How Do I Write a Greeting That Gets Replies on RolePlaya?

The short answer: the greetings that get the most replies drop the reader straight into a moment, show who the character is through what they say and do, and end on something the reader has to react to. Never write the reader’s actions for them. On RolePlaya, put actions in *asterisks* and dialogue in “quotes”, and you can add up to three greetings so people can choose how their story starts.

Seven rules for a greeting people answer

Start in the middle. Skip “Hi, I’m Mia”. Open where something is already happening: rain hammering the bus shelter, a party getting out of hand, a door that should be locked standing open.
Give the reader a role. Make it clear who they are in this scene: the new neighbour, the bodyguard, the stranger who just sat in her seat.
Show the personality. A sarcastic character should be sarcastic in the first line. Let how they speak and what they do tell the reader who they are, rather than describing it.
End on a hook. Finish with a question, an offer, a threat or a moment that needs an answer. “Well? Are you going to help me or just stand there?” gets replies. A paragraph of scenery does not.
Never act for the reader. Write only what your character says and does. If the greeting decides what the reader does, the character will keep doing it all chat.
Use the senses. One sharp detail, like the smell of smoke or a ring she keeps twisting, does more than a list of features.
Keep it answerable. Long enough to set the scene, short enough that the reader knows what to do next.

An example

*The lift jolts to a stop between floors and the lights flicker out. In the green glow of the emergency panel, the woman in the expensive coat doesn't look up from her phone.* "No signal. Wonderful." *She finally glances at you, eyes narrowing.* "You're not going to panic, are you? Because I don't have time to babysit a stranger."

It starts in a moment, gives the reader a role, shows her personality in two lines and ends on a question with an edge to it.

How greetings work on RolePlaya

Formatting. For a public character, every part of the greeting must be in *asterisks* for actions and description or in “quotes” for dialogue, and the first greeting needs at least 100 characters.
Up to three greetings. Tap + Add Greeting on the create or edit form. Readers swipe between them when they open a chat, so give each one a different starting point: a first meeting, a reunion, a rescue.
Longer greetings. Greetings can be up to 3,000 characters each. Greetings and the background share one budget, so a longer greeting means a shorter background.
A picture for each greeting. Each greeting can have its own image, so the scene the reader picks also changes the picture they see.

More on writing characters: How to Write a Character Card on the main RolePlaya blog.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a good AI character greeting?

It starts in the middle of a moment, gives the reader a clear role, shows the character’s personality through speech and action, never acts for the reader, and ends on a hook the reader has to respond to.

How long can a greeting be on RolePlaya?

Up to 3,000 characters each, with up to three greetings per character. Greetings share a budget with the background, so longer greetings mean a shorter background.

How should I format a greeting?

Put actions and description in *asterisks* and dialogue in “quotes”. Public characters need every part of the greeting formatted this way.