--- name: character-world-init description: | This skill should be used when starting a new adventure, creating player characters, building game worlds, or when playerRef/worldRef is null. Triggers include: "create a character", "make a new character", "roll up a character", "build a character sheet", "create my PC", "what characters do I have", "pick my character", "set up a new world", "design a world", "choose a world", "show me available worlds", "initialize my campaign", "start a new adventure". --- # Character & World Initialization Skill Guides the GM through setting up a character and world for a new adventure. Use this skill when `playerRef` and/or `worldRef` are null in the adventure state. ## When to Use This Skill This skill is triggered when: - A new adventure starts and no character/world is configured - The GM prompt indicates "Invoke the character-world-init skill for setup guidance" - The player explicitly asks to create or select a character/world ## Workflow Overview 1. **List existing options** using `list_characters()` and `list_worlds()` 2. **Present choices** to the player - use existing or create new 3. **Process selection** by calling the appropriate set tool 4. **Populate files** with character/world data from player input ## Step 1: List Available Characters and Worlds Use MCP tools to discover what exists: ``` list_characters() ``` Returns: Array of `{ slug, name }` for characters in `players/` directory. ``` list_worlds() ``` Returns: Array of `{ slug, name }` for worlds in `worlds/` directory. ## Step 2: Present Options to the Player Present choices based on what exists: **If characters exist:** > "Welcome, adventurer! I see you have characters from previous adventures: > - [Character Name] (from [world/adventure context if known]) > > Would you like to continue with an existing character, or create someone new?" **If no characters exist:** > "Welcome, adventurer! This appears to be your first journey. Let's create your character. > What is your character's name?" **For world selection (similar pattern):** > "Which world would you like to explore? > - [World Name] - [brief description if available] > - Create a new world" ## Step 3: Process the Selection ### To Create a New Character Call `set_character` with `is_new: true`: ``` set_character({ name: "Kael Thouls", is_new: true }) ``` This creates: - Directory: `players/kael-thouls/` - Files: `sheet.md`, `story.md` (with templates) - Updates `playerRef` in adventure state to `"players/kael-thouls"` ### To Use an Existing Character Call `set_character` with `is_new: false`: ``` set_character({ name: "kael-thouls", is_new: false }) ``` (Can use slug or display name) ### To Create a New World Call `set_world` with `is_new: true`: ``` set_world({ name: "Eldoria", is_new: true }) ``` This creates: - Directory: `worlds/eldoria/` - Files: `world_state.md`, `locations.md`, `characters.md`, `quests.md`, `art-style.md` (with templates) - Updates `worldRef` in adventure state to `"worlds/eldoria"` **IMPORTANT: After creating a new world, immediately write a 1-2 line art style** to `art-style.md` based on the world's genre and tone. This art style is automatically applied to all generated background images. Example: ``` # Art Style Oil painting, impressionist brushwork, warm earth tones ``` Keep it concise—just the visual style keywords, not a full description. ### To Use an Existing World Call `set_world` with `is_new: false`: ``` set_world({ name: "eldoria", is_new: false }) ``` ## Step 4: Populate Character and World Files After creating new entries, populate the markdown files with player-provided details. **Character files** (`sheet.md`, `story.md`): - Gather name, race, class, and background from the player - Set initial attributes, equipment, and abilities in sheet.md - Track current objectives and story arcs in story.md **World files** (`world_state.md`, `locations.md`, `characters.md`, `quests.md`, `art-style.md`): - Write the art style FIRST (1-2 lines, e.g., "Watercolor illustration, soft pastels, dreamlike quality") - Establish genre, era, and tone in world_state.md - Create the starting location with vivid description - Add initial NPCs as the player encounters them For detailed file templates, see [references/file-structure.md](references/file-structure.md). ## Example: Complete New Adventure Flow ``` GM: "Welcome, adventurer! Let me check if you have any existing characters..." [GM calls list_characters()] GM: "This is your first adventure! Let's create your character. What name shall I call you?" Player: "Call me Kael Thouls" GM: "Kael Thouls - a strong name! And what world shall we explore? Shall I create a new realm for your adventures?" [GM calls list_worlds()] Player: "Yes, create a new world called Eldoria" GM: "Excellent! Let me set everything up..." [GM calls set_character({ name: "Kael Thouls", is_new: true })] [GM calls set_world({ name: "Eldoria", is_new: true })] GM: "Perfect! Now tell me about Kael - what race and class are they?" [GM proceeds to populate sheet.md with player's answers] ``` ## Best Practices 1. **Be conversational**: Don't dump all questions at once. Guide the player step by step. 2. **Offer defaults**: Suggest typical options but let players customize. 3. **Validate names**: Tool handles slugification; use player's exact input for display name. 4. **Build narrative**: Frame setup as the beginning of a story, not a form to fill out. 5. **Respect existing data**: When using existing character/world, read their files first. --- Source attribution: rjroy Original project: https://github.com/rjroy/adventure-engine-corvran/blob/df75ec7828eb108f4185e2e2bf3b1f5ff89b6c94/corvran/skills/character-world-init/SKILL.md License: MIT License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Dave AI. ## Upstream license notice MIT License Copyright (c) 2025 Ronald Roy Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. # Dave AI resource metadata Creator / publisher: rjroy Original project: https://github.com/rjroy/adventure-engine-corvran/blob/df75ec7828eb108f4185e2e2bf3b1f5ff89b6c94/corvran/skills/character-world-init/SKILL.md Attribution basis: Recovered original package and original project license at a pinned revision Fields of work: Design, Development & Engineering Roles: Game Developer, UX Designer Specialties: Backend Tools: Mcp Tools Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Source catalog labels Instruction SHA-256: 336cc25efba0c83f45d885fa2fcc30eb67c09f5615951839a11629eabb332b80 Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27 This metadata supersedes earlier Dave AI catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.