Running a Rust server costs money. Hosting, plugins, anti-cheat, DDoS protection. Most server owners fund their servers through VIP packages and kit donations. But there's a line between reasonable perks and pay-to-win that your community will enforce harshly.
Kit Philosophy
The golden rule: VIP kits should save time, not bypass gameplay. A kit that gives a player a stone tool set on wipe day is convenient. A kit that gives full metal gear and an AK is pay-to-win.
Recommended Kit Tiers
| Tier | Price | Contents | Cooldown | |------|-------|----------|----------| | Supporter | $5/mo | Stone tools, 1000 wood/stone, sleeping bag | 24h | | VIP | $10/mo | Metal tools, 2000 resources, small stash, code lock | 12h | | VIP+ | $20/mo | Metal tools, 5000 resources, garage door, 2 turrets | 12h | | Premium | $30/mo | Same as VIP+ plus custom skin set, queue priority | 12h |
What to Avoid
Never include in kits:
- Guns above the Revolver tier
- Explosives (C4, rockets)
- High-quality armor (metal chestplate, facemask)
- Raiding tools (satchels, explo ammo)
These items define Rust's progression. Selling them removes the reason most people play.
Queue Priority
Queue bypass is the most popular and least controversial VIP perk. When your server hits its player cap, VIPs skip the line. This is a convenience perk that doesn't affect gameplay balance.
oxide.grant group vip skipqueue.use
Skinbox Access
Let VIPs use custom skins on their items. Skins are cosmetic only but highly valued by players. It's revenue with zero balance impact.
Payment Processing
Tebex (BuyACraft): The standard for game server monetization. Handles payments, delivers commands automatically, supports most currencies.
Set up Tebex to run commands on your server when a purchase completes:
oxide.usergroup add {username} vip
The system automatically grants the VIP rank when payment clears.
Pricing Strategy
Price based on your costs:
| Monthly Cost | Target VIPs | Price Point | |-------------|-------------|-------------| | $10 hosting | 3-5 | $5-10 | | $25 hosting | 5-10 | $5-15 | | $50 hosting | 10-20 | $5-20 |
You're not trying to profit. You're trying to cover costs. Reasonable pricing builds community trust and encourages more purchases than aggressive pricing.
Community Expectations
Be transparent about what VIP includes. Post a clear list on your Discord and in-game. Players accept monetization when they understand it's funding the server. They revolt when they feel tricked or when VIPs have unfair advantages.
Keep your hosting costs public. Players respect "VIP covers our $40/month Space-Node hosting" more than secretive pricing.
First-wipe surveys are useful. Ask your community what they'd pay for and what would feel unfair. They'll tell you honestly, and following their input builds loyalty.
