Guide

A Right Proper Introduction

Potluck Quest and its -assisted tools make shared meal planning simple and collaborative.

Potluck Quest is designed for potluck-style gatherings where guests can sign up to bring dishes or other items. All users login with , so it's well-suited for groups that already chat there.

You can use Potluck Quest through this website or by adding PQ Bot to your server.

The Potluck Quest web interface offers the full set of potluck planning tools without requiring bot integration. A grand choice if your lot:

Meets in person sometimes and coordinates online.
Has members who have accounts but aren't members of a dedicated server.

PQ Bot is a

bot that manages potlucks directly in your server. Made for merry folk who:

Have a dedicated server (e.g., gaming groups, hobby clubs, student organizations).
Meet in person sometimes and coordinate online.
Want members to be able to sign up for events and dishes without leaving .

Just the Thing For...

Tabletop gaming groups (D&D nights, board game meetups)
Study groups (snack breaks during cram sessions)
Hobby & fan clubs (anime nights, cosplay meetups)
Book clubs (discuss literature over a shared meal)
Sports teams (post-game potlucks and team dinners)
Writing circles (author meetups and critique sessions)
Student organizations (campus events, club gatherings)
Co-working groups (office potlucks and networking socials)
Fitness and training groups (meal prep coordination, post-workout meals)
Emergency and mutual aid groups (meal trains, food drives)
Casual friend gatherings (BBQs, house parties, watch parties)

Getting Started

The Potluck Quest web interface provides all the tools you need to plan a potluck meal.

Visit Potluck Quest.
Sign in with your account.
Click Create Event and begin filling out the details.
Add signup slots to your event using suggestions, or customize them yourself.
Share the event link with participants, who can sign up to bring something on the event page.

PQ Bot allows you to plan and manage events entirely within , with the Potluck Quest web interface available for creating signup slots and extra features.

Invite PQ Bot to your server.
Use /plan to create an event. (You may be prompted to sign in to Potluck Quest your first time.)
PQ Bot will announce the event to the channel and send you a link to create signup slots for your event.
Once signup slots are ready, guests can type /slots followed by the event code in , and click on what they'd like to bring.
The event can be managed like any other event.

Events

Event Codes

Each Potluck Quest event has a unique, five-character, alphanumeric code on the Potluck Quest website.
For example, an event at potluck.quest/event/ABCD1 has the code ABCD1.
The event code can be used to identify the event elsewhere, like when finding an event or using the /slots command.

Creating an Event

Navigate to the planning wizard and fill in the details!
Events are created in the timezone currently detected on your system.
If you are not using PQ Bot, select "None" when prompted to associate your event with a server.
Once your event has been created, you can share the code on the event page with friends or click it to copy a shareable link to the page.
Events created without an associated server are visible to any logged-in Potluck Quest user who has the event code.

PQ Bot creates -native Scheduled Events that are linked to Potluck Quest event codes and pages.
Each Potluck Quest event can be associated with one server.
You cannot add or change the server an event is associated with after the event has been created.
Use /plan in the channel you want related messages in to launch a form for event details. Times are parsed based on the timezone you've set on the Settings page.
PQ Bot will create events on Potluck Quest and and announce the event in the channel in which it was created. It will also try to add the event's code to the event description for easy access.
If you'd rather use the Potluck Quest web interface to create an event, you can associate your event with a server in the last step of the planning wizard. For a server to be available:
1. PQ Bot must be installed in that server.
2. You must have appropriate event permissions to create an event in that server.
Any events associated with a server will be visible only to members of that server on the Potluck Quest web interface.
Some event functionality, like repeating events, is not yet available on Potluck Quest.

Finding an Event

If you have an event code, you can enter it in the search box on the home page to be redirected to the associated event.
You can visit your Dashboard to see all the events you've created or joined.
PQ Bot: Use /view to see all Potluck Quest events on your server, along with their codes and links to their event pages.

Editing and Deleting Events

Edit and delete capabilities are available to event hosts from the Potluck Quest event page and the Dashboard.
Event creators can manage signup slots by clicking on the "Edit" button on the Potluck Quest event page and proceeding to the "Plan the Food" step of the wizard.
PQ Bot: Scheduled events in can be modified or canceled by anyone with event permissions for that server.
PQ Bot: Potluck Quest events are seamlessly synced with their associated events on . Events modified or canceled on will be permanently changed or deleted on the Potluck Quest website, and vice versa.

Slots

Signup slots are how Potluck Quest helps hosts plan meals and guests decide what to bring.
A slot represents a request for a specific type and number of item—e.g., a main course, appetizers, drinks, or packages of paper plates.
Add slots to your event during event creation so guests can take advantage of Potluck Quest meal planning tools.
Potluck Quest's integration can help you determine what you need to support the number of attendees you expect at your event.

Managing Slots

Event creators are able to add, delete, or modify slots in the "Plan the Food" step of the wizard while creating or editing an event on the Potluck Quest web interface.
PQ Bot: You should receive a channel message that links to slot management immediately after you create an event. If you need the link again, navigate to your event's Potluck Quest page, click "Edit", and continue to "Plan the Food".
To complete a slot in the wizard, fill in "What's Needed" with the item you want and set the number for "Signups Needed".
Click "Add Slot" to add and customize additional slots, or the "✕" button to the left of the slot to delete it.
All slots must have an item and quantity set before you continue.
If you're not sure what you need, can suggest items and quantities based on your event details and the number of attendees. To get suggestions:
1. Type the number of expected attendees in the box under "Need help planning your meal?" and click "Ask AI".
2. Click "Use Suggestions" to automagically populate your slots, or click "Reset" to start over.
3. You can edit the the suggestions as needed before continuing.
Use of suggestions is completely optional. The only information shared is the number of attendees and the details you've entered for the event you're planning.

Signing Up to Bring Something

Users with access to the Potluck Quest event page can use the built-in tools to see what's already on the menu and sign up to bring a particular quantity of an item, optionally leaving a note with more details.
To remove a commitment, navigate to the Potluck Quest event page and click the "✕" button next to it in the "On the Menu" section.
PQ Bot: In your server, use the /slots command to see what's been requested and how many signups are still needed. Clicking something will sign you up to bring one, and PQ Bot will make an announcement to the channel. If you want to bring more than one of an item, repeat the process or manage your commitments on the Potluck Quest event page.
PQ Bot: Changes to commitments on the Potluck Quest event page will accounted for the next time somebody uses the /slots command in .

RSVPs

You can manage your RSVP from the Potluck Quest event page.
You may be redirected to if your event is associated with a server.
PQ Bot: Participants can RSVP within by clicking "Interested" on the server event. This status is synced to the Potluck Quest web interface.
PQ Bot: Any changes to RSVPs on the Potluck Quest web interface are synced to their associated event.

Commands

Key PQ Bot Commands

These slash commands should be typed directly in the channel in which you want PQ Bot to send response messages.

/plan: Create a new Potluck Quest event directly in your server. This command will send a message to the channel once the event has been created. It will also send you an ephemeral message with a link to create signup slots. See creating an event and managing slots.
/view: Publicly list all Potluck Quest events for the server. The response will include your preferred time zone (see Settings), the name of each event, when it will take place, and each event code linked to its Potluck Quest page.
/slots code: View and interact with signup slots for Potluck Quest events. If you're not sure of the code for an event, type /view or leave it off to select from a dropdown menu. The response to this command will include buttons with the names of requested items and the number still needed. Click to sign up to bring one of that item. Your commitment will be shared with the channel. See Slots.