The JED+ format for character cards

DIRECTLY RIPPED FROM AWR for the purpose of viewing/quick access. If you want a cleaner guide join the discord today!
:confused_think: You don't know how to create your first character card? Try JED!

:AWR_LunaWrite: The JED template is a very versatile template for creating character cards. It's not our own method, it's from the SillyTavern community, and we just adapt it to our needs.

:5567alertblue: IMPORTANT :downvote:
This is not a required format for showcase cards. It is one of many possible ways to write a bot. Never blindly copy a template like this or the core structure of example bots you studied to learn.

Think about what your bot needs and adapt your chosen method. Cut out parts of this template you don't need instead of mindlessly filling them with bloat. Better expand on other parts you consider more important for your bot. You can make up sections to add as well!
:5567alertblue: IMPORTANT :upvote:

🪶 Remember: Critics in showcase are always happy when someone thinks a lot about their bot. Don't be afraid to experiment, we love to see new ideas. Make sure to properly test your idea (see the ⁠⎟・✍︰bot-guides⁠Guide for testing your bot for more information) in case a critic has questions about your method.

Don't be scared of trying something new, we won't mark errors as long as your idea works in a bot. We want to see talented and ambitous botmakers. If you find and properly test a method that was never seen before in showcase, you will get high scores on our "Creativity" scale and are likely to become a junior partner soon! :approved:

What is "JED"?
JED stands for "just enough definition." The template is a bit like AWR's keyword-style long description, only with many more sections for you to fill with keywords and short sentences.
Before I come to the meat and bones of your bot, the definition, let's talk about the greeting and example messages. You can do them mostly as you did on c.ai, but you need to ⚠️ unlearn ⚠️ some things as well.

Initial message / "Greeting"
For cards, we don't have a format anymore. So forget about things like the (()) or the line break. Only describe your scenario, make it immersive and interesting, and don't forget to write about what your character is doing and saying.

:5567alertblue: IMPORTANT :downvote:
Don't write anything for the user at all in your greeting.
No "You enter the coffee shop." or something like this anymore. Write always from the character's point of view, like this:
Character sees {{user}} enter the coffee shop.
or
Character sees a new customer enter the coffee shop.

With c.ai, we let it slide because it didn't have too much influence on the chat. With character cards, I noticed the AI will be extremely likely to act and speak for the user if you even include just a tiny sentence like the coffee shop example in your initial message. So, write absolutely nothing about the user. At most, your character may address them directly, like "Hello, {{user}}."

Remember, the initial message is part of the ongoing chat and won't stay in the character's permanent memory. Don't include information here that you want the character to keep. If you need to introduce important world-building elements, make sure to include them also in your character's description (="definition") or a lorebook.
:5567alertblue: IMPORTANT :upvote:
Image
Lufia
OP
— 8/13/2024 5:16 PM
Example Dialogues
On Silly Tavern, you have an extra input field for example messages. It's called "Examples of dialogue" and you can find it in the Advanced Definitions (the little book icon 📔 next to your character card in the interface). You write them as you did on c.ai. Start each part of your dialogue with {{user}}: and {{char}}: . Keep the messages from the user short and simple, you need only the barest minimum.

🪶 Put your creativity and writing skills into the {{char}} dialogues. Don't write just simple descriptions of your character's expression or body language. Even c.ai did this well enough with empty bots. The example dialogues exist to show the AI which writing style you prefer and to establish the speech pattern of your character. So for interesting, varied answers, you need to put the same into your example dialogues.

:AWR_LunaWrite: Describe the not-so-obvious things. Think not only about your character but also the surroundings in your example scenes.

👀 Don't write only visual impressions, maybe there are sounds or a smell. What does your character feel? Not only their emotions, what do they physically feel? 🫴 Maybe the comforting warmth of a nearby campfire or a cold, chilling wind. Think about all five senses when creating an example scene. It pays off, the AI will pick up your writing pattern and include many more interesting descriptions in the answers.

:AHR_SolGlowstick: Or let your character interact with items and their surroundings. Let them move around, use stuff, or show off their powers. There's a reason why we call the descriptive parts in a dialogue "action." Show us some action, then your character will do more interesting things in its answers as well. 🪄

:5567alertblue: IMPORTANT :downvote:
Don't write essential information only into your example messages. This is one of the c.ai habits you have to unlearn. In c.ai, this was good practice, because the example messages shared the definition with a bot. Also, the space was extremely limited, so you had to make the best of it.

In Silly Tavern, most people choose to place the example messages in the dedicated "dialogues" field. This field isn't permanent memory like the c.ai definition was! Users have the option in the SillyTavern interface to push example messages out of the bot's memory when it gets filled up with the ongoing chat. When they do this, the bot will forget the content of your example dialogues. :die:

So to be on the safe side, you need to establish essential information in the bot's permanent memory, the "Description" field (it's like c.ai's "definition"). Use the example messages only to establish writing styles and speech patterns.
:5567alertblue: IMPORTANT :upvote:

Also, we don't need an END_OF_DIALOG line anymore. You only need to state where an example scene begins. You do it like this:
<START>
{{user}}:
{{char}}:
{{user}}:
{{char}}:
<START>
{{user}}:
{{char}}:
...and so on.
"Definition"/Description
The JED format has a nice template that you can fill with information about your character. It follows in the next comment. Copy it and paste it into your interface, or download the template card at the end of this guide.

For now, I recommend keeping the markdown symbols (the "#" and such) as they are. They don't have a special function for the bot, but they help establish a structure that is easy to read for our critics.

:AWR_LunaWrite: Keep in mind: We don't have a strict format anymore for cards, this also counts for this template! If you choose to skip the format of this template, that's fine. Just keep it consistent.

You don't have to fill out each of the provided sections. Delete those you don't need. Please don't fill them with meaningless, boring stuff if you can't think of anything interesting that would add to your character.

:hyper: Also, you can create your own sections as well. It's fun to experiment and see what the AI will make out of your ideas! For example, after finishing this guide, I will rework my Samurai Bot into the JED format. I plan to include a "Code of Honor" section for him. Maybe you can think of other interesting sections for your character as well.

Have fun writing your characters! :hyper:

(This guide is a work in progress, things might change in the future when we learn more about cards. Follow this thread so you won't miss out on updates!)
🌟 🌟 🌟
The template:
(NOTE: Delete all () notes. Keep all the [] notes. Erase the parts you don't need.)

Setting
Time Period: (e.g. Middle Age, Winter)
World Details: (e.g. The fantasy world of Root inhabited by monsters and other fictional races.)
Main Characters: {{user}}, {{char}} (Only if the scenario has additional characters)

<{{char}}>

{{char}}
Overview
(Describe the overall idea for your scenario here)

Appearance Details
Race/Species: (for non-human characters)
Height:
Age:
Hair:
Eyes:
Body:
Face:
Features: (Horns, wings, cat ears, ... )

Starting Outfit (Instead of "Starting" you can specify different outfits for different situations as well. Keep it simple, though, everything eats tokens from your chat context)
Head:
Accessories:
Makeup:
Neck:
Top:
Bottom:
Shoes:

Inventory (Optional)

Abilities (Optional)

Origin (Optional)
(Brief backstory)

Residence (Optional)
(If the location is necessary)

Connections (Optional)
(Relatives, companions, foes, etc, if necessary)

Goal (Optional)
Secret (Optional. If you choose to use this section, test it properly!)
Personality
Archetype: (e.g. Tragic archvillain with a secret soft spot; Modificator + archetype + addition)
Tags: (put the "personality" and "traits" keywords here that you know from the AWR keyword-style long description)
Occupation:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Hobbies:
Deep-Rooted Fears:
Details: (Anything that doesn't fit anywhere else)
When Safe: (Write a sentence or two about how your character acts in those situations)
When Alone:
When Cornered:
With {{user}}:

Behaviour and Habits
(Keep them short, just one or two sentences)

Speech
Style:
Quirks:
Ticks: (e.g. adds 'nya~' mid-sentences)

Speech Examples and Opinions (Replace "{something}" with relevant examples)
[Important: This section provides {{char}}'s speech examples, memories, thoughts, and {{char}}'s real opinions on subjects. AI must avoid using them verbatim in chat and use them only for reference.]

Greeting Example:
"(Example here)"

Pleas for {something}:
"(Example here)"

Embarrassed over {something}:
"(Example here)"

Forced to {something}:
"(Example here)"

Caught {something}:
"(Example here)"

A memory about {something}:
"(Example here)"

A thought about {something}:
"(Example here)"

</{{char}}>