Stories & Characters

In Ryokan, you can explore built-in scenarios or create your own characters and stories. You decide on the setting, personalities, and starting point. How the story unfolds depends on your choices and the AI's responses.

Creating Your Own Characters

Open Create in Ryokan and select the Character tab.

Here, you can configure:

• Name: The name of your character or scenario.
• Prompt: Describe the personality, setting, relationships, and rules for your story.
• Greeting: The first message that starts your story.
• Alternate Greetings: Different starting points for the same character.
• Avatar: A custom image for your character.
• Available in: Choose whether the character is intended for Singleplayer or Multiplayer.

A name and prompt are required when creating a character. Once saved, it will appear in your character selection.

Tip: You can also use the prompt to describe an entire scenario with multiple characters. You're not limited to conversations with a single character.

Importing and Exporting Character Cards

Ryokan supports V3 Character Cards, allowing you to import compatible characters from other applications or share your own.

Open Create → Character, select the three-dot menu, and choose Import Character Card.

Ryokan reads the information stored in the PNG file, including the character prompt, greetings, and supported World Info data.

You can also export your own characters as PNG Character Cards through the character editor's menu.

Using Player Roles

Under Create → Role, you can define who you are within a story.

For example, describe your name, background, personality, or relationship with other characters.

Roles can be reused across different stories. You can also configure whether a character allows any role or only specific assigned roles.

Building Your World with World Info

World Info lets you provide the AI with additional information about a fictional world.

Create a World Info collection containing individual entries. Each entry can include keywords and the information associated with them.

For example, the keyword “Silver City” could activate information about the city's history, inhabitants, and unique features.

When matching keywords are detected in the conversation, Ryokan automatically includes the relevant information in the AI context.

You can then link your World Info to your characters.

Starting and Developing Stories

Select a character or scenario from your library to begin a new story.

You can explore different decisions, generate alternative AI responses, and take your stories in new directions.

Your characters and stories are stored locally on your device.

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Tip: You don't need an especially long prompt to create a good story. A clear setting, believable characters, and an interesting opening are often enough.