> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://xoul-ai-official-documentation.gitbook.io/xoul.ai-official-guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://xoul-ai-official-documentation.gitbook.io/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/navigation-and-interfaces/content-creation/xouls.md). # Xouls ## What is a Xoul? A **Xoul** is what Xoul.AI has branded their character cards (or “card” for short). It’s a collection of information that sets the foundation of a chat with a model and can be just about anything you want it to be. You might hear people call them “bots”, but this term can be a bit misleading. ### Why isn’t it a “bot”? “Bot” implies the card functions as something you use to program a robot. In actuality a card is much more like a sheet of paper containing information about an actor’s role in a movie than anything remotely like a robot’s programming. The information on the card doesn’t execute like code does; **it informs like a script or character profile informs an actor**, and in this case the actor is AI. In fact, all the text the AI uses is just informing it about the general who, what, when, where, why & how. * Xoul = Who. It's a character. There can be up to 8 of them in a chat. * Persona = Also "who". It's another character, **except** unlike the Xoul the AI *doesn't play this characte*r so it only needs to know more basic information about the character. [Personas](/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/navigation-and-interfaces/profile-page/personas.md#more-about-personas) * Scenario = Premise. It's the blurb that *starts* the plot. * [Scenarios](/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/navigation-and-interfaces/content-creation/scenarios.md) * Memores = Current events, notes and relevant details. * [Memories Field](/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/navigation-and-interfaces/chat-interface/memories-field.md) * Lorebook = Extra information. * [Lorebooks](/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/navigation-and-interfaces/content-creation/lorebooks.md) #### **All this text ends up in one place: A document called 'the prompt'.** The model is given this document, reads it almost exactly the same way *you* would read this document of text and then generates a response based directly on the information it finds in this document. Everything from *what* was written to *how* it was written can heavily influence the model's cognition of the information in the document. [Memory & Context](/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/subscriptions/memory-and-context.md) #### **"How it was written" doesn't mean "format".** While there may be some formats that **you** find makes it easier for **you** to organize the information, **there is no format that the model understands best** and **many formats actually obscure or complicate the information for the model, leading to weaker results.** {% columns %} {% column %} {% hint style="success" %} Think of each feature less as an individual element with their own special rules or considerations and instead consider how each of these features will work **together** once compiled into the prompt. {% endhint %} {% endcolumn %} {% column %} {% hint style="info" %} **Want to learn more?** Read [Memory & Context](/xoul.ai-official-guide/navigation-and-information/subscriptions/memory-and-context.md) for a full break down of how each of these cards are compiled into a document the model will read and respond to. {% endhint %} {% endcolumn %} {% endcolumns %} ## What can a Xoul be? The creation UI asks for a name, gender and age which makes it seem like you’re supposed to build one specific person. While that’s the most common use, it’s just the beginning. ### Most Common Creative Uses: {% columns %} {% column %}

Single Character (Solo Xoul)

A Xoul written to be a single primary character. This character (e.g. David) is a singular person and the Xoul will be written to include any / all of the following (as much as the creator decides to include): * Name * Age * Gender * Appearance * Who the character is (should be more than just vague personality traits, describe this character) * What role within the world this character fulfills (jobs, responsibilities, what they do on a day-to-day basis) * This character's worldview, opinions, and other grounding details fleshing out the character * Who this character knows (focus on important relationships that are relevant and focus on what the primary character *thinks of these characters*.) * Where this character exists (home, job, world, etc.) * Any other pertinent details that flesh this character out. {% hint style="success" %} **Solo Xouls perform best in Group Chats.** They are locked into a single character perspective, and pair extremely well with other Solo Xouls + a Narrator but tend not to do as well in single-Xoul chats. They also do very well in text-style chats (Simple or Texting Response Style) even in single-Xoul chats. {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" %} **Solo Xouls may not perform as well in single-Xoul chats**, as they are so locked into "be this one character" that they tend to struggle more with writing additional characters or expanding outside of their own personal perspective. {% endhint %} {% endcolumn %} {% column %}

Character & Premise (Story Xouls)

A Xoul written to be one or more primary characters, but with the world around them fleshed out in more detail with a general "premise" for how they exist within a story or idea. These Xouls will include everything a Solo Xoul would have but also expand to include: * A premise. What this character is doing in life and why. General goals, dreams and objectives. * Settings, ranging from primary locations to other locations that are relevant to the *story* not just to the character. * Additional characters. We're no longer focusing on just the primary character's opinion of a few people important to them, we're including all the people all these characters will know and brief blurbs explaining the generals of who these characters are. * The roles these characters fulfill. {% hint style="success" %} **Story Xouls performs best in single-Xoul chats**. They can write for multiple characters, expand the story and are flexible enough to use for full story roleplays. {% endhint %} {% hint style="warning" %} **Story Xouls may not perform as well in Group Chats**, as they are less likely to strictly write only for their own one character. {% endhint %} {% endcolumn %} {% endcolumns %} **Narrator Xoul:** A sort of specific edge case type of Xoul where the Xoul is *just* the world and premise details but is not written to be any single character. It is only told to narrate within the chat, not write from any character's perspective. {% hint style="success" %} Narrators are intended for Group Chats and pair best with Solo Xouls. {% endhint %} ### Combining Features Combining a Xoul with other features on the platform allow you to cook up a full story with a narrator, a cast of characters, a story premise and more! * Response Style (aka the System Prompt) provided by Xoul (chat, novel or roleplay) or your own custom instructions for how responses are generated * Scenario (the story’s premise) * Narrator Xoul (narration, world, setting & supplementary characters) * Primary characters * Persona (Main Lead) * Solo Xoul (Main lead) * Solo Xoul (Additional major character) * Etc. * Up to three Lorebooks (supplementary info) * Chat Memories (the “last time on DBZ” quick summary of the immediately relevant info for the here & now)

Like the tagline reads: Create characters. Explore worlds. Imagine anything.

Xoul.AI is a platform for interactive stories and the various features (cards) can be used alone or in tandem with others, whether you’re a creator or just a roleplayer, giving you the ultimate control over exactly what your interactive story will be and include. So...

What can a Xoul be?

What do you need it to be?