Claim an item on the event checklist on behalf of a guest/attendee.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| item_id | No | The checklist item ID | |
| event_id | Yes | The 8-character event ID | |
| item_name | No | Item name if ID is unknown | |
| claimed_by_name | Yes | Guest nickname or name claiming the item |
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
Input schema / properties / claimed_by_name / descriptionPrevious value: -"Guest nickname or name claiming the item [Required: non-empty valid value must be supplied]."New value: +"Guest nickname or name claiming the item"Input schema / properties / event_id / descriptionPrevious value: -"The 8-character event ID [Required: non-empty valid value must be supplied]."New value: +"The 8-character event ID"Input schema / properties / item_id / descriptionPrevious value: -"The checklist item ID [Optional: omit to use server default filter]."New value: +"The checklist item ID"Input schema / properties / item_name / descriptionPrevious value: -"Item name if ID is unknown [Optional: omit to use server default filter]."New value: +"Item name if ID is unknown"Input schema / properties / claimed_by_name / descriptionPrevious value: -"Guest nickname or name claiming the item"New value: +"Guest nickname or name claiming the item [Required: non-empty valid value must be supplied]."Input schema / properties / event_id / descriptionPrevious value: -"The 8-character event ID"New value: +"The 8-character event ID [Required: non-empty valid value must be supplied]."Input schema / properties / item_id / descriptionPrevious value: -"The checklist item ID"New value: +"The checklist item ID [Optional: omit to use server default filter]."Input schema / properties / item_name / descriptionPrevious value: -"Item name if ID is unknown"New value: +"Item name if ID is unknown [Optional: omit to use server default filter]."Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description bears the full disclosure burden for a mutation operation, yet it omits key traits: whether a claim is exclusive, what happens if the item is already claimed, whether the caller needs permissions, and whether item_id and item_name can be used interchangeably. Only the 'on behalf of' semantics are added.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
A single front-loaded sentence with zero filler or repetition. It is efficient, though efficiency comes partly at the cost of detail rather than through tight editing of richer content.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
For a 4-parameter mutation tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is too thin. It should convey the claim semantics (exclusivity, conflict behavior) and clarify the id/name alternative, none of which are covered.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema already documents all four parameters, establishing a baseline of 3. The description adds slight meaning by framing claimed_by_name as the guest/attendee identity, but says nothing about the item_id vs item_name fallback relationship the schema hints at.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Clear verb+resource: 'Claim an item on the event checklist', with the actor ('guest/attendee') specified. It implicitly distinguishes itself from add_checklist_items and get_event_checklist, though it never names a sibling to reinforce that.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
There is no explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance and no mention of alternatives like add_checklist_items. The only contextual cue is 'on behalf of a guest/attendee', which the agent must infer implies a claim/signup flow rather than item creation.
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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