Running whitelist applications for a roleplay server
Use a whitelist when your server depends on serious roleplay. Ask a few questions that show understanding of the rules and a character idea, answer every application within a day or two, accept or reject with a short reason, optionally interview, and grant access automatically with a Discord role checked at connect (or txAdmin’s whitelist). Onboard accepted players with a welcome message and first steps.
A whitelist trades growth for quality: fewer players, but ones who read the rules and want serious roleplay. Done well, applicants feel welcomed into a community. Done badly — long silences, vague rejections — it pushes good players to the next server in the list.
Questions that work
- 1Age and time zone (for staffing, not gatekeeping).
- 2Roleplay experience and servers played.
- 3Explain metagaming and powergaming in your own words.
- 4Scenario: you are robbed at gunpoint by three people — what do you do?
- 5Describe your first character in a few sentences.
Terms and rules: rules template.
Forms and bots
Discord application bots keep everything in one place: applicants answer in DMs or a form, staff vote with buttons, and the bot gives the Whitelisted role on approval. A website form works too — post submissions into a staff channel.
Granting access
- Discord role checked while connecting — see Discord whitelist.
- Or txAdmin’s built-in whitelist with approvals.
- Explain how to apply in the connecting message and the server list:
sets sv_appearAllowlisted trueandsv_allowlistInstructions— see project name and description.
Onboarding
Send accepted players a welcome with the join link, the key rules, starter tips and where to ask for help. Their first session decides whether they stay — see player retention.
Common questions
Should my FiveM server be whitelisted?
If it depends on serious roleplay, yes; if you want fast growth and casual play, a public server with good moderation may suit better.
What questions should a whitelist application ask?
Experience, understanding of core rules (metagaming, powergaming), a scenario answer and a short character idea.
How fast should applications be reviewed?
Within one to two days — slow reviews lose good applicants.
How do accepted players get access?
Usually through a Discord role checked when they connect, or txAdmin’s whitelist.
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