# Connect the bot

The bot is your own Discord application, with your store's name and logo. With it on the server, you unlock account
linking, tickets, forms, welcome messages, news with `/news` and purchase announcements.

![Discord: the bot status, the server and the parts it handles](shots/discord-overview.webp)

## Step by step

The **Discord > Connection** screen guides each step. You will use the
[Discord developer portal](https://discord.com/developers/applications).

![The five steps to set up the bot](shots/discord-setup.webp)

### 1. Create the application

1. On the portal, click **New Application**. You can use the store's name.
2. Under **Bot**, turn off **Public Bot**, so only you can add the bot.
3. Still under **Bot**, turn on **Message Content Intent**. Also turn on **Server Members Intent**, for welcome and leave
   messages.

### 2. Copy the return addresses

1. On the portal, open **OAuth2**, in the **Redirects** part.
2. Click **Add Redirect**, paste the first address shown on the screen and save. Players come back to the store through it
   after linking.
3. Also add the second address, through which you connect [your account](#your-discord-account).

### 3. Paste the token and the Client Secret

1. Under **Bot**, use **Reset Token** and copy the token.
2. Under **OAuth2**, use **Reset Secret** and copy the **Client Secret**.
3. Paste them in **Bot token** and **Client Secret**, and click **Connect bot**.

> [!WARNING]
> The token is the bot's password. Whoever has it controls the bot. Both are stored encrypted and do not show on the screen
> again. If it leaks, generate another one on the portal and paste it in **Replace token**.

### 4. Invite the bot

Click **Invite the bot** and pick your server. The invite already asks only for the permissions the bot needs. Never give it
**Administrator**. The screen updates on its own when the bot shows up.

### 5. Confirm the server

Click **Confirm server**. The bot stays only on this server: if someone adds it to another, it leaves on its own.

Done. **Last signal** shows when the bot talked to the store.

![The Connection screen with the bot on](shots/discord-connection.webp)

## Your Discord account

On the **Your Discord account (store owner)** card, click **Connect my Discord account** and authorize. With the account
connected, the bot:

- takes what you write in a ticket thread as a team reply on the website, in your name, and lets you close the ticket there;
- sends to your direct messages the budget alerts from [Finance](/en/finance/planning/), the same as the email.

> [!NOTE]
> This link gives no role or permission on the server: it only tells the bot who the owner is. The server team does not use
> this card, but the [player link](/en/discord/linking/).

## Appearance

In **Discord > Appearance**:

![The Appearance screen: name, bot status and message colors](shots/discord-appearance.webp)

- **Name and logo**: they are the store's. To change them, use **Change store identity**, and the bot follows in a few
  minutes.
- **Bot status**: what shows under its name. Pick the **Dot**, the **Type** and the **Text**. The text takes variables with the
  state of the game server, which the bot checks every minute. **Text with the server offline** left blank uses the regular
  text.
- **Message colors**: every bot message goes out in a box with the color of the message type and the store's name in the
  footer.

Continue in [Linking and roles](/en/discord/linking/).