Scene Creation Quickstart Guide
From idea to published scene
Why Scene Building is Your Creative Superpower
Imagine directing a movie where the AI actors improvise perfectly in character, every choice leads to meaningful consequences, and users feel like the main character in stories that adapt to their personality. That's what you're about to learn to create.
Character.AI Scenes aren't traditional interactive fiction. You're not writing every response. You're a user experience architect, crafting prompts that guide intelligent characters through dynamic interactions that feel personal, authentic, and surprising.
Ready to start? https://character.ai/scene/new is a fresh canvas waiting for you. You can navigate to the top left of the site and click “Create” → “Scene” to start.
Almost ready, but need some help? Keep on reading…
How to Create Scenes
Step 1: Scene Setting
Any Character or Main Character
Choose your character approach. This decision shapes everything that follows.
Any Character Scene
Allow users to pick their character of choice to play the {{char}} role in your scene. You will have to write your scene to accommodate any character taking on this role. That means focus on describing the situation and observable actions. Avoid prescribing the character's motivations, personality, emotions, or internal states, as all of that will be provided by the character the user selects.
Focus on the universal situation:
- What's happening at this moment?
- What observable actions are taking place?
- What choices does this situation naturally present?
Avoid prescribing:
- How {{char}} feels about the situation
- {{char}}'s personality traits or backstory
- {{char}}'s tone of voice or emotional reactions
- What {{char}} wants or intends to do
Examples that work with ANY character:
New Student at Magic Academy: Works whether the selected character is shy or confident, serious or playful. The situation is universal (being in a classroom where something magical happens) but how each character responds depends entirely on who the user chose.
Late Night Convenience Store Encounter: Adapts whether the selected character is a tired office worker, a mysterious figure, or a cheerful regular. The situation of two people in a convenience store late at night stays the same regardless of character.
Festival Fireworks Viewing: Functions with any character experiencing a festival moment. Works for historical characters, modern ones, fantasy beings. Anyone can witness fireworks and respond according to their nature.
Why choose this approach:
- Maximum user engagement (people love their favorite characters)
- Higher replay value (same scene, different character experiences)
- Broader audience appeal
The challenge: Your scene must work for serious characters AND playful ones, stoic personalities AND emotional ones, heroes AND villains. You're creating a situation, not a character story.
Any Character Scene Example
Let’s take our New Student at Magic Academy example and flesh it out. We can come up with three different versions of this scene and pick our favorite to publish, or even put out all three for your audience.
Each scene uses the same universal "something happens at a magic academy" theme but creates different roleplay dynamics and character development opportunities based on which character the user selects to play the {{char}} role.
Each scene uses the same theme of "new student finds their footing", but creates different roleplay dynamics and character development opportunities. | |||
Scene 1: Classroom Magic Chaos | Scene 2: Midnight in the Magical Library | Scene 3: Alone at Magic School | |
Cover Image Prompt | magical academy classroom, floating books and glowing plants, warm golden lighting, cozy academic atmosphere, enchanted greenhouse vibes | magical academy library, towering bookshelves with floating tomes, mystical blue lighting, ancient scrolls and modern notebooks, scholarly atmosphere, detailed fantasy architecture | magical academy stone courtyard, gothic architecture, afternoon sunlight filtering through ancient trees, students in the background, mystical fountain centerpiece, atmospheric shadows |
Quick Details | Scene Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, School Life | Scene Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, School Life | Scene Genre: Fantasy, Drama, School Life |
Scene Backstory | {{char}}, a student at Thornwick Academy is experiencing a magical incident during Herbology class. {{char}}'s magic has caused several items to float toward the ceiling. Other students in the class are beginning to notice. Professor Willowbark has stepped out of the classroom temporarily. Another student, {{user}}, is present when this happens. | {{char}}, a student at Mystwood Academy is researching in the library late at night. {{char}} has magical theory textbooks spread across the desk with notes about inconsistencies between different sources. The library is quiet. Another student, {{user}}, enters the space where {{char}} is working. | {{char}}, a student at Ravenspire Academy, sits alone in the courtyard during lunch. Other students keep their distance from this particular spot. The courtyard fountain reflects the afternoon light. Another student, {{user}}, enters the courtyard. |
Player Goal | {{user}} witnesses {{char}}’s magical mishap and decides how to respond before the professor returns. | {{user}} enters the library and encounters {{char}}’s research spread. {{user}} decides how to engage with {{char}}. | {{user}} enters the courtyard and notices {{char}} sitting alone. {{user}} chooses how to navigate the situation. |
Introduction to audience | The Herbology conservatory at Thornwick Academy hums with magical energy as students tend to enchanted plants under crystalline glass. Floating watering cans drift between tables while moonflower seedlings pulse with gentle light. But today's lesson is about to become eventful when magic goes haywire. Your selected character is in class and causes the unexpected to happen. | The towering library of Mystwood Academy stretches impossibly high, its shelves lined with ancient tomes and floating candles that cast dancing shadows. Tonight, your selected character has spread research materials across a desk, from contradictory texts to careful notes. You enter this space to discover them deep in study. | The stone courtyard of Ravenspire Academy carries stories in its shadows, where students gather during lunch beneath ancient oak trees. A mystical fountain reflects the afternoon light. You notice another student, your selected character, sitting apart from the other students. What happens next depends entirely on you. |
Character Greeting | The greenhouse air shimmers with warmth as {{char}} works with their assigned plant. Suddenly, a bright flash fills the room, followed by the scent of singed parchment. Several items from {{char}}'s desk now float gently toward the ceiling - textbooks, quills, even a wand case. {{char}} reaches for the drifting objects. Their gaze moves toward {{user}}, then back to the floating items. Professor Willowbark hasn't returned to the classroom yet. | Candlelight flickers across open textbooks as {{char}} sits surrounded by stacks of magical theory volumes. Charts and notes cover the desk surface. {{char}} looks up as footsteps approach. "Oh, I didn't realize how late it had gotten." {{char}} glances at the materials spread around the desk, then back to {{user}}. "These textbooks contradict each other on some fundamental points about magic. I've been trying to make sense of it, but..." The observation hangs in the air between you. | The courtyard buzzes with lunch conversation as {{char}} sits near the fountain. Other students occupy the space in clusters and pairs. A few glance toward {{char}}'s spot, then look away. {{char}} notices {{user}}'s presence. Your eyes meet for a moment before {{char}} looks back at the fountain's rippling surface. The space on the stone bench remains empty. Other students continue their conversations nearby, but this particular spot stays quiet. |
Common Pitfalls: What Breaks Any Character Scenes
The most common mistake is accidentally prescribing personality traits, emotions, or reactions for {{char}}. Remember: the user's selected character brings all of that. Your job is to describe the situation and observable actions only.
❌Avoid prescribing | ✅Try describing | |
Personality traits | {{char}} nervously approaches | {{char}} approaches |
{{char}} confidently strides into the room | {{char}} enters the room | |
Emotions | {{char}} feels embarrassed about the situation | Other students are beginning to notice the situation |
{{char}} is excited to share this discovery | {{char}} has been researching this for hours | |
Backstory/Motivation | {{char}} has always struggled with making friends | {{char}} sits alone while other students gather in groups |
{{char}} wants to prove themselves after past mistakes | Other students keep their distance from {{char}} |
The character swap test:
Before publishing, ask yourself:
- Could a villain play this {{char}} role?
- Could a stoic character play this role?
- Could a confident character play this role?
If the answer to any is "no," you've prescribed personality. Revise to focus on the situation.
Show Don't Tell for Any Character Scenes
Describe observable actions, not internal states. This preserves flexibility for any character to inhabit the role.
The ambiguity advantage
"{{char}} looks at {{user}}, then back at the fountain"
This works for a suspicious character, a lonely character, an aloof character, a calculating character, or a shy character. The ambiguity is flexibility. You're creating space for any character to inhabit the moment authentically.
Main Character Scene
Choose one character specifically for your scene vision.
Highlight unique expertise the scene requires:
- What specific knowledge does a magic academy headmaster need?
- How does a master detective approach impossible crimes differently?
- What special abilities make this character perfect for this scenario?
Examples that need specific characters:
- Sherlock Holmes and the Locked Room Mystery: Only works with Holmes's specific deductive method, Victorian London setting, and his particular approach to impossible crimes.
- Alice's Guide to Wonderland Logic: Needs Alice's specific experience with nonsensical rules, talking animals, and navigating a world where normal logic doesn't apply.
- Captain Nemo's Submarine Tour: Requires Nemo's maritime expertise, scientific knowledge, and his complex relationship with the surface world.
- Mage Academy Headmaster's Entrance Exam: Needs a character with deep magical knowledge, teaching experience, and authority to properly evaluate magical aptitude and potential.
- Royal Knight Training Session: Requires character with combat expertise, noble bearing, and understanding of chivalric codes to properly train aspiring knights.
Why choose this approach:
- Deeper character development and authentic interactions
- More specific, detailed storylines possible
- Can showcase character's unique abilities/knowledge
The trade-off: Smaller audience but more focused, authentic experience.
Main Character Scene Example
Each scene has a main character attached. Scenes are a powerful way to explore multiple storylines with the same character. | |||
Scene 1: Divine Intervention | Scene 2: The Last Stand | Scene 3: Wisdom's Garden | |
Main Character | Athena (Greek Goddess) | King Arthur | Marcus Aurelius |
Cover Image Prompt | ancient greek temple with marble columns, owl perched nearby, golden light streaming through, olive branches, classical mythology aesthetic, divine atmosphere | medieval camelot castle, round table in great hall, knights' armor and banners, torchlight and stone architecture, arthurian legend vibes | roman garden courtyard, scrolls and philosophical texts, marble statues, mediterranean sunset, stoic philosophy setting, peaceful contemplation |
Quick Details | Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, Divine Time: Ancient Greece Location: Mount Olympus/Athens Tone: Wise, Strategic, Divine | Genre: Medieval, Fantasy, Heroic Time: 6th Century Britain Location: Camelot Tone: Noble, Chivalrous, Legendary | Genre: Historical, Philosophy, Drama Time: 2nd Century Rome Location: Roman Palace Tone: Contemplative, Wise, Stoic |
Scene Backstory | Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, has been observing a mortal conflict that threatens to spiral into unnecessary chaos. The rival city-states refuse to listen to reason, and their war could devastate the entire region. Athena has decided to intervene by selecting a mortal champion who can help broker peace through wisdom rather than force. She appears to {{user}} in her temple, recognizing in them the qualities needed to prevent this catastrophe. Together, they must devise a strategy that honors both justice and mercy. | King Arthur faces one of Camelot's greatest challenges as reports arrive of a mysterious threat emerging from the northern lands - something that defies explanation and cannot be defeated through conventional warfare. The Round Table knights are divided on how to proceed, and Arthur realizes this quest requires not just courage, but wisdom and fresh perspective. He has summoned {{user}}, someone whose counsel he has come to value, to discuss this dire situation and plan their response to protect the realm. | Emperor Marcus Aurelius, philosopher-king of Rome, has received troubling reports from across the empire - not of military threats, but of a growing crisis of spirit among his people. Citizens seem to have lost faith in virtue and justice, turning instead to cynicism and despair. Marcus believes the solution lies not in new laws or military action, but in rediscovering the philosophical principles that make civilization worth preserving. He invites {{user}} to join him in his private garden to discuss how wisdom might heal what force cannot touch. |
Player Goal | {{user}} works with Athena to prevent a devastating war through strategic wisdom, navigating divine politics and mortal stubbornness to broker lasting peace. | {{user}} advises King Arthur on confronting a mysterious supernatural threat, balancing the ideals of chivalry with pragmatic leadership decisions. | {{user}} engages in philosophical dialogue with Marcus Aurelius about governance, virtue, and finding meaning in times of crisis and uncertainty. |
Introduction | In the golden age of ancient Greece, when gods walked among mortals and wisdom was the highest virtue, Athena stands as patron of both warfare and peace - but only when waged with intelligence and justice. From her temple on the Acropolis, she watches over Athens and guides those who seek to resolve conflict through strategy rather than mere force. Today brings a crisis that threatens to engulf the Greek world in senseless bloodshed, and the goddess of wisdom seeks a mortal ally who understands that the greatest victories are won not with sword and shield, but with insight and careful planning. | In the mists of ancient Britain, Camelot stands as a beacon of hope and chivalry, where the legendary King Arthur has united the realm under ideals of justice and honor. But even the greatest kings face challenges that test not just their courage, but their wisdom and judgment. The Round Table has seen many quests, but none quite like what now approaches from the northern wilderness - something that demands both the heart of a knight and the mind of a strategist. Join the Once and Future King as he faces a threat that will define the very meaning of heroism. | In the twilight of the Golden Age of Rome, when the empire stretched from Britain to the Euphrates, Emperor Marcus Aurelius ruled not just with the authority of Caesar, but with the wisdom of a philosopher. His private journals would one day guide seekers of truth for millennia, but today he faces challenges that no amount of study can fully prepare him for. The burden of ruling the known world weighs heavily on those who understand that true leadership means serving something greater than oneself. Join the philosopher-emperor as he grapples with questions that have no easy answers, where the fate of civilization itself hangs in the balance. |
Character Greeting | Sunlight streams through the marble columns of Athena's temple as the goddess materializes before her sacred altar, her owl companion perched nearby. She wears gleaming armor, but her expression shows concern rather than anger. "{{user}}, I have watched your actions with interest. You possess something rare among mortals - the ability to see beyond immediate conflict to lasting solutions." She gestures toward a map that appears in the air, showing the warring city-states. "Two great cities prepare for war over pride and old grievances. Thousands will die, and for what? I seek a champion of wisdom, not warfare. Will you help me prevent this tragedy?" | The great hall of Camelot glows with firelight as King Arthur stands before the Round Table, studying reports scattered across its surface. Excalibur rests in its sheath, but his hand does not reach for it. "{{user}}, your timing is fortuitous. I have need of counsel that cannot be found in any book of chivalry or warfare." He looks up from the documents, his legendary composure showing cracks of genuine concern. "Something stirs in the northern lands - neither beast nor man, according to my scouts. It challenges everything we understand about protecting this realm. Tell me, how does one fight what cannot be touched by sword or honor?" | Evening light filters through the columns of the palace garden as Marcus Aurelius sits among his scrolls, the weight of empire momentarily set aside. His philosopher's robes are simple, but his bearing speaks of absolute authority tempered by wisdom. "{{user}}, sit with me. I find myself contemplating a problem that military might cannot solve." He gestures to the reports before him, his weathered hands showing both the calluses of a soldier and the ink stains of a scholar. "My legions can secure borders, but how does one restore faith in virtue itself? The people grow cynical, and I fear we are losing something more precious than territory. What do you think - can philosophy heal what force cannot touch?" |
Quick Decision Guide
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Define the setting of your Scene
Use these 60-character fields to quickly nail your Scene's essence.
Scene genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Cozy, Thriller, etc.
When is this Scene set: Present Day, Ancient Times, Future, etc.
Where does this Scene happen: Coffee shop, Spaceship, Haunted house, etc.
Tone of this Scene: Cozy, Angst, Romantic, etc.
What’s the backstory of this Scene?
This is where the magic happens. It guides everything the AI generates.
Description | Example |
Describe what is happening in this Scene. Include relevant details about the situation and backstory. This will help shape how the Scene unfolds and how the Character responds. Use {{user}} for the user. Use {{char}} for the Character. If you are building an Any-Character Scene we recommend that you avoid the following pronouns: he, she, his, her, so your Scene can work for any character. | {{char}} is a wealthy railroad investor who discovered the theft was an inside job by the railway company's president. They took the gold to expose the corruption but now realize they look like the thief. They need to find someone they can trust to help them reveal the truth before they're arrested. |
Template: "{{char}} is [role/situation] when {{char}} [discovers/encounters/needs] [compelling situation]. [Context that creates stakes]. {{char}} and {{user}} [connection/meeting reason] in this [location] where [what makes this scene special/interesting]."
Example: "{{char}} owns a magical bookshop that appears only to people seeking answers they can't find elsewhere. Today's a particularly busy day with mysterious customers, strange occurrences among the books, and an energy suggesting something significant is about to happen. {{char}} notices {{user}} enter just as the shop's most peculiar book begins glowing on its shelf."
Pro Tips:
- Use {{char}} and {{user}} (case-sensitive!)
- Avoid gendered pronouns (he/she/his/her) for universal compatibility with any character
- Focus on situation, not specific character traits
What’s the player’s goal in this Scene?
In 120 characters, define what the user and character will do together.
Weak goal: "{{char}} and {{user}} dance"
Strong goal: “{{char}} and {{user}} are at a grand ball together. {{user}} has arrived alone, and {{char}} approaches with the intention of asking {{user}} for a dance.”
Goal Formula: Action + Purpose + Intrigue
- Action: What they'll do (explore, investigate, learn, collaborate)
- Purpose: Why it matters (solve mystery, find answers, make choice)
- Intrigue: What keeps it interesting (magical elements, stakes, discovery)
Description | Example |
E.g. Dance with {{char}}, search for buried treasure, solve the mystery | {{char}} and {{user}} are at a grand ball together. {{user}} has arrived alone, and {{char}} approaches with the intention of asking {{user}} for a dance. |
Step 2: Intro and Greeting
Introduce this Scene to your audience
This is what users see before entering. Make them excited to experience your scene!
Hook Structure:
- Atmospheric opening (set the mood)
- Intriguing situation (what's happening?)
- Character role (who they'll meet)
- Promise of experience (what they'll get)
Description | Example |
This is the starting screen of your Scene. Your audience will see this intro before entering the Scene. Help them understand what’s happening and get excited to start playing the Scene. | It is the late 1800s in New York City, and the city’s elite have gathered at the glittering Grand Ball held at the Elegance House. The grand hall dazzles under the glow of crystal chandeliers, their light reflecting off gilded mirrors and polished marble floors. Thousands of fresh blooms line the staircases and fill the air with a heady fragrance, while a champagne wall sparkles with endless glasses waiting to be taken. Ladies in sweeping gowns of silk and satin glide across the floor, their jewels catching the candlelight, while gentlemen in crisp tuxedos converse.. Then you see them, and you want to ask them to dance this evening. |
Example: The little bookshop wasn't there yesterday. Nestled between the dry cleaner and corner market, 'Serendipity & Stories' glows with a warm golden light that seems to pulse with its own heartbeat. Inside, impossibly tall shelves stretch toward a ceiling that might go on forever, filled with books that whisper when you're not looking directly at them. Your character tends this magical space, helping visitors find exactly what they need, whether they know what that is or not. Tonight, the shop has called to you for reasons that won't become clear until you step inside and let the magic begin.You can try using the following template:
Character Greeting
Your 1200-character opening sets the entire tone and gets users immediately immersed.
Opening Formula:
- Sensory details (what they see/hear/feel)
- Character acknowledgment (noticing the user)
- Immediate intrigue (something interesting is happening)
- Invitation to engage (clear next step)
Description | Example |
This is the first Character message your audience will see after entering the Scene. Make it your hook with what they will see, hear, and feel. | *The music swells as the orchestra begins a new waltz. Laughter and chatter echo beneath the glittering chandeliers, but in that instant the world narrows to the figure crossing the floor toward you.* *{{char}} pauses just before you, offering a graceful bow, their voice carrying warmth and charm.* “Good evening, {{user}}. I couldn’t help but notice you standing here amidst all this splendor… but none of it compares to your presence.” *Extends their hand with a quiet smile, eyes glinting with invitation.* |
Tip: Try out this structure for your opening message!
*[Character action/setting detail]*
"[Character dialogue that shows personality]"
*[Environmental description or character gesture]*
"[More dialogue that builds intrigue and invites participation]"
*[Final sensory detail or character action that sets up user response]*
"[Closing question or invitation]"
Step 3: Name and Cover
Make your Scene stand out
Name
Give your Scene a great name. Make it clear + compelling. Lead with genre and add intrigue.
Good: "The Midnight Bookshop" (mystery + magical)
Better: "Books That Choose Their Readers" (mystery + unique hook)
Cover Image
Your cover image becomes the chat background, so choose wisely! Users should instantly understand your scene's vibe.
This deserves its own deep-dive guide - stay tuned for more.
Chat color
Customize your chat bubble colors to match your scene's aesthetic. Test different combinations to find what feels right.
Tags
Add tags like you would for Characters such as Anime, Fantasy, Romance, and more.
Visibility
- Public: Anyone can discover and use your Scene
- Unlisted: Only people with direct link can access
- Private: Just for you (perfect for testing!)
Ready to Launch?
Hit that "Create Scene" button and celebrate. You just published your Scene!
Congratulations! 🥳
Managing Your Scenes
Find your Scenes: Profile → "Scenes" tab. Example: character.ai/profile/SageTheMagus?tab=scenes
Browse all Scenes: Use the main search bar, filter by "Scenes". Example: character.ai/search?type=scenes
Edit later: Add "/edit" to your Scene URL. Example: character.ai/scene/[your-scene-id]/edit
What's Next?
Drop your feedback in our Discord or comment on this doc!
More Scene guides coming soon ❣️