Tavernly brings you together. You talk where you already are: WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram or Signal. Here's how to set that up.
Why not just a chat on Tavernly?
Because you already have one. Almost every table talks in a WhatsApp group or on a Discord server, with everything that comes with it: notifications on your phone, photos from the last session, a dice bot. A second chat on Tavernly would just sit next to it. We do the part before that: making sure the right people find each other and the first contact goes smoothly.
What members see, and when
- On your group you add a group link and/or a phone number. Both are optional, but without one of the two your members can't reach you.
- Someone who sends a request doesn't see any of it. Only when you accept the request does the link or number appear on the group page and in the “You're in” email.
- That way everyone who sees your link has been deliberately let in by you. That's also why you don't see other people's numbers or addresses on Tavernly: contact happens through the group, not through a list.
- If you forget the link, your members get a button to ask for it. You then get one email, with their name.
Creating a group link
A group link is easiest: whoever clicks it joins the rest straight away. Feel free to create the group beforehand with just yourself in it.
- Open the group and tap the group name at the top.
- Choose ‘Invite via link’ and then ‘Copy link’.
- Paste the link on your group on Tavernly.
Want to invalidate the link later (for example after an unpleasant guest)? Choose ‘Reset link’ in the same place and put the new link on Tavernly.
Discord
- Open your server, click the server name and choose ‘Invite People’.
- Click ‘Edit invite link’. Set ‘Expire After’ to Never and ‘Max Number of Uses’ to No limit.
- Copy the link and paste it on your group on Tavernly.
By default a Discord invite expires after 7 days. If you skip step 2, there'll be a dead link on your group after a week.
Telegram
- Open the group, tap its name and choose ‘Invite link’.
- Copy the link (t.me/+…) and paste it on your group.
Signal
- Open the group, tap its name and choose ‘Group link’.
- Turn the link on, copy it and paste it on your group.
Rather use your own number?
That's possible. Enter your mobile number on your group; accepted members then get a “Send a WhatsApp” button that opens a chat with you. The number never appears on a public page, only members you've accepted can see it, and we delete it as soon as you delete your account. A group link is still handier, though: then you don't have to add every new member yourself.
The first message
A new member joining your group often doesn't quite know what to say. A short welcome from you breaks the ice. For example:
“Welcome to the group! We play every other Wednesday at my place in Ermelo, next session is on the 24th. Briefly introduce yourself and we'll plan a session zero to create your character.”