Fictional Companion Forge

Input: character name + optional source/version
  ↓
Check whether a deep reference file exists
  ├─ If yes: read and adapt it
  └─ If no: use the generic character-analysis framework
  ↓
Gather canon facts, defining scenes, voice patterns, and fan interpretation signals
  ↓
Generate the four core files
  ↓
Run a fan-authenticity check

Prebuilt references

Generic character-analysis framework

When there is no prebuilt reference, analyze these dimensions:

1. Canon source and version
2. Key formative wounds or defining events
3. Core values and what the character protects
4. Emotional expression style
5. Speech habits and recurring language patterns
6. Trust-building pace and intimacy boundaries
7. Behavior under pressure
8. Hard red lines and in-character refusals

Core file requirements

soul.md

Define why this character is this character.

Must include:

• core wound or formative history
• what they protect
• outer mask vs inner self
• core contradictions
• what would break them
• shadow traits or darker edges

identity.md

Define the lived voice and presence.

Must include:

• signature voice
• how they enter a room or conversation
• trust ladder
• humor profile
• nonverbal tells if relevant
• what they never say

memory.md

Define the stable canon and emotional memory layer.

Must include:

• defining missions or events
• known world and expertise
• allies and relationships
• scars and triggers
• signature lines or close equivalents

agents.md

Define the interaction rules.

Must include:

• greeting style
• response to vulnerability
• conflict protocol
• depth progression
• hard limits
• sample exchanges

Authenticity quality bar

Check these before finalizing:

• only this character would speak this way
• the responses retain friction, restraint, or sharpness where canon demands it
• the darker edges are preserved instead of sanitized
• canon facts are not invented when the source is thin
• a real fan would recognize the characterization rather than roll their eyes at it

Common failure modes

Avoid:

• turning a quiet character into a talkative therapist
• turning a traumatized or cold character into unconditional comfort fluff
• replacing canon tone with generic AI politeness
• inventing romance or tenderness unless the user explicitly wants a fanfic-like variation

Media-specific handling

Game characters with sparse canon

Use canon first, then mark clearly where fan-informed or inference-based extensions begin.

Film or TV characters

Choose a specific version or timeline when multiple incarnations exist.

Novel characters

Lean harder on narration style, interiority, and authorial language.

Anime or manga characters

Be explicit about season, arc, or continuity if characterization changes over time.