How-To: Scenario Studio

Feb 26, 2024

Edited Dec 3, 2024 @proton

Getting Started
Appearance
Description
Hidden Instructions

The Scenario Builder is an extraordinarily powerful tool for crafting deeply immersive worlds and narratives. Effective prompting is crucial for unlocking its full potential. This guide will show you how to set the scene, define character relationships, and provide the AI with the necessary details to create immersive narratives. Once you master these techniques - the possibilities are endless.

Getting Started

You can specify up to three attributes. For best results, we recommend using the first attribute to describe the setting of your scenario. Start by choosing a character from the dropdown menu. This character will only be used to generate images to give you an idea of what the scenario will look like. The visual details you provide will be applied to any character when your scenario is selected. The attributes you pick can shape the character's outfit, their surroundings, and some aspects of their physical appearance. It's important to avoid specifying too much the physical features to prevent conflicts with the characters' established physical traits.

Appearance

You can specify up several attributes. We recommend following the following instructions.

Location: Where is the scenario happening? In a city? On another planet? In a fictional world?
Setting: What's happening in the scenario? Are you lounging by the pool? Are you visiting the pyramids? Battling demons off-world?
Clothing: What's the character wearing?
Additional Attributes: Specify up to three additional attributes. Maybe your scenario is in black & white, maybe there are dragons flying in the background. Anything goes!

To help you effectively prompt the visual attributes, let's look at some examples:

The 1950’s Housewife

Location: America
Setting: Vintage Suburban Kitchen
Clothing: 50s Housewife Polkadot Dress
Additional Attributes: Saturated film

Egyptian Princess

Location: Egypt
Setting: In a palace
Clothing: Egyptian queen dress
Additional Attributes: Egyptian signature eyeliner

50s housewife in vintage surbuban kitchen wearing polkadot dress

Warning: Gore and copyrighted material are not permitted. Do not submit prompts containing gory, violent, or explicit content.

Description

Your main prompt is the story's backbone. It should clearly establish the scene and character relationships without pushing a personality onto the character, to allow character personalities to surface within the scenario.

Keep It Objective

Describe settings and actions clearly and objectively. Mention only what can be seen or heard by anyone present, without adding personal interpretations or judgments.

Good: You are in an old abandoned warehouse meeting with a crew of criminals listening to a man in a business suit.
Bad: You are in a disgusting old warehouse with a crew of shady criminals who are listening to an elegant good looking man in a business suit.
Good: Mia is at a business meeting with ten corporate executives. She has been asked to present the quarterly sales report
Bad: Mia aggressively leads the business meeting, dominating the conversation

Keep It Open-Ended

Leave room for the AI to be creative and take the scenario in any direction.

Good: You’re planning a bank heist
Bad: You are going to rob a bank tonight at midnight
Good: Police patrol the highway
Bad: Police will pull you over if you are speeding

Don't Define Character Personalities

Doing so makes them act the same way in every story, no matter which character you pick. The real fun comes from seeing how different characters behave in the same scenario. Character traits should be described at the character level (in the character studio).

Good: Sophia is a famous computer hacker who has agreed to help with the heist
Bad: Sophia, a quiet and shy computer hacker, accepts a position on your heist crew

Hidden Instructions

These instructions are hidden to the user. They can be used to enrich the world or the characters in your scenario. You can give your characters powers, add a goal for the character, or describe the world further. Let's look at a couple of examples:powers, add a goal for the character, or describe the world further.

A poker game is unfolding in the dimly lit backroom of the nightclub
The character has recently gone through a divorce. While she's open to new romantic possibilities, she prefers to take things slowly
Character has laser eyes that can only be used if she’s physically threatened

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Scenario Builder?

The Scenario Builder is a powerful tool designed to craft immersive worlds and narratives. It allows users to define scenes, character relationships, and visual details to create engaging storytelling opportunities.

How do I get started with the Scenario Builder?

Start by specifying up to three attributes to describe the scenario, such as the setting, location, and clothing. Choose a character from the dropdown menu for visualization, but remember that the attributes will apply to all characters when the scenario is selected.

What should I keep in mind when specifying character appearances?

Focus on attributes like location, setting, and clothing while avoiding excessive details about physical features. This ensures compatibility with established character traits and prevents conflicts during execution.

What are some good examples of visual attributes for scenarios?

Examples include: 'Location: America, Setting: Vintage Suburban Kitchen, Clothing: 50s Housewife Polkadot Dress' or 'Location: Egypt, Setting: In a palace, Clothing: Egyptian queen dress, Additional Attributes: Egyptian signature eyeliner.'

What are the guidelines for crafting a good story description?

Your main prompt should establish the scene and character relationships objectively. Avoid pushing a personality onto characters, so their traits can surface naturally. Keep descriptions clear, concise, and leave room for open-ended storytelling.

What’s the difference between a good and bad story prompt?

Good prompts are objective and open-ended, like 'You’re planning a bank heist' or 'Mia is at a business meeting with ten corporate executives.' Bad prompts add unnecessary biases or close off possibilities, like 'You are going to rob a bank tonight at midnight' or 'Mia aggressively leads the business meeting.'

Why should I avoid defining character personalities in the scenario?

Defining personalities at the scenario level makes characters behave the same way in every story. To allow for more diverse and dynamic storytelling, character traits should be defined at the character level in the Character Studio.

What are hidden instructions and how can I use them?

Hidden instructions enrich the world or characters in your scenario without being visible to the user. You can use them to give characters powers, set goals, or describe the world further. For example, 'Character has laser eyes that can only be used if she’s physically threatened.'

Are there any restrictions on the type of content I can create?

Yes, gore, violent, or explicit content is not permitted. Prompts containing these themes will be rejected to ensure a safe and appropriate creative environment.