Character Generation Options

This comprehensive reference covers all customization options available in NPC Forge's four-step character creation wizard, providing detailed explanations of every setting and feature.

Wizard Overview

The character creation process consists of four sequential steps:

1. 1Concept: Genre selection and character description
2. 2Options: Character traits, content types, and advanced customization
3. 3Model: AI model selection for text and image generation
4. 4Generate: Character creation and results management

Each step builds upon the previous ones, allowing you to create precisely the character you envision.

Step 1: Concept Configuration

Genre and Sub-Genre Selection

• High Fantasy: Traditional fantasy with magic, elves, dwarves, and epic quests
• Dark Fantasy: Gritty fantasy with horror elements and moral ambiguity
• Urban Fantasy: Modern world with hidden magical elements
• Sword & Sorcery: Adventure-focused fantasy with barbarians and sorcerers

• Space Opera: Large-scale space adventures with galactic civilizations
• Cyberpunk: High-tech dystopian futures with corporate control
• Post-Apocalyptic: Survival in devastated worlds after catastrophic events
• Hard Sci-Fi: Scientifically accurate speculative fiction

• Medieval: Middle Ages with knights, castles, and feudal systems
• Ancient Civilizations: Greek, Roman, Egyptian, or other ancient cultures
• Renaissance: Cultural rebirth period with art, science, and exploration
• Age of Sail: Maritime adventures during the golden age of sailing

• Urban Life: Modern city settings with realistic social dynamics
• Mystery & Thriller: Crime, investigation, and suspense scenarios
• Supernatural: Modern world with paranormal or occult elements
• Slice of Life: Everyday realistic scenarios and character interactions

Character Description Guidelines

• Visual Details: Physical appearance, clothing, distinctive features
• Personality Hints: Key traits, quirks, or behavioral patterns
• Background Context: Occupation, origin, social status, or relationships
• Conflict Elements: Internal struggles, external opposition, or goals

• Optimal Range: 2-3 sentences providing focused details
• Minimum Effective: One detailed sentence with specific elements
• Maximum Recommended: One paragraph (4-5 sentences) to avoid confusion
• Key Focus: Specific details work better than vague generalizations

"A weathered dwarven blacksmith whose legendary hammer was stolen by raiders, leaving him unable to work and desperate for its return."

"An ambitious young noble who secretly practices forbidden magic while navigating the treacherous politics of the royal court."

"A retired space marine turned bartender on a frontier station, haunted by memories of a battle that went terribly wrong."

Step 2: Character Options

Basic Character Traits

• Male: Traditional masculine character
• Female: Traditional feminine character
• Nonbinary: Non-traditional gender identity or expression
• Unknown: Ambiguous, mysterious, or unspecified gender

• Child: Pre-adolescent characters (typically under 13)
• Teen: Adolescent characters (typically 13-17)
• Adult: Mature characters (typically 18-60)
• Elder: Elderly or ancient characters (typically over 60)

• Good: Altruistic, heroic, protects others, follows moral codes
• Neutral: Pragmatic, self-interested, situational morality
• Evil: Selfish, harmful, exploits others, disregards moral constraints

• Ally: Friendly, helpful, supports player goals
• Enemy: Opposed to players, creates conflict or obstacles
• Neutral: Indifferent to players, focused on own agenda
• Mentor: Guides players, provides wisdom or training
• Rival: Competitive relationship, not necessarily hostile
• Betrayer: Initially appears friendly but has hidden agenda

Advanced Character Options

• Height Options: Short, Average, Tall, Variable (species-dependent)
• Build Categories: Thin, Athletic, Average, Muscular, Heavy, Imposing
• Distinctive Features: Scars, tattoos, unusual coloring, prosthetics, birthmarks

• Social Class Options: Lower Class, Working Class, Middle Class, Upper Class, Nobility, Royalty
• Homeland/Origin: Rural village, major city, foreign land, wilderness, other plane/world
• Cultural Background: Influenced by selected genre and sub-genre

• Searchable Database: Over 100 occupations organized by genre relevance
• Fantasy Examples: Knight, Wizard, Rogue, Cleric, Bard, Merchant, Blacksmith
• Sci-Fi Examples: Pilot, Engineer, Medic, Soldier, Scientist, Hacker, Trader
• Historical Examples: Monk, Artisan, Scholar, Noble, Peasant, Warrior, Healer
• Contemporary Examples: Detective, Doctor, Teacher, Artist, Journalist, Mechanic

• Multi-Select System: Choose multiple traits (no limit)
• Trait Categories: Behavioral, emotional, intellectual, social characteristics
• Example Traits: Brave, Cautious, Ambitious, Loyal, Curious, Stubborn, Compassionate
• Trait Interaction: Selected traits influence dialogue and behavior generation

Content Generation Options

• Number of Quests: Range from 3-7 quests per character
• Quest Type Options:
• Main Quest: Central storyline adventures
• Side Quest: Optional character-specific missions
• Fetch Quest: Retrieval and delivery missions
• Combat Quest: Battle-focused challenges
• Social Quest: Diplomacy and relationship missions
• Exploration Quest: Discovery and investigation missions
• Puzzle/Riddle: Mental challenge quests
• Escort Quest: Protection and guidance missions
• Collection Quest: Gathering multiple items or information
• Mystery Quest: Investigation and problem-solving missions

• Reward Type Distribution:
• Balanced: Mix of all reward types
• Gold & Currency: Monetary rewards
• Items & Equipment: Physical objects and gear
• Information & Clues: Knowledge and secrets
• Relationships & Favors: Social connections and obligations
• Experience & Skills: Character development opportunities

• Number of Lines: Range from 5-15 dialogue options
• Dialogue Context Options:
• Introduction: First meeting dialogue
• Casual Conversation: General interaction options
• Giving Quests: Mission briefing dialogue
• Combat/Conflict: Hostile or tense interactions
• Emotional Scenes: Personal or dramatic conversations
• Information/Exposition: Lore and background sharing
• Bartering/Trading: Commercial interactions
• Farewell/Parting: Goodbye and departure dialogue

• Number of Items: Range from 3-10 items per character
• Rarity Distribution Options:
• Balanced: Natural distribution across all rarities
• Mostly Common: Primarily everyday items
• Mostly Uncommon: Focus on notable but accessible items
• Include Rare Items: Add valuable or special items
• Themed by Character: Items matching character background

• Item Category Options:
• Weapons: Combat equipment and armaments
• Armor & Clothing: Protective gear and attire
• Potions & Consumables: Single-use beneficial items
• Scrolls & Books: Knowledge and magical items
• Tools & Utility Items: Practical equipment
• Jewelry & Accessories: Decorative and status items
• Artifacts & Relics: Unique items with history
• Food & Drink: Consumable provisions
• Currency & Valuables: Money and precious items
• Crafting Materials: Components for creating items
• Technology & Gadgets: Sci-fi specific equipment
• Magical Items: Fantasy-specific enchanted objects

• Include Portrait: Enables AI-generated character artwork
• Disable Portrait: Character creation without image generation
• Impact on Generation: Portrait creation adds 30-120 seconds to process time

Step 3: Model Selection and Portrait Options

Text Model Selection

For complete information on model capabilities, usage limits, and quality differences, see the Model Selection Guide.

• Character Generation: Affects personality depth, backstory richness, and content quality
• Quest Quality: Higher models create more engaging and coherent quest narratives
• Dialogue Sophistication: Better models produce more character-appropriate dialogue
• Item Descriptions: Enhanced detail and creativity in item generation

Image Model Selection

Complete image model capabilities and portrait editing support detailed in Model Selection Guide.

• Portrait Quality: Artistic detail, composition, and visual appeal
• Style Consistency: Better adherence to specified art style
• Editing Capability: Only gpt-image-1 supports full portrait editing

Portrait Customization Options

• Realistic: Photographic or lifelike artistic representation
• Fantasy Art: Traditional fantasy illustration style
• Anime/Manga: Japanese animation/comic art style
• Comic Book: Western comic book illustration style
• Pixel Art: Retro video game sprite style
• Oil Painting: Classical painted portrait style
• Watercolor: Soft, artistic watercolor painting style
• 3D Render: Computer-generated three-dimensional style

• Neutral: Calm, composed, resting expression
• Happy/Smiling: Cheerful, friendly, welcoming expression
• Serious: Focused, determined, professional expression
• Angry: Hostile, aggressive, intimidating expression
• Sad: Melancholy, sorrowful, dejected expression
• Determined: Resolute, confident, strong-willed expression
• Mysterious: Enigmatic, secretive, intriguing expression
• Heroic: Noble, inspiring, leadership-oriented expression

• Portrait (Head/Shoulders): Traditional headshot focusing on face and expression
• Bust (Upper Body): Torso view including clothing and accessories
• Full Body: Complete character view showing full outfit and stance
• Action Pose: Dynamic positioning suggesting movement or combat readiness

• Plain/Solid Color: Simple, non-distracting solid background
• Gradient: Smooth color transitions creating subtle depth
• Themed (Based on Character): Background elements matching character concept
• Environmental: Detailed scene setting appropriate to character
• Abstract: Artistic, non-representational background designs

Step 4: Generation and Results Management

Generation Process

1. 1Text Content Creation: Character profile, traits, quests, dialogue, items (10-30 seconds)
2. 2Portrait Generation: AI artwork creation if enabled (30-120 seconds)
3. 3Content Assembly: Organizing and formatting all generated content
4. 4Results Display: Tabbed interface presentation of complete character

• Model Selection: Higher tier models may take longer but produce better results
• Content Complexity: More content types increase generation time
• Portrait Options: Complex art styles or detailed descriptions extend image generation
• Server Load: Peak usage times may affect processing speed

Results Interface

• Profile Tab: Character basics, appearance, personality, backstory
• Quests Tab: Generated missions with objectives, descriptions, and rewards
• Dialogue Tab: Character-appropriate speech options and conversation starters
• Items Tab: Associated objects, equipment, and possessions

• Save to Library: Store character locally for editing, chat, and future reference
• Download JSON: Export complete character data for backup or sharing
• Download Portrait: Save character artwork as image file (if generated)
• New Character: Reset wizard and start fresh character creation

Character Data Structure

• Core Identity: Name, age group, gender, moral alignment, relationship status
• Physical Description: Detailed appearance including distinctive features
• Personality Profile: Character traits, behavioral patterns, and motivations
• Background Information: Origin, occupation, social status, and history
• Backstory Hook: Engaging narrative element for story integration
• Additional Traits: AI-generated characteristics enhancing roleplay depth

• Quest Structure: Title, description, objectives, rewards, and difficulty level
• Dialogue Options: Contextual speech patterns and conversation starters
• Item Descriptions: Detailed objects with properties, value, and significance
• Portrait Data: High-resolution character artwork (if image generation enabled)

Advanced Generation Techniques

Optimizing Character Descriptions

1. 1Core Concept: Basic character archetype and role
2. 2Visual Elements: Distinctive physical characteristics
3. 3Personality Hook: Key behavioral trait or quirk
4. 4Conflict Element: Internal struggle or external challenge

Core: "A ship's navigator"
Visual: "with intricate tattoos marking sea routes"
Personality: "who never admits when lost"
Conflict: "haunted by a navigation error that sank her previous ship"

Genre-Specific Optimization

• Include magical elements, species variations, or supernatural abilities
• Reference fantasy locations, organizations, or historical events
• Consider long lifespans and their impact on personality and knowledge

• Integrate technology, cybernetics, or genetic modifications
• Reference future societies, space travel, or advanced science
• Consider human-AI relationships or post-human evolution

• Research period-appropriate occupations, social structures, and technology
• Include historically accurate cultural details and social constraints
• Consider religious, political, or social movements of the era

• Ground characters in realistic modern professions and social contexts
• Include current technology and communication methods
• Reference contemporary cultural and social issues

Strategic Model Usage

1. 1Generate Base Character: Use Standard models for initial creation
2. 2Identify Key Elements: Determine which aspects are most important
3. 3Selective Regeneration: Use Enhanced/Premium models for critical elements
4. 4Final Polish: Apply highest-tier models for finishing touches

• High Priority: Character personality and backstory (use Enhanced/Premium)
• Medium Priority: Quests and dialogue (use Enhanced for important characters)
• Lower Priority: Items and additional traits (Standard often sufficient)

Quality Optimization Tips

Description Writing Best Practices

• Show, Don't Tell: "Has nervous tics" vs. "Constantly taps fingers and avoids eye contact"
• Specific Details: "Wears armor" vs. "Wears dented chainmail with a family crest"
• Implied Depth: "Former soldier" vs. "Veteran who still checks exits in every room"

• Overly Generic: "A nice person who helps others"
• Too Complex: Multi-paragraph descriptions with excessive detail
• Contradictory Elements: Conflicting personality traits or background elements
• Anachronistic Details: Modern elements in historical settings

Model Selection Strategy

• Test with Standard: Experiment with concepts using lower-cost models
• Upgrade Strategically: Use higher tiers for characters you plan to keep
• Mixed Approach: Combine different model tiers (Standard text + Enhanced image)
• Regeneration Planning: Use lower models initially, upgrade specific elements later

• Character Importance: Match model tier to character significance in your story
• Content Type Focus: Prioritize model upgrades for most important content types
• Iterative Improvement: Generate, evaluate, and selectively enhance

Related Documentation

• How to Use NPC Forge - Step-by-step wizard guide
• Model Selection Guide - Complete model information and usage limits
• Character Examples - See results from different generation options
• Character Library Guide - Managing and editing generated characters