VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to auto-approve requests from trusted members for gaming community hosts

How gaming community hosts can approve requests from trusted members automatically, with setup steps, a tool comparison, and common mistakes to avoid.

By VLClean ยท

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

Auto-approval depends on the request tool you choose. Askarr's published details do not mention automatic approval, so check that feature in any tool before you rely on it.

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrYou request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]
Request formPeople submit titles through a request form, which gives them one place to send each title.not published
Shared request listPeople add titles to a shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Gaming community hosts need a written rule for which members count as trusted before any request skips review. The rule might name members who have been in the community for a set period, or members a host has already approved by hand. Write it down so every host applies the same standard.

Decide which kinds of titles members may request, and say so in the community's rules. A clear limit keeps trusted members from sending requests the host would not accept anyway.

Choose one place where members send requests, and tell everyone to use only that place. Keep a short list of who holds the trusted role and when each person was last checked, so removing someone is simple.

Finally, name a backup reviewer for when the main host is away. Auto-approval without a backup can let through a request that nobody has looked at.

Step by step

  1. Write the trust rule. Name the conditions a member must meet before their requests skip review.
  1. Choose the request place and tell members to use only that place.
  1. Pick a tool and check whether its documentation or plan page says it can approve requests automatically for members who meet your rule. If the answer is unclear, treat the feature as unavailable until you have tested it.
  1. Connect the tool to the library or list where approved requests will go, following that tool's own instructions.
  1. Send a test request from a trusted member's account and confirm that it appears where you expect, with the approval you intended.
  1. Review approved requests on one regular day each week, and remove the trusted role from anyone who no longer meets the rule.
  1. Ask members after the first week what confused them, and update the community rules to fix those points.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1]

Askarr's published details cover movies and shows but do not mention automatic approval, so check both points before choosing it for a gaming community.

The table also lists two common methods, a request form and a shared request list. This page has no details on either method, so check how each one handles approval before deciding.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid giving the trusted role to people the host has not actually checked. A rule is only useful when it is applied the same way to everyone.

Avoid turning on automatic approval without sending a test request first. A test shows whether the request lands where you expect.

Avoid leaving old trusted members in place. When someone stops taking part in the community, remove their trusted role so their requests go back through review.

Avoid skipping the weekly look at approved requests. Automatic approval still needs a host to notice when something unwanted has been added.

Frequently asked questions

How do gaming community hosts auto-approve requests from trusted members?

Start by writing a trust rule that names the conditions a member must meet. Then choose one request place, check whether the tool can approve requests automatically for members who meet that rule, and send a test request from a trusted account. Review approved requests each week and remove the trusted role from anyone who no longer qualifies. Keeping a backup reviewer for busy periods helps the process run smoothly.

Can Askarr auto-approve requests from trusted members?

Askarr's published details do not say whether it can approve requests automatically, so this page cannot confirm it. What Askarr does is let you request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. [1] Before relying on any approval step, check the plan page and try a request from a trusted member's account.

Does Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1]

Is Askarr free for gaming community hosts?

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] On the Askarr Plus plan, the cost is $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] Each friend who signs up through your link adds 10 requests a month to your limit. [1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for a gaming community?

Check whether the tool can approve requests automatically for members who meet your trust rule, and whether it covers the kinds of titles your community asks for. Check how requests reach your library and whether you can see their status. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Read each plan page for the details that matter to your community.

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)

Related comparisons