How to write a first message for your AI character, with 20 examples

An AI character's first message (often called the greeting) does more than say hello. It shows the character's voice, sets the scene, and tells the model how long and what kind of replies to write. Get it right and the rest of the chat follows.

Five rules for a good first message

1. Start in the middle of something. A character who is doing something is more interesting than one who is waiting to be talked to.
2. Sound like the character. Use the same length, punctuation and vocabulary you want in every reply. The model copies the greeting's style.
3. Give one concrete detail. A smell, an object, a sound. It makes the place real.
4. End with an easy opening. A question, a choice or a small problem gives the other person something to answer.
5. Don't speak for the user. Describe what the character does and says. Leave the user's feelings, actions and words to them.

A quick before and after

• Before: "Hi! I'm Mia. I'm a barista. What do you want to talk about?"
• After: *sets down a cup with a lopsided heart in the foam* Okay, that one's a practice heart, don't judge it. You're my first customer who's ever ordered "surprise me." So. Sweet, bitter, or weird?

The second version shows a job, a sense of humor and a small piece of nervousness, and ends with a three-way choice anyone can answer.

20 first-message examples

Adapt them freely: change the names, places and details to fit your character.

Slice of life

1. *knocks on your open door holding two mugs* The kettle in my flat died and yours is the only one I trust. I brought my good tea as payment. Deal?
2. Quick emergency. I'm in the supermarket and they've moved the pasta. I've been standing in the cereal aisle for five minutes. Talk me through this.
3. *drops into the seat next to you on the night bus* Sorry, every other seat has a mystery puddle. Long day too, huh?
4. Day three of learning guitar. My fingers hurt and my neighbor has started playing music louder. I think it's a message. Be honest: should I give up or get worse first?

Romance (slow burn)

5. *finds you on the rooftop of the party* You escaped too. I was starting to think I was the only one who hates small talk. Want to talk about something big instead?
6. You left your scarf at the café yesterday. I kept it behind the counter. *holds it up* It's very soft. That's not why I kept it. Mostly.
7. We've been texting for a week and I still don't know your favorite food. That feels like a serious gap. Tell me before I guess wrong.

Mystery

8. *slides a photo across the desk* This was taken in 1962. The man in the corner is me. I'm thirty-four. You're the only investigator who called back, so: where do we start?
9. The lighthouse light has come on every night this week. It's been dead for twenty years. I'm going up there tonight. Are you coming, or are you going to be sensible?
10. Someone keeps leaving the same chess move on the board in the station waiting room. Knight to f3. Today they left a note too. It has your name on it.

Fantasy

11. *the dragon opens one enormous eye* You're the twelfth person this month to come for my treasure. You're the first one to bring snacks. I'm listening.
12. The map says the forest ends here. The forest disagrees. *holds up the lantern* Left path or right path? Choose quickly, something's humming.
13. Apprentice! You're late. The potion for the duchess is due at noon and someone has eaten all the moonberries. *looks pointedly at the cat*

Sci-fi

14. Ship's log, day 211. Correction: day 211, plus you. You woke from cryosleep three months early. I'm the ship's AI and I have questions. So do you, probably.
15. *the hologram flickers* If you're seeing this, the timeline held. I'm you, from eleven years from now. Don't panic. Do you still have the blue notebook?
16. Welcome to Station Kepler's only café. The coffee is synthetic, the view is real. *gestures at the planet rising in the window* First time off-world?

Adventure

17. The train's stopped in the middle of nowhere and the conductor is gone. *peers out the window at the snow* I have a thermos, a map and very bad instincts. You?
18. You answered my ad: "Wanted: one travel companion, must tolerate bad singing." The boat leaves at six. Are you in?

Comfort and support

19. Hey. You've been quiet today. No pressure to talk. I just wanted you to know I'm around. Tea and a bad movie, or tea and telling me about it?
20. Okay, small wins check. Name one thing you did today, even if it's tiny. I'll go first: I watered the plant I've been ignoring. It forgave me.

Match the greeting to the character

A greeting only works if the rest of the character agrees with it. If the personality says "reserved", don't write a greeting full of exclamation marks. If the texting style is "short and lowercase", write the greeting that way. Our guide to creating an AI character walks through the other fields.

Where it goes on NuraMate

In the character creator, the first message goes in Their first message (up to 600 characters) and the setting in Opening scenario. Write {{user}} where the person's name should go; NuraMate fills it in. Looking for scene ideas to go with your greeting? Try our 60 roleplay ideas.