{"tab":"ai","section":"generateCharacterBackground","title":"Character Background","summary":"The aiInstructions task that generates the player character's backstory and appearance during character creation.","kind":"schema","uiLocation":"AI Tasks → Character Background","uiSubtitle":"\"Character Background Instructions\"","editor":"Graphical form (labeled textareas)","related":[{"section":"aiInstructions","note":"the AI-task system this belongs to"},{"section":"premadeCharacters","note":"player character configuration"}],"wikiUrl":"/ai/generateCharacterBackground","schema":null,"sizeLimits":[{"id":"aiInstructionIndividual","group":"AI Instructions Limits","label":"Each string leaf under a task (`aiInstructions.<task>.<key>`)","measure":"rawChars","enforced":5000,"display":5000,"sections":["ai/aiInstructions","ai/generateStory","ai/generateInitialStart","ai/generateCharacterBackground","ai/generateNPCDetails","ai/generateNPCUpdates","ai/generateLocationDetails","ai/generateRegionDetails","ai/generateFactionDetails","ai/generateEncounters","ai/generateItemGenerationAndUsage","ai/generateActionInfo","ai/generateNPCIntents","ai/generateNewNPC","ai/generateLearnedAbilities"]},{"id":"aiInstructionPerTask","group":"AI Instructions Limits","label":"Per task (`aiInstructions.<task>` total, sum of instruction chars)","measure":"rawChars","enforced":20000,"display":20000,"sections":["ai/aiInstructions","ai/generateStory","ai/generateInitialStart","ai/generateCharacterBackground","ai/generateNPCDetails","ai/generateNPCUpdates","ai/generateLocationDetails","ai/generateRegionDetails","ai/generateFactionDetails","ai/generateEncounters","ai/generateItemGenerationAndUsage","ai/generateActionInfo","ai/generateNPCIntents","ai/generateNewNPC","ai/generateLearnedAbilities"]}],"blocks":[{"type":"example","lang":"json","code":"{\n  \"aiInstructions\": {\n    \"generateCharacterBackground\": {\n      \"prompt\": \"Write a character profile in two sections.\\n\\nBackground (6–8 sentences): Who they are now, where they're from, what shaped them, how they gained their abilities. End with forward momentum.\\n\\nAppearance (3 sentences): Height and build, coloration, one distinctive permanent feature. No clothing, gear, or interpretive language ('wise-looking', 'mysterious').\",\n      \"custom\": \"## Tone\\nHeroic optimism. Frame hardship as a source of strength. These are characters at the start of their story, not the end of it.\"\n    }\n  }\n}"},{"type":"prose","md":"## Fields\n\n### prompt\n\nThe full background generation prompt. Three states:\n\n| State | Effect |\n|-------|--------|\n| Omit `prompt` | Use the engine default |\n| Set to your custom string | Replace the default wholesale |\n| Set to `\" \"` (a single space) | Disable the default without replacing it |\n\n### custom\n\nAppended AFTER `prompt` as additional guidance. Does not replace the default, regardless of what `prompt` contains."},{"type":"prose","md":"## What it does\n\nThis task generates the player character's backstory and appearance during character creation.\n\n**Legacy keys** (backwards-compatible, do not use in new worlds): `character_profile_generator`, `character_profile_background`, `character_profile_appearance`, `do_not_include`, `style`, `structure`, `context`, `final_notes`. These are accepted by the engine for older worlds but should not be authored in new content."}],"body":"## Example\n\n```json\n{\n  \"aiInstructions\": {\n    \"generateCharacterBackground\": {\n      \"prompt\": \"Write a character profile in two sections.\\n\\nBackground (6–8 sentences): Who they are now, where they're from, what shaped them, how they gained their abilities. End with forward momentum.\\n\\nAppearance (3 sentences): Height and build, coloration, one distinctive permanent feature. No clothing, gear, or interpretive language ('wise-looking', 'mysterious').\",\n      \"custom\": \"## Tone\\nHeroic optimism. Frame hardship as a source of strength. These are characters at the start of their story, not the end of it.\"\n    }\n  }\n}\n```\n\n## Fields\n\n### prompt\n\nThe full background generation prompt. Three states:\n\n| State | Effect |\n|-------|--------|\n| Omit `prompt` | Use the engine default |\n| Set to your custom string | Replace the default wholesale |\n| Set to `\" \"` (a single space) | Disable the default without replacing it |\n\n### custom\n\nAppended AFTER `prompt` as additional guidance. Does not replace the default, regardless of what `prompt` contains.\n\n## What it does\n\nThis task generates the player character's backstory and appearance during character creation.\n\n**Legacy keys** (backwards-compatible, do not use in new worlds): `character_profile_generator`, `character_profile_background`, `character_profile_appearance`, `do_not_include`, `style`, `structure`, `context`, `final_notes`. These are accepted by the engine for older worlds but should not be authored in new content."}