Your first 15 minutes

Nothing here is required, and none of it is irreversible. It is simply the order most servers end up doing things in, with the settings that matter called out.

1Logging, so you can see what happened

Do this first. Every other system logs into it, and a server without logs makes every later problem a guess.

1. 1

   Open Logging

   General → Logging. It has no switch: it is always on, and it starts posting the moment it has a channel to post in.

2. 2

   Set a default log channel

   On the Settings tab, pick one private staff channel as the Default log channel. Every log type with no channel of its own goes there. Or press the Create log channels button beside it (it says how many it will make) for a private arclo logs category with one channel per log category.

3. 3

   Check what gets logged

   Every category starts on, with the log types nearly every server wants switched on and the noisy ones (reactions, avatars, self-mutes) off. Open a category on the Event Logs tab to change that, or use Start from a preset on the Settings tab. You can route single categories or log types to channels of their own later.

Full details: Logging.

2Moderation, so punishments are recorded

This is the one of Arclo's three protective systems worth doing on day one: it is where your staff, your mute method and every case live. Auto Moderation and Security build on it and can wait until you know what your server actually gets.

1. 1

   Open Moderation and switch it on

   Essentials → Moderation.

2. 2

   Name your staff roles

   On the General tab, under Who may moderate, add your Moderator roles (and Administrator roles for the people who may also ban and lock the server down). Members with the matching Discord permissions can moderate anyway; these roles let staff do it without them. Under Who can't be moderated, add any Immune roles.

3. 3

   Pick a mute method

   Under How a mute works, Discord timeout needs no setup and is the default. Discord caps one timeout at 28 days, so Arclo renews a longer mute before it lapses; Muted role or Both is the sturdier choice if you use long mutes often.

Full details: Moderation.

3Welcome, so arrivals know where to go

1. 1

   Open Welcome & Goodbye and switch on the Welcome tab

   Onboarding & Access → Welcome & Goodbye. The Welcome and Goodbye tabs each have their own switch in their header, so you can greet arrivals without announcing departures.

2. 2

   Choose the channel and write the message

   Use {user} to mention them and {server} for the server name; type { in any field for the rest. The preview is what Discord will render. Send test message posts it to the channel with you as the new member.

3. 3

   Optionally add a banner

   Switch on Banner and pick a theme from the library, or upload your own image. A generated banner is drawn with each member's avatar and name at send time.

Full details: Welcome & Goodbye.

4Verify System, so bots do not get past the door

1. 1

   Open Verify System and switch it on

   Onboarding & Access → Verify System.

2. 2

   Create one configuration and pick Button

   Press New configuration (or Quick Setup for a guided version). A single button panel is the right first gate. The default design already reads sensibly; under Reactions and roles, give the one option the role your verified members should carry.

3. 3

   Pick the channel and publish

   Choose a Verification channel, or leave it on Create a #verification channel for me and publishing makes a read-only one. The first publish opens a short guide to the Discord-side half, hiding the rest of the server from unverified members, which Arclo cannot do for you.

Full details: Verify System.

5Ticketing, so members can reach you in private

1. 1

   Open Ticketing and switch it on

   Essentials → Ticketing.

2. 2

   Create a panel and set its support team

   Press Quick Setup for a four-step guided panel, or New panel to build one yourself. One panel is enough to begin with. On its Setup tab, the Support team roles you name see, claim and close every ticket it opens.

3. 3

   Add one or two ticket types and publish

   Under Panel message & ticket types, General help and Report a member cover most servers. Publish posts the panel. Leave the Panel channel on Create a #support-tickets channel for me and publishing makes a read-only one.

Full details: Ticketing.

6Levels, so activity earns something

1. 1

   Open Levels and switch it on

   Onboarding & Access → Levels. XP starts accruing immediately, for chatting and for time in voice. Message XP is paid at most once per Cooldown (1 minute by default, on the XP & Levels tab), so a burst of messages earns once.

2. 2

   Decide where level-ups are announced

   On the Announcements tab: the channel it happened in, one announcement channel, a DM, both, or nowhere at all. A dedicated channel keeps them out of conversations.

3. 3

   Add a role reward or two

   On the Overview tab, under Role rewards, pick a level and the role it unlocks. Arclo's role must sit above every reward role in your role list, or it cannot hand them out.

Full details: Levels.

7Invite Tracking, so you know who brings people in

1. 1

   Open Invite Tracking and switch it on

   Essentials → Invite Tracking. Arclo needs Manage Server to read your invite list. The invite you added it with already includes it.

2. 2

   Pick a join channel

   Optional, and off until you pick one: an announcement each time somebody arrives, saying who brought them. {inviter} also works in your welcome message from step 3.

3. 3

   Leave the counting rules at their defaults

   Leavers are subtracted, and accounts younger than three days count as fake rather than as invites. Add an invite reward, a role at N invites, once you see what your numbers look like.

Full details: Invite Tracking.

Where to go next

Once the server has been running for a few days and you can see in the logs what actually gets posted, the other two protective systems are worth an evening each.