Scenario Creation
Instructions for creating a correctly formatted scenario. Using the features correctly will make the AI feel more alive and immersive.
Last updated
Instructions for creating a correctly formatted scenario. Using the features correctly will make the AI feel more alive and immersive.
Last updated
FictionLab's create page might seem very different from other platforms. This is because FictionLab focuses mainly on roleplay scenarios with multiple characters instead of casual chatting with a bot.
The main details section is used to explain the scenario and make it look appealing to the users of FictionLab. None of the details in this section are passed to the AI, but we still recommend putting effort into it since users are generally more interested in a scenario that looks high-quality.
Main Image
The box on the left is for your scenario’s main image, which will be the first thing users see. Choose an image that is visually appealing and relevant to your scenario. You can either:
Upload an image by clicking the "Upload Image File" button.
Generate an AI image by clicking the "Generate Image" button.
Scenario Name
Choose a name that is descriptive yet simple. For better readability, we recommend capitalizing each word (e.g., Mystery in the Fog instead of mystery in the fog).
Scenario Description
Write a short and clear description that gives users a quick understanding of the theme before they dive deeper.
Tags & Genres
Select up to five genres that best represent your scenario. Your choices affect how easily other users can find it. Choose carefully!
Example: An alien-themed scenario should include the "Alien" genre.
Example: A detective story might fit best under "Mystery" genre.
Bounty & Challenge Participation
Bounties and challenges are events held by the FictionLab staff team. They usually have a specific theme/genre and users create scenarios with that genre to participate. Please read the challenge announcement and rules before participating in bounties.
The scenario-building section is where the magic starts to happen. All of the text written in this section directly affects how the AI runs the roleplay and what it does. We recommend paying careful attention to the instructions below for the best experience with your scenarios.
Backstory
The backstory provides context for the AI, explaining how the characters arrived at their current situation and offering details about the scenario’s world.
Use {{user}} to refer to the player's character.
Address other characters by name instead of using placeholders like {{char}}, as {{char}} is not supported in FictionLab.
Do not define character personalities or appearances in the backstory—this should be done in the Characters section.
Greeting Message (Optional)
The greeting message is the first message sent by the AI when the scenario starts.
Use "quotes" for dialogue and *asterisks* for actions and narration.
The greeting message strongly influences the AI’s writing style, so craft it carefully to match the tone you want.
Custom Instructions (Optional)
Custom instructions allow you to modify the AI’s behavior and define specific events within the scenario. You can also use it to dictate how the AI responds in different situations.
Examples of custom instructions:
"If Joe finds the hidden lever, a secret door will open in the library."
"Jinny becomes shocked when {{user}} tells her that he's a werewolf"
"Joe speaks in a heavy redneck accent"
Story Cards (Optional)
Story cards function as lorebooks for FictionLab, helping the AI understand specific words and elements in your scenario. Story cards are optional, but they bring more depth to your scenario.
A story card consists of:
Card Name – Name of the card. Not given to the AI, but briefs user of its contents
Card Type – Defines the type of the story card. (Location, Class, Race, Faction or Custom)
Trigger Words – Words or phrases that activate the story card. Not case-sensitive.
Content Field – Information that becomes available to the AI when the trigger words appear in chat.
Example: If your scenario includes a mysterious book called Weiss, the AI won’t recognize its significance unless you create a story card explaining its lore. The trigger word for this story card could be "weiss" and the content would explain the backstory of it.
Story cards help the AI adapt to the roleplay naturally by integrating world-building details when relevant.
Free users are limited to 10 story cards per scenario and FictionLab+ have access to 30 story cards.
Only the 3 story cards can be active at the same time. If a new story card is triggered, the oldest active card is made inactive.
The Characters section is where you define the key figures in your scenario. Defining characters is very important and increases the memory of the AI significantly. If you have more characters in the scenario than you have slots available, focus on the main characters and leave side characters out.
Character Name
Enter the character's name in this field. Each character should have a unique and recognizable name.
Character Description
Describe the character’s appearance, personality, and motives in plain English. This helps shape how the AI portrays them in interactions.
Do not use {{char}} or any custom formatting—just write naturally.
Focus on who they are, how they behave, and what drives them.
Character Traits (Optional)
Traits help define how a character acts and speaks.
You can choose from predefined traits or write your own to better fit the character.
Traits influence the character’s behavior and dialogue style during the scenario.
By carefully crafting descriptions and traits, you ensure each character feels unique and immersive within the scenario.
These settings allow you to customize how your scenario behaves and how users interact with it. In most cases, you only need to toggle sensitive content depending on the scenario you're making.
Force Character
Select a character that the user must play as in this scenario. If left blank, the user can create their own character.
Separate User Character
Enabled (On, Default): The user's character is treated as separate from other scenario characters.
Disabled (Off): The user must choose from the characters defined in the scenario.
Sensitive Content (18+)
Enabled (On): Marks the scenario as containing mature content.
Disabled (Off, Default): The scenario is safe for general audiences.
Public Scenario
Enabled (On, Default): The scenario is visible to all users.
Disabled (Off): The scenario remains private and only accessible to the creator.
Allow Story Customization
Enabled (On, Default): Users can modify aspects of the scenario to personalize their experience.
Disabled (Off): The scenario remains fixed as originally written.
Allow Character Editing
Enabled (On, Default): Users can edit character details, including descriptions and traits.
Disabled (Off): Characters remain as defined by the scenario creator.
Delete Scenario
Permanently removes the scenario from FictionLab. The delete button is visible if you customize an already created scenario and are the creator of it. This action cannot be undone.
Any scenario set as public will go through our review team to ensure it complies with our rules. If we find flaws or issues with your scenario, we will decline it from being publicized and require you to make changes before submitting it for review again. After editing, the scenario will be reviewed again.
We take user safety very seriously and require that every scenario follow our and guidelines. Before creating a scenario, you agree to follow the terms shown in the pop-up.
Private scenarios are not reviewed by our team but the same rules still apply. Your account is at risk of getting banned if we find content that violates our .
