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Discord Setup

This is the part most guides make unnecessarily confusing. Keep the model simple:

  • NEW means "can look, cannot participate yet"
  • MEMBER means "normal access"
  • #welcome is for starting verification

1. Create the Bot Application

In the Discord Developer Portal:

  1. Create a new application.
  2. Add a bot user.
  3. Copy the bot token for brrainzbot setup.
  4. Enable the privileged intents your bot needs:
  5. Server Members Intent
  6. Message Content Intent

2. Invite the Bot

Invite the bot with enough permissions to:

  • view channels
  • manage roles
  • manage messages
  • kick members
  • send messages
  • create DMs

Keep the bot role above NEW and MEMBER in the Discord role order, otherwise it cannot move people between those roles.

3. Create the Roles

Create:

  • NEW
  • MEMBER

Recommended role model:

  • @everyone: read access to the channels you want newcomers to browse, but no send permission in the public discussion channels
  • NEW: marker role for jailed users
  • MEMBER: the role that actually grants normal send/participation access

4. Create #welcome

#welcome should:

  • be visible to @everyone and NEW
  • be hidden from MEMBER
  • not be used as a normal chat room

The bot will place one persistent welcome message there and handle the rest with buttons, modals, and ephemeral replies.

5. Make Public Channels Read-Only for Newcomers

For the public channels you want newcomers to browse:

  • allow view access to @everyone
  • deny or leave disabled message sending for @everyone
  • grant normal send access to MEMBER

That gives new users a good first impression without letting drive-by spam hit the visible channels immediately.

6. Gather the IDs

You will need:

  • guild ID
  • welcome channel ID
  • NEW role ID
  • MEMBER role ID
  • your own Discord user ID for uncertain-case DMs

To get them:

  1. Enable Developer Mode in Discord.
  2. Right-click the server, roles, and channel.
  3. Use Copy ID.