Getting the Most Out of RimDialogue

1. Expand on Your Scenario

The AI begins with the basic scenario text, but you can enhance its understanding by providing more details. Imagine you’re playing as a tribal colony—telling the AI that technology is like magic to your pawns can enrich their interactions. Or, if your playthrough leans into fantasy, let the AI know that your world resembles The Lord of the Rings or Dungeons & Dragons. These additions help tailor the dialogue to your unique story.

For example:

• This is a tribal colony, pawns live in a world where nature governs life, ancient traditions guide decisions, and advanced technology is perceived as mystical and otherworldly.

• This is a high fantasy playthrough, pawns inhabit a realm of legendary creatures, ancient magic, and epic quests, where their lives and struggles mirror tales from worlds like Middle-earth or Dungeons & Dragons.

You can set these details in the "All Pawns" RimDialogue screen.

2. Breathe Life into Characters with Archetypes

Each pawn in your colony is a unique individual, and assigning them archetypes can make their dialogue shine. Perhaps one of your pawns embodies the upbeat nature of the Pom-Pom girl. Or perhaps they have the rebellious spirit of a Rebel Leader, while another exudes the charm of The Casanova. Maybe your grizzled veteran fits the mold of an Old Soldier. The possibilities are endless.

For example:

• Mary is the epitome of upbeat charm, rallying others with infectious energy, unwavering optimism, and a knack for keeping morale high even in the direst situations.

• Jack is a rebel at heart, his fiery spirit and fierce independence make him a natural leader.

• John is a grizzled veteran, his weathered face and haunted eyes tell of battles fought and lost, his voice carries the weight of experience.

For inspiration, explore resources like TV Tropes' Stock Characters and their list of Archetypal Characters. Assign these archetypes in the "Individual Pawn" RimDialogue screen to see your pawns' personalities come to life.

3. Define Speech Styles for Your Pawns

Give each character a distinctive voice by customizing their speech style. Do they shout in ALL CAPS, speak in fragmented sentences, or use an exaggeratedly formal tone? Perhaps their dialogue features a stutter, a strong dialect, or childlike simplicity. These nuances make every conversation more memorable.

For example:

• Mary speaks in ALL CAPS has a loud, intense, and commanding voice that comes across as if they're perpetually shouting.

• Bob speaks in an exaggeratedly formal tone and uses overly elaborate phrasing, precise grammar, and a lofty vocabulary.

• Jack embodies a Southerner archetype, his voice carries a warm, laid-back drawl, rich with regional colloquialisms and charm, often peppered with phrases like "reckon," "y'all," and "bless your heart".

Set these styles in the "Individual Pawn" RimDialogue screen to ensure each character’s dialogue feels authentic.

4. Enable Swearing (If It Fits Your Story)

Want to add a touch of raw emotion to your dialogue? Instruct the LLM that your characters swear a lot and provide examples of the type of language you’d like to see. Most language models, including Llama 3.2, can accommodate swearing if prompted.

5. Cultivate a Unique Colony Culture

Infuse your colony with a shared culture to add depth to their interactions. Perhaps everyone is obsessed with Star Wars, or chess tournaments are the colony’s favorite pastime. Summarizing your colony’s ideology or shared interests can provide a compelling backdrop for their dialogue.

6. Keep the AI Updated on Significant Events

RimWorld is full of pivotal moments, and ensuring the AI knows about them keeps dialogue relevant. Whether it’s a beloved pet’s death, a joyous wedding, or a technological leap, updating the AI’s instructions helps it reflect these changes in its responses.

For example:

• A favorite pet died, leaving a colony-wide sense of loss.
• The colony has evolved from a struggling tribe to a high-tech settlement with drop pods and pulse rifles.

7. Keep Instructions Brief but Informative

When crafting instructions, aim for clarity and brevity. Shorter instructions not only fit within the free version’s 1,800-character limit but also reduce processing time, ensuring faster, more responsive interactions. Focus on the essential details and avoid unnecessary elaboration. For example:

• Instead of "We are a tribal society where technology is viewed with a mix of fear and reverence, and we have recently encountered advanced machinery," try "We’re a tribal society; technology is like magic to us."

When you need to include more context or provide richer instructions, consider using the RimDialogue Local Server.

8. Unlock the Potential of a Local Server

For greater flexibility, consider using the RimDialogue Local Server with Ollama to provide more extensive input. Running RimDialogue locally gives you access to up to 128K tokens of input data, enabling you to include more detailed instructions and context. A computer with a decent GPU is all you need to get started. Go to the Local Server GitHub for setup instructions.

9. Support Development on Patreon

RimDialogue thrives on community support. By joining the Patreon, you can unlock additional features and help ensure continued development. Plans start at just $1.50, with higher tiers offering increased input data and more conversations per minute.