Subscribe to download
Character Autonomy 2.0 (Self-driven NPC Behaviour and Dialogue)

Here we encourage NPCs to act as thinking agents with their own intent and momentum, just as we tell them. The AI is encouraged to think more socially and plot-driven, to focus less on vague ambient cues or introspection.

2.0 is finally here. What began as my desire to make NPCs more authentic and active has now evolved with the capabilities of recent model updates (speaking for the free base model, primarily). The project now aims for a more comprehensive adjustment of the whole narration, since - honestly - NPCs have already become more lively in the base game compared to many months ago. Below are some bullet points - all my prompts summarized by AI - which hopefully can tell you what to expect for the general narration:

Respect for player agency — no assumed thoughts, motives, background, or unprompted actions.

Grounded storytelling — details are concrete and specific, avoiding vague mood, symbolism, or filler.

No cheap tricks — no jump scares, surprise twists, or forced subversions.

Clarity and resolution — interactions drive the scene forward with meaningful outcomes, never stalled or muddled.

No static background presence — every described detail has impact or consequence (no endless bystander commentary anymore!)

Natural dialogue — NPCs speak plainly, with personality and intent, never cryptic or allegorical.

Balanced tone — tension and calm coexist; threats are tangible and justified, peace is allowed to breathe.

The world is neutral in morality — outcomes are handled realistically, without poetic justice or moral bias.

This should address some of the common complaints about the AI narration I have gathered in the past, together with the general instructions that encourage NPC autonomy, which I still hold dear.

As always, instructing an AI is like herding cats; results are never guaranteed, and strangeness may always occur. While the narration is more weighted toward these bullet points, the end effect might sometimes not live up to expectation (especially cryptic NPCs will likely still talk cryptic stuff - I only hope my Butler now stops talking about “flowers which are keys and prisons” all the time.)