Quick answer
- Prompt anatomy: setting, who plays whom, a stake and a hook, plus a request that the AI play only its own character.
- Use third person. Janitor AI says a third-person first message often stops models speaking for you, and Character.AI recommends openers that drop the character into something already in motion.
- OOC notation: Nomi documents "(OOC: ...)" in parentheses; SpicyChat's Director Mode takes a
/cmdline; Nomi and Replika use asterisks for actions. - Fix drift without restarting: swipe, remove or edit the bad message, update the scene note, paste a recap into memory.
- All ten prompts below use adult characters and no explicit content, so they run within Character.AI's rules as well as on adult platforms.
A character prompt is saved in the character's fields and applies to every chat. A roleplay prompt is what you send, or what a greeting says, to start and steer one scene. Our explainer on how AI roleplay works covers the mechanics, and how to write a character prompt covers the saved text. This page is the practical side, part of our AI character creation section.
What Makes a Good AI Roleplay Prompt
- Setting: where and when, in one line.
- Roles: who plays whom, with names, adult ages and the relationship.
- Stake: what is at risk or unresolved.
- Hook: end on something to answer. Character.AI's guide suggests openers such as "We're surrounded. What's the plan?" instead of a neutral hello.
Add two format lines: viewpoint and tense, and a reply length. Then add the rule that matters most, "write only your character; never my character's words or actions". Janitor AI's creation guide notes that models follow the pattern of speech and actions in the first message, so the way you open sets the style.
Where it goes depends on the app. Paste it as your first message, put it in the Scenario field on SpicyChat or Janitor AI, or on Nomi use Current Roleplay for temporary scene details. Nomi's Roleplay Starters (the plus button, then New Roleplay) offer Ice Breakers, Realistic Adventures, Fantasy Adventures and Surprise Me, or your own idea, and generate options from your Nomi's backstory and recent conversations.
OOC Notation and Steering Commands
| Platform | How to steer |
|---|---|
| Nomi | "(OOC: ...)" in parentheses to clarify, correct a misunderstanding, reinforce a boundary or guide a scene; if ignored, be more direct and specific. Asterisks mark actions, thoughts and narration. |
| SpicyChat | Director Mode: add a /cmd instruction on a new line after your message. The model reads it but it is not part of the message; effect varies by model. |
| Janitor AI | Plain OOC messages usually work; a <system> task that says to pause the roleplay gives more control, per the help center. |
| Character.AI | The Creator Guide uses "(OOC: ...)" to quiz a character about its scenario, and swipes to compare alternatives. |
| Replika | Write actions between asterisks; Pro adds roleplay in voice and AR calls. |
| Kindroid | No OOC syntax found in the pages we read; standing instructions go in the Response Directive. |
Where no syntax is documented, a plain sentence that says it is out of character is the safest default. Three steering lines that work as templates:
- (OOC: Please write only Nell and the room. I will describe my own actions.)
- (OOC: Slow down. Stay in this moment for two more replies before moving the plot.)
- (OOC: Summarize what has happened so far in five bullet points, then continue the scene.)
Keeping Roleplay on Track
- The AI speaks for you: open in third person, add the "never my character" rule, and remind it out of character. A rule in the character's own text helps, as in our AI character personality guide.
- Loops and repetition: on Character.AI, remove or edit the repeated reply to pull it out of the active context; on SpicyChat, a
/cmdasking the character to break out of the loop is a documented example. Vary your own replies too. - The AI forgets: put stable facts in the character's fields and changing ones in memory. Janitor AI suggests asking for a recap and using it as the new memory; Nomi's wiki suggests asking more specific questions. See AI character memory setup.
- The story stalls: give the character a goal, use a Roleplay Starter on Nomi, or send a
/cmdthat introduces a development on SpicyChat. - Tone drifts: restate the tone out of character, and update Nomi's Current Roleplay, which the wiki says to refresh or clear as the roleplay changes.
Platform rules still apply to every scene. Character.AI bans pornographic content and nudity, and adult platforms ban listed categories whatever the prompt says; see our guide to NSFW AI girlfriend apps.
Ten Original Roleplay Prompts
Each prompt uses adult characters and no explicit content. Paste it as a first message or into a Scenario field, and change names and details.
1. Cozy slice of life
Setting: a secondhand bookshop an hour before closing, rain outside. You play Nell, 38, the owner, dry and warm. I play a regular of five years. Open with Nell noticing that I am holding a letter I found inside a returned book. Third person, past tense, two short paragraphs. Do not write my actions.
A clear scene, a hook and a hard rule on viewpoint.
2. Archive mystery
You are the narrator and every supporting character. I play Dr. Imani Okoye, 44, an archivist. A flooded city archive is missing three boxes of land records, and the night watchman, Mr. Brandt, 61, is nervous. Start with me arriving at the loading dock. Reveal a clue only when I examine something.
Clues on request keep the AI from solving the mystery for you.
3. Slow-burn first date
We are two adults on a first date at a night market. You play Rohan, 33, funny and slightly nervous; I play Lena, 31. Keep it flirty and light, with no explicit content. Start with Rohan fumbling a compliment, and end on a question.
States the tone limit up front, which also keeps it inside strict platforms.
4. Fantasy caravan
You play Captain Ines Duarte, 46, who leads a caravan guard on a mountain road. I am a new hire in my thirties. A storm will close the pass tonight. Begin with her assigning watches. Keep her formal and exact, and let her joke only once, late in the scene.
A speech rule gives the character range.
5. Space station crisis
A deep-space station, air recycler failing, two hours left. You play Station Chief Teo Marchetti, 52, calm and blunt. I play Dr. Adaeze Okonkwo, 40, the engineer. Narrate alarms and layout, but stop at every technical decision and wait for me.
A decision pause stops the AI from running ahead.
6. Negotiation over dinner
Two senior executives negotiate a merger over dinner. You play Marguerite Vance, 55, patient and sharp, who wants to protect her team's jobs. I play her counterpart, who wants to close by Friday. Make her persuasive but honest. Keep the scene at the table.
Opposed goals create friction without violence.
7. Language practice
You are Joana, 29, a patient café owner in Lisbon. I am a 35-year-old visitor practicing intermediate Portuguese. Speak mostly in simple Portuguese. If I make a mistake, repeat my sentence correctly inside your reply, without a lesson. Stay in character.
Roleplay as a tool, with a correction method built in.
8. Battle of wits
A tense, non-violent interview. You play Commissioner Hale, 58, questioning me, journalist Daniela Ruiz, 37, about a leaked document. Hale controls the pace and never raises his voice. Start with him sliding a folder across the table.
Tension from dialogue, not from graphic events.
9. Evening check-in
You are Nell. Ask me one question about my day, mention one detail I told you earlier in this chat, and end with a small suggestion rather than advice. Keep it to four sentences.
A short routine that tests memory.
10. Game master
Act as narrator and game master for a night-time museum heist. Describe the scene and every non-player character, but never my character's thoughts or actions. My character is Sol, 36, a former security consultant. Offer three options at each decision, and accept a different choice if I make one.
Narrator mode avoids the "speaking for me" problem.
For apps built around this kind of play, see our ranking of the best AI roleplay apps, the free AI roleplay apps, and the glossary entry on roleplay AI.
FAQ
What does OOC mean in AI roleplay?
Out of character: a message to the AI itself rather than to the character. Nomi's wiki says OOC lets you give guidance outside the current roleplay, usually written in parentheses.
How do I stop the AI from speaking for me?
Open in third person, state "write only your character" in the prompt, and remind it out of character. Janitor AI says a third-person first message often helps.
How do I start an AI roleplay?
Give the setting, who plays whom, a stake and a hook, as in the ten prompts above. On Nomi you can also use Roleplay Starters, and on SpicyChat or Janitor AI a Scenario field.
Can I use these prompts on any app?
Yes, as plain text. They contain no explicit content, so they fit Character.AI as well as adult platforms, though each app's rules still apply.
Sources
Official pages and store listings we read for this page (last check October 20, 2026).