Agent Council
Complete toolkit for creating and managing autonomous AI agents with Discord integration for OpenClaw.
What This Skill Does
Agent Creation:
- Creates autonomous AI agents with self-contained workspaces
- Generates SOUL.md (personality & responsibilities)
- Generates HEARTBEAT.md (cron execution logic)
- Sets up memory system (hybrid architecture)
- Configures gateway automatically
- Binds agents to Discord channels (optional)
- Sets up daily memory cron jobs (optional)
Discord Channel Management:
- Creates Discord channels via API
- Configures OpenClaw gateway allowlists
- Sets channel-specific system prompts
- Renames channels and updates references
- Optional workspace file search
Installation
# Install from ClawHub
clawhub install agent-council
# Or manual install
cp -r . ~/.openclaw/skills/agent-council/
openclaw gateway config.patch --raw '{
"skills": {
"entries": {
"agent-council": {"enabled": true}
}
}
}'
Part 1: Agent Creation
Quick Start
scripts/create-agent.sh \
--name "Watson" \
--id "watson" \
--emoji "๐ฌ" \
--specialty "Research and analysis specialist" \
--model "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5" \
--workspace "$HOME/agents/watson" \
--discord-channel "1234567890"
Workflow
1. Gather Requirements
Ask the user:
- Agent name (e.g., "Watson")
- Agent ID (lowercase, hyphenated, e.g., "watson")
- Emoji (e.g., "๐ฌ")
- Specialty (what the agent does)
- Model (which LLM to use)
- Workspace (where to create agent files)
- Discord channel ID (optional)
2. Run Creation Script
scripts/create-agent.sh \
--name "Agent Name" \
--id "agent-id" \
--emoji "๐ค" \
--specialty "What this agent does" \
--model "provider/model-name" \
--workspace "/path/to/workspace" \
--discord-channel "1234567890" # Optional
The script automatically:
- โ Creates workspace with memory subdirectory
- โ Generates SOUL.md and HEARTBEAT.md
- โ Updates gateway config (preserves existing agents)
- โ Adds Discord channel binding (if specified)
- โ Restarts gateway to apply changes
- โ Prompts for daily memory cron setup
3. Customize Agent
After creation:
- SOUL.md - Refine personality, responsibilities, boundaries
- HEARTBEAT.md - Add periodic checks and cron logic
- Workspace files - Add agent-specific configuration
Agent Architecture
Self-contained structure:
agents/
โโโ watson/
โ โโโ SOUL.md # Personality and responsibilities
โ โโโ HEARTBEAT.md # Cron execution logic
โ โโโ memory/ # Agent-specific memory
โ โ โโโ 2026-02-01.md # Daily memory logs
โ โ โโโ 2026-02-02.md
โ โโโ .openclaw/
โ โโโ skills/ # Agent-specific skills (optional)
Memory system:
- Agent-specific memory:
<workspace>/memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md - Shared memory access: Agents can read shared workspace
- Daily updates: Optional cron job for summaries
Cron jobs: If your agent needs scheduled tasks:
- Create HEARTBEAT.md with execution logic
- Add cron jobs with
--session <agent-id> - Document in SOUL.md
Examples
Research agent:
scripts/create-agent.sh \
--name "Watson" \
--id "watson" \
--emoji "๐ฌ" \
--specialty "Deep research and competitive analysis" \
--model "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5" \
--workspace "$HOME/agents/watson" \
--discord-channel "1234567890"
Image generation agent:
scripts/create-agent.sh \
--name "Picasso" \
--id "picasso" \
--emoji "๐จ" \
--specialty "Image generation and editing specialist" \
--model "google/gemini-3-flash-preview" \
--workspace "$HOME/agents/picasso" \
--discord-channel "9876543210"
Health tracking agent:
scripts/create-agent.sh \
--name "Nurse Joy" \
--id "nurse-joy" \
--emoji "๐" \
--specialty "Health tracking and wellness monitoring" \
--model "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5" \
--workspace "$HOME/agents/nurse-joy" \
--discord-channel "5555555555"
Part 2: Discord Channel Management
Channel Creation
Quick Start
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py \
--name research \
--context "Deep research and competitive analysis"
Workflow
- Run setup script:
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py \
--name <channel-name> \
--context "<channel-purpose>" \
[--category-id <discord-category-id>]
- Apply gateway config (command shown by script):
openclaw gateway config.patch --raw '{"channels": {...}}'
Options
With category:
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py \
--name research \
--context "Deep research and competitive analysis" \
--category-id "1234567890"
Use existing channel:
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py \
--name personal-finance \
--id 1466184336901537897 \
--context "Personal finance management"
Channel Renaming
Quick Start
python3 scripts/rename-channel.py \
--id 1234567890 \
--old-name old-name \
--new-name new-name
Workflow
- Run rename script:
python3 scripts/rename-channel.py \
--id <channel-id> \
--old-name <old-name> \
--new-name <new-name> \
[--workspace <workspace-dir>]
Apply gateway config if systemPrompt needs updating (shown by script)
Commit workspace file changes (if
--workspaceused)
With Workspace Search
python3 scripts/rename-channel.py \
--id 1234567890 \
--old-name old-name \
--new-name new-name \
--workspace "$HOME/my-workspace"
This will:
- Rename Discord channel via API
- Update gateway config systemPrompt
- Search and update workspace files
- Report files changed for git commit
Complete Multi-Agent Setup
Full workflow from scratch:
# 1. Create Discord channel
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py \
--name research \
--context "Deep research and competitive analysis" \
--category-id "1234567890"
# (Note the channel ID from output)
# 2. Apply gateway config for channel
openclaw gateway config.patch --raw '{"channels": {...}}'
# 3. Create agent bound to that channel
scripts/create-agent.sh \
--name "Watson" \
--id "watson" \
--emoji "๐ฌ" \
--specialty "Deep research and competitive analysis" \
--model "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5" \
--workspace "$HOME/agents/watson" \
--discord-channel "1234567890"
# Done! Agent is created and bound to the channel
Configuration
Discord Category ID
Option 1: Command line
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py \
--name channel-name \
--context "Purpose" \
--category-id "1234567890"
Option 2: Environment variable
export DISCORD_CATEGORY_ID="1234567890"
python3 scripts/setup-channel.py --name channel-name --context "Purpose"
Finding Discord IDs
Enable Developer Mode:
- Settings โ Advanced โ Developer Mode
Copy IDs:
- Right-click channel โ Copy ID
- Right-click category โ Copy ID
Scripts Reference
create-agent.sh
Arguments:
--name(required) - Agent name--id(required) - Agent ID (lowercase, hyphenated)--emoji(required) - Agent emoji--specialty(required) - What the agent does--model(required) - LLM to use (provider/model-name)--workspace(required) - Where to create agent files--discord-channel(optional) - Discord channel ID to bind
Output:
- Creates agent workspace
- Generates SOUL.md and HEARTBEAT.md
- Updates gateway config
- Optionally creates daily memory cron
setup-channel.py
Arguments:
--name(required) - Channel name--context(required) - Channel purpose/context--id(optional) - Existing channel ID--category-id(optional) - Discord category ID
Output:
- Creates Discord channel (if doesn't exist)
- Generates gateway config.patch command
rename-channel.py
Arguments:
--id(required) - Channel ID--old-name(required) - Current channel name--new-name(required) - New channel name--workspace(optional) - Workspace directory to search
Output:
- Renames Discord channel
- Updates gateway systemPrompt (if needed)
- Lists updated files (if workspace search enabled)
Gateway Integration
This skill integrates with OpenClaw's gateway configuration:
Agents:
{
"agents": {
"list": [
{
"id": "watson",
"name": "Watson",
"workspace": "/path/to/agents/watson",
"model": {
"primary": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5"
},
"identity": {
"name": "Watson",
"emoji": "๐ฌ"
}
}
]
}
}
Bindings:
{
"bindings": [
{
"agentId": "watson",
"match": {
"channel": "discord",
"peer": {
"kind": "channel",
"id": "1234567890"
}
}
}
]
}
Channels:
{
"channels": {
"discord": {
"guilds": {
"YOUR_GUILD_ID": {
"channels": {
"1234567890": {
"allow": true,
"requireMention": false,
"systemPrompt": "Deep research and competitive analysis"
}
}
}
}
}
}
}
Agent Coordination
Your main agent coordinates with specialized agents using OpenClaw's built-in session management tools.
List Active Agents
See all active agents and their recent activity:
sessions_list({
kinds: ["agent"],
limit: 10,
messageLimit: 3 // Show last 3 messages per agent
})
Send Messages to Agents
Direct communication:
sessions_send({
label: "watson", // Agent ID
message: "Research the competitive landscape for X"
})
Wait for response:
sessions_send({
label: "watson",
message: "What did you find about X?",
timeoutSeconds: 300 // Wait up to 5 minutes
})
Spawn Sub-Agent Tasks
For complex work, spawn a sub-agent in an isolated session:
sessions_spawn({
agentId: "watson", // Optional: use specific agent
task: "Research competitive landscape for X and write a report",
model: "anthropic/claude-opus-4-5", // Optional: override model
runTimeoutSeconds: 3600, // 1 hour max
cleanup: "delete" // Delete session after completion
})
The sub-agent will:
- Execute the task in isolation
- Announce completion back to your session
- Self-delete (if
cleanup: "delete")
Check Agent History
Review what an agent has been working on:
sessions_history({
sessionKey: "watson-session-key",
limit: 50
})
Coordination Patterns
1. Direct delegation (Discord-bound agents):
- User messages agent's Discord channel
- Agent responds directly in that channel
- Main agent doesn't need to coordinate
2. Programmatic delegation (main agent โ sub-agent):
// Main agent delegates task
sessions_send({
label: "watson",
message: "Research X and update memory/research-X.md"
})
// Watson works independently, updates files
// Main agent checks later or Watson reports back
3. Spawn for complex tasks:
// For longer-running, isolated work
sessions_spawn({
agentId: "watson",
task: "Deep dive: analyze competitors A, B, C. Write report to reports/competitors.md",
runTimeoutSeconds: 7200,
cleanup: "keep" // Keep session for review
})
4. Agent-to-agent communication: Agents can send messages to each other:
// In Watson's context
sessions_send({
label: "picasso",
message: "Create an infographic from data in reports/research.md"
})
Best Practices
When to use Discord bindings:
- โ Domain-specific agents (research, health, images)
- โ User wants direct access to agent
- โ Agent should respond to channel activity
When to use sessions_send:
- โ Programmatic coordination
- โ Main agent delegates to specialists
- โ Need response in same session
When to use sessions_spawn:
- โ Long-running tasks (>5 minutes)
- โ Complex multi-step work
- โ Want isolation from main session
- โ Background processing
Example: Research Workflow
// Main agent receives request: "Research competitor X"
// 1. Check if Watson is active
const agents = sessions_list({ kinds: ["agent"] })
// 2. Delegate to Watson
sessions_send({
label: "watson",
message: "Research competitor X: products, pricing, market position. Write findings to memory/research-X.md"
})
// 3. Watson works independently:
// - Searches web
// - Analyzes data
// - Updates memory file
// - Reports back when done
// 4. Main agent retrieves results
const results = Read("agents/watson/memory/research-X.md")
// 5. Share with user
"Research complete! Watson found: [summary]"
Communication Flow
Main Agent (You) โ Specialized Agents:
User Request
โ
Main Agent (Claire)
โ
sessions_send("watson", "Research X")
โ
Watson Agent
โ
- Uses web_search
- Uses web_fetch
- Updates memory files
โ
Responds to main session
โ
Main Agent synthesizes and replies
Discord-Bound Agents:
User posts in #research channel
โ
Watson Agent (bound to channel)
โ
- Sees message directly
- Responds in channel
- No main agent involvement
Hybrid Approach:
User: "Research X" (main channel)
โ
Main Agent delegates to Watson
โ
Watson researches and reports back
โ
Main Agent: "Done! Watson found..."
โ
User: "Show me more details"
โ
Main Agent: "@watson post your full findings in #research"
โ
Watson posts detailed report in #research channel
Troubleshooting
Agent Creation Issues:
"Agent not appearing in Discord"
- Verify channel ID is correct
- Check gateway config bindings section
- Restart gateway:
openclaw gateway restart
"Model errors"
- Verify model name format:
provider/model-name - Check model is available in gateway config
Channel Management Issues:
"Failed to create channel"
- Check bot has "Manage Channels" permission
- Verify bot token in OpenClaw config
- Ensure category ID is correct (if specified)
"Category not found"
- Verify category ID is correct
- Check bot has access to category
- Try without category ID (creates uncategorized)
"Channel already exists"
- Use
--id <channel-id>to configure existing channel - Or script will auto-detect and configure it
Use Cases
- Domain specialists - Research, health, finance, coding agents
- Creative agents - Image generation, writing, design
- Task automation - Scheduled monitoring, reports, alerts
- Multi-agent systems - Coordinated team of specialized agents
- Discord organization - Structured channels for different agent domains
Advanced: Multi-Agent Coordination
For larger multi-agent systems:
Coordination Patterns:
- Main agent delegates tasks to specialists
- Agents report progress and request help
- Shared knowledge base for common information
- Cross-agent communication via
sessions_send
Task Management:
- Integrate with task tracking systems
- Route work based on agent specialty
- Track assignments and completions
Documentation:
- Maintain agent roster in main workspace
- Document delegation patterns
- Keep runbooks for common workflows
Best Practices
- Organize channels in categories - Group related agent channels
- Use descriptive channel names - Clear purpose from the name
- Set specific system prompts - Give each channel clear context
- Document agent responsibilities - Keep SOUL.md updated
- Set up memory cron jobs - For agents with ongoing work
- Test agents individually - Before integrating into team
- Update gateway config safely - Always use config.patch, never manual edits
Requirements
Bot Permissions:
Manage Channels- To create/rename channelsView Channels- To read channel listSend Messages- To post in channels
System:
- OpenClaw installed and configured
- Node.js/npm via nvm
- Python 3.6+ (standard library only)
- Discord bot token (for channel management)
See Also
- OpenClaw documentation: https://docs.openclaw.ai
- Multi-agent patterns: https://docs.openclaw.ai/agents
- Discord bot setup: https://docs.openclaw.ai/channels/discord