diff --git a/docs/guides/discord-bot-admin-panel.md b/docs/guides/discord-bot-admin-panel.md
index f134f75..91b37f2 100644
--- a/docs/guides/discord-bot-admin-panel.md
+++ b/docs/guides/discord-bot-admin-panel.md
@@ -350,43 +350,79 @@ npm install express express-session passport passport-discord write-file-atomic
 
 ### Step 2: Create Environment Variables File
 
-Create `.env` file with all secrets:
+**Option A: Use the template (recommended)**
+
+Create `.env.template` first for reference:
+
+```bash
+nano /opt/firefrost-discord-bot/.env.template
+```
+
+**Paste this complete template:**
+
+```env
+# ==========================================
+# FIREFROST COMMAND CENTER - ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
+# Copy this file to .env and fill in the values.
+# DO NOT commit the actual .env file to version control.
+# ==========================================
+
+# 1. Server Configuration
+# ------------------------------------------
+# production or development
+NODE_ENV=production
+# The internal port the Node app runs on (Nginx proxies to this)
+PORT=3100
+# A long, random string used to encrypt web session cookies
+SESSION_SECRET=YOUR_SUPER_SECRET_RANDOM_STRING_HERE
+
+# 2. Discord Bot Core
+# ------------------------------------------
+# The actual token for the Firefrost Discord Bot (from Discord Developer Portal -> Bot)
+DISCORD_TOKEN=YOUR_BOT_TOKEN_HERE
+# The ID of the Firefrost Gaming Discord Server
+GUILD_ID=YOUR_SERVER_GUILD_ID_HERE
+
+# 3. Discord OAuth2 (Web Login)
+# ------------------------------------------
+# From Discord Developer Portal -> OAuth2 -> General
+DISCORD_CLIENT_ID=YOUR_OAUTH_CLIENT_ID_HERE
+DISCORD_CLIENT_SECRET=YOUR_OAUTH_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE
+# The URL Discord will redirect to after login (Must match the one added in the Dev Portal exactly)
+CALLBACK_URL=https://discord-bot.firefrostgaming.com/auth/discord/callback
+
+# 4. Security & Auditing
+# ------------------------------------------
+# Comma-separated list of Discord User IDs who are allowed to log in (Holly and Michael)
+# Example: 123456789,987654321
+ALLOWED_ADMINS=HOLLYS_ID,MICHAELS_ID
+# The ID of the private #bot-audit-logs channel where config change embeds are sent
+AUDIT_CHANNEL_ID=YOUR_AUDIT_CHANNEL_ID_HERE
+```
+
+Save and exit: `Ctrl+X`, `Y`, `Enter`
+
+**Now create the actual .env file:**
+
+```bash
+# Copy template to .env
+cp /opt/firefrost-discord-bot/.env.template /opt/firefrost-discord-bot/.env
+
+# Edit .env file
+nano /opt/firefrost-discord-bot/.env
+```
+
+**Option B: Create .env directly (alternative)**
+
+If you didn't create the template, create `.env` directly:
 
 ```bash
 nano /opt/firefrost-discord-bot/.env
 ```
 
-**Paste this template and fill in YOUR values:**
+**Paste the template above and fill in YOUR values below.**
 
-```env
-# Discord Bot Token
-DISCORD_TOKEN=your_bot_token_here
-
-# Discord OAuth2 Credentials
-DISCORD_CLIENT_ID=your_oauth_client_id_here
-DISCORD_CLIENT_SECRET=your_oauth_client_secret_here
-
-# Discord Server
-GUILD_ID=your_discord_server_id_here
-
-# OAuth2 Callback URL
-CALLBACK_URL=https://discord-bot.firefrostgaming.com/auth/discord/callback
-
-# Session Secret (generate with: openssl rand -base64 48)
-SESSION_SECRET=generate_a_very_long_random_string_here
-
-# Admin Authorization (comma-separated Discord user IDs)
-ALLOWED_ADMINS=HOLLYS_DISCORD_ID,MICHAELS_DISCORD_ID
-
-# Audit Log Channel (Discord channel ID for #bot-audit-logs)
-AUDIT_CHANNEL_ID=your_audit_channel_id_here
-
-# Environment
-NODE_ENV=production
-
-# Port (optional, defaults to 3100)
-PORT=3100
-```
+---
 
 **How to fill in each value:**