getPluginManager();
+		for (Plugin plugin : pm.getPlugins())
+		{
+			if (plugin.getDescription().getName().startsWith("Essentials")
+				&& !plugin.getDescription().getVersion().equals(this.getDescription().getVersion()))
+			{
+				LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatch", plugin.getDescription().getName()));
+			}
+		}
+		final Matcher versionMatch = Pattern.compile("git-Bukkit-([0-9]+).([0-9]+).([0-9]+)-R[0-9]+-[0-9]+-[0-9a-z]+-b([0-9]+)jnks.*").matcher(getServer().getVersion());
+		if (versionMatch.matches())
+		{
+			final int versionNumber = Integer.parseInt(versionMatch.group(4));
+			if (versionNumber < BUKKIT_VERSION)
+			{
+				LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, _("notRecommendedBukkit"));
+				LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, _("requiredBukkit", Integer.toString(BUKKIT_VERSION)));
+				this.setEnabled(false);
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, _("bukkitFormatChanged"));
+			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, getServer().getVersion());
+			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, getServer().getBukkitVersion());
+		}
+		execTimer.mark("BukkitCheck");
+		try
+		{
 			final EssentialsUpgrade upgrade = new EssentialsUpgrade(this);
 			upgrade.beforeSettings();
 			execTimer.mark("Upgrade");
@@ -136,33 +170,35 @@ public class Essentials extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentials
 			confList.add(itemDb);
 			execTimer.mark("Init(Worth/ItemDB)");
 			reload();
-		backup = new Backup(this);
-
-		final PluginManager pm = getServer().getPluginManager();
-		for (Plugin plugin : pm.getPlugins())
-		{
-			if (plugin.getDescription().getName().startsWith("Essentials")
-				&& !plugin.getDescription().getVersion().equals(this.getDescription().getVersion()))
-			{
-				LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatch", plugin.getDescription().getName()));
 		}
-		}
+		catch (YAMLException exception)
-		final Matcher versionMatch = Pattern.compile("git-Bukkit-([0-9]+).([0-9]+).([0-9]+)-R[0-9]+-[0-9]+-[0-9a-z]+-b([0-9]+)jnks.*").matcher(getServer().getVersion());
-		if (versionMatch.matches())
 		{
-			final int versionNumber = Integer.parseInt(versionMatch.group(4));
+			if (pm.getPlugin("EssentialsUpdate") != null)
-			if (versionNumber < BUKKIT_VERSION)
 			{
-				LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("notRecommendedBukkit"));
+				LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, _("essentialsHelp2"));
-			}
 			}
 			else
 			{
-			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, _("bukkitFormatChanged"));
+				LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, _("essentialsHelp1"));
-			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, getServer().getVersion());
+			}
-			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, getServer().getBukkitVersion());
+			LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, exception.toString());
+			pm.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_JOIN, new PlayerListener() {
+
+				@Override
+				public void onPlayerJoin(PlayerJoinEvent event)
+				{
+					event.getPlayer().sendMessage("Essentials failed to load, read the log file.");
 				}
 				
+			}, Priority.Low, this);
+			for (Player player : getServer().getOnlinePlayers())
+			{
+				player.sendMessage("Essentials failed to load, read the log file.");
+			}
+			this.setEnabled(false);
+			return;
+		}
+		backup = new Backup(this);
 		permissionsHandler = new PermissionsHandler(this, settings.useBukkitPermissions());
 		alternativeCommandsHandler = new AlternativeCommandsHandler(this);
 		final EssentialsPluginListener serverListener = new EssentialsPluginListener(this);
@@ -275,7 +311,7 @@ public class Essentials extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentials
 			if (pc != null)
 			{
 				alternativeCommandsHandler.executed(commandLabel, pc.getLabel());
-				LOGGER.log(Level.FINE,"Essentials: Alternative command " + commandLabel + " found, using " + pc.getLabel());
+				LOGGER.log(Level.FINE, "Essentials: Alternative command " + commandLabel + " found, using " + pc.getLabel());
 				return pc.execute(sender, commandLabel, args);
 			}
 		}
@@ -444,7 +480,9 @@ public class Essentials extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentials
 		if (user == null)
 		{
 			user = new User(base, this);
-		} else {
+		}
+		else
+		{
 			user.update(base);
 		}
 		return user;

Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/EssentialsConf.java

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package com.earth2me.essentials;
 
 import static com.earth2me.essentials.I18n._;
 import java.io.*;
-import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Locale;
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ public class EssentialsConf extends Configuration
 		}
 		catch (RuntimeException e)
 		{
-			LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "File: " + configFile.toString());
+			LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, "File broken: " + configFile.toString());
 			throw e;
 		}
 

Essentials/src/messages.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments: {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Error calling command /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cError: {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials Reloaded {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77You extinguished yourself.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77You extinguished {0}.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} accepted your teleport request.
 requestDenied=\u00a77Teleport request denied.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} denied your teleport request.
 requestSent=\u00a77Request sent to {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=Error occurred when trying to return player to jail.
 second=second
 seconds=seconds

Essentials/src/messages_da.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments: {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Fejl ved opkald af kommando /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cFejl: {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials Genindl\u00e6st {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77Du slukkede dig selv.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77Du slukkede {0}.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} accepted your teleport request.
 requestDenied=\u00a77Teleporterings anmodning n\u00e6gtet.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} denied your teleport request.
 requestSent=\u00a77Anmodning sendt til {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=En fejl opstod ved fors\u00f8g p\u00e5 at returnere spiller til f\u00e6ngsel.
 second=sekunde
 seconds=sekunder

Essentials/src/messages_de.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments: {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Fehler beim Aufrufen des Befehls /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cFehler: {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials neu geladen {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77Du hast dich selbst gel\u00f6scht.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77Du hast {0} gel\u00f6scht.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} hat deine Teleportierungsanfrage angenommen.
 requestDenied=\u00a77Teleportierungsanfrage verweigert.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} hat deine Teleportierungsanfrage abgelehnt.
 requestSent=\u00a77Anfrage gesendet an {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=Fehler beim Versuch, den Spieler ins Gef\u00e4ngnis zu teleportieren.
 second=Sekunde
 seconds=Sekunden

Essentials/src/messages_en.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments: {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Error calling command /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cError: {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials Reloaded {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77You extinguished yourself.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77You extinguished {0}.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} accepted your teleport request.
 requestDenied=\u00a77Teleport request denied.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} denied your teleport request
 requestSent=\u00a77Request sent to {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=Error occurred when trying to return player to jail.
 second=second
 seconds=seconds

Essentials/src/messages_es.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments: {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Error al ejecutar el comando /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cError: {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials Recargado {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77Te has suicidado.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77Has matado a {0}.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} acepto tu peticion de teletransporte.
 requestDenied=\u00a77Peticion de teletransporte denegada.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} ha denegado tu peticion de teletransporte.
 requestSent=\u00a77Peticion enviada a {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=Error al intentar quitar al jugador de la carcel.
 second=segundo
 seconds=segundos

Essentials/src/messages_fr.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments : {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Erreur en appelant la commande /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cErreur : {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials Recharg\u00e9 {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77Vous cessez de br\u00fbler.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77Vous avez \u00e9teint la combustion de {0}.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} a accept\u00e9 votre demande de t\u00e9l\u00e9por
 requestDenied=\u00a77Demande de t\u00e9l\u00e9portation refus\u00e9e.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} a refus\u00e9 votre demande de t\u00e9l\u00e9portation.
 requestSent=\u00a77Requ\u00eate envoy\u00e9e \u00e0 {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=Erreur survenue lors de la tentative d''emprisonner de nouveau un joueur.
 second=seconde
 seconds=secondes

Essentials/src/messages_nl.properties

@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ enchantmentRemoved = \u00a77The enchantment {0} has been removed from your item
 enchantments = \u00a77Enchantments: {0}
 errorCallingCommand=Fout bij het aanroepen van de opdracht /{0}
 errorWithMessage=\u00a7cFout: {0}
+essentialsHelp1=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
+essentialsHelp2=The file is broken and Essentials can't open it. Essentials is now disabled. If you can't fix the file yourself, either type /essentialshelp in game or go to http://tiny.cc/EssentialsChat
 essentialsReload=\u00a77Essentials is herladen {0}
 extinguish=\u00a77Je hebt jezelf geblust.
 extinguishOthers=\u00a77Je hebt {0} geblust.
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ requestAcceptedFrom=\u00a77{0} accepted your teleport request.
 requestDenied=\u00a77Teleporteer aanvraag geweigerd.
 requestDeniedFrom=\u00a77{0} denied your teleport request.
 requestSent=\u00a77Aanvraag verstuurd naar {0}\u00a77.
+requiredBukkit=You need atleast build {0} of CraftBukkit, download it from http://ci.bukkit.org.
 returnPlayerToJailError=Fout opgetreden bij terugzetten van speler in gevangenis.
 second=seconde
 seconds=seconde

EssentialsChat/src/com/earth2me/essentials/chat/EssentialsChat.java

@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ public class EssentialsChat extends JavaPlugin
 	{
 		final PluginManager pluginManager = getServer().getPluginManager();
 		final IEssentials ess = (IEssentials)pluginManager.getPlugin("Essentials");
+		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
+		{
+			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
+		}
+		if (!ess.isEnabled())
+		{
+			this.setEnabled(false);
+			return;
+		}
 
 		chatListener = new HashMap<String, IEssentialsChatListener>();
 
@@ -30,17 +39,17 @@ public class EssentialsChat extends JavaPlugin
 		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_CHAT, playerListenerLowest, Priority.Lowest, this);
 		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_CHAT, playerListenerNormal, Priority.Normal, this);
 		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_CHAT, playerListenerHighest, Priority.Highest, this);
-		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
+
-		{
-			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
-		}
 		LOGGER.info(_("loadinfo", this.getDescription().getName(), this.getDescription().getVersion(), "essentials team"));
 	}
 
 	public void onDisable()
+	{
+		if (chatListener != null)
 		{
 			chatListener.clear();
 		}
+	}
 
 	public void addEssentialsChatListener(final String plugin, final IEssentialsChatListener listener)
 	{

EssentialsGeoIP/src/com/earth2me/essentials/geoip/EssentialsGeoIP.java

@@ -28,13 +28,17 @@ public class EssentialsGeoIP extends JavaPlugin
 	{
 		final PluginManager pm = getServer().getPluginManager();
 		final IEssentials ess = (IEssentials)pm.getPlugin("Essentials");
-		final EssentialsGeoIPPlayerListener playerListener = new EssentialsGeoIPPlayerListener(getDataFolder(), ess);
-		pm.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_JOIN, playerListener, Priority.Monitor, this);
-
 		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
 		{
 			logger.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
 		}
+		if (!ess.isEnabled()) {
+			this.setEnabled(false);
+			return;
+		}
+		final EssentialsGeoIPPlayerListener playerListener = new EssentialsGeoIPPlayerListener(getDataFolder(), ess);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_JOIN, playerListener, Priority.Monitor, this);
+
 		logger.info(_("loadinfo", this.getDescription().getName(), this.getDescription().getVersion(), "essentials team"));
 
 		logger.log(Level.INFO, "This product includes GeoLite data created by MaxMind, available from http://www.maxmind.com/.");

EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EmergencyBlockListener.java

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package com.earth2me.essentials.protect;
+
+import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockBreakEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockBurnEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockFromToEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockIgniteEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.block.BlockListener;
+
+
+public class EmergencyBlockListener extends BlockListener
+{
+
+	@Override
+	public void onBlockBurn(final BlockBurnEvent event)
+	{
+		event.setCancelled(true);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void onBlockIgnite(final BlockIgniteEvent event)
+	{
+		event.setCancelled(true);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void onBlockFromTo(final BlockFromToEvent event)
+	{
+		event.setCancelled(true);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void onBlockBreak(final BlockBreakEvent event)
+	{
+		event.setCancelled(true);
+	}
+}

EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EmergencyEntityListener.java

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+package com.earth2me.essentials.protect;
+
+import org.bukkit.event.entity.EntityDamageEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.entity.EntityExplodeEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.entity.EntityListener;
+
+
+public class EmergencyEntityListener extends EntityListener
+{
+
+	@Override
+	public void onEntityExplode(final EntityExplodeEvent event)
+	{
+		event.setCancelled(true);
+	}
+
+	@Override
+	public void onEntityDamage(final EntityDamageEvent event)
+	{
+		event.setCancelled(true);
+	}
+}

EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EmergencyPlayerListener.java

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+package com.earth2me.essentials.protect;
+
+import org.bukkit.event.player.PlayerJoinEvent;
+import org.bukkit.event.player.PlayerListener;
+
+
+public class EmergencyPlayerListener extends PlayerListener
+{
+
+	@Override
+	public void onPlayerJoin(PlayerJoinEvent event)
+	{
+		event.getPlayer().sendMessage("Essentials Protect is in emergency mode. Check your log for errors.");
+	}
+	
+}

EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtect.java

@@ -51,6 +51,14 @@ public class EssentialsProtect extends JavaPlugin implements IConf, IProtect
 	{
 		final PluginManager pm = this.getServer().getPluginManager();
 		ess = (IEssentials)pm.getPlugin("Essentials");
+		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
+		{
+			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
+		}
+		if (!ess.isEnabled()) {
+			enableEmergencyMode(pm);
+			return;
+		}
 
 		final EssentialsProtectPlayerListener playerListener = new EssentialsProtectPlayerListener(this);
 		pm.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_INTERACT, playerListener, Priority.Low, this);
@@ -79,13 +87,28 @@ public class EssentialsProtect extends JavaPlugin implements IConf, IProtect
 
 		reloadConfig();
 		ess.addReloadListener(this);
-		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
-		{
-			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
-		}
 		LOGGER.info(_("loadinfo", this.getDescription().getName(), this.getDescription().getVersion(), "essentials team"));
 	}
 
+	private void enableEmergencyMode(final PluginManager pm)
+	{
+		final EmergencyBlockListener emBlockListener = new EmergencyBlockListener();
+		final EmergencyEntityListener emEntityListener = new EmergencyEntityListener();
+		final EmergencyPlayerListener emPlayerListener = new EmergencyPlayerListener();
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_JOIN, emPlayerListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.BLOCK_BURN, emBlockListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.BLOCK_IGNITE, emBlockListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.BLOCK_FROMTO, emBlockListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.BLOCK_BREAK, emBlockListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.ENTITY_DAMAGE, emEntityListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pm.registerEvent(Type.ENTITY_EXPLODE, emEntityListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		for (Player player : getServer().getOnlinePlayers())
+		{
+			player.sendMessage("Essentials Protect is in emergency mode. Check your log for errors.");
+		}
+		LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, "Essentials not installed or failed to load. Essenials Protect is in emergency mode now.");
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public boolean checkProtectionItems(final ProtectConfig list, final int id)
 	{

EssentialsProtect/src/plugin.yml

@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ version: TeamCity
 website: http://www.earth2me.net:8001/
 description: Provides protection for various parts of the world.
 authors: [Zenexer, ementalo, Aelux, Brettflan, KimKandor, snowleo, ceulemans, Xeology]
-depend: [Essentials]
+softdepend: [Essentials]

EssentialsSpawn/src/com/earth2me/essentials/spawn/EssentialsSpawn.java

@@ -21,15 +21,18 @@ public class EssentialsSpawn extends JavaPlugin
 	{
 		final PluginManager pluginManager = getServer().getPluginManager();
 		ess = (IEssentials)pluginManager.getPlugin("Essentials");
-		final EssentialsSpawnPlayerListener playerListener = new EssentialsSpawnPlayerListener(ess);
-		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_RESPAWN, playerListener, Priority.Low, this);
-		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_JOIN, playerListener, Priority.Low, this);
-
-
 		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
 		{
 			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
 		}
+		if (!ess.isEnabled()) {
+			this.setEnabled(false);
+			return;
+		}
+		final EssentialsSpawnPlayerListener playerListener = new EssentialsSpawnPlayerListener(ess);
+		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_RESPAWN, playerListener, Priority.Low, this);
+		pluginManager.registerEvent(Type.PLAYER_JOIN, playerListener, Priority.Low, this);
+
 		LOGGER.info(_("loadinfo", this.getDescription().getName(), this.getDescription().getVersion(), "essentials team"));
 	}
 

EssentialsXMPP/src/com/earth2me/essentials/xmpp/EssentialsXMPP.java

@@ -36,9 +36,14 @@ public class EssentialsXMPP extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentialsXMPP
 
 		final PluginManager pluginManager = getServer().getPluginManager();
 		ess = (IEssentials)pluginManager.getPlugin("Essentials");
-		if (ess == null)
+		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
 		{
-			LOGGER.log(Level.SEVERE, "Failed to load Essentials before EssentialsXMPP");
+			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
+		}
+		if (!ess.isEnabled())
+		{
+			this.setEnabled(false);
+			return;
 		}
 
 		final EssentialsXMPPPlayerListener playerListener = new EssentialsXMPPPlayerListener(ess);
@@ -52,18 +57,17 @@ public class EssentialsXMPP extends JavaPlugin implements IEssentialsXMPP
 		ess.addReloadListener(users);
 		ess.addReloadListener(xmpp);
 
-		if (!this.getDescription().getVersion().equals(ess.getDescription().getVersion()))
-		{
-			LOGGER.log(Level.WARNING, _("versionMismatchAll"));
-		}
 		LOGGER.info(_("loadinfo", this.getDescription().getName(), this.getDescription().getVersion(), "essentials team"));
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public void onDisable()
+	{
+		if (xmpp != null)
 		{
 			xmpp.disconnect();
 		}
+	}
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean onCommand(final CommandSender sender, final Command command, final String commandLabel, final String[] args)