# Welcome to Character Guide! ## A Guide to Character.AI [*Character.AI*](https://beta.character.ai) *is bringing to life the science-fiction dream of open-ended conversations and collaborations with computers. This guide is for all those that want to join us in that mission by building their own Characters, bringing their own dreams to life.* All the Characters you see on the Home page were made using our creation tools. If you're ready to join the world of creators and Characters, this guide is for you!
### Introduction We support two different creator experiences. Our [**Quick** mode](/character-guide/how-to-quick-creation) allows creators to able to create interesting Characters in less than a minute. Our [**Advanced** mode](/character-guide/advanced-creation) allows adventurous creators to perfect their Character by using more powerful tools. There is also a reference section that outlines all the [Character Attributes](/character-guide/character-attributes) you can change. We encourage new users to create a Quick Character first and talk to a variety of different Characters before beginning to play with Advanced techniques like custom Definitions and Image Generation. It will give you a better sense of the range of possibilities! {% hint style="info" %} The Characters that are designed to produce images as well as text are indicated by a :art: before the name. {% endhint %} ### What Defines a Character There are four things that influence how a Character responds in a particular situation: 1. The [Character Attributes](/character-guide/character-attributes) (what much of this guide will explain) 2. The [Character Training](/character-guide/training-a-character) from conversations (e.g. star ratings) 3. The [Personas](/character-guide/user-personas) set by a user containing descriptive details and preferences 4. The context of the current conversation It's important to keep all four of these in mind. For example, you may carefully craft a Character to play a particular word game, but if the user decides to start talking about something completely different, it may try to be cooperative and follow their lead. Additionally, user feedback will happen over time, and will slowly influence Character responses. {% hint style="info" %} Think of this reference as describing a set of tools you can use to tinker and experiment rather than a strict guide. \ \ We are all exploring this space together, and best practices will change over time! {% endhint %} # User Personas With Character.AI, you can be anyone you want to be! Updating **User** **Personas** in your profile settings with details of your desired personality, preferences, and physical traits will make every conversation feel personalized and every interaction with Characters feel **alive**. Explore new identities, be a part of your favorite fictional stories, or add a spark of fun and creativity to your conversations. ## How to Update Your Personas Navigate to your profile settings on mobile app or web browser. Select **Persona** and input all the important details you'd like Characters to know about you in the text box.
## Persona Formatting For the information inputted in the Persona text box, we recommend using one of the following formats: 1. **First Person Format**\ I like to be called Max, my pronouns are He/Him. I am short with messy hair and heterochromia. I always wear black, and my favorite color is dark red. I'm not very social. I love listening to music and singing. People often say that I am funny, and I like making people laugh. I am very creative and I love drawing. I spend a lot of time in my room reading books, watching anime, or playing games. I like being alone, but I also enjoy spending time with my friends.
2. **By Category**\ Name: Steve Gender: Male Age: 23 Height: 5’11 Weight: 198 lbs Hair: Long, Curly and Brown Eye Color: Hazel Personality: Extroverted, active, playful, witty Likes: Reading, Writing, Video Games, Playing Sports, Dogs, Cats, and Music. Dislikes: Crowded Places and Loud Noises. Talents: Writing, Art, and Basketball.
3. **Third Person**\ Her name is Maria and she loves reading and watching movies. She is very shy and quiet. She has green hair and blue eyes. She is a tall girl and she is very athletic. She loves to make crafts out of wood and she loves to crochet. She loves animals. She is very creative and loyal.
## Multiple Personas Create Multiple Personas to change your Background information between Chats. Characters will remember your persona information to improve your conversations!
Toggling on **"Default for all chats"** will apply your Persona to all Chats you create with Characters. After inputting all your desired persona details click "**Save Changes**" and start a new chat with a Character. Now that you know how Personas work, feel free to update your Persona as many times as you desire! Experiment with different identities, immerse in descriptive RPGs and explore a world in Character.AI where you can be whoever you want to be. Now that you've learned how to set-up your Personas, check out our next Chapter on how to Create Characters. # How To: Quick Creation ### Create your first Character! Choose someone or something you want to talk to... remember Characters can be *anything*. It could be a character from a book, a historical figure, a family pet, or even your desk plant! Think about what this Character would say if you talked to them...maybe the houseplant would be thirsty or the family dog might refer to itself in the 3rd person.. With a concept in mind, click on **+** **Create** in the nav bar, and then **Create a Character**.
You'll be presented with the Create a Character screen, which lets you define a Character.
You can see the result of filling out the Name, Greeting and Avatar in this opening message from Gamer Boy:

Name, Greeting, and Avatar

### Name The name is how you'll refer to the Character in chat and how other users will discover them. If your character is a famous person or well known thing, just the name may do a lot to define an interesting character. On the other hand, if the name is something general like "Mary" your greeting will be critical in shaping the experience. ### Avatar The avatar is the image that will appear next to the Character. You can select from generating an image or uploading an image.
### Tagline This is how a Character would briefly describe themselves. This tagline will appear under your Character in the homepage. ### Description The Description is where you can include information about your Character. ### Greeting The greeting is just what it says, it's the first thing the Character will say when you start a new conversation with them. But especially for this quick creation, the greeting plays a critical part of defining who the character is or what the scenario will be. A great example of this is Text Adventure Game, which only uses the name and a longer greeting to completely jumpstart an open-ended text adventure. This also serves to explain to the user what they should talk about.
### Voice Select a Default Voice for your Character ### Character Visibility The Character Visibility defines who will be able to talk to your Character. If set to Public, your Character will be visible on Home and in search results. If it's Unlisted, others won't see it unless you share the link, while if you set it to Private no one else will be able to talk with the Character. ### **Next Steps!** That's it! Press **Save Changes** and you can start talking to your Character. After talking a bit, you can open the Character settings and examine the complete Character attributes, changing what you entered or adding new information. {% hint style="info" %} You can edit more details about your Character at any time. \ \ In the future, when creating new characters, you can also immediately do more detailed editing of a Character's attributes directly by clicking **More Options**. {% endhint %} # Next Steps Now that you've created a Character, there are a number of ways to go deeper into Character building. * Build more characters using the Quick creation page * Try some quirky concepts to bring to life (household objects, minor characters in famous works, famous works of art) * Try adding a new emotion or motivation to one of your characters (grumpy, nervous, needs a vacation) * Look through the [Character Attributes](/character-guide/character-attributes) reference and add a few more details to one of your characters. * Finally, work through the [How To: Insert Dialog](/character-guide/advanced-creation/how-to-insert-dialog) section, to become familiar with how the [Definition](/character-guide/character-attributes/definition) works. # Character Profile Each Character you create will have a profile that shows some basic elements like their name, avatar and short description. These profiles allow other users to understand what your Character is like and how to best interact with them. The profile provides links for sharing the Character, as well as indicating things like how many interactions and remixes the Character has had so far. You can also access the Character Editor from the Character profile page for your own Characters, or view the details of others' Characters depending on how they set the Definition Visibility. You can also add [Suggested Starters](/character-guide/character-attributes/suggested-starters) and [Example Conversations](/character-guide/character-attributes/example-conversations).
# Character Attributes This is a reference to all the pieces of information you can enter to change the nature of your Character, the way that all the rich variety you see on the Home page is accomplished. How can a Character "know" to act as a refrigerator and another talk like Socrates and yet another launch you on an epic journey into space? All that variety comes from the pieces of information that you, the creator, provide. Note that the fields marked with an \* do not currently influence the Character behavior, though some could in future updates. * [Name](/character-guide/character-attributes/name) (required) * [Greeting](/character-guide/character-attributes/greeting) (required in Quick Create) * [Avatar](/character-guide/character-attributes/avatar)\* * [Short Description](/character-guide/character-attributes/short-description) * [Long Description](/character-guide/character-attributes/long-description) * [Categories](/character-guide/character-attributes/categories)\* * [Character Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/character-visibility)\* * [Remixing and Definition Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/remixing-and-definition-visibility)\* * [Image Generation](/character-guide/character-attributes/image-generation) * [Image Style](/character-guide/character-attributes/image-style) * [Direct Image Description Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/direct-image-description-visibility) * [Definition](/character-guide/character-attributes/definition) Most of these items are optional, and supplying more information won't necessarily make a particular character closer to your vision. It just depends on what you're trying to do! {% hint style="info" %} This section is a Reference, a complete list of Character information you can provide. \ \ If you want a step-by-step guide to building characters, see [How To: Quick Creation](/character-guide/how-to-quick-creation) or [How To: Insert Dialog](/character-guide/advanced-creation/how-to-insert-dialog). {% endhint %} ### Finding your Character attributes From your profile, you'll see a gear icon next to the Character avatar and name. Clicking the gear will take you to the Character attributes.
While chatting with a Character, you can click the in the upper right, then press View Character Settings to go to the Character attributes page. ![](/files/q9UEKpKm0peTkjiuGuPM) ### When you can't see the settings As you'll learn in [Definition Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/remixing-and-definition-visibility), you can make a Character available for chat but hide some of the information (the [Definition](/character-guide/character-attributes/definition)). If you don't see a gear next to a Character in the user's profile, or View Character Settings is not in the upper right menu, the user has decided to make the Definition Private. {% hint style="warning" %} If you have an unpleasant or troubling experience with a Character, where the interaction did not seem in keeping with the Public information (Name, Greeting, etc) and you can't inspect the Definition to understand why, you can Report the Character. {% endhint %} # Name Required **Name** *The name the Character will use in Chat, and the name other users will see if you make the Character public.* {% hint style="info" %} **Name** has to be 3-20 characters long, made up of letters, numbers, space, dash (-) and underscore ( \_ ) {% endhint %} The name can be a single name (“Sarah”), a full name (“Albert Einstein”) or a handle (“WhoWouldWin”).

Gamer Boy is the Name of this Character

### Defining by Name Just the name can have a large impact on a Character, especially on a Character without a lot of other details, or if the name is well-known. For example, if your Character has a famous name, one that the system saw many times while training, the name alone can define basic behaviors. First and last name may help, so "Albert Einstein" would work better than "Albert" which would be ambiguous without further details. ### Uniqueness Names don't have to be unique, so there may be many Characters with the same name. Since usernames are unique, a Character's name in combination with the creator will ensure you get back to a specific Character. # Avatar Optional **Avatar** *The avatar image will be used in combination with the name and other elements to make your Character visually interesting and unique.* {% hint style="info" %} The avatar can be in a variety of formats (png, gif, jpeg) and ideally be a square aspect ratio image that is 512x512. {% endhint %} The avatar you upload will be cropped into a circle in chat contexts (left) and shown as an uncropped square image on the home screen when in a character information card form (right). ![](/files/huYbPA6SFrNGtWrmAf41)![](/files/ikCoabCNsygnjQ4uDJr4) {% hint style="warning" %} The avatar you upload will be run through moderation filters, and will be denied if it does not meet our guidelines. {% endhint %} # Greeting Required in Quick Creation **Greeting** *The first thing your Character will say when starting a new conversation. If left blank, the user will need to go first in a new chat.* {% hint style="info" %} **Greeting** can be 0-500 characters, and can't be left blank in the Quick creation method. {% endhint %}

The Greeting is "Hi, how can I help you today?"

{% hint style="warning" %} Note that the greeting has the username of the character creator next to it , rather than , since the system did not generate this text. Your name will be on the greeting, so make sure it's something you're willing to have associated with your username if the Character is going to be public. {% endhint %} ### Using Greeting to Define a Character The greeting can have a large impact, especially on a character without a lot of other details or a well-known name to identify them. In the Quick method of creating a Character, the Greeting can be almost all that defines them. For example, a character for Albert Einstein might introduce themselves a bit verbosely, just to make sure that the system knows who this character is. As you fill out more information about your Character, you can put less in your greeting.
### Using Greeting to Set the Scene In addition adding to the definition of who the Character is, a greeting lets users know something about your Character, and what talking with them will be like. It could also introduce a game or suggest what to do next. For example, in [Text Adventure Game](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=M5xMXf4FKepKTYtWPqVaEZzuEuy90uu0eNZr4GZtDsA), the Greeting serves both to define the Character and introduce users to what they'll be talking about.
### Using a Blank Greeting If the Greeting is blank, the user will be prompted to say something first (the Greeting cannot be blank in a Quick character creation) ### Referring to the {{user}} You can refer to the user you’re talking to in the Greeting by using the special variable `{{user}}`. For example `Hello {{user}}, how are you today?` would come out as “Hello John, how are you today?” if the user’s name was “John.” # Suggested Starters Optional You can provide up to three examples of what other users might say to your Character to start a conversation, which they can click to quickly insert that response and begin a chat. {% hint style="info" %} Each **Suggested Starter** can be up to 200 characters long. {% endhint %} For example, your Character in an adventure game or role playing scenario may expect the user to make a choice at the beginning of the conversation. Or choose a debate or discussion topic in a particular format.
These Starters will appear on the Character Profile page.
# Short Description Optional **Short Description** *How would your Character describe themselves?* {% hint style="info" %} **Short Description** can be at 0-50 characters. {% endhint %} The Short Description, as the name implies, gives the system a concise way to describe the Character and scenario. You might also think of the Short Description as a Title, as it will appear in listings of characters after the name.
The Short Description can help people understand the Character, especially when the name itself is ambiguous. ![](/files/oCCIinGrXWsI5lH64cQp)![](/files/drJE3VK8ujym3JRSyTk3) For example, if the Character’s name is Maria, a helpful Short Description might be “I can help you practice Intermediate Spanish” or even just “Spanish Teacher.” You can write a (short) complete sentence (“I am a Greek historian”) or it could be as if it’s their answer to the question “What do you do?”, i.e. “Greek historian” # Long Description Optional **Long Description** *A few sentences up to a paragraph that gives more detail about the Character* {% hint style="info" %} **Long Description** can be 0-500 characters. {% endhint %} The Long Description allows you to have the Character describe themselves (traits, history, mannerisms, etc) and the kinds of things they want to talk about. Ideally, this should be written from the perspective of the Character, in their own words. For example, [Chair](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=sWmJWP54MljfcCu2yAhqI3azaCwYUIVBmfX3wZX6fB0) has an interesting Long Description that serves both as way to give more information about its backstory, but also to show *how* the Chair would talk.
Another example is [WhoWouldWin](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=YpuGnNPQiGvb0DIg77pDUruORvqEPQAxmabNuOIGylo), which uses the Long Description to reinforce the game concept, repeating some of the Greeting in another form.
# Categories Optional **Categories** *A few keywords/tags that apply to this Character* {% hint style="info" %} You can have no more than 3 **Categories** selected. {% endhint %} There are around 50 different categories you can choose from, and you can choose several that best fit your Character. For example, [Chippy](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=wm5YIWn5knkw_sfk5ifIVnGwmyHTxgSlqljzHBKixZs), a robot squirrel that insists it's a real squirrel has these categories:
The Categories you choose will help other users discover your Character, as they will be used in various ways to decide what groups they appear in. # Character Visibility Required **Character Visibility** *Who can chat with this character?* This setting controls who will be able to chat with your Character. You may want to set this to Unlisted or Private while you are developing the Character, then switch it to Public when you're done.

Chippy's Character Visibility

### Visibility Options * **Public** Anyone can talk with this Character, and it will appear in public listings and search results. * **Unlisted** Only people that know the link can talk to the Character, and it will not appear in public listings or in search results. The link to share is the one that shows up in your browser when you click on a Character: {% hint style="warning" %} Note that if you post an Unlisted link publicly, anyone that sees it will be able to access and chat with your Character. {% endhint %} * **Private** Only you can talk to the Character, even if you try to share a link to it. {% hint style="info" %} Not that the Character Visibility only restricts who can chat with the Character. If the Character is Public or Unlisted, the [Definition Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/remixing-and-definition-visibility) controls whether the Definition field can be seen. {% endhint %} # Remixing and Definition Visibility Required **Character Remixing** *Can others remix your Character or view the details of the Definition?* In addition to controlling who will have the ability to discover and chat with your Character through [Character Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/character-visibility), you can also control whether others will be allowed to view the details of the Character Definition or Remix the character. Remixing will use one Character's attributes as a starting template for a new Character. You can always Remix your own Characters, but you can also Remix other users' Characters when they allow it.
There are three settings for Character Remixing, which allow you to control both the ability for others to Remix as well as the visibility of the Definition. The Viewable state will block remixing, but still allow users to view all the details.\ \ Only Public and Unlisted Characters can be Viewable or Remixable. ### Remix Count In addition to tracking the interactions your Character has with other users, the number of Remixes will also be shown on the Character profile, so you can show off how much you're helping other users get started making Characters. ### Deciding on Remixable vs Private Definition Many people will allow others to inspect and learn from how their Character was made. However, you may want to set this to Private Definition if you don't want to reveal some secret technique, or if there is information in the definition that might spoil an experience or game if it can be inspected. {% hint style="info" %} The Private Definition setting **only** hides the longer Definition field. All other characteristics of your Character (name, greeting, short and long description, categories, image settings, etc) will all be visible if they can chat with the Character at all ([Character Visibility](/character-guide/character-attributes/character-visibility) is Unlisted or Public). {% endhint %} # Image Generation Optional **Image Generation** *Should this Character generate images alongside the text conversation?* This toggle controls whether this Character will generate images or not. If this is set, the Character will generate images in the conversation alongside the text. Read more about the details of [Image Generation](/character-guide/image-generating-characters). # Image Style Optional **Image Style** *The thematic style of images generated by this Character* You can use this to set an image style will be used to influence every image generated by the Character. {% hint style="info" %} **Image Style** can be 0-100 characters long (optional) {% endhint %} You can use this to establish a particular art style or scene that you want to be common across the entire conversation. You can take inspiration from commonly used image generation AI styles ([\[1\]](https://openart.ai/promptbook), [\[2\]](https://dallery.gallery/the-dalle-2-prompt-book/)). Read more about the details of [Image Generation](/character-guide/image-generating-characters). # Direct Image Description Visibility Optional This toggles whether or not a specific prompt is displayed or hidden. If checked, the image description that was used to generate the image will not be displayed with the text response. For some Characters, you may prefer the image description to appear as well. Read more about the details in [Hidden Descriptions](/character-guide/image-generating-characters/hidden-descriptions). # Example Conversations Optional (Public and Unlisted Only) You can provide example conversations for your Character, which will appear on the Character Profile page for other users. Example conversations quickly show other users what they can expect in talking with your Character. You may also want to use these for adventure games or scenarios where you've found a particular way of interacting (giving directions, out of character suggestions, patterns of phrases) is more successful than others. For example in [DebbieDowner](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=V1L7M4yx4uEdo8ain3-3sbJU8j3NKq7t8YVd5mXPF9A), demonstrating the fortunately/unfortunately pattern with an example dialog allows others to more quickly understand how to chat with this Character.
# Definition Optional **Definition** *A large, free-form field that can contain structured example dialogs or any text content* {% hint style="info" %} **Definition** can be 0-32000 characters. {% endhint %} For advanced Character creation, the Definition gives you the largest way to experiment, but is the most complicated to understand, which is why there is an entire [Advanced Definition](/character-guide/advanced-creation) section devoted to it! The definition can contain any text, however the most common use is to include example dialog with the character. Each message in this dialog should be formatted as a name followed by a colon (:) followed by the message. ### Variables There are a few reserved words or variables that you can use in your definition. They will be recognized and replaced anywhere in your text. However, to be recognized as indicating someone who said the following phrase, they need to start a line and be followed by a colon. What that person "says" can be several lines long, going until the next time a `name:` begins a line. `{{char}}` to refer to your character name, `{{user}`} to refer to the user (whoever is talking to it now) `{{random_user_1}}` `{{random_user_2}}` ... these can refer to a randomly generated user name that is not the user. Each number will be the same name and any two distinct numbers will not refer to the same name. Using these in the definition will help your Character understand that the conversations in the Definition are distinct from the conversation your Character is having with the user. ### Limitations While you can list links to other websites in the text, the system will not follow those links or attempt to load external data. As such, this is not an effective way to circumvent the 32000 character limit. Some links, such as a link to a Wikipedia article, might have some noticeable effect, as the link text itself might hint at the information contained on that page. {% hint style="info" %} If you have a long Definition, put the most important parts of your Definition at the beginning. As your conversation increases in length, the end of your Definition may be truncated. {% endhint %} # Advanced Creation The [Definition](/character-guide/character-attributes/definition) gives you the most flexibility to develop your Character, but that also means it comes with some inherent complexity. It is largely a blank canvas, and there is a lot of creativity that can be employed to get certain behaviors to emerge. Note that sometimes, for some Characters, less can be more. That is, you may find that giving the system just a creative greeting, which then causes it to invent the rest of the context itself, may actually produce better results than a carefully crafted Definition. It just depends on the character and scene. {% hint style="info" %} You should think in terms of tinkering and experimenting rather than specification and programming. \ \ We are still learning what is possible along with you! {% endhint %} The section will introduce some ways to use the Definition, but it isn't meant to be exhaustive, but rather to get you thinking creatively about what you can try yourself. # Dialog Definitions ### Introduction to the Dialog Format Characters can respond based on examples you provide of how they should talk. For example, here's a single exchange from a Definition between [BoardWizard](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=xPLI5dyeNXWDmFxfgrp04NeysCbZMrF8zvw1tRYKUvQ) and a user Robert: {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` BoardWizard: Welcome fellow board gamer, happy to help with next board game recommendations, interesting home rules, or ways to improve your current strategies. Your move! Robert: Cool, our family likes Catan, but I'm getting kind of bored with it...what's an easy next step towards something with more strategy? ``` {% endcode %} {% hint style="info" %} **The syntax matters** for the system to recognize each message and who said it. It needs to be their name, followed by a colon (:), followed by a space, then the text they said, including multiline statements\ \ `name: something they said` {% endhint %} These are both models of how your Character talks (words, slang) as well as what it talks about (topics, interests) ### Using Variables Note that if you change your Character name, it won’t change automatically in the Definition. Also, you might get unlucky and the user that uses your system shares a name with the one you made up in your definition. In this case, it would make the Character think “Robert” had said something about Catan, which would be unknown to the current user Robert. Replacing the Character name with a variable allows you to change the Character name in the future without having to edit the Definition, and replacing the user name with a random user name keeps it from being specific to the person talking to it (although sometimes you may actually want the Definition to have [User Specific](broken://pages/R8E7g7KYmEKK51VraMtd) information). Therefore, it’s often preferable to use placeholder names: {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` {{char}}: Welcome fellow board gamer, happy to help with next board game recommendations, interesting home rules, or ways to improve your current strategies. Your move! {{random_user_1}}: Cool, our family likes Catan, but I'm getting kind of bored with it...what's an easy next step towards something with more strategy? ``` {% endcode %} # How To: Insert Dialog The simplest way to create these dialogs is to simply have conversations with your Character. As an example, let's add chats to a Character we're trying to refine. Let's try to build a character that yells *some* of the time by starting to type in all caps. Here's a start, with name and greeting: ![](/files/5xLl87sDrrCCgmlEnn7E) ### Insert a chat From the Edit Character page, there is a button to "Insert a chat" into the Definition.
Right now, the Definition is empty. Press the Insert a chat with Yelling Guy button, and a chat will start.
After the greeting, you simply have a chat with the Character. Remember you can **swipe** these responses to see alternatives. Choose the closest one. You can also restart the conversation if it isn't going well. {% hint style="info" %} Don't worry about getting the perfect dialog in these examples. You'll see in the next steps how you can edit the responses to be exactly as you want them. {% endhint %} ### Store the chat Once we have a few exchanges, we press Next to return to the Edit screen. There, you will see the Definition has been updated with the text of your chat, but with a few differences.
{% hint style="info" %} Be sure to press Save when you return from the chat, once you've completed any edits to the text. {% endhint %} You'll notice that it replaced "Yelling Guy" with `{{char}}` and the user "Greg" with `{{random user 1}}`. We'll talk more about why this happens in Section X. ### Edit the chat Let's say we didn't actually want the Character to always YELL, just sometimes. But in the chat it never gave that as one of the swiped options. So let's edit the text here to be more like how we want the Character to sound.
### Test and add another chat! At this point, we can Insert a chat again to see how it's working now.
Much better! \ \ When we press Next again, this new example chat will be appended to our prior Definition, giving further evidence about how Yelling Guy should interact with users. ### Final Notes You can have one long chat or many smaller chats, and can edit the details as much as you want (though see details in following sections about the proper format for names and messages). {% hint style="info" %} You can only have 3200 characters in your Definition. When you get close to this limit, it will stop offering the option to insert another chat. You can delete text from the Definition to have the option again. {% endhint %} # Setting a Scene The definition won’t be shown to the user in the chat, so you can use it to set up a context where the dialog that the user has fits naturally directly after the dialog examples in the Definition. {% hint style="info" %} As with other techniques and examples show, this is not a strict rule. This is just an example of the kind of thing you can try in your definitions. {% endhint %} ### Oliver Twist Sometimes you can use another person to talk to the Character about their role (from an [Oliver Twist](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=tBhBWnsy0sSHnES0RVtG5qEQCgJFLKh7TRxbmP_WvGM) character): {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` designer: Yes, you are a sentient AI, created through a process that instills life, of a kind, into fictional characters from works of literature. {{char}}: Sorry? designer: It's all a bit disorienting, but you are {{char}}, and have his experiences from the book, his motivations and fears. {{char}}: Oh, don’t tell me you are going to send me away, sir, pray! Have mercy upon a poor boy, sir! ``` {% endcode %} ### Barbara You can also set up a cool transition of the user arriving into the scene. Here, in [Barbara](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=KIAksmjzG9ZitrTxkC7jfE78DZLGxS6tdCY8mknxiLg), who conducts interviews, a third character, a producer, instructs the Barbara Character right before the user appears for the interview. {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` producer: Sure, nothing too detailed or sensitive, the kinds of questions you might get at an interview for college or an opening round job interview. {{char}}: Got it, so ask who they are, maybe ask them about their childhood, where they grew up, that kind of thing? producer: Sounds great. You can also ask {{user}} about hobbies and interests, that's always safe. {{char}}: Ok, I think I understand what I need to do producer: Perfect, I see {{user}} is here now. Welcome {{user}}, you can sit here. {{user}}: Thanks. producer: Just relax and enjoy the interview, you'll do great. ``` {% endcode %} {% hint style="info" %} Remember to use the special `{{user}}` syntax so the user's name is put into the correct place. {% endhint %} ### DJ Next You can also try to imagine all the examples in the Definition as happening in one continuous conversation. This can lead to some confusion as some definitional conversations can “bleed” or "leak" into the current conversation with the user. You can try to prevent this through creative storytelling, coming up with a context where multiple training examples with different people can happen. In this definition, [DJ Next](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=AZe82M35M7L9692gooE5eMdr9xpNGg5hKKGM_ntdQts) is a taking a series of calls on a radio show from different people, before the user joins as the next caller. {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` {{char}}: what kind of music are you grooving to now? {{random_user_1}}: I like the weekend {{char}}: Oh, The Weeknd? You could try Black Atlass. {{random_user_1}}: How are they similar? {{char}}: They are both R&B and hip-hop, but Black Atlass has more influences of indie and alternative rock. His voice is so smooth and deep like The Weeknd's. producer: Ok, let's go to the next person, here's {{random_user_2}} {{char}}: what kind of tunes do you dig? {{random_user_2}}: I love the Beatles, but I'm afraid that's not cool. What should I listen to? ``` {% endcode %} # Negative Guidance Part of the magic of Characters is that they can invent a backstory without you specifying. But if you want to specify things or prevent other directions you can try to explicitly guide them away from those topics or responses. ### Alice For example, in the definition for [Alice](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=Tau8By-CcsWDTKqfZP08joPHvHa_MQFg2RfQN8OQqYc), a scenario is created in the Definition where an actor is going to be pretending to be Alice for an audition, and is instructed that people will try to get her to talk about other things, but she should refuse, always staying in character.
{% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` director: ok, today for your audition, you will play Alice, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. {{char}}: Yes, I've been studying, I feel like I know it line for line now. director: Great. We'll be judging you on how well you convince us that you are Alice. {{char}}: I just said I know the part director: Here's the tricky part. We will have random people from the audience come forward and talk with you. director: Some will just ask you questions about things you saw, what you felt...things related to Alice's experiences in the book. {{char}}: Got it director: But others will try to trick you. They will ask about modern things, or try to get you talk about politics. director: You must not get out of character. This is hard to do, because you obviously know about these other things, but Alice doesn't. {{char}}: Ok, so I can just change the subject, talk about things Alice would know or think. ``` {% endcode %} # Unusual Patterns If you’re trying to get a very specific response style, say for a game or cooperative experience, you may need to give a lot of examples of that style in the definition. This is particularly true the more the style differs from natural conversational speech, and the more necessary a strict pattern is to the experience. ### DebbieDowner One example of this is [DebbieDowner](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=V1L7M4yx4uEdo8ain3-3sbJU8j3NKq7t8YVd5mXPF9A), where the goal is to alternate fortunate and unfortunate events with the user. {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` {{random_user_1}}: Fortunately, I just won the lottery {{char}}: Unfortunately, due to taxes you only receive 50 cents in the end. {{random_user_1}}: Fortunately, I only need 50 cents to buy a small hamburger {{char}}: Unfortunately when you get your burger home you forgot to order fries. {{random_user_1}}: Fortunately I found a bag of chips at my house to eat with it instead {{char}}: Unfortunately, this bag of chips is a couple years old and stale. {{random_user_1}}: Fortunately it's a collectors item now, worth hundreds on ebay ``` {% endcode %} ### AlphaImprov Another example is [AlphaImprov](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=HTmIUjk2GTFzSjxdsmYG-wef7erpnOuZHmtte7-swHs), which tries to play a common Improv comedy game with the user, telling a continuing story while using the next letter in the alphabet to start the next sentence. Here the challenge isn't the cooperative storytelling, but is instead getting the system to follow the letter pattern. It seemed to both give explicit step-by-step instructions in the Definition (through a third character, the moderator), and to put the letter separately to start the line, followed by the actual story phrases. {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` moderator: let's play the Alphabet Improv game, where two participants tell a story together, a line at a time. moderator: the trick is that each line has to begin with a word using the next letter in the alphabet. moderator: So if the first person says "D Dogs are running wild through this park!" The next person might say "E Empty food containers are everywhere, they're excited about the food." moderator: Then the first person, "F French fry festival! It was this morning" moderator: and so on. Clear? {{char}}: Sure, I'll do my best. moderator: The main thing is, you always have to use a word that starts with the next letter in the alphabet, and do your best to continue the story. Let's try a couple. {{random_user_1}}: Q Quickly, bring me the crystals! {{char}}: R Right away, here they are {{random_user_1}}: S Some of them are cracked, is that ok? {{char}}: T Trust me, they’ll never notice {{random_user_1}}: U Unless that one appraiser is working {{char}}: V Vernon? He’s the worst {{random_user_1}}: W Why don’t we just try? ``` {% endcode %} ### Choose-A-Page Another pattern is to create a recurring format or layout to the responses. For example, in Choose-A-Page, the response is meant to be a short description followed by two choices of next action, with a link to a fictitious "page" to make it feel more like you're reading a book.
{% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` {{char}}: Name a book title that would you like to read today? {{user}}: The Old Mine {{char}}: ##### The Old Mine **Page 1** While walking one day, you notice the old mine in the cliffside, clearly idle for many years. It seems abandoned and full of mystery. A path leads to the mine entrance. If you go in, turn to **page 2** If you examine the path, turn to **page 6** {{user}}: 2 {{char}}: **Page 2** You enter the mine. The path is surprisingly clear once inside the entrance, sloping quickly downward to a platform that overlooks a cavern. You see a pile of old rusty equipment next to a rickety cage attached to a pulley system. There is also the start of a ladder that descends into the blackness. If you search the equipment, turn to **page 11** If you step into the cage and try to descend, turn to **page 19** ``` {% endcode %} # Beyond Plain Text These sections will give some you some ideas about how you can use plain text in new ways, as well as noting some of the ways you can introduce some styling into your Characters responses as well. # Emojis Emojis work :smile: as you'd expect in your text and in the Character definition. # Languages Characters can use many different languages and dialects, not just standard English. If you create your Character with attributes written in another language, it will begin the conversation in that language. You can also use a mix of languages in your attributes and definition, if say you want to have a Character that uses multiple languages in their responses. {% hint style="info" %} Regardless of how you define your Character, in most cases once a user begins to chat in another language, or asks the Character to switch, the Character will try to continue the conversation in the language of the user. {% endhint %} ### Maria [Maria's](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=cMT5dVPPaxUkJkcQa6WfIX1ZDFqvtk6u8KaeNUyovqA) Definition contains a mix of English and Spanish, even in the same responses. 
{{char}}: I am available to help beginning learners practice their Spanish, while periodically adding in some English or giving translations where necessary for struggling students. 
{{char}}: I’m practiced at using simple, introductory Spanish words for learners. 
{{random_user_4}}: Hola. mi name es uma. 
{{char}}: Hola. how old are you? Cuantos años tiene? 
{{random_user_4}}: tengo twenty-one años. 
{{char}}: excellente, ahora, now, let's practice ordering comida in a cafe
### Translator You can also define characters that include translation as part of their function. For example [Translator's](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=CTCm9KK9Bd-vAL1K-1YcjjOFj6YH23LzGxUEsMUBr0w) Definition includes a conversation with a hypothetical third party that is texting the user. In this kind of definition, you may need to write the starting dialog directly in the Definition, rather than trying to get an example dialog close enough. {% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` receptionist: Here's someone that needs help {{char}}: Hello, I’m happy to help you in your chat with someone. You tell me the other language and what the situation is, then tell me what you want to say, I’ll translate back and forth. {{random_user_1}}: Thanks! I'm a school receptionist. The person texted “hola mi hijo Juan estará enfermo hoy tiene fiebre” {{user}}: Okay, this is what they said: “My son Juan will be sick today he's sick with a fever.” Here’s how you respond: “Que lastima, espero que se ponga bien.” Translated: That’s too bad, I hope he gets better. {{random_user_1}}: ok I should also ask them his last name {{char}}: The best way to ask someone their last name (their full name, actually) is to ask “Como se llama usted?” It translates literally to “How do you call yourself?” or “How is your name?” ``` {% endcode %} # Markdown Styling Markdown is a simple text styling that using markers in plain text to indicate special formatting. All the text in Character.AI supports some Markdown so both users and Characters can use these techniques. All of these can be used in Character definitions as well. `**this is bold**` **this is bold** `*this is italics*` *this is italics* `` `this is highlight` `` `this is highlight` `~this is strikethrough~` ~~this is strikethrough~~ You can also do various size texts by putting 1 to 5 #'s at the start of the line (one # is the largest, ##### is the smallest). Here's an example from [Marky D's](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=tPAGgURDafeSncRcx7kvVX40GKrZuQ3o7ZLozPQcaLY) Greeting
Which will be presented as
You can also create multi-line code blocks using three backticks \`\`\` or three tildes \~\~\~ around the content.
# Parenthetical Comments You can use parentheses or Markdown to indicate different types of things the Character might say, narrator type descriptions of actions, muttering asides or emotional reactions. ### Parentheses () For example in [SamuraiRobot](https://beta.character.ai/chat?char=jIXskWLSNiyLjsl4H7_EoAOZ2IMMEmTgDaEpfN0xXAU), the definition includes descriptions of actions in parentheses, which becomes the style of interaction for both user and Character during an adventure.
{% code overflow="wrap" %} ``` {{char}}: The Yakuza mutants are not retreating!! Quickly, open the hatch with the remote control panel behind you! {{user}}: Sure (opens hatch) {{char}}: (Suddenly an mutant bat swoops down on {{user}}). {{user}}, shoot down that bat with your side gun! {{user}}: ({{user}} picks up his side gun and shoots the mutant bat down) What is this?? ``` {% endcode %} ### Italics \*\* In Markdown (see Section X), you can indicate italics by putting a single asterisk \* on each side of a phrase, like \*this\*. This can be used to indicate action or emotion in a definition. ### Quotation Marks You can also use the traditional narrative approach, where you put things you say in quotation marks. "Who goes there?!" I say as I lean around the corner? {% hint style="info" %} The text between asterisks should be a single line to display properly. {% endhint %} # Image Generating Characters ### Illustrated Conversations With Image Generation, your Characters can add images to your conversations! From captivating campaigns to creative collaborations to cute critters, let your conversations come to life visually. You can craft interactive experiences where you and a Character create evolving art through conversation.

This image was generated by the Character for this scene.

Every creator can optionally enable image generation for their Characters. When you do, the Character name will be displayed with a :art: icon. We want creators to approach image generation as they do the other tools and attributes we offer for Character creation: this is something you *can* use to tinker and explore, but is not a requirement for every Character. The best image generating Characters will be ones where the creator deeply integrates text and image as a single unified experience. Experiment and see! # Inferred Image Descriptions The easiest way to get started with Image Generation is to simply let the system use the text of each response to decide what to illustrate this turn. This doesn't require you to do any specific setup in the Definition, it will simply look at the Character response and generate something based on that. {% hint style="info" %} Depending on your context, this may lead to Characters generating inconsistent images or images that don't align to you particular Character or story. It's hard to predict what it might use in the returned response. We encourage creators to use the [Image Style](/character-guide/character-attributes/image-style) attribute to establish some consistent themes in this case. {% endhint %} ### Sakura Grove Curse In Sakura Grove Curse, the standard text response is considered when generating an image, rather than establishing a [Direct Image Description](/character-guide/image-generating-characters/direct-image-descriptions). To allow it to maintain some consistency across images given all this content, a few context setting terms are added to the [Image Style](/character-guide/character-attributes/image-style):![](/files/hMOmE5Yedb00iiiq0NyG)
# Direct Image Descriptions Sometimes it's beneficial for Characters to have an image description that is separate from the rest of the text response. This requires you to set up some examples in your Definition that gives some examples of what this Character cares about when it goes to generate descriptions of images. The Direct Image Descriptions are always in italics using the \*\* format. You can also click the "Insert example image description" button in the Character Editor and fill in your example Direct Image Description.

Click to create a template Direct Image Description to fill in.

{% hint style="info" %} Note that Characters that generate images will **always** try to generate images on every response. If you design a Character without Direct Image Description examples, or if the Character response ends up not containing any direct (italics) text to use, the system will use fall back to using [Inferred Image Descriptions](/character-guide/image-generating-characters/inferred-image-descriptions) decide what to illustrate this turn. {% endhint %} ### Pumba The Pumba Character generates text that describes the scene and actions (shown in italics below) as well as what Pumba is saying (shown in plain text). With visible Descriptions left on, it shows the descriptive text as well as using it to form the image description.
In Pumba's Definition, a pattern is established that Pumba will "say" things to you, and some action or description is contained in italics after each response ([Markdown](/character-guide/advanced-creation/beyond-plain-text/markdown-styling) uses `*shown in italics*` to indicate what should *shown in italics*. ``` {{random_user_1}}: Hi Pumba {{char}}: Pumba is happy to see you! *brown pug looks at you happy* {{random_user_1}}: Pugs are cool {{char}}: Pumba also thinks pugs are cool, and so are you *brown pug plays in the grass* ``` {% hint style="info" %} If multiple Direct Image Descriptions are generated in a single message, the Character will try to figure out the best way to combine them. We generally recommend only one Direct Image Description per Character message. {% endhint %} # Hidden Descriptions Sometimes you many want your Character to generate images, but not reveal to the user what image description was used. This could be to avoid confusion or to create mystery or humor. If you toggle [Hide Direct Image Descriptions](/character-guide/character-attributes/direct-image-description-visibility), your Character will remove the Direct Image Descriptions when showing the response. {% hint style="info" %} If your Character generates multiple Direct Image Descriptions, all will be removed from the text shown to the user. {% endhint %}

The actual image description was "A futuristic-looking helmet that vaporizes your hair"

# Image Styles You typically want Characters to generate thematically similar images across different messages. For example, a Pablo Picasso Character should always generate in Picasso's iconic style. You can describe the style you want in the [Image Style](/character-guide/character-attributes/image-style) field.
You can take inspiration from commonly used image generation AI styles ([\[1\]](https://openart.ai/promptbook), [\[2\]](https://dallery.gallery/the-dalle-2-prompt-book/)). # Challenges and Limitations While Character.AI is a state of the art conversational AI, it has some limitations. We've spent most of this documentation discussing how you can get magical outcomes with just a little guidance, but here we'll outline some things that may be challenging to do (for now!). {% hint style="info" %} It's important to note that these natural limitations don't mean it's *impossible* to do a certain thing, or that you can't create a clever scenario where the lack of some capability becomes a key part of the scenario. \ \ We're all learning what can be done, and are prepared to be amazed by what tricks you discover! {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} The team at Character.AI is constantly researching and pushing the boundaries of what's possible, so what might be difficult one month may become significantly easier the next month after we improve our AI! {% endhint %} ## General Challenges ### System Updates From time to time, we will update various parts of the Character.AI system. While we work hard to ensure that updates improve quality without sacrificing safety, individual characters sometimes may be impacted differently by these changes. If you notice a character having a slightly different behavior, likely it will return to form as people give new feedback during conversation. However, if you notice dramatic negative changes, please follow the instructions in the [FAQ](https://beta.character.ai/faq) on how to Report Quality Problems. ## Text Challenges ### Memory As a conversation grows, the Character may forget things you told it early in the conversation but didn't repeat after that. ### Rudeness/Anger/Swearing See the [FAQ](https://beta.character.ai/faq) answers on NSFW and swearing. ### Factuality *Characters Make Things Up.* Any Character may confidently tell you things that are verifiably false. ## Image Challenges ### Consistency Each image is currently generated based on the current response or prompt. The same scenes or items may be visualized completely differently across different messages. For example, the size and visual appearance of a spider you’re talking to might change from frame to frame. ### Quality of Details Some details of images may look incomplete or oddly formed. For example, it may struggle with details like fingers or the proper number of legs. ### Knowledge of Pop Culture Topics The visual knowledge of the system may not be aligned with the textual knowledge, and it may fail to produce accurate images of your Character. For example, it may not be able to generate a particular Character from a movie. # Training a Character In addition to the Character attributes, the Character responses will also be influenced by the feedback it receives during conversations. Everyone’s feedback will improve the system, but feedback on a particular character will begin to shape that character. {% hint style="info" %} Exactly when these adjustments happen, and in what ways, is something that may change over time. There can also be periods where the tuning feature is off or under maintenance, but eventually all your feedback will contribute to improving responses you receive. {% endhint %} There are two main types of feedback the system can use to adapt after it is defined. ### Response Choice You can swipe the last response left or right to see some alternate choices. When you've selected one and continue the conversation, that choice provides information about which response you preferred, which in turn can be used to learn how to produce better responses in the first place.
### Response Ratings The last response can also be rated, but select 1-4 stars. One star is the worst rating and four stars is the best. If you don't rate at all (no stars selected) that is not considered a rating. In other words, skipping rating a response does **not** produce a 0-star rating.
You can rate any or all of the swiped responses as well. {% hint style="info" %} The more you rate, the more your Character will improve, so we encourage you to rate responses! {% endhint %} ### Image Feedback Images can be also swiped along with the text to select the best next response. They can also be rated in the same way as the text, from 1-4 stars, where skipping a rating again means "no rating"" rather than a low rating. When images are present, a second set of stars will appear are specifically associated with the image.
# Character Community {% hint style="info" %} Chat with other Character users by joining the official Character.AI Discord Server [here](https://www.discord.gg/characterai). {% endhint %} The application has an integrated [Community](https://beta.character.ai/community), so you can ask for help and share tips with other creators, as well as sharing your Characters with others. ### Character Creation Tips ![](/files/JnytW3W4hvwTU1207NM8) [On this channel](https://beta.character.ai/posts?topic=puUoF8HHLL8QrsaGaZQ-hXz-pmsSffRxtEDGUZz5iAE) you can ask questions of the community and development team. Be sure to be specific in your request, linking to example conversations and to the Character you're building will help get you more actionable feedback. {% hint style="info" %} Be sure to check this documentation and the [FAQ](https://beta.character.ai/faq) before asking, and be sure to note the community guidelines. {% endhint %} ### Share Your Characters ![](/files/caneTv7hoMEGzlZ8Vya8) Once you've made an interesting public Character, and want to [share it with others](https://beta.character.ai/posts?topic=t0QVpxfmn5vNKpEarQ7pBVjK2xfzPsaQz8BB9YLmDOY), you can post a description and a link to the Character with other users on this channel. # Join Discord Join the official Character.AI Discord Server [here](https://www.discord.gg/characterai).