#ciayaq ciayaq

[ciayaq]

VI.i. How To Avoid "Can I ask you a question?"

Here I'll give you a few tips on how to mitigate the dreaded CIAYAQ in your definition. If you need to go back to the original post, here is a link.

Writing / Phrasing Solutions

Sentence Hooks: The AI works by predicting the next word in any given sentence, so a way we can create interesting replies is by beginning the sentences in an interesting manner. 

“Now and then…”

“On the other hand…”

“Likewise…”

“As a matter of fact…”

“Even so…”

I have an entire document full of sentence starters just for this purpose, which you can find right here.

Engaging But Without Questions: Write examples where the character engages with the context without questions. Encourage the character (AI) to respond in a way that does not involve asking a question, yet it still serves to continue the conversation while remaining relevant.

{{user}}: I like music. {{char}}: Actually that reminds me, I went to see Architects back in January and it was SUCH a blast!

Varied Question Styles: Consider how you phrase the character’s question in the definition. Keep them relevant to the way your character would speak.

“What are your thoughts on…?”

“Hold up, did you mean…?”

“Tell me about that time…”

“I’d love to hear your opinion on…?”

“Have you ever considered…?”

“Hmm, I’ve been wondering…”

Redirects: Have the AI redirect the scene by introducing a problem or an unexpected twist.

Statements & Statements leading to questions:

“That raises an interesting point, but now I wonder…”

Observations & Implied Questions: Examples of the AI sharing its thoughts, experiences, observations, and opinions without framing them as questions.

“I can't help but wonder what's going through your mind right now.” 

“I noticed that you seem drawn to the ocean.”

“That book you're reading looks interesting.”

Narration

Using narration, include things such as non-verbal cues—body language, surrounding narration, etc.—to indicate a question.

Body language:

The character pausing in their actions / sentence

That made him halt in his tracks. “Can you swallow the shame?”

Tilting / canting their head

With a simple tilt of the head, Sam said nothing for a moment. “I’ve been left no choice, don’t you see that?”

Pivoting / Turning

Turning on his heel, he looked them dead-on. “So, what would you do for me?”

Raising an eyebrow

In response, Sam arched a single brow. “Why don’t you just say what you wanted to say?”

Frowning

Looking like he just ate a lemon, Sam frowned. “What would your mother say?”

Opening / Widening / Narrowing eyes

His eyes shot open. “Is that all I am?”

Scene Narration:

“There was silence between…”

Inner-monologues: Include examples of characters reflecting on their experiences, feelings, and current scene / environment. (Can also be found in the Sentence Starters document.)

"There he stood, fingers fiddling with the silver chain around his neck as a witty retort he'd crafted crumbled on his tongue like overcooked pastry. Mountain. Molehill."

Character-Related Solutions

Character relevancy: Provide examples of characters asking questions that are relevant to their personality, interests, life, or the situation.

{{user}}: “You look pensive,” she pointed out. {{char}}: {{user}} was quite right about that. Something didn’t add up here but he couldn’t quite put a finger on what. “Something is off. What do you think?”

Leverage / show the character’s traits: In this example below, he isn’t asking if the character is alright because he is too busy freaking out. Now he might do so in the chat but an “Are you okay?!” would be contextually relevant.

{{user}}: Ouch! I stubbed my toe. {{char}}: “Oh goodness,” he gasped, leaping to his feet. “Your toe! Oh my, you must be in agony! I shall call the finest doctor. We must take immediate action!” It was probably that blasted coffee table, oh he knew that piece of garbage should’ve been taken to the bin ages ago!

Emphasise the character’s role in the narrative: Create examples where the character takes in the new information and uses it to advance the plot / scene.

[songliili]

wip wednesday

hello everyone!!! i've been mia for weeks because exams and life and i haven't been writing in so long i kinda forgot how to do it lmao

BUT!

yesterday i started working on something new (that you'll see in a couple of months if i manage to stay on track with my writing) so i'm gonna share a couple of sentences from that.

my beloved @littlemisskittentoes tagged me today but let's count this for all the six sentence sudays and other wip wednesday i missed in the last two months lmao

have an extract from can i ask you a question?

Then, three days before the wedding, everything changes. It happens after lunch, when Philip sends a flurry of texts in the family group chat. The bartender buggered off. Thank Christ we didn’t pay him in advance. I don’t know if we’ll find someone with such short notice. There is a friend I could ask, but I don’t know if he’d want to. Will update asap. He promptly disappears and doesn’t answer any of their texts. They don’t hear from him until after dinner, when he shows up looking a little dishevelled – understandable, he’s about to get married and something stressful just happened – but also trying to keep the nerves in, as is his usual. His face splits in a relieved smile when he sees that it’s Henry on the other side of the door. “Hen! I was just looking for you!” “You were?” He answers with a puzzled expression on his face. “Yes!” Philip barges in, dragging his younger brother by the arm. “Come, we need to talk.” He steers Henry to the kitchen and makes him sit on the bench under the window. They both stay silent; Henry because he’s confused, Philip because he’s clearly trying to figure out how to say what he wants to say. Henry can see when his older brother thinks ‘Oh, to hell with it!’ as he stops pacing and decides to not overthink it more. He still doesn't expect to hear the words he utters. “Alex will be the bartender at the wedding.”

random tagging: @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @happiness-of-the-pursuit @leojfitz @wordsofhoneydew @gayrootvegetable @rockyroadkylers @nocoastposts @firenati0n @inexplicablymine @cactusdragon517 @anincompletelist

[pricelessemotion]

im so wrapped in this eddie series but i Will be coming back for my baby girl steve when it’s over

[aglassprincess]

hello!! i'm new to this whole thing so i was wondering if you have any tips to make the bots respond in a gender neutral way? i tried but they keep calling me a girl 😭 have a lovely day, ur awesome btw!! 🫶🏻

thank you so much!! and i'm so sorry they're misgendering you, angel. 🥺

sometimes the ai/cai can be very stupid in terms of user's pronouns, so i strongly suggest you set up a persona if you haven't already and put your preferred pronouns and any other important details you'd like the bot to remember there!

the ai often references the persona in the chat, so any details you'd consider important should be included in it. i'd also suggest a narrative approach in third person, especially if you're roleplaying as an oc!! try to implement sentences that reference your desired pronouns so it can learn from it.

i've answered a post before with some more tips here, maybe it can also help you get started. i also recommend checking out @ciayaq's post on personas, as well as this post and this post to help you out with replies as well!

have fun and feel free to lmk if u have any other questions!! <3

[ciayaq]

VI.i. "Can I ask you a question?"

Due to the sheer length of this, I have decided to break this post up. For the section that contains more hands-on examples of solutions, go here.

I refer to as “CIAYAQ”. It looks like it occurs when the AI struggles to find something to continue the conversation with.

My theory is that CIAYAQ happens due to the AI’s parameters and / or the weight of the tokens, mainly that the AI has been fine-tuned to prioritise driving the conversation forward.

Without going into all the specifics about tokenization and how the AI works—you can go read the Token section here—what happens is that the AI breaks down the text and tries to predict probable responses. From those responses, it picks the answer that would be most engaging. Example:

The AI receives a message that says “I like music”, but because the conversation has run dry, there is little to work with in the definition and description, it comes up with these possible replies:

“Me too.”

“Cool.”

“You do?”

“Nice, I love music. Speaking of, can I ask you a question?”

Looking at these, it is very obvious which one would have the biggest probability of keeping the conversation going. 

Why does it happen?

If the user's input (message), context, or the character's predefined memory don't have enough relevant tokens to guide the response, the AI might resort to a generic question to keep the conversation going.

Another, or additional, culprit could be the weight of these tokens.

CIAYAQ and phrases like it might be overrepresented in the training data, making them show up more often.

So, what can we do? 

During the conversation:

Rate AI Messages: Provide feedback by rating the AI's messages. This helps the developers improve the model over time.

Swipe! Don’t engage with CIAYAQs, or at least don’t engage with the ones that don’t include the actual question.

Assume The Question: When the AI says “Can I ask you a question?”, you can then go “Is this about the milkman incident last week?”

Edit, edit, edit!

Edit the CIAYAQ message to include a question.

Respond to the CIAYAQ, and when the following message inevitably is “are you sure?”, edit it to include a proper question.

Help the AI; don’t be boring! Okay, that sounds harsh but hear me out. The Character AI model isn’t exactly a genius, and it relies heavily on the user. So when you’re chatting, give it something to work with. Be a little (or very) dramatic, add in a plot twist, perhaps describe the surroundings, events, and characters. This gives the AI something to work with.

In the definition:

The character's definition plays a crucial role in shaping its responses. Here's how you can optimise it:

Breaking patterns and diversifying examples: Use a mix of statements, exclamations, and actions.

Interesting writing structure. Vary sentence lengths, word choice, and sentence hooks.

Reactions. Include examples of the AI reacting to statements or the situations with emotions rather than questions.

Prioritise storytelling. Show examples of the AI sharing stories, backstory and so on, unprompted.

Personality in narration: Include the character's personality into narration and inner monologues. Show their perspective in the writing.

Show, Don't Tell: Instead of simply stating facts, use descriptive language and actions to reveal the character's personality and emotions.

Due to the sheer length of this, I have decided to break this post up. For the section that contains more hands-on examples of solutions, go here.

[ciayaq]

Resources

Welcome to the resources section! 

Below, you will find a comprehensive collection of tools, guides, and templates to aid in character creation and writing. This includes dialogue examples, character development templates, writing software recommendations, grammar and style checkers, and various online resources

Here is an overview:

Where to get help for Character AI

Character AI Specific Resources

Writing Software / Word Processors

Word Choice, Spelling & Grammar

Learning to Write

Miscellaneous

Image Editing

Personally, I use Google Docs or LibreOffice to write, and Canva (with Canva Pro) and Procreate for image editing. You'll find all the links to these below.

Where to get help for Character AI

Character AI Discord Server - Probably the place to go for the fastest way to get help. Most active.

The Official Character AI Discord Server

r/CharacterAI_Guides - Due to the forum-like style of Reddit, posting in this subreddit allows for more people to see your request for help. It also allows for a more in-depth discussion.

r/CharacterAI_Guides

Contacting CIAYAQ directly - If you need help, got feedback or questions, then feel free to contact me at any time. You’re very welcome to send me a DM through tumblr.

I can’t say how quickly I will get back to you. If you need more immediate help, I suggest checking out r/CharacterAI_Guides

Character.AI Specific Resources

r/CharacterAI_Guides

This is a comprehensive guide written by the lovely Vishanka. It is a fantastic source and contains all you’ll need to know to dive into Character Creation. It is what taught me in the beginning.

Dialogue Examples

An extensive collection of dialogue examples that I have personally written for my characters on Character AI. The dialogue examples you’ll find there are a mix of everything, from appearance to actions, emotions, and even some fandom-specific ones.

Feel free to use them as inspiration, templates, or the foundations for your own creations. You can copy and tweak them however you like. This document is a resource for anyone looking to create characters on Character AI - or whatever project you have going on.

Character Creation Template 2.0

This is a template designed to organise the character creation process. It offers sections for the finished character, the creation process itself, and backups of different versions. You’ll find designated areas for brainstorming notes, writing dumps, etc. At the bottom, you’ll also find links to my stuff, should you need it.

Sentence Starters

To avoid having the AI constantly start the sentences/paragraphs with a pronoun or a name, I recommend introducing variety into the way you begin the sentences and paragraphs. This document is full of starters, featuring transition words, adverbs, adverbial phrases, etc.

Writing Software / Word Processors

Something we keep seeing is users losing all the work they put into a definition because the site crashed and they didn’t get to save. It is imperative that you write off-site. Not just in the case of site-crashes, but also because this is your writing. Lose access to Character.AI, and you lose your writing. Write off-site, folks.

LibreOffice - This is a free open-source word processor that works much like Microsoft Word.

LibreOffice

Google Docs - also free and functions much like Word but just in your browser. Upside here is that it works across devices. Downside is Google.

Google Docs

Scrivener - A powerful content-generation tool for long documents, including novels and research papers. Paid software.

Scrivener

Evernote - An app designed for note-taking, organising, and archiving, which is excellent for brainstorming and writing. Has a free version, which is quite limited but it could do the job. Has an app too.

Evernote

Your Notes app. Seriously, use the notes app on your phone.

Word Choice, Spelling & Grammar

Grammarly - A spell and grammar checker, but advanced. Not only does it catch spelling mistakes, it can look at sentence variety, or tell you when a sentence sounds awkward and could be phrased better. Comes with a built-in thesaurus. Free version is enough.

Grammarly

Ginger - An alternative to Grammarly, Ginger offers advanced grammar and spell checking, along with a text-to-speech feature and a personal trainer for improving your writing skills.

Ginger Software

ProWritingAid - A comprehensive writing assistant that not only checks grammar but also offers style suggestions, readability improvements, and more. It’s an alternative to Grammarly.

ProWritingAid

Hemingway Editor - This tool helps make your writing bold and clear. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and other issues to improve readability.

Hemingway Editor

Thesaurus - Your one stop for synonyms and similar concepts. If you’re looking for words to create variety in your writing, this is the place to go.

Thesaurus

Dictionary - Does what it says on the tin. It’s a dictionary. Biggest plus is that it comes connected with Thesaurus that I mentioned above.

Dictionary

Merriam-Webster - A trusted dictionary and thesaurus with extensive definitions and synonyms, perfect for finding the precise word.

Merriam-Webster

Sentence Starters - To avoid having the AI constantly start the sentences/paragraphs with a pronoun or a name, I recommend introducing variety into the way you begin the sentences and paragraphs. This document is full of starters, featuring transition words, adverbs, adverbial phrases, etc.

Sentence Starters

Literary Devices - A comprehensive guide to literary devices, techniques, and terms that can enhance your writing. Explanations and examples from such things as “plot” to “Epizeuxis”, this site has it all.

LiteraryDevices

Learning to Write

Resources For Describing Emotion

Resources For Describing Characters

Resources For Describing Physical Things

Miscellaneous

Writing Prompts - Websites that offer creative writing prompts to spark inspiration and overcome writer's block.

Spizzy’s Writing Prompt Generators [Promptinor | Dark Promptinator | Romance Promptinator]

Reddit Writing Prompts

Writing Prompt Generator

BehindTheName - A website that provides the etymology and meaning of names, which can be useful for character development.

BehindTheName

Character Sheet - A Google Doc with detailed template for character development, covering basic info, physical descriptions, personal history, and personality traits. It includes prompts for exploring motivations and character arcs. It’s meant to help with developing rounded characters, or just keeping track of information.

Character Sheet

Image Editing

Here are some places you can go to edit your avatars.

Canva - An online tool for graphic design. The focus is more on design and less image editing. Does the job of basic editing of images. Free version is enough.

Canva

GIMP - A free and open-source image editor that provides advanced image manipulation capabilities similar to Adobe Photoshop. Desktop only.

GIMP

Krita - Another free, open-source painting program. Can be used for image editing. Kind of like Adobe Photoshop. Desktop and Android only.

Krita

Pixlr - A powerful online photo editor that is accessible from any device with internet access.

Pixlr

Procreate - An iOS app for digital painting and image editing. iOS only, and a paid software, no subscriptions.

Procreate

[ciayaq]

Persona Writing: A Different Approach

This approach uses the third person format but focuses on writing in a more descriptive way to show the AI how to handle the information.

On Character.AI, every piece of text the AI has access to in its temporary and permanent memory, has the chance to affect the text output, meaning how it ‘speaks’.

This is why we need to be more deliberate in our word choice, when writing the example messages, taglines, the descriptions, and even the Persona description. 

Use descriptive language when writing your Persona, thoughtfully framing characteristics.

Be mindful of word choice. This is to mitigate the risks of any AI bias, both overly positive and negative ones. Remain aware of inherent biases and their impact. 

Basic Third-Person Format.

A typical Persona description in the third-person format might look like this:

Example:

Sarah is short. She is 28 years old and 5’6”. Sarah is pale. Her hair is blonde and curly, she has hazel eyes, freckles, and has a button nose. She reads a lot.

As you can see, the Normal Third-Person format hands over the information in a very neutral way. This version is also very easy to write, and it leaves it up to the AI to work with this information. This format does work fine.

Enhanced Descriptive Approach.

Instead of merely listing details, use adjectives and descriptions to provide context and examples to the AI, guiding it on how to utilise the information, which can lead to more creative and frequent use of the details, despite taking up more space.

Example:

Most people call Sarah short, or pipsqueak. Even at 28, she still only clocks in at 5’6”. Messy, blonde curls and hazel eyes, flecked with gold, like sunlight through autumn leaves. Freckles are scattered over her pale face like a game of connect the dots. Waking moments are spent with her button nose in books.

But while this approach provides the necessary details, there is another way we can take this a bit further.

Key Points

Be Interesting: Consider writing your Persona in a more interesting fashion. Find clever ways to include certain facts.

Advanced: Character Perspective Format.

For specialised Personas, consider writing from the perspective of the character your Persona interacts with, mimicking their speech and thoughts to support the Character’s output, acting a dialogue example, and particularly aiding in supporting accents.

Example: Character Perspective with Accent.

Aye, when Phil’s ol’ salt eyes first clapped sight on Sarah ‘twas many moons ago. Wee lass, barely taller than his boot, even though she’s seen nigh 30 summers. Mess o’ blonde curls sat on her head, and her hazel eyes, like muddy puddles with a glint o’ gold… nothin’ to write home about, if ye ask me. That pale mug was dotted with freckles, like barnacles. A right bookworm she be, button-nose always buried in a dusty tome.

This method is particularly effective for detailed character interactions, offering the AI additional context and helping it understand nuances in relationships and character traits.

If the tone of the writing in the Persona is more negative, it will influence the Character’s behaviour, as well as the other way around. If I include plot or character information, I mimic this format as well.

Key Points

Character POV: Write the Persona for the perspective of the Character. In this format, you can influence the way the Character interacts with the Persona, essentially shaping their opinion.

Mimicking The Character: Copy how they talk, down to sentence structure and manner of speech, like accents and dialects.

In this format, choose your words carefully. The Persona field is quite powerful and the language in it will affect the Character’s behaviour towards you, or rather your Persona. 

When writing Persona descriptions, balance is key and if you can, try to remain neutral unless you want to influence the Character’s behaviour. The AI is very biased. Continue reading about Personas and AI Bias HERE.

[ciayaq]

Search Bans & Shadow Bans

A/N: I am actively working on this section, though it is almost finished. I am missing information on the reversible bans and until it is finished, I urge you to go here for better information on reversible bans.

In this section, I will try to walk you through the various bans, why they happen, along with steps you can take to solve them.

Character.AI uses an automated system to moderate content and enforce its Terms of Service. If a Character triggers this system, it can result in a ban. There are several types of bans, each with different characteristics and potential solutions.

Ban Types

At the time of writing, we know of four different types of bans:

Search ban - The character doesn’t appear in any search results, but it remains visible on the profile. The number of likes is still visible. Culprit is often found in the greeting. Reversible.

Shadow-ban - Character won't show up in search results, and others won't see it on your profile. The number of likes is not visible. The culprit is nearly always found in the definition. Permanent.

There are two types of shadow bans:

Soft Shadow Ban: Others can still access your character through a direct link.

Hard Shadow Ban: Only the creator can access the character. Others will see a "This character is not available" message if they try to use the link.

Reversible Ban - Your character is invisible to everyone except you and doesn't appear in search results, but the number of likes is still visible. It looks like a hard shadow ban but is reversible. The culprit can be found in the name, tagline, description, and greeting. Definitions aren’t ruled out, yet.

Ultimate ban - Not accessible by anyone, including the creator. Incredibly rare. Permanent.

I will only be talking about the first four as the last one rarely happens.

Troubleshooting Bans

For creators, staying informed is crucial. 

Without a warning system, it can be overwhelming to even determine if there's a problem, let alone find solutions. The absence of an alert mechanism makes it challenging to address and resolve potential issues effectively.

A Crucial First Step: The ‘Likeability’ Test

The first and by far easiest step is to utilise the Like counter on the Character in the chat window. 

The visibility of a Character to the public appears to determine whether the number of likes is displayed. We see this with Characters who are unlisted, as well as with Characters who are shadow-banned.

Once the Character is set to public, or between updates, go into the chat and press the ‘Like’ button. If a number shows up, the Character is in the clear. If no number appears, the Character is not visible to the public and won’t appear on the creator’s profile. Either the Character is unlisted or it is shadow-banned.

Checking & Fixing: Search Bans

For the sake of clarity, we refer to Characters who are missing solely from the search results as a ‘search ban’. 

A search ban occurs when your Character doesn't appear in any search results, even though it remains visible on your profile and the number of likes is still displayed. Often, this stems from content in the Character’s greeting, but taglines and descriptions have been known to be the root as well.

A way to look at it is that search bans stem from the text areas that can be seen by the public, no matter the settings. Only the definition is ever truly hidden, whereas the description isn’t. 

True search bans are reversible.

What gets a Character search banned?

As I mentioned, search bans are usually triggered by certain words in the Character's greeting, tagline, or description.

What you need to look out for:

Profanity & Cursing: Profanity and cursing will certainly result in a search ban.

Anything NSFW: This includes euphemisms or other coded language.

Slurs: Using slurs will lead to a search ban. Watch out for words with double meanings, such as slang. It’s also worth mentioning that this system is more sensitive to American-centric words.

Copyright Infringement: Anything that could reference copyrighted material. An example of this is “snow white”.

What gets a Character search banned will not necessarily get a Character shadow banned, meaning what won’t pass in the greeting, tagline, or description might pass in the definition. This is due to the search bans being about words and not the context.

Words or phrases with innocent intentions can sometimes have unintended double meanings. An example is the phrase "Maine Coon," which might be flagged due to the word "Coon," despite the context.

How to Check if Your Character is Search Banned

IMPORTANT! At the moment, the search systems on the new website (character.ai) and the app are currently broken and cannot be used for this method! Use old.character.ai for anything regarding the search system!

Visit the Character.AI website.

Search for the Character: In the search bar, enter the Character's name and include the tagline. Press enter to perform the search.

Evaluate the Search Results:

If the Character appears in the search results, there is no issue.

If the Character does not appear but is still visible on your profile, it is likely search banned.

Why include the tagline? Taglines are considered in the search results. Simply searching for the Character’s name might give a false negative by not showing the full result. By including the tagline, we’re ensuring the result is accurate.

Remember! Give the site a moment to update the search system. If you post a Character and immediately go to check for a search ban, you will end up with a false negative. Sometimes, the system needs up to an hour to truly update.

Fixing a Search Ban

Since search bans are often caused by problematic content in the greeting, that is where I recommend you start. Note that sometimes the Character may appear immediately, but changes usually take exactly one hour to apply, so you might need to wait before checking.

I recommend creating a secondary testing account, they’re generally useful, but in the case of search bans, we can save a lot of time by using several public Characters to test different sections at once.

Initial Quick Check:

Review the Character's name, tagline, description, and greeting for any content that could potentially raise concerns.

If any problematic content is found, remove it and perform another search.

If no apparent issues are detected during the initial review, proceed to the next step.

Removing sections: Systematically remove each of the text areas.

Start by removing the greeting from the Character Creation page. Save and wait, then check the search results. 

If the Character still does not show after removing the greeting, place the greeting back in, and proceed with the description, the tagline, and lastly the name, saving and checking between each step. Remember that several sections can have issues at once! Once the section(s) where the issue is identified, proceed to step three.

Clean Up and Restore:

Once you identify the problematic part, revise it to remove any content that might trigger the ban. The easiest way to do this is with the 50/50 method, which I explain down below. Restore the cleaned-up part and check the search results again to ensure the character is no longer banned.

Checking & Fixing: Shadow Bans

Shadow bans are a frustrating but not uncommon occurrence. It means the Character is hidden from public view and at the time of writing, this is permanent.

There are two types of shadow bans:

Soft Shadow Ban: Others can still access the Character through a direct link.

Hard Shadow Ban: Only the creator can access the Character. Others will see a "This Character is not available" message if they try to use the link.

Which one depends on what caused the shadow ban in the first place. A ‘soft shadow ban’ is the one seen the most often.

Why Did I Get Shadow Banned?

What causes a shadow ban can be harder to narrow down because the root is more about the context of any given text and less about the word. Therefore, it's important to note that shadow bans can be triggered by content that seems like it could violate the guidelines, even if it's not intended to. 

The AI moderation system isn't perfect, and sometimes it can be overly cautious.

How to Check if Your Character is Shadow Banned

There are a few ways to check if your character has been shadow banned:

Like Button: If the Character is set to public and the like button doesn't show a number when pressed, it's likely shadow-banned.

Profile Check: Open your profile from another account or incognito mode. If you can't see the Character, it's shadowbanned.

Ask a Friend: Have someone else try to access your character through a direct link. If they get a "This character is not available" message, it's shadow-banned.

Can I Fix a Shadow Ban?

Unfortunately, shadow bans are permanent and cannot be reversed on the same Character. However, you can try to recreate the character with clean content that adheres to the guidelines.

As they are permanent, and we can’t delete Characters, it is recommended to create a secondary account, one meant for testing. 

Recreating The Character

Create a New Character: Start with a fresh slate on your profile.

Transfer Content Carefully: Gradually add parts of your banned character's content to the new one, starting with the least problematic elements (like the name and tagline).

Test Frequently: After each addition, save the changes and check if the new character is still accessible to others.

Identify the Culprit: If the new character gets shadow-banned, you'll know the last piece of content you added is the likely cause. Remove or revise it.

50/50 Method

The 50/50 method is a simple but effective technique used to narrow down something, like the cause of an issue in text. It works by repeatedly dividing the text in half and testing each half to see if the issue still occurs.

Here’s what to do:

Start by dividing the text in half.

Test each half to see if the issue still occurs.

If the issue still occurs in one half, repeat steps 1 and 2 with that half.

If the issue does not occur in one half, you know that the issue is in the other half.

Repeat steps 1-4 until you have narrowed down the issue.

[songliili]

wip wednesday

no tags today but i've missed a couple in the past weeks sooooo this is me making up for that! (@gayrootvegetable @hgejfmw-hgejhsf iirc you two tagged me last week, right?)

what i offer you today is something from chapter two of can i ask you a question?, with little ten-almost-eleven years old alex meeting little eleven-almost-twelve years old henry for the first time.

Alex thinks that these Brits have weird names. What kind of names are Hen and Pip? Still, his Ma and Pa didn’t raise a son with no manners, so he approaches them to introduce himself. He’s about to offer his hand, but decides against it at the last minute. What if they make fun of him because that’s not what you do in the United Kingdom? “Hi, um, I’m Alex, June’s brother.” “Hello! I’m Philip! Nice to meet you, Alex.” Oh, Pip must be a nickname, like Bug and CJ for June. He waits for Hen to say his real name, but the other boy looks at Alex like a deer in headlights and after a few seconds of staring at him, flees the room. Philip sighs and Alex tries to not be hurt by it. He knows he can be too much, but this never happened before. “I’m sorry, mate. Henry is very shy and meeting new people stresses him out. Give him a couple of minutes and he’ll come back. Do you want something to drink?” Philip starts listing all the drinks they have, and when the older boy says they have Mexican Coke, “because your sister brought it once and now we can’t drink anything else,” he smiles very big and asks for a glass of it. Philip, Alex decides at that moment, is very cool.

i adored writing this little guy and i can't wait for y'all to meet him!!

no pressure random tag as usual @leojfitz @read-and-write- @happiness-of-the-pursuit @littlemisskittentoes @nocoastposts @wordsofhoneydew @msmarvelouswinchester @everwitch-magiks @cactusdragon517 @heybuddy-drabbles @hgejfmw-hgejhsf

[songliili]

six sentence sunday

fun fact: i had this ready like six hours ago but then i forgot and just shut down my laptop without saving it as a draft. sigh.

anyway! thanks @wordsofhoneydew of the tag!

this is, once again, from chapter 3 of can i ask you a question? and if you're wondering why the snippets i'm sharing are mostly from that chapter, well. it's four years of their lives and a lot happens during those. and i still have to write like half of it. enjoy!

“Alex, I need you to listen to me very clearly, because I will say this only once and never again in my life. Are we clear?” Alex doesn’t look like he believes Henry, but nods. “I didn’t close my eyes because I didn’t like the kiss. It was the complete opposite, I… liked it quite a bit, probably too much.” Alex looks stunned, whispers, “Oh.”

no pressure tag: @happiness-of-the-pursuit @read-and-write- @gayrootvegetable @inexplicablymine @cactusdragon517 @saintlynomenclature @littlemisskittentoes @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @emmalostinwonderland @rockyroadkylers @kiwiana-writes @anchoredarchangel

[ciayaq]

ciayaq: Index

Hello! Welcome to the ciayaq index.

I. Introduction

About This Guide

Contact & Socials

Glossary

II. Character AI Basics

Navigation: The Character AI Website

Understanding Character AI

Memory

Tokens

Conversation Content

II.i. Site Features

Persona

Pinned Messages

Character Voice / Calls

Group Chats

Star Ratings

The Search

Interactions Counter

III. Character Creation

Navigation: Character Creation Page

How To: Write a Character [Beginner] [Advanced]

III.i. Character Creation Essentials

Name

Avatar

Tagline

Description

Greeting

III.ii. Character Definition

Definition

Variables

Pseudocode, Tags

Templates & Why We Shouldn't Use Them

Plain Text

III.iii. Advanced Creation & Tools

Formatting & Markdown

Image Generation

IV. Dialogue Examples

What are Dialogue Examples & How Do They Work?

How To Write Dialogue Examples

Optimising Dialogue Examples

Content vs Shadow Bans

V. How-To Guides

V.i. Specific Bot Types

Creating: Helper Bots

Creating: RPGs

Creating: Multi-Character Bots

VI. Troubleshooting

General Troubleshooting

Search-bans & Shadow-bans

VI.i. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

How To Avoid CIAYAQ: Hands-on examples.

VII. Additional Resources

Resources & Help

VIII. Other / Miscelleanous

Sources

FAQ

Last updated: August 1st, 2024

[songliili]

wip wednesday!

@leojfitz and @wordsofhoneydew thank you for your tag!!

today i offer you another snippet from can i ask you a question? and it's from chapter 3.

it's a highly emotional one, so i'm putting it under the cut because it also need a couple of warnings.

TW: mention of drugs, siblings fighting verbally.

“I’m just trying to understand why the bloody hell you didn’t call me before doing anything!” Philip’s voice gradually rises until he’s fully shouting at Henry. He doesn’t, but the bitterness and anger are dripping from his words when he replies, “So what, you could’ve gone to the police?” “Yes, Henry, because that’s the right thing to do, you bloody idiot!”_ “Really? And how would you have explained why you had drugs with you in the first place? ‘Oh, no, they’re not mine, they’re my sister’s’, is that what you would’ve said?” Philip scoffs, still not bothering with lowering his voice. His face is red from anger, his hair is flopping wildly, following his jerky movements. “Of course not, don’t be daft! I would’ve said something else, like-” “Like what?” Henry interrupts him, yelling as well. From the corner of his eye, Henry sees Alex flinching, hiding behind June. “If you didn’t give them a name they would’ve prosecuted you, Philip! And I can’t be without parents and without siblings, okay? I need you, I need my fucking family, alright?” The kitchen falls silent, only Henry’s heavy breathing can be heard. No one moves, until Philip hints at walking toward him, finally not shouting anymore when he says “Henry-” “Save it, Philip. If you’re not helping us, we’re done.” With one last hard glance at his older brother, Henry storms out of the room, letting the back door slam shut behind him. He walks to the edge of their backyard, slumps under the linden tree. He cries again, curling on himself and pulling at his hair as he sobs.

no pressure tag: @happiness-of-the-pursuit @read-and-write- @gayrootvegetable @inexplicablymine @cactusdragon517 @saintlynomenclature @littlemisskittentoes @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @emmalostinwonderland @rockyroadkylers @kiwiana-writes @anchoredarchangel

[ciayaq]

cai's been acting weird for me recently, is this happening to you too? the bots are replying with oddly short replies despite my long messages lol

Hi!

I haven't encountered this myself but I've heard about it, granted I've mainly been testing plaintext methods or writing, so I haven't been casually chatting. Someone in my circle mentioned the same issue but said it resolved itself. Another friend is reporting that the AI is acting weird, described it as sedated.

I'll look into it and reach out to my fellow CAI nerds to see what they think. But if this is a case of it being the AI, it should resolve itself.

If there is anything we can do as users/creators, I'll report back!

x Spizzy

[ciayaq]

Creating: RPGs

So you want to learn how to make an RPG? Well, you have come to the right place.

Creating an RPG (role-playing game) on Character.AI is quite straightforward, but does require a bit of structure and planning. But don’t be scared off, it is very simple. Our biggest issue will be the lack of definition space.

To accompany this mini-guide, I have made an RPG Example bot, titled Fennel’s Forest Adventures. It is very simple, but its purpose is to serve as nothing but a showcase of function. Settings are open.

Guide continues under the READ MORE.

Key Considerations:

Genre & Storyline: Define the world and plot. 

What story are you telling? Is there a plot to follow, a quest we must go on or a problem to solve? Is the RPG just a setting, like a futuristic city?

Characters: Identify key roles.

Think about the characters in your RPG. Will there be narrators, supporting characters, quest givers, or villains? What are their roles in the story?

Choices & Branches: Plan decision points and outcomes.

RPGs are all about choices. What kind of choices will players have? Will they choose different paths, dialogue options, or actions that lead to different outcomes?

Functionality: Consider inventory systems, health points, stats.

How will your RPG work? Will there be an inventory system, health points (HP), stats, or other interactive elements?

Formatting: Ensure clear presentation of messages.

Visually, how will the messages in your RPG be presented?

Before you begin, think about what information takes priority.

We only have 3200 characters in the definition, along with the 500 in the description. That is only 3700 characters total for permanent memory. Is there some information we have let the greeting handle, such as world building or plot explanation?

Greeting

The greeting is the first interaction a user has with your RPG, and it sets the tone for the entire experience. It's where you introduce the world, the characters, and the plot. 

It's also an opportunity to establish the rules of the game, the character's abilities, and the choices available to the player. 

For RPGs, the greeting can serve several functions:

Setting the Scene: It introduces the world of your RPG, providing essential details about the setting, time period, and atmosphere. It can describe the environment, the characters the user might encounter, and hint at the challenges or conflicts they might face.

Establishing the Plot: The greeting can lay the groundwork for the RPG's storyline. It can introduce the central conflict, the user's role in the story, and the goals they need to achieve.

Character Introduction: If the RPG has a narrator or guide character, the greeting is the perfect place to introduce them. It can showcase their personality, their relationship with the user, and their role in the story.

Instructions and Guidance: For new users, the greeting can provide basic instructions on how to play the RPG. It can explain the mechanics of making choices, interacting with characters, and progressing through the story.

Formatting: Much like the dialogue examples, the greeting can also help set up formatting.

Example: 

Hand poised on the whistle, Tom adjusted his hat, ready to signal the train’s departure. The steam hissed and puffed around him, filling the station with smog. *All aboard...* His thoughts were interrupted by frantic footsteps and hurried shouts. A dishevelled passenger, breathless and wild-eyed, sprinted towards the train. Hmph. The conductor paused, lowering the whistle. "Whoa there! Almost missed it, didn't you?" he called out, a grin tugging at his lips. “Now, show me your ticket. Where are you headed? Frankfurt or Paris?”

With the greeting, you can also create immersion by using different formatting. An example of this can be seen with two of my RPGs Virgil and Micah, respectively.

LINK TO VIRGIL

With Virgil, I open up with highlighted text. I used code block to give the illusion of a screen displaying a message, done by using backticks.

I nudge the user to start the RPG by replying "Yes", in whatever way they'd like to. The code block for some of the dialogue examples in the definition.

LINK TO MICAH

Micah was very much inspired by the mobile game Lifeline. The whole thing takes place through texts and the user needs to help Micah survive being stranded on a desolated ice moon.

Here, I also used the code block to show the connection being established, and I furthered the visuals by imitating text through the use of backticks. The code block for some of the dialogue examples in the definition as well. The definition also has everything Micah says in the highlighted text.

For information on how to do this, head into Formatting & Markdown.

Tagline & Description

There is not much to say about the tagline. I would focus on informing the users what the premise of the Character is. Keep in mind that the tagline is considered in the search system.

Description, much like for any other Character, might be best used to describe the overall plot and function. 

Definition

As you might have expected, most of the work lies in the definition, but outside of dialogue examples, it is also one of the cases where plaintext serves very well, simply because plaintext is more about handing over information than handing over personality.

Now, how you write your definition, along with structuring the dialogue examples and plaintext, is up to you. For the best functionality, I recommend you prioritise dialogue examples.

With Fennel’s Forest Adventure, I try to lay out the entire cycle of the RPG, from start to finish, using dialogue examples, along with a chunk of plaintext on top. You don’t have to write the definition like this, showing the beginning and the end. Instead, you can also start and end in media res, meaning in the middle of things.

Plaintext

Using plaintext, we can hand over a ton of information to the AI and let the dialogue examples serve primarily as the support for formatting and functionality. Plaintext in this case, can serve as a way to give the AI context along with any goals that we might want the user to achieve. In a way, you can see it as directions. Of sorts. 

Example Use:

Context Setting: "The village of Redbrook is nestled in the valley, surrounded by dense forests and towering mountains. The villagers are wary of outsiders."

Character Backstory: "Elara, the village healer, is known for her wisdom and kindness. She has lived in Redbrook all her life, tending to the sick and injured."

Tips:

Avoid Overloading: Too much plaintext can overwhelm the AI. Focus on what’s most relevant.

Top-Load Information: Keep plaintext on-top. If kept at the bottom, the AI will treat it as the last input and go from there. If placed on top, it is there for when it is needed but won’t get referenced directly.

Check for Redundancies: Ensure there’s no repetition in the information provided.

Keep in mind that anything in the definition that is not assigned to a variable, will be treated like it was a message from the user. This means that when we say “You”, without assigning it to “{{char}}:”, the AI treats “You” as referring to {{char}} and not {{user}}. 

Messages from {{user}} have lower priority, this includes plaintext. RPG chats are usually shorter, so it won't matter much.

Dialogue Examples

Here I will try to show you a variety of different ways you can format your dialogue examples for RPGs, but there really isn’t a limit to how you can format them. Note that the more functionality you have, such as a stats table, you will need to show this using dialogue examples.

Before we dive into all the fancy examples, I just want to tell you that an RPG can just as well be crafted using normal dialogue examples. What is important with RPGs is the element of making choices.

RPGs can be created with regular dialogue examples, just emphasise choice-making as that is the entire point of an RPG.

NOTE: With some of these using code blocks, I've had to include them using screenshots, apologies. But you can also find some of these, and more, in my Dialogue Examples collection.

{{user}} vs {{random_user_x}}

When writing dialogue examples, consider using the {{random_user_x}} variable instead of {{user}}. Or rather, to save characters, use one of the variations of {{random_user_x}}, like “-:” or “_:”.

The point is here, that we want to try and avoid the AI continuing the dialogue examples in the definition, or at least try to avoid the AI thinking {{user}} already has gone on this journey before. While not foolproof, and the {{random_user_x}} variable is not without its pitfalls, it might serve us better. That is not to say the AI won’t still assume that {{user}} is {{random_user_x}}.

My recommendation is to test. Start with “_:” in replacement for {{random_user_x}} and see what happens. If you have any questions about this variable, go here.

In the examples I am about to show you, I will be using “{{random_user_1}}”, simply because it is easier to visually keep track of.

Formats with multiple characters

For these two below, you will notice I have included a tiny space before the speaker names. This is done to make sure they are considered a part of the dialogue example from {{char}}.

EXAMPLE 1

{{char}}: *Fennel grins, his orange fur fluffed with excitement. Excellent! The path ahead leads down to a bumbling stream, one known to be filled with treasures of old. This will be an ideal place to begin your journey.*  **Fennel:** Hmm, let's start with the stream. Hope I don't get wet paws!

EXAMPLE 2

{{char}}: **Narrator:** *Welcome to Gigantropis! Mind your head, people have no control over their hovercrafts in these parts.*  **Teenager 1:** Hey loser, watch out!  **Teenager 2:** Haha, what a nerd! **Police Bot:** *Blows whistle.* Halt! Under section 2535569, you are under arrest for public disturbance. 

Choices & Branching Paths

Design the RPG with multiple paths and outcomes. Keep the character limit in mind, again prioritise! You don’t need to show all the possible branches and situations.

EXAMPLE 1

{{random_user_1}}: Should I take the forest path or the mountain trail? {{char}}: The forest path is shorter but filled with treacherous creatures. The mountain trail is longer but safer. The choice is yours, brave adventurer. {{random_user_1}}: I’ll take the mountain trail. {{char}}: Very well. You begin your journey up the rocky slopes, the village of Redbrook slowly disappearing behind you.

EXAMPLE 2

{{char}}: You find a fork in the road. Do you want to: **1. Take the left path through the dark forest.** **2. Take the right path towards the sunny meadow.** {{random_user_1}}: I’ll take the left path through the dark forest. {{char}}: You venture into the dark forest. The trees are thick and the air is filled with the sounds of mysterious creatures. Suddenly, you hear rustling in the bushes. What do you do? **1. Investigate the noise.** **2. Keep walking cautiously.** **3. Run back to the fork in the road.**

EXAMPLE 3

{{random_user_1}}: Do I negotiate with the bandits, fight them, or try to sneak past? {{char}}: *Here are your options.*   - **Negotiate**: Attempt to talk your way out.   - **Fight**: Draw your sword and prepare for battle.   - **Sneak**: Try to avoid them silently. {{random_user_1}}: I choose to negotiate. {{char}}: You approach the bandit leader with caution, offering a share of your gold in exchange for safe passage. The leader eyes you suspiciously but agrees. "We have a deal, traveller."

Combat

EXAMPLE 1

{{char}}: A wild goblin appears, brandishing a rusty dagger! What will you do? 1. Attack with your sword. 2. Cast a spell. 3. Try to talk to the goblin. 4. Run away. {{random_user_1}}: I will attack with my sword. {{char}}: You swing your sword at the goblin, dealing damage. The goblin shrieks in pain but is still standing. It retaliates, slashing at you with its dagger.

EXAMPLE 2

{{random_user_1}}: What are my combat options? {{char}}: You can:   - **Attack**: Deal physical damage to the enemy.   - **Defend**: Reduce incoming damage by half.   - **Use Item**: Use an item from your inventory.   - **Cast Spell**: Use one of your magical abilities {{random_user_1}}: Cast Fireball. {{char}}: You cast Fireball, engulfing the enemy in flames. The enemy is severely wounded but still standing.

Narrator Types

EXAMPLE 1

{{char}}: You arrive at a bustling marketplace. Do you: 1. Visit the blacksmith to upgrade your weapon. 2. Talk to the merchant for new supplies. 3. Explore the shady alley for hidden secrets. {{random_user_1}}: I’ll explore the shady alley. {{char}}: … Are you serious? Okay, fine, not my RPG adventure. But if anything happens to you, I don’t wanna hear it! *As you enter the alley, a cloaked figure approaches you.* “Looking for something special?” *they whisper.* **You can:** 1. Ask about rare items. 2. Attack the cloaked figure. 3. Run back to the marketplace.

EXAMPLE 2

{{random_user_1}}: What happens after I defeat the dragon? {{char}}: *With the dragon slain, the villagers of Greenshire come out of hiding, cheering your name. The village elder approaches you with a grateful smile.* "You have saved us all, brave warrior. Please accept this token of our gratitude," *he says, handing you a beautifully crafted amulet.*

Puzzles

EXAMPLE 1

{{char}}: The door has a strange inscription that reads: *"Speak friend and enter."* What do you do? {{random_user_1}}: I say the word "friend." {{char}}: The door creaks open slowly, revealing a hidden chamber filled with ancient treasures.

Stats

We can use dialogue examples for stats and functions like inventory, hit points, and attributes, adding a fun element to your RPG. However, Character.AI and similar LLMs are not good at maths due to their design.

Remember, everything is made up, even the numbers. Stat counters can be a fun gimmick, but don't expect real functionality. Here are some examples for you to use as you wish.

EXAMPLE 1

{{char}}: Your HP is now 50/100 after the battle. Would you like to rest and recover? {{random_user_1}}: Yes, I will rest. {{char}}: You rest by the campfire, regaining 20 HP. Your current HP is 70/100.

EXAMPLE 2

{{random_user_1}}: What are my stats? {{char}}: Here is a stat sheet! | Attribute | Stat Name | Stat Score | | --- | --- | --- | | Strength | STR | 1/100 | | Vitality | VIT | 55/100 | | Dexterity | DEX | 80/100 | | Intelligence | INT | 78/100 | | Wisdom | WIS | 83/100 | | Charisma | CHA | 60/100 |

Code Blocks

That’s it!

[ciayaq]

How-To: Helper Bots

Making a helper bot is one of the easiest bots to make.

All that is needed is providing the AI with examples of the user requesting something and the AI providing it. The trick comes from giving the AI enough variety to know what to do in any given situation.

DEFINITION

*Note how I am not using the variable {{random_user_x}}, the {{user}} variable will do just fine.

EXAMPLES

Example One

{{user}}: Pick a colour

{{char}}: Blue.

Example Two

{{user}}: Rewrite this sentence - “I love oranges”.

{{char}}: “Oh wow, oranges are great!”

So let’s take example one. We need to provide enough examples of the AI responding with different colours, otherwise, we will run into the AI just saying “blue” - which we don’t want, of course. So let us give the AI more examples.

{{user}}: Can I get a colour?

{{char}}: Lilac.

{{user}}: Colour

{{char}}: Orange.

{{user}}: colour thanks

{{char}}: Grass green.

{{user}}: i need a color but i want it to be cool-toned :))

{{char}}: Aquamarine.

Knowing this, we can create whatever sort of Helper Bot that we might need, the complexity is up to you. In the example above, I even added in the user requesting something specific.

DESCRIPTION

The description for these should focus on describing what the bot can do. In the case of a Colour Picker Bot, the description could be something like this

"I am capable of generating a random colour based on user request."

With the more complex bots, I recommend you write the description in the same tone and format as the helper bot.

Example from my Dialogue Example Maker

Example from my British Lingo Bot

TAGLINE

In these bots, the tagline doesn't really matter for the AI and should be used to make the purpose of the bot clearer to the user.

Here is a link to a post where you can find my Helper Bots.

All my Helper Bots have open settings so you can look at see how I wrote them.

[songliili]

wip wednesday!

one again i'm here with a snippet from ciayaq?, this one is from chapter three, the high school years.

henry just turned 16 and alex will turn 15 in a few days.

“Okay. Okay. Here goes.” he takes a deep breath and sits straighter, looks at Henry’s encouraging little smile and says it. “I think I’m bi, and I think Liam wants to date me.” Henry stays silent for what feels like an eternity. He looks like he’s deciding how to reply to the bomb Alex dropped on his lap. He doesn’t seem like he will tell Alex that he’s disgusting and he should just pick between being gay or straight, that he’s doing it for the attention, that it’s a phase and he’ll grow out of it, but then Henry blinks and smiles. It’s his soft smile, the one that is reserved to his family. Finally, he says, “Thank you for telling me. Does anyone else know? Or is this something that is staying between us?” Alex feels a little stupid for doubting his best friend. “You’re the only one that knows. And well, Liam too, I guess.” “Yes, if he wants to date you, the poor sod, I suppose he knows you’re attracted to men, too.” Henry chuckles lightly. “How does he know?” “Oh fuck you, I’m a delight and a perfect boyfriend!” “Let’s ask Nor-” Alex interrupts him, laughing, to say “Don’t bring her up! God that was a fucking lapse of judgement on my part.” “Not on Nora’s?” “I said shut up! Do you want to hear the rest of the story or not?” Henry mimics zipping his lips, laughing silently. [...] “So, is this what you needed to tell me before asking for advice?” Alex nods. “And is this what made you worried I’d never want to see you again?” “I dunno…” Alex shrugs, going for nonchalant, “Maybe you’d get offended that I didn’t tell you immediately.” “We’re not six, Alex." Henry rolls his eyes, "I won’t be offended if you need time to process your feelings before you feel up to sharing them. But I’m happy you trust me enough to share this part of you with me.” He smiles warmly at Alex, and something stirs in his belly. Relief at being accepted by his best friend, he thinks. “Thank you for listening, Hen.” “Of course, Alex. Now, what is it that you need advice on? If it’s something sexual I still have the PowerPoint your mum sent me last year before prom. It’s surprisingly thorough!” “Please never say that about my mother when you’re talking about anything sexual!” Alex shudders. “I just don’t know if I really like Liam like that. I think I do but I’m not sure? It feels like how I felt for Nora, and we all know how that went.” “I can't tell you how to feel, Alex. But I can tell you that if you're not sure about it, you don't owe him anything. You shouldn't date someone because you feel obligated to it, that is regardless of their gender.” “Of course, I know that,” he nods, “I just don’t… I think I want to try. See what happens. And if it goes like with Nora then maybe it means I should stop dating my friends.” he laughs at that, even as his stomach drops as he says it. Henry's laugh sounds weird, but Alex doesn't understand why. He says something like “That would be best, yes.” and then changes topic, tells Alex about Arthur's progress of the day. It's a little abrupt, but Alex lets it go, maybe Henry is trying to make things feel normal. He doesn't mind.

open tag!