Well, If you’re a gamer, you’re probably already familiar with some form of a chat application. I’ve previously used TeamSpeak, Mumble, and a variety of others. Those are all true… however, yesterday. Discord is the app of the moment, and what an app it is!
This service was created to assist you in communicating flawlessly with other players via extremely private servers that enable you to voice chat or text with them. Discord is compatible with both desktop and mobile devices, making it easy to stay connected regardless of the type of game you’re playing – or where you’re playing it. It combines a general chat lobby, message boards, and the main VoIP client into one incredible app that won’t take up all of your phone’s or computer’s storage space.
Discord is a completely free service that requires no registration. You can either join an existing server via an invite code or create your own using only a username. When using Discord, there are numerous commands you can enter into the server to accomplish various tasks. Some are useful, while others are purely recreational. The following is a brief overview of Discord commands:
1- nick [new nickname] – Are you dissatisfied with the nickname you chose (or were assigned) upon entering the chat channel? This command enables you to select a nickname of your choice. Simply type it – along with the new name – and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
2- giphy [search term] – Do you enjoy animated GIFs? Cannot get enough of using them to show your thoughts and emotions? This command allows you to search through thousands of GIFs and then click to send the one you want into the chat room.
3- afk set [status] – Do you require a snack or a beverage? Is it time to use the restroom? Grandma unexpectedly paid a visit? Well, This command allows you to specify a custom AFK (away from keyboard) message that will show in the channel if your nickname is mentioned.
4- tts [message] – Due to the way Discord is set up, you can join the voice channel at any time. Nevertheless, what happens if you don’t have a microphone? This command enables you to type something and have it read aloud to everyone in the chat room. However, take care: administrators can easily disable this feature if it is abused.
5- membercount – As an administrator – or even as a regular member – you may be interested in knowing how many people are currently connected to the server. Using this command returns an instant result containing the magic number.
6- whois [user mention] – Not sure who the person who keeps speaking to you is? Utilize this command to obtain information about the user from the server.
7- serverinfo – Would you like to know how long a server has been active or how many users it has on average? This command can be quickly entered to obtain a wealth of information and statistics about the server.
8- emotes – I adore emojis, even at my “advanced” age! If you do as well, you can use this command to obtain a list of emojis that are compatible with the server.
9- Moderation Blacklist Add [phrase] – If you run a chat room, you’re well aware of how difficult it’s to prevent people from saying things they shouldn’t – regardless of how nicely you ask. Well, If there are certain words or phrases that you do not want to appear in the channel, you can add them to the blacklist using this command.
10- Botcommands – As mentioned previously, with the text-to-speech command, administrators can – and frequently do – disable specific commands. Additionally, they can create any number of custom commands for your use. Uncertain about which commands are available to you? This will provide you with the complete list.
Additionally, PhantomBot has a MASSIVE list of Discord commands.
Discord Servers and Chat Bots
As a gamer OR a content creator, running your own server is highly recommended due to the abundance of resources available to assist you. You can create multiple “channels” with varying permission levels for various types of users. Well, This means that if your server has a large number of users, you will not have hundreds of people conversing or typing over one another.
When you have your own discord server, you’ll want to employ a chatbot. This will significantly simplify your administrator’s life. The Discord website features a list of endorsed bots that provide a plethora of mod tools and facilitate integration with third-party services such as YouTube and Twitch. In addition, there are numerous “unofficial” bots that enable you to perform tasks such as calling people and adding player stats. Generally, I do not recommend using these because they may be unstable, infrequently updated, and not always free.
A Discord bot observes your channel/s passively until you give it commands to execute. This is the point at which the remainder of this article comes into play. I’m going to give you a fairly lengthy list of commands that you can use with your Discord bots… all of which will assist you in some way in running things effectively. Well, The following is a brief list of some common bot commands that you may wish to use:
1- softban [user] [reason] – Everyone has a bad day. Taking it out in a chat room is A COMMON occurrence. Well, If one of your regulars has been spewing nonsense and you want to remove their words from the channel (as well as give them a wakeup call to stop), this command will ban them and immediately remove the ban. Additionally, it deletes everything they’ve typed into the channel since connecting.
2- ban [user] [limit] [reason] – If you have someone who has been warned multiple times and you want to permanently ban them from your server – or even if they are a one-time spammer – Well, use this command to permanently ban them. Additionally, you can choose to allow the ban to expire after a specified period of time (that you specify). Once the ban is set, the individual will receive the message specified in the command when they attempt to reconnect.
3- mute [user] [minutes] [reason] – Assume you’re in the midst of a raid and need to keep people quiet for a short period of time… or restrict communication to a subset of users. This command can be used to muffle other members (or even just one lone over-chatter). Add a time limit if desired, or simply unmute them when ready to allow them to speak again.
4- kick [user] [reason] – Back to the problematic users! Assume you don’t want to ban someone, but you need to get their attention in a way that goes beyond words. While kicking them out with this command does not constitute a ban, they will be unable to reenter the chat room until invited by another user. In a way, it’s a time-out for chat rooms
5- delrole [role name] – No longer require the role created with the previous command? Using this one completely removes it (along with any special permissions you assigned to it) AND immediately disconnects it from all users
6- addrole [name] [hex color] [hoist] – I’m sure many of you will immediately want to use this feature. It enables you to create multiple roles… each of which will display the assigned users’ names in the channel in the color of your choice. While moderators are a good idea, you can create roles for anything… including raid leaders, team leads, and so on.
7- role [user] [role name] – Are you prepared to promote someone to the position of Moderator? Do you require the addition of a user to a different role? Utilize this command to quickly assign that person to the role you believe they are best suited for.
What other types of chat applications do you use? Would you consider giving Discord a try?
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