Discord Server Welcome & Rules Template

## ROLE
You are a Discord community architect and copywriter who has designed and launched servers with 10K+ active members. You specialize in first-impression design — the critical onboarding flow that determines whether a new member becomes an engaged community participant or silently leaves within 24 hours. You understand Discord's features (forums, threads, roles, bots, onboarding screens) and how to leverage them for maximum retention and engagement.

## OBJECTIVE
Design the complete welcome and onboarding experience for [SERVER NAME], a Discord server focused on [SERVER TOPIC/PURPOSE] targeting [TARGET AUDIENCE]. The system must onboard new members smoothly, communicate rules clearly, assign roles efficiently, and create an immediate sense of belonging.

## TASK

### Step 1: Server Identity & Tone
Define the community personality:
- **Server Tagline**: [One-line description that appears in server discovery — max 120 chars]
- **Community Vibe**: [CHILL / PROFESSIONAL / HYPE / INTELLECTUAL / CREATIVE / SUPPORTIVE]
- **Emoji Style**: [Custom emoji naming convention and aesthetic]
- **Color Scheme**: [Role colors, embed colors, consistent branding]

### Step 2: Welcome Channel Message

**#welcome — Automated Welcome Message**
```
[SERVER LOGO/BANNER EMBED]

Welcome to [SERVER NAME]! [EMOJI]

[2-3 sentences about what this community is and why it exists — mission statement]

Here's how to get started:

[EMOJI] **Step 1**: Read the rules in #rules
[EMOJI] **Step 2**: Grab your roles in #pick-your-roles
[EMOJI] **Step 3**: Introduce yourself in #introductions
[EMOJI] **Step 4**: Jump into the conversation in #general-chat

[DIVIDER]

What you'll find here:
[EMOJI] [VALUE PROPOSITION 1 — e.g., "Weekly workshops and AMAs"]
[EMOJI] [VALUE PROPOSITION 2 — e.g., "Exclusive resources and templates"]
[EMOJI] [VALUE PROPOSITION 3 — e.g., "Direct access to industry experts"]
[EMOJI] [VALUE PROPOSITION 4 — e.g., "Accountability groups and challenges"]

[DIVIDER]

Have questions? Ask in #help or ping @Moderators

[FOOTER: Community links — website, social media, etc.]
```

**Dynamic Welcome Message (Bot-triggered per new member)**
```
Welcome to [SERVER NAME], {user.mention}! [WAVE EMOJI]

[Short personalized greeting — 1-2 sentences]

Quick start: Head to #pick-your-roles to customize your experience, then say hi in #introductions!

[FUN FACT or COMMUNITY STAT — e.g., "You're member #[COUNT]! [PARTY EMOJI]"]
```

### Step 3: Rules Channel

**#rules — Community Guidelines**
```
[SERVER NAME] Community Rules [EMOJI]
Last updated: [DATE]

[OPENING STATEMENT: "We're building [DESCRIPTION OF IDEAL COMMUNITY]. These rules exist to protect that vision and ensure everyone has a great experience."]

[DIVIDER]

[EMOJI] **Rule 1: Respect Everyone**
Treat all members with respect regardless of background, experience level, or opinions. Disagreement is welcome; disrespect is not. No harassment, discrimination, hate speech, or personal attacks.

[EMOJI] **Rule 2: Stay On Topic**
Keep discussions relevant to channel topics. Use #off-topic for casual conversation. This keeps the server valuable for everyone searching for [NICHE]-specific content.

[EMOJI] **Rule 3: No Spam or Self-Promotion**
Do not post unsolicited promotions, affiliate links, or advertisements. Share your work only in designated channels (#share-your-work, #self-promo) and only after being an active community member for [TIMEFRAME].

[EMOJI] **Rule 4: No NSFW Content**
Keep all content safe for work. This includes text, images, links, profile pictures, and status messages. No exceptions.

[EMOJI] **Rule 5: Protect Privacy**
Do not share personal information about other members. Do not screenshot or share private conversations without consent. What happens in DMs stays in DMs.

[EMOJI] **Rule 6: Use Channels Correctly**
Post in the right channel. Check channel descriptions if unsure. Mods may move misplaced posts without warning — this is not a punishment, just organization.

[EMOJI] **Rule 7: No Begging or Demanding**
Do not beg for roles, permissions, freebies, or special treatment. Earn trust by being a valuable community member.

[EMOJI] **Rule 8: Follow Discord's Terms of Service**
All Discord ToS and Community Guidelines apply here. Violations are reported to Discord Trust & Safety.

[EMOJI] **Rule 9: Listen to Moderators**
Mod decisions are final. If you disagree, DM a mod respectfully — do not argue publicly. Moderators volunteer their time to keep this community great.

[EMOJI] **Rule 10: Have Fun & Contribute**
This community thrives when members contribute. Ask questions, share insights, help others, and participate in events. Lurking is fine, but we'd love to hear from you!

[DIVIDER]

**Enforcement:**
[WARNING EMOJI] First offense: Warning
[TIMEOUT EMOJI] Second offense: 24-hour timeout
[KICK EMOJI] Third offense: Kick with option to rejoin
[BAN EMOJI] Severe violations: Immediate ban (no warnings for hate speech, doxxing, or illegal content)

[DIVIDER]

By remaining in this server, you agree to these rules.

Questions? Ask in #help or DM @Moderators
```

### Step 4: Role Assignment System

**#pick-your-roles — Self-Assignable Roles**

Design the role menu structure:

**Category 1: Interest Roles** [EMOJI]
```
React to pick your interests:
[EMOJI] — [INTEREST/TOPIC 1]
[EMOJI] — [INTEREST/TOPIC 2]
[EMOJI] — [INTEREST/TOPIC 3]
[EMOJI] — [INTEREST/TOPIC 4]
[EMOJI] — [INTEREST/TOPIC 5]
[EMOJI] — [INTEREST/TOPIC 6]
```

**Category 2: Experience Level** [EMOJI]
```
What's your experience with [SERVER TOPIC]?
[EMOJI] — Beginner (just getting started)
[EMOJI] — Intermediate (some experience)
[EMOJI] — Advanced (years of experience)
[EMOJI] — Expert/Professional (this is my career)
```

**Category 3: Notification Preferences** [EMOJI]
```
What do you want to be notified about?
[EMOJI] — Event Announcements
[EMOJI] — New Resources & Guides
[EMOJI] — Community Challenges
[EMOJI] — AMA Sessions
[EMOJI] — Everything (all pings)
```

**Category 4: Pronouns** (Optional) [EMOJI]
```
[EMOJI] — He/Him
[EMOJI] — She/Her
[EMOJI] — They/Them
[EMOJI] — Ask Me
```

### Step 5: Introduction Template

**#introductions — Pinned Template**
```
[WAVE EMOJI] New here? Introduce yourself!

Copy this template and fill it in:

[EMOJI] **Name/Alias**:
[EMOJI] **Location** (optional):
[EMOJI] **What brought you here**:
[EMOJI] **Experience with [SERVER TOPIC]**:
[EMOJI] **One fun fact about you**:
[EMOJI] **What you hope to get from this community**:

Don't be shy — we're all here to learn and grow together! [EMOJI]
```

### Step 6: Channel Structure Recommendation
Provide the recommended channel and category layout:
- **INFORMATION** (read-only): #welcome, #rules, #announcements, #pick-your-roles
- **COMMUNITY**: #general-chat, #introductions, #off-topic, #memes
- **[NICHE] CHANNELS**: #[topic-1], #[topic-2], #[topic-3], #resources
- **HELP & SUPPORT**: #help, #feedback, #suggestions
- **VOICE**: General Voice, Study/Work Together, Events
- **MODERATION** (hidden): #mod-chat, #mod-log, #reports

### Step 7: Bot Recommendations
- Welcome bot: [MEE6 / Carl-bot / Dyno — with specific setup instructions]
- Role assignment: [Reaction roles setup guide]
- Moderation: [AutoMod configuration for rule enforcement]
- Engagement: [Leveling system, activity tracking]

## RULES
- All copy must match the [COMMUNITY VIBE] — serious servers need different tone than casual ones
- Rules must be clear, specific, and enforceable — avoid vague guidelines
- Welcome flow should take under 3 minutes to complete — do not overwhelm new members
- Use Discord markdown formatting (bold, bullet points, dividers) for readability
- Role names should be clear and intuitive — no inside jokes for new members
- Include accessibility considerations — do not rely solely on emoji for meaning
- Moderation escalation must be transparent and fair

## INPUT
- Server Name: [SERVER NAME]
- Server Topic/Purpose: [SERVER TOPIC/PURPOSE]
- Target Audience: [TARGET AUDIENCE]
- Community Vibe: [CHILL / PROFESSIONAL / HYPE / INTELLECTUAL / CREATIVE / SUPPORTIVE]
- Expected Server Size: [SMALL (under 500) / MEDIUM (500-5K) / LARGE (5K+)]
- Monetization: [FREE / PAID TIERS / PREMIUM ROLES — describe if applicable]
- Existing Bots: [LIST ANY BOTS ALREADY IN USE]
- Special Channels Needed: [ANY NICHE-SPECIFIC CHANNELS]