I run this Vanilla minecraft server and there I sat needing to assign permissions for a specific user that would allow them to use spectator mode when they needed to but also retain the ability of survival.

I tried googling the issue only to find posts mentioning to use
or something the like --This had to affect and the user was still unable to use it. I also tried bukkit.gamemode and minecraft.gamemode. None of them would work.

After not being able to find any way to set permissions with what I had I just settled with the result... for months. Well not anymore! There's Swapper™ on the streets!!

Swapper™ is a ultra-lightweight minimalistic plugin that allows players to change gamemodes based on a permission that works!




Permissions

• swapper.sreload
  
• swapper.survival
• swapper.creative
• swapper.spectator
• swapper.adventure

• /sreload
  
• /survival
• /creative
• /spectator
• /adventure

1. Download most up to date jar file.
2. Drop into server.
3. Use permissions editor of your choice and add the permissions for the gamemodes you want a user to have access to.

Giving "swapper.survival" and "swapper.spectator" will allow a user to only change between survival and spectator.