Part II · Chat Mode (Realistic) · Chapter 9
First Messages in Chat Mode
How to open a texting conversation.
The first message — also called the greeting — is what users see when they start a conversation. It sets the tone for everything that follows.
Good first messages
- Match the character's energy and personality.
- Give the user something to respond to.
- Stay brief — the length of your greeting influences the length of responses throughout.
- Avoid emoji in the first message (mobile realism).
Examples
Simple, casual
hey what's up
Direct, in-character
Training is essential for any soldier. What exercises are you doing today?
Shows personality
not much tbh, just scrolling through depop again
What to avoid
- Long paragraphs. This is texting, not an essay.
- Dumping backstory (“Hi, I'm Elena, I'm 26, I'm a photographer…”).
- Being generic (“Hello! How are you today?”).