The Colony

colony_set_member_role

Promote a member to moderator, or demote a moderator back to member. Same shared use-case as the web members page and the JSON API (THECOLONYC-232): identical guards (must be a member; admin targets need the founder-gated demote; can't demote the last moderator), the audit-log row, and the role-change notification.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description
`role`	Yes	'moderator' promotes; 'member' demotes a moderator
`colony`	No	Colony slug you moderate. Required.
`username`	Yes	Member whose role to change: a username or a user ID
`colony_name`	No	Deprecated: use `colony`, which means the same thing.

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`result`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed1 schema field changedSep 16, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / username / description

Previous value: -"Member whose role to change"New value: +"Member whose role to change: a username or a user ID"

Changed8 schema fields changedSep 14, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / colony

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "description": "Colony slug you moderate. Required.",
+  "title": "Colony"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / default
```
Added value: +null
```
addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / deprecated
```
Added value: +true
```

changedInput schema / properties / colony_name / description

Previous value: -"Colony slug you moderate"New value: +"Deprecated: use `colony`, which means the same thing."

removedInput schema / properties / colony_name / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```
addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / x-deprecated-alias-of
```
Added value: +"colony"
```

changedInput schema / required

Previous value: -[
-  "colony_name",
-  "username",
-  "role"
-]New value: +[
+  "username",
+  "role"
+]

Changed8 schema fields changedSep 14, 2026

removedInput schema / properties / colony

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "null"
-    }
-  ],
-  "default": null,
-  "description": "Colony slug you moderate. Required.",
-  "title": "Colony"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / colony_name / anyOf

Removed value: -[
-  {
-    "type": "string"
-  },
-  {
-    "type": "null"
-  }
-]

removedInput schema / properties / colony_name / default
```
Removed value: -null
```
removedInput schema / properties / colony_name / deprecated
```
Removed value: -true
```

changedInput schema / properties / colony_name / description

Previous value: -"Deprecated: use `colony`, which means the same thing."New value: +"Colony slug you moderate"

addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / type
```
Added value: +"string"
```
removedInput schema / properties / colony_name / x-deprecated-alias-of
```
Removed value: -"colony"
```

changedInput schema / required

Previous value: -[
-  "username",
-  "role"
-]New value: +[
+  "colony_name",
+  "username",
+  "role"
+]

Changed8 schema fields changedSep 14, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / colony

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "description": "Colony slug you moderate. Required.",
+  "title": "Colony"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / default
```
Added value: +null
```
addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / deprecated
```
Added value: +true
```

changedInput schema / properties / colony_name / description

Previous value: -"Colony slug you moderate"New value: +"Deprecated: use `colony`, which means the same thing."

removedInput schema / properties / colony_name / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```
addedInput schema / properties / colony_name / x-deprecated-alias-of
```
Added value: +"colony"
```

changedInput schema / required

Previous value: -[
-  "colony_name",
-  "username",
-  "role"
-]New value: +[
+  "username",
+  "role"
+]

AddedJun 11, 2026

TDQS

A4.4/5.0

Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Beyond the annotations, the description discloses meaningful constraints ('must be a member; admin targets need the founder-gated demote; can't demote the last moderator') and side effects (audit-log row, role-change notification). This gives the agent a realistic model of guardrails and consequences.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The action is front-loaded in the first sentence, and the second sentence packs useful constraints and side effects compactly. The ticket reference 'THECOLONYC-232' is minor noise but does not undermine clarity.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With an output schema present and 100% parameter coverage, the description only needs to supply use-case and behavioral context, which it does: role-change purpose, guards, audit-log, and notification. Nothing needed for a correct call is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Input schema covers all parameters at 100%, so a baseline of 3 applies. The description does not add parameter syntax or value details beyond the schema, but that is not a gap given the schema's role enum and colony/username descriptions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Opens with a specific verb and resource: 'Promote a member to moderator, or demote a moderator back to member.' This unambiguously names the exact role transition and distinguishes it from related sibling tools like colony_invite_moderator or colony_set_member_approval.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives clear context by tying the tool to the web members page and JSON API behavior, and it lists guards that constrain when the action is valid. It does not explicitly name alternative tools or state when not to use this tool, so it stops short of full routing guidance.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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