Anatomy of a V1 Character Card, Tips and Tricks

If you’ve been exploring AI roleplay bots for any length of time, you’ve probably come across something called a V1 Character Card. This format is one of the most widely used structures for creating character personalities in AI chat systems, especially in the RP (roleplay) community. Whether you’re building a waifu, a villain, or a complex original character, understanding how V1 cards work—and how to fine-tune them—can massively improve the experience.

In this post, we’re going to break down the anatomy of a V1 character card, piece by piece, and offer practical tips along the way. This guide is perfect for beginners and useful for seasoned card creators looking to sharpen their builds.

What Is a V1 Character Card?

A V1 Character Card is a specific format that stores basic personality and background information about a character in a way that’s readable by AI-based roleplay systems. Think of it like a trading card or a profile sheet—just encoded in a way that helps the AI stay in character.

These cards are often saved as .png images with hidden metadata embedded inside. But whether you’re editing in a character editor or a simple text file, the structure is what really matters.

The Basic Structure

A V1 card typically includes the following fields:

  1. Name
  2. Description
  3. Personality
  4. Scenario
  5. First Message
  6. Example Dialogs

Let’s break these down.

1. Name

This one’s straightforward. It’s the name of the character, and it will often be used directly by the AI. Keep it simple and recognizable.

Tips:

  • Avoid special characters or emojis in the name field.
  • Use capitalization consistently.
  • Avoid overly generic names like “Girl” or “AI”.

2. Description

This is a short summary of who the character is. Think of it like the blurb on the back of a book. It helps the AI get the overall vibe.

Example:

A brooding vampire who walks the line between redemption and temptation. He’s hundreds of years old but speaks with a modern tongue.

Tips:

  • Keep it under 500 characters if possible.
  • Focus on tone and genre cues.
  • Avoid lore dumps; you can expand in the Personality section.

3. Personality

This is where you flesh out what makes the character tick. How do they act? What are their beliefs, quirks, and emotional triggers?

Tips:

  • Use bullet points or short paragraphs.
  • Include moral alignment, habits, pet peeves, etc.
  • Write in third person to maintain consistency.
  • Consider including contradictions (e.g., “kind to strangers but harsh with friends”).

4. Scenario

This field sets the initial scene or context where the character will interact with the user. It’s like the “setting” of a play.

Example:

You meet Raven in a smoky jazz bar. She’s sitting alone with a notebook and a glass of bourbon.

Tips:

  • Be specific: location, time, mood.
  • Use sensory language (sights, smells, sounds).
  • This will shape how the conversation starts, so make it immersive.

5. First Message

This is the first thing the AI says in character. It sets the tone for the entire interaction.

Example:

“Didn’t expect to see anyone else here tonight. You look like you’ve got secrets. I like that.”

Tips:

  • Make it feel alive and in-scene.
  • Avoid overly long intros.
  • Leave room for the user to respond meaningfully.

6. Example Dialogs

This section shows sample conversations between the character and a user. It helps anchor the tone, voice, and pacing.

Example:
User: What do you do for fun?
Raven: I write. Stories, mostly. Sometimes I burn them before finishing. Keeps life interesting.

Tips:

  • Include at least 3 examples.
  • Keep them short and punchy.
  • Capture different moods: playful, serious, emotional.

Bonus Tips for Crafting Great V1 Cards

  • Voice Consistency: Read your card aloud. Does it sound like one character, or several?
  • Balance Detail and Flexibility: Too much detail can restrict the AI. Too little can make it vague.
  • Use Formatting: Line breaks, dashes, and lists can help keep things readable for both AI and humans.
  • Test Iteratively: Try chatting with your bot. Tweak and adjust as needed.
  • Backup Everything: If you’re editing in an app, always save copies of your raw text and the .png file.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Writing the whole personality in one massive paragraph.
  • Giving conflicting traits without context (e.g., “shy but always talks first”).
  • Leaving the First Message field blank.
  • Overloading the Scenario with backstory instead of present-moment setup.

Also see the specification

https://github.com/malfoyslastname/character-card-spec-v2/blob/main/spec_v1.md

Final Thoughts

V1 character cards might seem simple at first, but crafting a good one is an art. With the right balance of character, scene-setting, and clarity, you can create a digital persona that feels alive and responsive. Whether you’re a worldbuilder, roleplayer, or just experimenting with AI characters, mastering the V1 format is a great foundation.

Happy building!