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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
  • Administrator permissions on your Discord server
  • Manage Channels permission to configure AutoResponse
  • A running AutoResponse bot instance (either hosted or self-hosted)
This guide assumes you already have AutoResponse invited to your server. If you’re self-hosting, complete the installation guide first.

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Setup Steps

1

Invite the Bot

Invite AutoResponse to your Discord server with the required permissions:Required Permissions:
  • Read Messages/View Channels
  • Send Messages
  • Read Message History
  • Add Reactions
The bot will appear offline until properly configured and started.
Grant “Manage Channels” permission to administrators who need to configure reply channels and phrases.
2

Add a Reply Channel

Designate a channel where AutoResponse should monitor and reply to messages:
/addreplychannel channel:#your-channel
Example:
/addreplychannel channel:#general
Each channel starts with a 6% reply probability that increases by 1% with each message, capping at 100%.
What happens:
  • Channel is added to the database with initial 6% reply chance
  • Bot begins monitoring messages in this channel
  • Probability tracking starts immediately
3

Add Reply Phrases

Build your phrase library by adding responses the bot will randomly select from:
/addphrase phrase:"Your custom reply here"
Examples:
/addphrase phrase:"Hello there! 👋"
/addphrase phrase:"Interesting point!"
/addphrase phrase:"I couldn't agree more"
/addphrase phrase:"That's what I was thinking"
Add at least 5-10 phrases for variety. The bot randomly selects one phrase each time it replies.
Implementation detail:
// From utils/reply.js
const phrases = await getPhrases(db);
const randomIndex = Math.floor(Math.random() * phrases.length);
const randomPhrase = phrases[randomIndex];
4

Test It Out

Send messages in your configured channel and watch AutoResponse work:
  1. Send several messages in the reply channel
  2. The bot will reply based on the probability system:
    • First message: 6% chance
    • Second message: 7% chance
    • Third message: 8% chance
    • And so on…
  3. After the bot replies, probability resets to 6%
If no phrases are configured, the bot will monitor the channel but won’t reply. Make sure you’ve added at least one phrase.

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Understanding the Probability System

AutoResponse uses a dynamic probability system to create natural-feeling interactions: 
// From src/events/messageCreate.js - Probability logic
let chance = replyChannel ? replyChannel.chance : 0;
const randomChance = Math.random() * 100;

if (randomChance <= chance) {
    replyToUser(message);
    replyChannel.chance = 6; // Reset to 6%
} else {
    chance = Math.min(chance + 1, 100); // Increase by 1%
}
  • Initial State: When a channel is added, it starts at 6% reply chance
  • Message Received: Each message increases the chance by 1%
  • Reply Sent: After replying, chance resets to 6%
  • Maximum: Probability caps at 100% (guaranteed reply)
  • Per-Channel: Each reply channel tracks its own probability independently

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Additional Configuration

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Managing Phrases

View all configured phrases:
/listphrases

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Managing Channels

Stop monitoring a channel:
/removereplychannel channel:#your-channel

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User Privacy

Users can opt out of bot interactions: 
/optout  # Exclude yourself from bot replies
/optin   # Re-enable bot interactions
Opt-out is stored globally in optoutlist.db and applies across all servers using the bot.

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Monitoring & Statistics

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Check Bot Status

/ping  # Check bot latency and response time

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View Leaderboard

/leaderboard  # See which users get replied to most often
The bot tracks reply statistics per user and displays a leaderboard: 
// From utils/reply.js
updateLeaderboard(userTag, userID);

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Common Issues

Possible causes:
  1. No phrases configured - Add phrases with /addphrase
  2. Channel not added - Use /addreplychannel to enable the channel
  3. Low probability - Keep sending messages to increase reply chance
  4. Cooldown active - Wait for the cooldown period to expire
  5. User opted out - Check opt-out status
Debug steps:
/listphrases          # Verify phrases exist
/stats                # Check server configuration
The probability system should naturally space out replies, but if replies feel too frequent:
  • Remove some reply channels to concentrate activity
  • Ensure cooldown system is working properly
  • Check that probability resets to 6% after each reply
Ensure the bot has these permissions in reply channels:
  • Read Messages - Monitor channel activity
  • Send Messages - Post replies
  • Read Message History - Context awareness
Grant permissions via channel settings or role configuration.

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What Messages Trigger Replies?

AutoResponse monitors all messages in configured channels, but filters out: 
// From src/events/messageCreate.js - Message filtering
if (message.author.bot) return;        // Ignore bots
if (message.webhookId) return;         // Ignore webhooks
if (message.author.system) return;     // Ignore system messages
if (optOutList.includes(authorUsername)) return; // Respect opt-outs
Best Practice: Configure reply channels for high-traffic areas like #general or #memes where natural conversation happens. Avoid bot channels or announcement channels.

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Next Steps

Now that AutoResponse is running:

Self-Host

Learn how to deploy your own instance with full control

Advanced Config

Explore cooldown system, trusted roles, and database management

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Need Help?

If you encounter issues:
  1. Check the bot’s console output for error messages
  2. Verify your data/ directory contains database files
  3. Review the installation guide for environment setup
  4. Check Discord permissions in channel settings

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