What are AI Instructions in Quest Smith?

Everything About AI Instructions

AI Instructions are the foundational set of rules that tell the QuestSmith narrator how to write, think, and behave. These instructions are among the very first pieces of information sent to the AI during prompt construction. By setting high-level directions here, you can fundamentally change the AI's “personality” and the logic of your world.

How to Add and Manage Instructions

You can manage AI Instructions at different levels of the creation process to ensure consistency:

• Scenario Level: Use the + Add Plot Component button under the “Plot” tab. Instructions added here become the Scenario Default for anyone who plays it.
• Adventure Level: Use the in-game settings sidebar to add or edit instructions for your current session.
• Defaults & Templates: If you don't want to start from scratch, use the + Insert Default (Scenario) or + Insert Example (Adventure) buttons to populate the field with proven instructions.
• Custom State: Editing a default turns it into Custom Instructions. Be careful—a blank custom component functions differently than having no component at all, which can lead to “funky” AI behavior.

Capabilities: What You Can Control

AI Instructions are extremely powerful and should be used to define the following eleven key areas:

• Genre & Setting: Define the vibe (e.g., “Historical fantasy. Only use Middle Ages technology like swords and castles”).
• Writing Style & POV: Set the “voice” (e.g., “H.P. Lovecraft style,” “first person,” or “sarcastic narration”).
• Conflict & Pacing: Determine how much struggle the player faces and how fast the story moves.
• Character & NPC Behavior: Direct how characters speak and act (e.g., “In dialogue, break grammar rules to express unique voices”).
• World Rules: Establish the logic of your universe (e.g., “Magic requires a physical sacrifice”).
• Content Boundaries: Set age-appropriateness and themes.
• Logic Issues: Direct the AI to avoid repetitive phrases, clichés, or “sense of dread washes over me” tropes.

AI Instructions vs. Author’s Note

While both guide the story, their location in the “Context Window” determines their authority.

Best Practices for High-Quality Narrators

To ensure the AI follows your vision perfectly, keep these technical “rules of thumb” in mind:

• Be Affirmative, Not Negative: AI models are “probability machines.” Instead of saying “Don't talk about blue bananas,” say “Stick to red fruits.” Direct the AI toward what you want rather than what you don't.
• Detailed Over Weak: A weak instruction like “Fantasy adventure with mystery” lacks direction. A better instruction explains the mood: “A grounded dark-fantasy mystery about a disgraced knight in a rain-soaked city. Every clue points to a conspiracy.”
• Second Person Rule: Usually, the AI should use second person (“He looks at you”), but you can instruct it to follow the story's established POV if you prefer third person.
• Token Efficiency: AI Instructions consume part of your total context. Use them sparingly but thoroughly; extremely long instructions leave less room for your actual story text.
• The Banned Words Note: Traditional “Banned Word” lists are deprecated. Use AI Instructions to guide the AI away from specific topics or language styles instead.

Checklist for Good Instructions

Before finalizing your QuestSmith story, ensure your instructions address:

• Roleplay Logic: “Never decide or write for the user.”
• Continuity: “If the input ends mid-sentence, continue where it left off.”
• Narration: “Convey emotion with personalized narration and vivid details.”

Remember, AI Instructions guide the style and behavior of the narrator, while Story Beats guide the specific events of what happens next.