When we go over a certain number of players, the client server list will list the server as "Offline", and the Console will show:

ERROR io.netty.handler.codec.EncoderException: String too big (was 32770 bytes encoded, max 32767)

This happens for every refresh of the client-side server list, when the server is being pinged.

Tried removing the motd to reduce bytes being sent, and it still replicates. Players can still connect, but it appears offline to them, no matter how often they refresh.

Side-note: Server is now running Spigot, but the error replicates. The fact that this happened in vanilla is what matters.

This is NOT about chat messages being too long, and kicking people out. This is only when the client pings the server in the Multiplayer list. Server shows as "Can't connect", and no information is taken. Console then immediately shows the error.