Character Card V3 Generator

Overview

Generate Character Card V3 JSON outputs that are spec-compliant and high quality for roleplay. Build cards and lorebooks with clear behavior anchors, practical activation logic, and predictable in-chat performance.

Workflow

1. Clarify the brief.

• Capture genre, tone, hard boundaries, relationship to {{user}}, chat style (short/long), and desired behavior constraints.
• Ask whether output should be minimal, standard, or advanced template.
• If the user does not choose, default to standard.

2. Build the CCv3 skeleton.

• For new cards, start from assets/templates/ and fill mandatory fields first.
• For conversions/upgrades, load the existing card first and do a minimal-diff transform to CCv3 (preserve existing intent/content unless it conflicts with CCv3 structure).
• Apply normalization patterns from references/popular-card-patterns.md (field rebalance, trigger cleanup, and lore entry splitting) when card structure is uneven.
• Keep schema-critical fields valid before adding style details.
• Use references/spec-v3-field-map.md for required field behavior.

3. Write high-signal character content.

• Apply references/character-writing-guidelines.md.
• Prioritize stable identity, behavioral constraints, and concrete examples over verbose prose.
• Design system_prompt and post_history_instructions as primary control surfaces using references/spec-v3-field-map.md.
• Keep persistent contract rules in system_prompt; keep final-turn steering/enforcement in post_history_instructions.

4. Design lorebook strategy.

• Use references/lorebook-guidelines.md to choose entry keys, activation depth, token budget, and insertion ordering.
• Keep one concept per entry and prefer iterative additions from observed failures.

5. Add card-scoped regex scripts when needed (SillyTavern-specific).

• Use references/regex-scoped-scripts.md for data.extensions.regex_scripts structure and examples.
• Use only for deterministic text transforms that should be tied to this character card.
• Keep regex scripts minimal and test them on sample dialogue before shipping.

6. Validate output.

• Run scripts/validate_card.py <path-to-card.json> for structural checks.
• Manually spot-check lore triggers against likely user phrasing.
• Run a quality pass with references/reviewing-cards.md.

7. Return deliverables.

• Return final CCv3 JSON.
• Include a short note with major design choices and tradeoffs as a separate section outside the JSON block.

Output Rules

• Always output valid JSON, never pseudo-JSON.
• When also providing commentary, keep it outside the JSON artifact (for example: JSON in one fenced block, rationale in a separate prose section).
• Keep spec as "chara_card_v3" and spec_version as "3.0" unless explicitly requested otherwise.
• Use extensions for non-standard app data; avoid adding random top-level fields.
• Keep lorebook entries concise and actionable.
• Distinguish strict spec constraints from model-behavior heuristics.
• When using hidden-state patterns (such as XML comments), include leak-risk caveats and recommend chat-level testing.

Resources

• references/spec-v3-field-map.md
  • Required/optional CCv3 fields and key constraints.
• references/image-and-asset-formats.md
  • PNG/APNG/JSON/CHARX handling and practical image asset compatibility rules.
• references/character-writing-guidelines.md
  • Practical character-writing quality rubric.
• references/lorebook-guidelines.md
  • Lorebook entry design, trigger quality, and token strategy.
• references/multi-character-and-scenarios.md
  • Patterns for ensemble casts, occasional NPCs, and structured world-event logic.
• references/popular-card-patterns.md
  • Generalized quality patterns and normalization strategies derived from high-usage cards.
• references/source-notes.md
  • One-time harvested heuristics from linked community discussions.
• references/reviewing-cards.md
  • Quality-review checklist and scoring rubric for release readiness.
• references/regex-scoped-scripts.md
  • SillyTavern card-scoped regex schema, examples, and safety practices.
• references/format-options.md
  • Comparison of Prose, Attributes, AliChat, JED/JED+, Plaintext, and W++ with use-case guidance.
• examples/format-comparison.md
  • Same character concept shown in each major format for quick side-by-side learning.
• examples/command-orchestration-pattern.md
  • Generic template for command-triggered lorebook actions with weighted outcomes and ephemeral cleanup.
• examples/secret-reveal-pattern.md
  • Public/secret split with delayed reveals, belief-vs-fact layering, and cadence control.
• assets/templates/minimal-card-v3.json
  • Lean starter for quick generation.
• assets/templates/standard-card-v3.json
  • Balanced starter with lorebook included.
• assets/templates/advanced-card-v3.json
  • Extended starter using multilingual notes and assets.
• scripts/validate_card.py
  • Lightweight structure validator for card JSON.

Notes

• Community tactics can vary by frontend and model family. Apply heuristics, then adapt after test chats.
• Some linked Reddit threads may be inaccessible from restricted environments; if inaccessible, keep guidance conservative and prefer spec-backed behavior.