There is a seriously ass backwards approach in not having functionality that allows you to vanish while still showing up on the tab list + being able to receive messages.

Every time I /vanish my users are like "Oh, the op is vanished again - he doesn't show up on the tab list"

Seriously. What I need is

• Vanish (invisibility etc)
• Yet still showing up as being online on the server normally
• Users being able to send me messages normally etc

That would be much more effective than constant fake join/leave messages when I need to check on someone. My users are not stupid, they KNOW when I vanish because I'm usually online 24/7 and if they suddenly can't see me on the tab list / send me messages they all go ape shit on the chat "oo, the op is playing with vanish" blowing my cover.

Could you add this option? Because, you know, it would be awesome?

Scweet.

It is NOT possible to be visible in the tab list and vanish with the bukkit api.

Then how about finding a clever way around this problem and making VanishNoPacket even more wonderful than it already is? Protocol lib?

The current invisibility system within bukkit is built around the idea of the player ceasing to exist from the perspective of anyone who can't see them in terms of entity visibility, tab list visibility, and command visibility. The tab list changes are covered in another ticket and I may consider that in the future, but it would still not provide what you want.

If your users can tell when you go poof, then use the fake join/quit messages so look like you're properly leaving.