VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to let Discord members request movies for a gaming server

Gaming hosts on Discord can take movie requests from members with a simple note and a review step before titles are added.

By VLClean ยท

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Gaming community hosts can let Discord members request movies by choosing one request place, setting simple rules, and reviewing requests on a regular schedule. Askarr is one option: members request a movie or show, and the host's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrMembers request a movie or show on Askarr, and the host's own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]
Request formMembers submit movie titles through the chosen form.not published
Shared request listMembers add movie ideas to the chosen shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Before members can ask for anything, the host needs a few things settled. Pick one place where members will send requests, such as a single channel or a short form, so everyone knows where to ask. Write down which kinds of movies are welcome, for example whether any title can be asked for or only films that suit the whole group. Decide who reviews each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added.

Radarr adds movies and Sonarr adds shows to a library. If the chosen request tool requires Radarr and Sonarr, the host should have them ready before members start asking. Keep the rules short enough that members can read them quickly.

Step by step

  1. Choose one request place for members, such as a channel in the server or a short form, and tell everyone to use only that place.
  1. Write down who reviews each request and whether a title needs approval before it is added to the library.
  1. Write a short note for members that says who can request, what kinds of movies are accepted, and how they will hear that a title was added.
  1. Post the note and the request place in the server, with a short line on how to search for a title and how to submit it.
  1. Look through new requests on a set day each week, approve the ones you want, and remove the ones you do not.
  1. After the first week, ask a few members what confused them, and edit your note to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by VLClean, the team that publishes this site. It is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] A member requests a movie or show on Askarr, and the host's own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] Members can also paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. [1]

You add Askarr to each of Radarr and Sonarr one time as an import list, and they read the requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

Askarr's Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1]

A request form or a shared request list is another option. Members submit titles through the chosen form, or add ideas to a shared list, and the host decides what is added. Pricing for these is not published, so check the terms of whichever one you pick.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid opening a request place without explaining the rules. Members need to know which kinds of movies are accepted and who decides what gets added.

Avoid picking a tool before checking how it fits the way titles reach the server's library. The people sending requests and the host managing them should both find the process clear.

Avoid letting old requests pile up. A list left without attention becomes hard to sort, so review it on the same day each week.

Avoid skipping privacy checks. Read what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sending members to it.

Frequently asked questions

How can gaming community hosts let Discord members request movies?

Choose one request place that members can find easily, such as a channel or a short form, and write a note that explains who can ask, what kinds of movies are accepted, and how members will hear back. Decide who reviews requests before anything is added to the library. Then review the list on a set day each week so requests do not pile up. Askarr is one option for the request step, covered in the tools section of this page. [1]

Can Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr for a gaming community?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr one time, and they then pick up your requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] Check this against your own setup before choosing a tool.

Does Askarr need anything installed?

Nothing is installed. [1] A bookmark you run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1]

Can members try Askarr before the host signs up?

You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] Compare those limits with how many titles the group expects to ask for each month before choosing a plan.

What should hosts check before choosing a request tool for Discord?

Check how a tool handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the way requests reach the library. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] This page does not include facts about other tools, so compare each tool's own published details on those points before deciding. Look for clear answers about who approves requests and how members see progress.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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