The ability to choose an opening conversation or have random opening conversations has made a significant difference to the usability of the group conversations feature. Previously, group conversations needed near-duplicate custom character cards to be created, which cluttered the character list.
I think, in the long term, group conversations need their own portable character-card-like format for ease of backup and distribution.¹
One element is still missing: the ability to assign opening statements per character on a per group basis. As groups can have widely varying scenarios, it is difficult to create a universal list of randomized openings that will work in all groups all of the time. Also, when a group has several characters, having to select an opening for each can lack spontaneity. Both the randomisation and selection options are very useful for many circumstances, but it would be good to have the third option as well.
A possible outcome for future versions might be:
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Groups are portable with their own character card style (also with ability to use any underlying file name).
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Groups have descriptions that display in the character/group pane in the same way that characters do.
-
Groups store opening greetings per character (random lists, selectable and default).
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Groups may have attached world/lore books, allowing complex group scenarios to be broken down into smaller chunks.²
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Characters store opening greetings per character (random lists, selectable and default) for use in groups that do not have opening conversations defined within the group itself (DONE ✅).
This would cover a wide range of scenarios while keeping core group and character functionally de-coupled.
Notes:
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I think this should be the case with user personas as well for consistency, ease of backup and portability, but that is another topic.
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It would be good to be able to use any attached additional world/lore book without first requiring a primary world/lore book to be embedded and exported to the character card. Currently, global is the only option available that allows world/lore books to be used without embedding at least one in the character card, which means either having all available books pre-loaded with per entry character lists and exclusions, or manual swapping of books when selecting characters. This would also save having to detach all world/lore books from an amended character before exporting it and then reattaching them. I mention this here because I am proposing Groups should also have this functionality.
The ability to choose an opening conversation or have random opening conversations has made a significant difference to the usability of the group conversations feature. Previously, group conversations needed near-duplicate custom character cards to be created, which cluttered the character list.
I think, in the long term, group conversations need their own portable character-card-like format for ease of backup and distribution.¹
One element is still missing: the ability to assign opening statements per character on a per group basis. As groups can have widely varying scenarios, it is difficult to create a universal list of randomized openings that will work in all groups all of the time. Also, when a group has several characters, having to select an opening for each can lack spontaneity. Both the randomisation and selection options are very useful for many circumstances, but it would be good to have the third option as well.
A possible outcome for future versions might be:
Groups are portable with their own character card style (also with ability to use any underlying file name).
Groups have descriptions that display in the character/group pane in the same way that characters do.
Groups store opening greetings per character (random lists, selectable and default).
Groups may have attached world/lore books, allowing complex group scenarios to be broken down into smaller chunks.²
Characters store opening greetings per character (random lists, selectable and default) for use in groups that do not have opening conversations defined within the group itself (DONE ✅).
This would cover a wide range of scenarios while keeping core group and character functionally de-coupled.
Notes:
I think this should be the case with user personas as well for consistency, ease of backup and portability, but that is another topic.
It would be good to be able to use any attached additional world/lore book without first requiring a primary world/lore book to be embedded and exported to the character card. Currently, global is the only option available that allows world/lore books to be used without embedding at least one in the character card, which means either having all available books pre-loaded with per entry character lists and exclusions, or manual swapping of books when selecting characters. This would also save having to detach all world/lore books from an amended character before exporting it and then reattaching them. I mention this here because I am proposing Groups should also have this functionality.