howie.lol
Howie is still in development. These docs describe how Howie works at launch. Details may change over time.
Setup
Setup takes about a minute and happens entirely inside Discord.
1. Add Howie
Use the Add Howie to your server button on howie.lol, or go straight to howie.lol/invite. Discord asks you to pick a server and shows the permissions Howie needs.
- You need the Manage Server permission in a server to add a bot to it.
- Leave every permission checked. Each one powers a specific feature; see Permissions for what breaks without it.
2. Safe defaults while you set up
Howie starts protecting your server the moment it joins, even before anyone runs /setup. Until setup is finished, it uses these settings:
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Scam types | Every type Howie supports. |
| Action | Delete the scam posts and give the account a timeout. |
| Reports | Off, because Howie doesn't know where to post them yet. |
| AutoMod rules | Not created until you save setup. |
Howie also posts a short welcome in your server's system channel, with a Set up Howie button. If your server has no system channel, or Howie can't post there, it skips the welcome. /setup still works.
3. Run /setup
Only members with the Manage Server permission can run /setup. Every step is private, so only you see it.
- Pick the scams to catch. Every available type is on by default. Turn off any you don't want. See scam types.
- Pick what Howie does. Ban, kick, timeout or delete only. See actions.
- Pick roles to skip. Optional. Howie ignores members with these roles, such as your moderators.
- Choose whether to post reports. If you say yes, pick a channel from Discord's channel menu. Howie checks that it can view the channel, send messages and embed links there. Reports don't include the scam's content. See Reports for what they show and how to keep a copy of deleted posts.
- Review the permission check. Howie confirms it has the permissions your chosen action needs and that its role is high enough. If something is missing, it tells you exactly what to fix.
- Save. Howie stores your settings and creates its AutoMod rules.
The setup menu expires after 15 minutes. If it does, run /setup again.
4. Move Howie's role up
Discord only lets a bot ban, kick or give timeouts to members whose highest role is below the bot's highest role. If Howie's role sits at the bottom of the list, it can't act on anyone with a role.
- Open Server Settings, then Roles.
- Drag the Howie role above the roles your regular members have.
- Keep it below your moderator and admin roles. Howie doesn't need to act on them.
Most "Howie didn't do anything" reports come down to role position. Howie's report says so when this happens.
Commands
| Command | Who can use it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
/setup | Manage Server | Runs the setup flow. Running it again starts fresh. |
/settings | Manage Server | Opens the same steps with your current settings filled in, so you can change one thing. |