diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 65fd529..cfbee71 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 name: Build Plugin
 
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
 on:
   push:
     branches: [ main, develop ]
+    tags: [ 'v*' ]
   pull_request:
     branches: [ main ]
 
@@ -11,62 +15,62 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    
-    - name: Setup Java 25
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
-      with:
-        java-version: '25'
-        distribution: 'temurin'
-    
-    - name: Cache Gradle Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v4
-      with:
-        path: ~/.gradle
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*', '**/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
-    
-    - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
-      run: chmod +x gradlew
-    
-    - name: Build with Gradle
-      run: ./gradlew shadowJar
-    
-    - name: Run Tests
-      run: ./gradlew test
-    
-    - name: Upload Artifact
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-      with:
-        name: plugin-jar
-        path: build/libs/*.jar
-        
+      - name: Checkout Repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Java 25
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '25'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+
+      - name: Cache Gradle Dependencies
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.gradle
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*', '**/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
+
+      - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
+        run: chmod +x gradlew
+
+      - name: Build with Gradle
+        run: ./gradlew shadowJar
+
+      - name: Run Tests
+        run: ./gradlew test
+
+      - name: Upload Artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: plugin-jar
+          path: build/libs/*.jar
+
   release:
     needs: build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
     
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    
-    - name: Setup Java 25
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
-      with:
-        java-version: '25'
-        distribution: 'temurin'
-    
-    - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
-      run: chmod +x gradlew
-    
-    - name: Build with Gradle
-      run: ./gradlew shadowJar
-    
-    - name: Create Release
-      uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
-      with:
-        files: build/libs/*.jar
-      env:
-        GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - name: Checkout Repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Java 25
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '25'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+
+      - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
+        run: chmod +x gradlew
+
+      - name: Build with Gradle
+        run: ./gradlew shadowJar
+
+      - name: Create Release
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          files: build/libs/*.jar
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b7256e4..31342f7 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ bin/
 /.nb-gradle/
 
 # VS Code
-.vscode/
+.vscode/*
+!.vscode/java-formatter.xml
+!.vscode/settings.json
 
 # Mac OS
 .DS_Store
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5ec290c..0eae348 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ A minimal, ready-to-use template for creating Hytale plugins with modern build t
 
 ## Features
 
-✅ **Modern Build System** - Gradle with Kotlin DSL  
+✅ **Modern Build System** - Gradle with Groovy DSL  
 ✅ **Automated Testing** - Custom Gradle plugin for one-command server testing  
 ✅ **Java 25** - Latest Java features  
 ✅ **ShadowJar** - Automatic dependency bundling  
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ Your plugin JAR will be in: `build/libs/TemplatePlugin-1.0.0.jar`
 
 When ready to customize, edit these files:
 
-**`settings.gradle.kts`:**
+**`settings.gradle`:**
 
-```kotlin
+```groovy
 rootProject.name = "your-plugin-name"
 ```
 
@@ -139,9 +139,9 @@ TemplatePlugin/
 │   └── resources/
 │       └── manifest.json            # Plugin metadata
 ├── .gitignore                       # Git ignore rules
-├── build.gradle.kts                 # Build configuration
+├── build.gradle                     # Build configuration
 ├── gradle.properties                # Project properties
-├── settings.gradle.kts              # Project settings
+├── settings.gradle                  # Project settings
 ├── LICENSE                          # MIT License
 └── README.md                        # This file
 ```
@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@ rm -rf run/
 
 ### Adding Dependencies
 
-Edit `build.gradle.kts`:
+Edit `build.gradle`:
 
-```kotlin
+```groovy
 dependencies {
     // Hytale API (provided by server)
     compileOnly(files("./HytaleServer.jar"))
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ dependencies {
 
 **Usage:**
 
-Edit `build.gradle.kts`:
+Edit `build.gradle`:
 
-```kotlin
+```groovy
 runHytale {
     jarUrl = "url to hytale server jar"
 }
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ GitHub Actions will automatically build and create a release with your plugin JA
 
 ### Server Won't Start
 
-1. Check that `jarUrl` in `build.gradle.kts` is correct
+1. Check that `jarUrl` in `build.gradle` is correct
 2. Verify Java 25 is installed: `java -version`
 3. Check logs in `run/logs/`
 
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 8df6db3..e1ecb6b 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 plugins {
     id 'java'
     id 'org.jetbrains.gradle.plugin.idea-ext' version '1.3'
+    id 'com.gradleup.shadow' version '9.3.1'
 }
 
 import org.gradle.internal.os.OperatingSystem
@@ -8,8 +9,9 @@ import org.gradle.internal.os.OperatingSystem
 ext {
     if (project.hasProperty('hytale_home')) {
         hytaleHome = project.findProperty('hytale_home')
-    }
-    else {
+    } else if (System.getenv('HYTALE_HOME')) {
+        hytaleHome = System.getenv('HYTALE_HOME')
+    } else {
         def os = OperatingSystem.current()
         if (os.isWindows()) {
             hytaleHome = "${System.getProperty("user.home")}/AppData/Roaming/Hytale"
@@ -26,11 +28,10 @@ ext {
     }
 }
 
-if (!project.hasProperty('hytaleHome')) {
-    throw new GradleException('Your Hytale install could not be detected automatically. If you are on an unsupported platform or using a custom install location, please define the install location using the hytale_home property.');
-}
-else if (!file(project.findProperty('hytaleHome')).exists()) {
-    throw new GradleException("Failed to find Hytale at the expected location. Please make sure you have installed the game. The expected location can be changed using the hytale_home property. Currently looking in ${project.findProperty('hytaleHome')}")
+def hytaleHomePath = ext.has('hytaleHome') ? hytaleHome : null
+def hasHytaleHome = (hytaleHomePath != null) && file(hytaleHomePath).exists()
+if (!hasHytaleHome) {
+    logger.lifecycle("Hytale install not detected; run configs that launch the server will be skipped. Set -Phytale_home=/path/to/Hytale to enable them.")
 }
 
 java {
@@ -45,16 +46,27 @@ javadoc {
 }
 
 // Adds the Hytale server as a build dependency, allowing you to reference and
-// compile against their code. This requires you to have Hytale installed using
-// the official launcher for now.
+// compile against their code without bundling it. When a local install is
+// present, we still use its jar for launching the server in IDE run configs.
 dependencies {
-    implementation(files("$hytaleHome/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Server/HytaleServer.jar"))
+    compileOnly("com.hypixel.hytale:Server:$hytale_build")
+    if (hasHytaleHome) {
+        runtimeOnly(files("$hytaleHome/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Server/HytaleServer.jar"))
+    }
+
+    // Your dependencies here
 }
 
-// Create the working directory to run the server if it does not already exist.
-def serverRunDir = file("$projectDir/run")
-if (!serverRunDir.exists()) {
-    serverRunDir.mkdirs()
+repositories {
+    mavenCentral()
+    maven {
+        name = "hytale-release"
+        url = uri("https://maven.hytale.com/release")
+    }
+    maven {
+        name = "hytale-pre-release"
+        url = uri("https://maven.hytale.com/pre-release")
+    }
 }
 
 // Updates the manifest.json file with the latest properties defined in the
@@ -78,54 +90,105 @@ tasks.named('processResources') {
     dependsOn 'updatePluginManifest'
 }
 
-def createServerRunArguments(String srcDir) {
-    def programParameters = '--allow-op --disable-sentry --assets="' + "${hytaleHome}/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Assets.zip" + '"'
-    def modPaths = []
-    if (includes_pack.toBoolean()) {
-        modPaths << srcDir
-    }
-    if (load_user_mods.toBoolean()) {
-        modPaths << "${hytaleHome}/UserData/Mods"
-    }
-    if (!modPaths.isEmpty()) {
-        programParameters += ' --mods="' + modPaths.join(',') + '"'
-    }
-    return programParameters
+tasks.named('shadowJar') {
+    archiveClassifier.set('')
+    mergeServiceFiles()
 }
 
-// Creates a run configuration in IDEA that will run the Hytale server with
-// your plugin and the default assets.
-idea.project.settings.runConfigurations {
-    'HytaleServer'(org.jetbrains.gradle.ext.Application) {
-        mainClass = 'com.hypixel.hytale.Main'
-        moduleName = project.idea.module.name + '.main'
-        programParameters = createServerRunArguments(sourceSets.main.java.srcDirs.first().parentFile.absolutePath)
-        workingDirectory = serverRunDir.absolutePath
-    }
+// Ensure the shaded jar is produced during a normal build.
+tasks.named('build') {
+    dependsOn 'shadowJar'
 }
 
-// Creates a launch.json file for VSCode with the same configuration
-tasks.register('generateVSCodeLaunch') {
-    def vscodeDir = file("$projectDir/.vscode")
-    def launchFile = file("$vscodeDir/launch.json")
-    doLast {
-        if (!vscodeDir.exists()) {
-            vscodeDir.mkdirs()
+if (hasHytaleHome) {
+    // Create the working directory to run the server if it does not already exist.
+    def serverRunDir = file("$projectDir/run")
+    if (!serverRunDir.exists()) {
+        serverRunDir.mkdirs()
+    }
+
+    def createServerRunArguments = { String srcDir ->
+        def programParameters = '--allow-op --disable-sentry --assets="' + "${hytaleHome}/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Assets.zip" + '"'
+        def modPaths = []
+        if (includes_pack.toBoolean()) {
+            modPaths << srcDir
         }
-        def programParams = createServerRunArguments("\${workspaceFolder}")
-        def launchConfig = [
-            version: "0.2.0",
-            configurations: [
-                [
-                    type: "java",
-                    name: "HytaleServer",
-                    request: "launch",
-                    mainClass: "com.hypixel.hytale.Main",
-                    args: programParams,
-                    cwd: "\${workspaceFolder}/run"
-                ]
+        if (load_user_mods.toBoolean()) {
+            modPaths << "${hytaleHome}/UserData/Mods"
+        }
+        if (!modPaths.isEmpty()) {
+            programParameters += ' --mods="' + modPaths.join(',') + '"'
+        }
+        return programParameters
+    }
+
+    def serverJar = file("$hytaleHome/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Server/HytaleServer.jar")
+    def assetsZip = file("$hytaleHome/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Assets.zip")
+    def shadowJarTask = tasks.named('shadowJar')
+
+    tasks.register('runServerJar', JavaExec) {
+        dependsOn shadowJarTask
+        mainClass = 'com.hypixel.hytale.Main'
+        classpath = files(serverJar)
+        workingDir = serverRunDir.absolutePath
+        doFirst {
+            def modPaths = [shadowJarTask.get().archiveFile.get().asFile.absolutePath]
+            if (load_user_mods.toBoolean()) {
+                modPaths << "${hytaleHome}/UserData/Mods"
+            }
+            setArgs([
+                    '--allow-op',
+                    '--disable-sentry',
+                    "--assets=${assetsZip}",
+                    "--mods=${modPaths.join(',')}"
+            ])
+        }
+    }
+
+    tasks.register('runServer') {
+        dependsOn 'runServerJar'
+    }
+
+    // Creates a run configuration in IDEA that will run the Hytale server with
+    // your plugin and the default assets.
+    idea.project.settings.runConfigurations {
+        'HytaleServer'(org.jetbrains.gradle.ext.Application) {
+            mainClass = 'com.hypixel.hytale.Main'
+            moduleName = project.idea.module.name + '.main'
+            programParameters = createServerRunArguments(sourceSets.main.java.srcDirs.first().parentFile.absolutePath)
+            workingDirectory = serverRunDir.absolutePath
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Creates a launch.json file for VSCode with the same configuration
+    tasks.register('generateVSCodeLaunch') {
+        def vscodeDir = file("$projectDir/.vscode")
+        def launchFile = file("$vscodeDir/launch.json")
+        doLast {
+            if (!vscodeDir.exists()) {
+                vscodeDir.mkdirs()
+            }
+            def programParams = createServerRunArguments("\${workspaceFolder}")
+            def launchConfig = [
+                    version: "0.2.0",
+                    configurations: [
+                            [
+                                    type: "java",
+                                    name: "HytaleServer",
+                                    request: "launch",
+                                    mainClass: "com.hypixel.hytale.Main",
+                                    args: programParams,
+                                    cwd: "\${workspaceFolder}/run"
+                            ]
+                    ]
             ]
-        ]
-        launchFile.text = groovy.json.JsonOutput.prettyPrint(groovy.json.JsonOutput.toJson(launchConfig))
+            launchFile.text = groovy.json.JsonOutput.prettyPrint(groovy.json.JsonOutput.toJson(launchConfig))
+        }
+    }
+} else {
+    tasks.register('generateVSCodeLaunch') {
+        doLast {
+            logger.lifecycle("Skipped VSCode launch configuration because hytale_home is not set or the install path is missing.")
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/build.gradle.kts b/build.gradle.kts
deleted file mode 100644
index 372dbb0..0000000
--- a/build.gradle.kts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-plugins {
-    id("java-library")
-    id("com.gradleup.shadow") version "9.3.1"
-    id("run-hytale")
-}
-
-group = findProperty("pluginGroup") as String? ?: "com.example"
-version = findProperty("pluginVersion") as String? ?: "1.0.0"
-description = findProperty("pluginDescription") as String? ?: "A Hytale plugin template"
-
-repositories {
-    mavenLocal()
-    mavenCentral()
-}
-
-dependencies {
-    // Hytale Server API (provided by server at runtime)
-    compileOnly(files("./libs/HytaleServer.jar"))
-    
-    // Common dependencies (will be bundled in JAR)
-    implementation("com.google.code.gson:gson:2.10.1")
-    implementation("org.jetbrains:annotations:24.1.0")
-    
-    // Test dependencies
-    testImplementation("org.junit.jupiter:junit-jupiter:5.10.0")
-    testRuntimeOnly("org.junit.platform:junit-platform-launcher")
-}
-
-// Configure server testing
-runHytale {
-    jarUrl = "./libs/HytaleServer.jar"
-    assetsPath = "./libs/Assets.zip"
-}
-
-tasks {
-    // Configure Java compilation
-    compileJava {
-        options.encoding = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
-        options.release = 25
-    }
-    
-    // Configure resource processing
-    processResources {
-        filteringCharset = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
-        
-        // Replace placeholders in manifest.json
-        val props = mapOf(
-            "group" to project.group,
-            "version" to project.version,
-            "description" to project.description
-        )
-        inputs.properties(props)
-        
-        filesMatching("manifest.json") {
-            expand(props)
-        }
-    }
-    
-    // Configure ShadowJar (bundle dependencies)
-    shadowJar {
-        archiveBaseName.set(rootProject.name)
-        archiveClassifier.set("")
-        
-        // Relocate dependencies to avoid conflicts
-        relocate("com.google.gson", "com.yourplugin.libs.gson")
-        
-        // Minimize JAR size (removes unused classes)
-        minimize()
-    }
-    
-    // Configure tests
-    test {
-        useJUnitPlatform()
-    }
-    
-    // Make build depend on shadowJar
-    build {
-        dependsOn(shadowJar)
-    }
-}
-
-// Configure Java toolchain
-java {
-    toolchain {
-        languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(25))
-    }
-}
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index e0e99eb..ba33300 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ includes_pack=true
 # official launcher.
 patchline=release
 
+# The exact Hytale build to compile against. Use the build string from the
+# launcher (format YYYY.MM.DD-<hash>) so Gradle pulls the matching server jar
+# for your selected patchline.
+hytale_build=2026.01.27-734d39026
+
 # Determines if the development server should also load mods from the user's
 # standard mods folder. This lets you test mods by installing them where a
 # normal player would, instead of adding them as dependencies or adding them
@@ -29,4 +34,4 @@ load_user_mods=false
 # manually. You may also want to use a custom path if you are building in
 # a non-standard environment like a build server. The home path should
 # the folder that contains the install and UserData folder.
-# hytale_home=./test-file
\ No newline at end of file
+# hytale_home=./test-file
diff --git a/src/main/resources/manifest.json b/src/main/resources/manifest.json
index 169a0cc..c39edab 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/manifest.json
+++ b/src/main/resources/manifest.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
         }
     ],
     "Website": "example.org",
-    "ServerVersion": "*",
+    "ServerVersion": "2026.02.17-255364b8e",
     "Dependencies": {
         
     },