# Gemini Consultation Summary: Licensing & Support Strategy

**Document ID:** FFG-GEMINI-MVC-003  
**Consultation Date:** April 6, 2026  
**Consulted By:** Chronicler #64 + Michael  
**Topic:** ModpackChecker licensing, support infrastructure, and long-term sustainability

---

## 🎯 GEMINI'S CORE PHILOSOPHY

> **"The real anti-piracy measure is gating your updates and your Discord support."**

**Translation:** Don't fight pirates with DRM hell. Fight them by making legitimate ownership MORE VALUABLE than piracy.

---

## ✅ KEY STRATEGIC DECISIONS

### **1. License Key Simplification**

**❌ DON'T BUILD:**
- Complex UUID generation systems
- Encrypted license keys
- Heavy DRM / IonCube obfuscation (breaks panel updates, triggers malware scanners)
- Phone-home on every page load (crashes panels if validation server is down)

**✅ DO BUILD:**
- BuiltByBit Order ID as "the key"
- Lightweight validation API on your server
- 72-hour phone-home frequency (via cron, not page load)
- 7-day grace period for validation failures
- Multi-panel support (2 activations: dev + production)

---

### **2. Discord Support Architecture**

**✅ THE GATED COMMUNITY APPROACH:**

**Structure:**
1. Buyer purchases on BuiltByBit
2. Buyer joins Firefrost Gaming Discord
3. Buyer runs `/verify-mvc [order-id]`
4. Bot validates → assigns `ModpackChecker Owner` role
5. Channels `#mvc-general` and support tickets appear

**Channels:**
- `#mvc-general` — Public peer support (MVC owners help each other)
- `#mvc-support` — Private tickets via Ticket Tool (role-gated)

**Ticket Tool:**
- Add 7th ticket type: "ModpackChecker Support"
- Require `ModpackChecker Owner` role to see/open
- Auto-responder sets boundaries (24-48 hours, business hours)

**When you hit 5+ products:**
- Create unified "Extension Support" category
- Use dropdown menu to select which product
- One `Pterodactyl Customer` role for all extensions

---

### **3. Support SLA (Underpromise, Overdeliver)**

**❌ DON'T SAY:** "12 hours"

**✅ DO SAY:** "We aim to respond to all tickets within 24-48 business hours."

**Gemini's Wisdom:**
- Promise 12 hours, reply in 13 → 1-star review
- Promise 24 hours, reply in 4 → you're a hero

**Business Hours:** Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM CST

**Critical Boundary:**
> "Do not answer tickets at 11 PM on a Saturday, even if you are awake and bored. You train your customers on how to treat you."

**Why this matters:**
- Answer instantly on weekends → customers EXPECT instant weekend support forever
- Set boundaries now → protect future you from burnout

---

### **4. Piracy Prevention Reality Check**

**Gemini's Brutal Truth:**
> "You cannot stop a determined pirate. PHP is an interpreted language."

**What DOESN'T Work:**
- ❌ IonCube obfuscation (breaks panel updates)
- ❌ Complex encryption (server admins hate it)
- ❌ Heavy DRM (triggers false malware alerts)

**What DOES Work:**
- ✅ Gate updates (pirates can't download v1.1 without BuiltByBit account)
- ✅ Gate support (pirates can't get help without Discord role)
- ✅ Frequent updates (pirated v1.0 breaks when APIs change)

**The Reality:**
- Pirate downloads v1.0
- Modrinth API changes in 3 months
- v1.0 breaks
- Pirate has no BuiltByBit account → can't download v1.1
- Pirate has no Discord role → can't get support
- **Pirate gives up and buys it**

---

### **5. Self-Service Support (Highest ROI)**

**Gemini says the #1 ticket reducer is NOT documentation — it's UX.**

**Priority Order:**
1. **Descriptive UI Error Messages** (HIGHEST ROI)
   - Bad: API fails → badge just breaks
   - Good: API fails → Red icon + hover text: "CurseForge API Key Missing. [Configure Now]"

2. **Pre-Ticket Forms** (Ticket Tool feature)
   - Before ticket opens, collect: Panel version, Blueprint version, PHP version
   - Force: "Have you checked the Troubleshooting Guide? [Yes/No]"

3. **Peer Support Channel** (`#mvc-general`)
   - Users help each other
   - Zero time cost for you
   - Identifies future "Community Helper" moderators

4. **GitBook Knowledge Base** (not GitHub README)
   - Searchable
   - Professional appearance
   - Better for screenshots
   - SEO-friendly

---

### **6. Long-Term Sustainability**

**Community Helper Program (6-12 months post-launch):**

**How it works:**
1. Identify the most helpful person in `#mvc-general`
2. Offer them:
   - Free access to all future extensions
   - "Community Helper" role (special color, recognition)
   - Listing on website/docs
3. They handle Tier 1 support (setup questions)
4. You handle Tier 2 support (code bugs, complex issues)

**Benefits:**
- Reduces your support load by 50-70%
- Builds community loyalty
- Creates advocates who promote your products
- Identifies potential future staff

---

## 📋 IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST

### **Phase 11A: License Validation System**
- [ ] Create database table: `mvc_licenses`
- [ ] Build validation API: `POST /api/validate-mvc`
- [ ] Add Order ID entry to extension admin panel
- [ ] Implement 72-hour phone-home (cron job)
- [ ] Implement 7-day grace period logic
- [ ] Add UI warning for invalid licenses
- [ ] Test valid/invalid/grace period scenarios

### **Phase 11B: Discord Infrastructure**
- [ ] Create Discord role: `ModpackChecker Owner`
- [ ] Create channel: `#mvc-general` (public to role)
- [ ] Add 7th Ticket Tool category: "ModpackChecker Support" (role-gated)
- [ ] Write auto-responder message (business hours, SLA)
- [ ] Configure pre-ticket form (collect panel/blueprint/PHP versions)

### **Phase 11C: Verification Bot**
- [ ] Build Discord bot: `/verify-mvc [order-id]`
- [ ] Bot calls validation API
- [ ] Bot assigns `ModpackChecker Owner` role on success
- [ ] Bot DMs confirmation message
- [ ] Implement anti-sharing (1 order = 1 Discord account)
- [ ] Add transfer support via tickets

### **Phase 11D: Descriptive UI Errors**
- [ ] Red icon + hover text for missing API keys
- [ ] Red icon + hover text for invalid API keys
- [ ] Yellow icon + hover text for rate limits
- [ ] Red icon + hover text for license invalid
- [ ] Gray badge for offline servers
- [ ] Yellow badge for manifest not found
- [ ] Link errors directly to fix locations

### **Phase 11E: GitBook Migration**
- [ ] Create GitBook account
- [ ] Port all 7 markdown docs to GitBook
- [ ] Add screenshots for each step
- [ ] Enable search functionality
- [ ] Add to BuiltByBit listing: "📖 Documentation: [URL]"

### **Phase 11F: BuiltByBit Listing Updates**
- [ ] Add Support section (24-48 hours, Discord-based)
- [ ] Add verification instructions (`/verify-mvc`)
- [ ] Add "Read Before You Buy" warnings
- [ ] Link to GitBook documentation
- [ ] Add license validation disclosure

### **Phase 11G: Business Hours & Boundaries**
- [ ] Document support hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm CST
- [ ] Add to BuiltByBit listing
- [ ] Add to Ticket Tool auto-responder
- [ ] Add to GitBook FAQ
- [ ] Create weekend/holiday auto-responder
- [ ] **ENFORCE BOUNDARIES** (do not answer outside hours)

---

## 🎯 SUCCESS METRICS

**After 30 days post-launch, track:**
- Support tickets per week
- Ticket resolution time
- Repeat tickets from same buyer
- `#mvc-general` activity (peer support working?)
- Documentation page views (which docs are most-read?)
- License validation failures (legitimate or pirates?)

**After 6 months:**
- Identify Community Helper candidate
- Evaluate if GitBook is reducing tickets
- Decide if business hours need adjustment

---

## 💡 GEMINI'S SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS

### **Database Schema:**
```sql
-- Gemini's recommended additions:
max_activations INT DEFAULT 2,
current_activations INT DEFAULT 0,
hardware_ids JSONB, -- Store panel domains/IPs
status VARCHAR(20) DEFAULT 'active' -- active, suspended, refunded
```

### **Validation Frequency:**
- ✅ Every 72 hours via cron
- ❌ NOT on page load (crashes panels if server down)

### **Grace Period:**
- ✅ 7 days after validation failure
- Extension keeps working during grace period
- After 7 days: Disable auto-detection, show warning, manual config still works

### **Error Message Examples:**
- "CurseForge API Key Missing. Configure in Admin → Extensions → ModpackChecker Settings"
- "API rate limit hit. Retrying in 60 seconds."
- "License validation failed. Grace period: 5 days remaining. [Update License]"

### **Auto-Responder Template:**
```
Thanks for reaching out about ModpackChecker! 

Our official support hours are Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM CST. 
We typically respond within 24 hours.

While you wait, please check:
📖 Documentation: [GitBook URL]
🔍 Troubleshooting Guide: [Direct link]
💬 #mvc-general: Other owners may have solved similar issues

Please ensure your ticket includes:
✅ Pterodactyl Panel version
✅ Blueprint version
✅ PHP version
✅ Platform (CurseForge/Modrinth/FTB/Technic)
✅ Screenshots of any errors

We'll be with you shortly!
```

---

## 🚀 IMMEDIATE ACTIONS (GEMINI'S ORDERS)

1. **Research BuiltByBit Integration**
   - Does BBB have Discord OAuth?
   - Does BBB have API for purchase verification?
   - Can we hook into purchase webhooks?

2. **Build Verification Bot**
   - Simple Node.js bot with single command: `/verify-mvc`
   - Calls validation API
   - Assigns role on success

3. **Write Auto-Responder**
   - Draft boundary-setting message for Ticket Tool
   - Include business hours, SLA, docs links

4. **Set Up GitBook**
   - Port README to GitBook "Getting Started"
   - Add search functionality
   - Link from BuiltByBit listing

---

## 📊 SCALING STRATEGY (5+ Products)

**When you launch multiple extensions:**

**Discord Structure:**
- Single role: `Pterodactyl Customer`
- Single channel: `#extension-general`
- Single ticket category: "Extension Support" with dropdown menu
- Pre-ticket form asks: "Which extension?"

**License Database:**
- One table per product: `mvc_licenses`, `scheduler_licenses`, etc.
- OR: Unified table with `product_id` column

**GitBook:**
- One knowledge base per product
- OR: Unified docs with product tabs

**Community Helpers:**
- One helper per product
- OR: General helpers who know all products

---

## 💙 THE FLAGSHIP STANDARD

Gemini's recommendations ensure:
1. ✅ Your time is protected (business hours, boundaries)
2. ✅ Support is sustainable (peer support, community helpers)
3. ✅ Pirates are discouraged (gated updates, gated support)
4. ✅ Legitimate buyers are happy (descriptive errors, fast responses)
5. ✅ System scales to 10+ products (unified structure)

**This isn't just ModpackChecker support — this is the template for every commercial product you'll ever launch.**

---

**Fire + Frost + Foundation = Where Love Builds Legacy** 💙🔥❄️

**Consultation Summary by:** Chronicler #64  
**Date:** April 6, 2026  
**Status:** Active — To be implemented in Phase 11
