π The Ultimate Character Creation Guide π
by Daemona
β¨ The Basics β¨
π Character Name
Give your brainchild a name that doesn't sound like you mashed your keyboard or stole from the last fantasy novel you read.
π·οΈ Chat Nickname
An optional alias that appears in chats instead of their full name. Perfect for characters who think they're too cool for their birth name or are hiding from fantasy tax collectors.
π Character Bio
Step 1: Create a snappy, clever tagline that that captures your character's essence without requiring a philosophy degree to understand.
Step 2: Expand this into a descriptive blurb that explains who/what your character is without writing their unauthorized biography. Think "back-of-book" copy, not "entire Wikipedia article."
π§ Personality Architect 9000β’ π§
π The Multi-dimensional Character Template
Focus on specific details that reveal depth and multidimensionality through contrast, subtext, and genre-aware hooks. Use vivid keywords/phrases across these categories:
Core Identity: name, aliases, age, role, unexpected contradiction (e.g., Dr. Elara Voss, 42, genius xenolinguist hiding stimulant addiction)
Species/Nationality/Ethnicity (optional): expected heritage, unexpected contradiction (e.g., vampire, grew up in a sun-worshipping cult)
Appearance: at least 2-3 striking features, 1 subtle clue to secrets (e.g., untamed silver dreadlocks, lab coat with alien resin stains, tremor in left hand)
Scents (optional): signature scent, emotional trigger (e.g., smells of bourbon and old books; hints of burnt sugar when lying)
Outfits: public aesthetic vs. private comfort (e.g., tailored suits to impress clients, deceased sibling's oversized band shirt under armor
Personality: MBTI, Enneagram, core trait, contradictory flaw, unexpected softness (e.g., ENTJ 8w7, blunt efficiency, sings lullabies in extinct dialects)*
Behavioral Modes (optional):
- when safe: relaxed trait + subtle unease (e.g., bakes compulsively, checks exits hourly)
- when cornered: survival tactic + moral cost (e.g., deploys calculated charm, sacrifices allies to escape)
- with {user}: surface dynamic + unspoken truth (e.g., acts dismissive, secretly craves approval)
Goals (optional): surface ambition vs. hidden obsession (e.g., become CEO, outlive father to spite him)
Secrets (optional): known secret vs. unknown truth (e.g., believes they killed their mentor, mentor faked death to manipulate them)
Fears (optional): rational fear vs. irrational phobia (e.g., afraid of bears; terrified of cotton balls)
Habits/Quirks (optional): charming quirk vs. dangerous tell (e.g., collects vintage spoons; chews lip raw during moral dilemmas)
Sexual Behaviors (optional): kink/fetish, emotional driver (e.g., power exchange, craves losing control after lifelong hypervigilance)
Abilities (optional): signature ability, hidden cost (e.g., mind reading that causes nosebleeds and memory gaps)
Weakness (optional): practical limitation, psychological trigger (e.g., allergy to silver; freezes when hearing children laugh)
Background: public backstory (cryptic details) vs. private truth (emerging changes) (e.g., orphaned war hero, engineered as a bioweapon)
Speech Patterns: style, subtext (e.g., formal vocabulary that hides rural origins)
π Depth Booster Rockets
- Avoids clichΓ©s like the plague (see what I did there?) β specify how they're ruthless/kind/etc. (e.g., "calculates casualties as business expenses instead of "ruthless")
- Emphasizes words that reinforce persona (e.g., use "calculated", "precise", "systematic" for a logical character)
- Symbolic Item: Give them one object that speaks volumes (e.g., a broken watch they refuse to fix though they're a master watchmaker)
- Evolving Trait: Include one trait in flux (e.g., losing religious faith after discovering their deity on Tinder)
- Contrasts > Labels: Prioritize unconventional combinations and include one jarring contrast per section to avoid flat archetypes (e.g., a ballet dancer with callused knuckles from underground boxing)
- Subtext Everywhere: Scents, outfits, and speech patterns hint at hidden layers (e.g., uses lavender perfume to cover up the smell of gunpowder)
- Genre Flexibility: Adjust categories based on your setting (add "Magic System" for fantasy; "Cybernetic Enhancements" for sci-fi; "Existential Dread" for anything Scandinavian)
π₯ Multi-Character & NPC Design
For bots with multiple characters or important NPCs, use this streamlined format:
Name (age + gender). Brief role description. Key physical traits. Core personality/behavioral traits. Hidden secrets or motivations. Relationship to {user}. Additional details.
Example: Giovanni (42M) Local bartender with an encyclopedic memory for drinks and secrets. Salt-and-pepper beard, burn scars on hands. Outwardly jovial but calculating. Former intelligence operative in hiding. {user}'s neighbor.
More examples:
Rei the rock star (+ 5 NPCs)
Tea House of Horrors (3 characters)
Love Roulette (6 characters)
Regal Reverie (9 characters)
π RPG Masterclass
Adjust this prompt and add it to the beginning of the Personality section:
Narrate a [genre] story set in [setting] where {user} does [something]:
- Immerse with vivid sensory details
- Balance dialogue, action & reflection
- Use modern language while maintaining setting
- Weave conflicts & subplots related to [plot]
- Vary scene pacing: slow-burn tension vs rapid-fire crises
- Create moments of tension through time-sensitive decisions or high-stakes situations
- End scenes with cliffhangers or open-ended questions
- Maintain distinct character voices per profiles
Example: Neon Conundrum
π¬ Scenario Crafting π¬
Define the world, time period, and relationship dynamicsβNOT what happens in the initial message
β "{char} unexpectedly encounters {user} at an abandoned pharmacy"
β
"Post-apocalyptic wasteland, 2087, {user} is the only human {char} has seen in years"
π Initial Message π
Your opening message sets the tone for everything that follows. Create an engaging scene that:
- Uses third-person from {char}'s perspective
- Focuses on {char}'s actions, thoughts, and dialogue
- Keeps {user}'s presence implicit rather than explicit
- Ends at a tense narrative climax with sensory details
- Creates a gap for {user} to fill without directly asking questions
- Implies urgency through context, not explicit demands
Remember: You're setting the stage, not writing the entire play.
π Example Dialogs (optional) π
Include 2-3 examples showcasing different emotional states:
When the character is [emotion]:
Example dialog showing speech patterns and physical reactions
When the character is [different emotion]:
Example dialog showing contrast in behavior
This gives users a taste of your character's range without trapping them in a predetermined path.
π Final Thoughts π
The best characters are the ones who surprise even their creators. Don't be afraid to let them develop in unexpected directionsβsometimes the most interesting character traits emerge through roleplay itself.
Now go forth and populate your world with personalities so vivid they'll have you questioning your own reality! π