What is a character card?
A character card packages an AI roleplay character into a single file you can move between apps. Understanding the fields is the difference between a character that holds together and one that drifts after ten messages.
The short definition
A character card is a PNG image with structured text embedded in its metadata. The picture is the avatar; the hidden text is the character. Because it is one ordinary file, you can download it, back it up and load it into any client that reads the same spec.
What each field does
| Field | What it does | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|
| name | What the character is called | Keep it short; it appears in every prompt |
| description | Core persona and traits | The heaviest field — most drift starts here |
| personality | Condensed trait summary | Keep it consistent with description |
| scenario | The situation the chat opens in | Set place and stakes, not backstory |
| first_mes | Opening message | Sets tone and reply length for the whole chat |
| mes_example | Example exchanges | The strongest lever on speech style |
| creator_notes | Notes for humans | Not sent to the model |
V2 versus V3
V2 established the field set most clients support today. V3 adds structured extras — such as embedded lorebook entries and richer asset handling — while staying readable by clients that only understand the earlier fields. In practice a V3 card still loads in a V2-era client; it just ignores what it does not recognise.
Why the format matters
A platform-specific character exists only as long as that platform does. A card is a file on your disk. That is why portability, not feature count, is usually the thing people regret not checking earlier.
| Client | Reads V2/V3 cards | Runs in a browser | Needs local setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lingki AI | Yes | Yes | No |
| SillyTavern | Yes | Yes, self-hosted | Yes |
| Other card-compatible clients | Usually | Varies | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Is a character card the same as a prompt?
It contains prompt material, but it is structured: separate fields for persona, scenario, greeting and examples, which clients assemble into the final prompt.
Does the image matter?
Only as the avatar. The model never sees the picture — it reads the text embedded in the file.
How big should a description be?
Long enough to pin down voice and motivation, short enough to leave context room for the actual conversation. A few hundred words is typical.
Where can I get character cards?
The Lingki character library publishes community cards you can open in the browser or download for another client.