# How to get started

Claiming land on our Survival server is simple and ensures your builds are protected from griefing while giving you full control over who can access your area.

**1. Claim Your First Chunk:**\
To start, use `/lands claim`.\
This command will automatically place a **bell** and **barrel** at the center of your new claim. These items act as markers for your land and make it easy to find the center. You'll also see **particle borders** outlining the edges of the chunk you just claimed, helping you visualize exactly what area you own.\
You can toggle these particles on and off at any time using `/lands view` to make building and exploring easier.

**2. Claim Limits for New Players:**\
As a **Novice** (default) rank, you are allowed to claim up to **2 chunks**.\
You can expand your number of claimable chunks by:

* **Playing actively** on the server — earn **1 extra chunk for every 2 hours** of playtime.
* **Purchasing support ranks** through our store at [store.vitalcraft.org](https://store.vitalcraft.org).
* **Spending vote points** to purchase extra land chunks in the `/voteshop`.

**3. Managing and Viewing Your Claims:**\
Use `/lands map` to open an interactive GUI that displays your current claims.\
This map allows you to easily see your land, nearby areas, and **click directly on the map to claim** adjacent chunks, making land management quick and intuitive.

**4. Creating Sub-Areas within Your Claims:**\
If you'd like to designate specific areas within your land for different permissions (for example, guest houses, farms, or private rooms), you can create **sub-areas**:

* Run `/lands selection` to receive a **special hoe tool**.
* Use the hoe to select two opposite corners within your claimed chunk.
* Once selected, you can assign the area using `/lands assign` and set specific permissions for that sub-area.

**5. Managing Permissions and Settings:**\
When you are ready to fine-tune the rules and access for your land:

* Open the land management menu with `/lands menu`.
* From here, you can manage **members**, **roles**, **flags** (such as PvP, block breaking, door usage), and other settings to fully customize your land experience.
