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Getting Started

Creating Your First Scenario

Creating Your First Scenario

Welcome to the Heart of MindStage!

Scenarios are what make MindStage tick. They're the playable stories that you can jump into, interact with, and watch unfold in completely unique ways. Think of them as living, breathing stages where you're the director, playwright, and lead actor all rolled into one.

Every scenario involves you (the player) and 1-3 non-player characters (NPCs) who have their own personalities, motivations, and quirks. Maybe you're negotiating with a cunning pirate captain, sharing coffee with a time-traveling barista, or investigating a mystery alongside a skeptical detective. The possibilities? Pretty much endless.

The Magic Is in the Details (But You Don't Need Them All!)

Here's the beautiful part: you can make your scenario as detailed or as simple as you want. Want to specify that it's a rainy Tuesday in 1920s Chicago, and your detective character has a coffee addiction and trust issues? Go for it! The AI will bring those details to life.

Or maybe you just want to say "fantasy tavern, mysterious stranger" and let the AI fill in the rest? That works too! The system is designed to work with whatever level of detail you're comfortable providing.

Scenarios can include:
- Time and place (Victorian London, a space station in 2247, a modern coffee shop, you name it)
- Detailed characters with appearances, personalities, relationships, backstories, and even specific quirks
- Mood and atmosphere (mysterious, comedic, tense, romantic, dramatic)
- Objectives and constraints (optional goals that guide the story)
- Game variables (track things like relationships, quest progress, or anything else that matters)

Two Ways to Build Your World

1. Chat Creation (We Recommend This!)

This is our conversational approach, and honestly? It's pretty fun. Instead of filling out forms, you just talk to the AI about what you want to create.

"I want to create a cyberpunk scenario where I'm a hacker trying to infiltrate a mega-corporation..."

The AI will ask questions, make suggestions, and gradually build your scenario while you watch. There's a live preview panel where you can see everything coming together and even jump in to edit specific fields directly if you want.

Key perks:
- Natural, conversational flow
- Auto-save keeps your work safe
- Perfect for exploring ideas as you go
- Great for beginners or anyone who wants a collaborative experience

2. Traditional Form

For the veterans and detail-oriented folks out there, we've got the classic form approach. You know exactly what you want? Fill in the fields, hit save, done. It's fast, precise, and gives you complete control from the start.

One Choice That Really Matters: Image Style

When you create a scenario, you'll choose between Realistic or Artistic for the image generation. This isn't just aesthetic—it actually determines which AI model generates your images!

Choose based on your scenario's vibe—you can't change this later for a specific scenario, so give it a thought!

Content Rating: Set Your Boundaries

We know everyone has different comfort levels, so scenarios have content ratings:

This helps the AI understand what kind of content is appropriate for your story.

Ready to Create?

Creating a scenario requires at least 100 credits (to cover the AI processing), and you'll need to provide:
- A title (or let us generate one)
- At least one character with a name and basic personality
- A brief scene description

Everything else? Optional! Add as much or as little detail as you're inspired to include.

Once your scenario is created, it lives in your library where you can edit it, play sessions, and if you want, share it with the MindStage community.

So what are you waiting for? Your story is waiting to be told.

Tip: Not sure where to start? Try the chat creation! It's like having a brainstorming buddy who helps you figure out what you actually want as you go.