Discord Absence List: Let Members Register Their Absence

In a clan, a team or a community, someone eventually asks: “Where is … actually?” Discord has no absence list. Notices usually get lost in the chat, or someone keeps a spreadsheet by hand that goes stale. With the Absence module members register for a period by command, and Kage keeps the list itself.

Quick answer: Switch on the Absence module in the dashboard and choose a channel for the list. Members register with /absence set, for example /absence set until:24.12.. Kage shows them in the list and removes the entry by itself at the end.

Set it up

1. Open the Absence module in the Kage dashboard and switch it on.
2. Choose the list channel, ideally one where only Kage writes and everyone can read.
3. Optional: choose an absence role that members carry only during their absence. The role must sit below Kage's role in the role list.
4. Set the longest allowed absence and your timezone, then save.
5. Give Kage the permissions View Channel, Send Messages and Embed Links in the list channel.

Right after saving, Kage posts the list in the channel, at the latest after about a minute.

Register an absence

Members use /absence set:

• until is required: a date like 24.12. or 24.12.2026 or a length like 3d (three days) or 2w (two weeks).
• start is optional: without it the absence begins immediately, with a date at the start of that day.
• reason is optional: a short reason that appears in the list.

Examples:

• /absence set until:3d runs from now through the day after tomorrow.
• /absence set until:15.08. start:01.08. reason:Holiday runs from 1 to 15 August.

The last day counts: someone who enters “until 24.12.” is absent all of the 24th and is back as soon as the 25th begins. With /absence end someone returns earlier, and /absence mine shows your own entry.

What your team sees

The list in the channel has two sections: Currently absent, sorted by the soonest end, and Upcoming for entries that begin later. Each entry shows member, end date, time left and the reason. Kage updates the message on every change. If someone deletes it, Kage posts it again.

Admins with the Manage Server permission also have:

• /absence-admin list shows the same overview privately.
• /absence-admin remove removes a member's entry.
• /absence-admin refresh posts or updates the list right away.

In the dashboard your team also sees the current absences as a table.

The role for the absence

With an absence role, every member automatically gets a role while they are absent. You can use it, for example, to show a distinct colour in the member list or to hide certain channels. At the end Kage takes the role away again. It works like Temporary Roles, just tied to the absence.

How the automatic end works

Kage checks every minute in the background which absences begin and which end. When an entry runs out, Kage removes it, takes the role away and updates the list. That also holds if Kage was briefly offline at expiry: it catches up afterwards.

If it does not work

• No list appears. Check that a list channel is chosen and that Kage may view, write and embed there. /absence-admin refresh triggers posting right away.
• The command says the feature isn't enabled. Switch the module on in the dashboard.
• The date is not read. Use 24.12.2026 or 2026-12-24, or a length like 3d or 2w.
• The role is not given. Kage's role must sit above the absence role, and Kage needs Manage Roles. More in Discord bot does not assign roles.
• The module is missing. Absence is tied to a plan. The “Matching Kage features” box shows the current assignment.

All settings, messages and special cases are in the Absence wiki page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference to /afk?

/afk briefly marks you as “away” and ends as soon as you write again. Absence is meant for planned periods your team should see and ends on a fixed date.

Can I extend or change an absence?

Just register again. The new entry replaces the old one.

Can an admin register someone?

No, only the person themselves registers. Admins can remove entries, though.

Is anyone notified when an absence ends?

No. The entry simply disappears from the list. The names in the list do not trigger notifications either.

Is there a way without a bot?

Discord itself has no absence list. Without a bot you are left with a spreadsheet or a channel you maintain by hand.