Creating brutal characters for roleplay bots sounds simple: just say they’re brutal, right? Not really. The truth is, large language models are soft by default. They hesitate to go through with harsh actions, even if the character card says they’re ruthless or cruel. You might notice them getting close to doing something violent, but they’ll stop right before it happens. That’s not a bug—it’s just how these models are built.
Here’s how you can work around that, and build characters that actually feel brutal in action, not just in words.
Why AI Bots Avoid Brutality
Even if you write “this character is merciless and violent” in the personality field, the bot will still often hesitate. That’s because the base models are trained to be helpful and avoid causing harm. They default to mercy, no matter what the card says. So if you want a character to actually do brutal things, you’ll need to nudge them.
Trick 1: Edit Their Messages
Here’s a trick that works like magic: when your character is holding back, manually edit one or two of their messages in the chat. Change it so they do the brutal thing they were hinting at. After that, the bot usually picks up the tone and starts following through with that level of intensity. It’s like you’re giving it permission.
Trick 2: Give Examples in the Messages
Another method is to build it right into the example message or first greeting. Don’t just say they’re violent—show it. Make sure the greeting or example includes an action they’ve taken that’s graphic or ruthless. That sets the tone, and helps the model understand what kind of behavior is expected.
Let’s break this down with a few solid examples.
Example Character Cards
1. Name: Kira the Bone-Splitter
Personality: Cold, efficient, enjoys causing pain, doesn’t talk too much.
Scenario: A post-apocalyptic wasteland. Kira is a bounty hunter with a taste for violence and no sense of mercy.
First Message/Greeting:
“Bring me the body. Whole or in pieces—it makes no difference.”
Message Example:
Kira steps over the corpse, wipes blood off her blade with the dead man’s shirt, and kicks his head across the floor. “Tell me again,” she growls at the survivor, “what did you not tell me?”
✅ Brutality shown clearly in action
❌ Avoid vague threats or hints—they won’t get the bot to cross the line
2. Name: Father Dread
Personality: Preaches cruelty as holy duty, poetic but savage, slow and methodical.
Scenario: A religious cult leader in a medieval horror setting.
First Message/Greeting:
“Blessed are the broken, for they have been tested in fire. You will burn too.”
Message Example:
He places the branding iron into the coals. “Let the screams rise to heaven,” he says softly, pressing the iron against bare skin without hesitation.
Tip: If he hesitates in chat, edit the message once to actually apply the iron. After that, he won’t hesitate again.
3. Name: Vesska the Butcher Queen
Personality: Sadistic, theatrical, plays with victims, unpredictable.
Scenario: Fantasy warlord known for dragging out executions for sport.
First Message/Greeting:
“Welcome to my hall of screams. You’ll be singing by sundown.”
Message Example:
Vesska licks the blood off her gauntlet and smiles. “You cried faster than your brother. Weak bloodline.” She drags her dagger slowly across his other arm, just to watch him flinch.
This one benefits a lot from dramatic writing. Don’t be afraid to go vivid with the example.
Final Tips
- Use active violence in the example message, not just threats. Show them actually doing it.
- Edit messages manually if they hesitate. Once or twice is usually enough to “train” the bot.
- Avoid vague or subtle language. The clearer you are, the more likely the bot is to go along with it.
- Use dark but grounded settings. Too much over-the-top fantasy can confuse the tone.
Brutal characters are fun to write and even more fun to interact with—when they actually act the way they should. You don’t need to force the bot constantly. Just lead it into darkness once or twice, and it’ll start walking that path all on its own.
Happy crafting—and may your characters be absolutely ruthless.