50 first messages to a bot in a roleplay: what to write to make the roleplay start interesting — ready-made formulas by genres (romance, fantasy, school AU, detective, everyday life). For those who are stuck in the empty field of "what to talk about with the bot" and don't know what to write or do in the roleplay. Each formula is a template for the first line that can be copied and pasted into the chat.
In Brief: The first message in a roleplay sets the tone for the entire scenario. In this article, you'll find 50 ready-made templates for first lines in romance, fantasy, school AU, detective, slice-of-life, drama, and sci-fi that you can copy and adapt for your character in 30 seconds.
This article is not about creating a character or setting their personality—read more about that in the material on creating AI characters. Here, we only provide starter lines for already established bots.
A blank chat field can be paralyzing: you want to start interestingly, but all that comes to mind is "Hi" or "How are you?". The problem isn’t a lack of imagination, but that your brain craves context. The first message in a roleplay is simultaneously the plot hook, the tone setter, and a signal to the bot about what style of dialogue you expect. Below are seven genre blocks with specific formulas that work as entry points into the story. Each formula includes a situation, an emotion, and a hook for the character's response.
7 Genre Blocks with Ready-Made Formulas for First Messages
Each block contains 5 to 10 templates. Copy the text, change the names and details to fit your character, and send it. The formulas are structured as follows: context + action + emotional anchor.
Romance (10 formulas)
- “I accidentally took your coffee at the café—I only realized it when I read the name on the cup. Are you still here?”
- “We’ve been stuck in the elevator for twenty minutes. You look surprisingly calm—or are you just hiding your panic well?”
- “I found a book in the library with your notes in the margins. Some of your comments made me laugh. Do you often argue with authors?”
- “Your dog stole my scarf at the park. Now we’re both running after her—do you think we have a chance of catching her?”
- “You just saved me from a terrible blind date by pretending we’re old friends. Do I owe you dinner, or is coffee enough?”
- “We’re the only two people who showed up for the book club meeting. Should we discuss the novel together, or just drink wine and talk about our lives?”
- “I moved into the apartment above yours a week ago. I flooded your bathroom today. Sorry. Is there any way I can make it up to you besides paying for repairs?”
- “You left a note in my mailbox complimenting my cat. He’s flattered, by the way. So am I.”
- “We’ve bumped into each other three times this month in the same store at three a.m. Maybe the universe is hinting we should discuss something other than chip choices?”
- “I found your diary on a bench in the park. I promise I didn’t read past the first page. How can I return it to you?”
Fantasy (8 formulas)
- “The mark on my hand started glowing when I entered the tavern. You’re the only one looking at me like you understand what that means.”
- “I stole an artifact from the temple. Now the priests are hunting me, and I need a guide through the Cursed Forest. They say you’re the only one who knows the paths.”
- “You won me in a card game. I’m a mage bound by an oath to serve whoever names my true name. You have three attempts.”
- “The dragon I was supposed to kill turned out to be you in human form. Now we’re both sitting by the fire, and I need to decide what to do next.”
- “I woke up in your cabin with a wound on my side and gaps in my memory. You say you found me in the woods three days ago. Who am I?”
- “The portal closed too soon. Now I’m stuck in your world without magic and no idea how to get home. You’re the first one who hasn’t run away screaming.”
- “I accidentally summoned you while reading a spell from an old book. Judging by your expression, you’re not happy. How do I send you back?”
- “You’re the last heir of the royal line, hiding under a false name. I’m a mercenary hired to find you. But I didn’t tell the client I’ve already found you.”
School AU (8 formulas)
- “I accidentally sent my literature homework to the wrong group. Now the whole class is reading my analysis of a poem where I compared the lyrical hero to you. Can we pretend it’s a joke?”
- “We’ve been assigned as project partners, even though we’ve never talked. Do you have any ideas, or should we improvise until the night before the deadline?”
- “I found your sketchbook on the windowsill. Are some of the sketches of me? Or am I being too conceited?”
- “You’re sitting in my spot in the library. I’ve been sitting there every day for two years. I’m willing to trade it for a small fee—tell me what you’re reading?”
- “We both stayed after school—you for fighting, me for failing a test. The guard forgot about us and locked the school. Got a plan for escape?”
- “I saw you put a note in my locker. Your handwriting is beautiful, but the signature is illegible. Was it you, or is someone asking me to pass it on?”
- “You’re the new kid, and they sat you next to me. The teacher asked me to show you around the school. Do you want an official tour, or should I show you the best places to skip class?”
- “We’re the only two people who showed up for the school play rehearsal. The others bailed. Should we improvise the scene together or just call it a day?”
Detective (7 formulas)
- “I found your business card at the crime scene. You’re either a witness or a very careless criminal. Can you explain what it was doing there?”
- “We both received the same anonymous letter with the address of this warehouse and the meeting time. Do you know who lured us here?”
- “I’m a private detective, and you’re the prime suspect. But the evidence is too perfect. Someone wants to frame you, and I need your version of events.”
- “You’re the last person who saw the missing girl. The police closed the case, but I’m her brother, and I won’t stop. Will you talk to me?”
- “I hacked your computer looking for evidence. I found something, but now I’m not sure whose side you’re on. Can we meet and discuss?”
- “You’re a journalist, I’m a cop. You uncovered information that could either ruin my investigation or help it. Are you willing to share, or will you negotiate?”
- “We’re both working on the same case from different sides—you from the insurance, me from the victim’s family. Maybe we should join forces before it’s too late?”
Slice-of-Life (7 formulas)
- “I accidentally received your package. Inside is something strange. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it. Now I feel awkward. Will you come pick it up?”
- “We’ve bumped into each other three times this week in line for coffee at seven in the morning. Maybe the universe is hinting that we should get to know each other?”
- “I’m your new neighbor. I just moved in and already managed to block the trash chute. The neighbors are giving me looks. Can you tell me who to talk to?”
- “You walk your dog every evening at the same time. So do I. Our dogs have already become friends. Maybe we should too?”
- “I work at the café across from your office. You order the same thing every day. Today I decided to add a note to your cup. Hope I didn’t overdo it.”
- “We’re stuck at the airport due to a canceled flight. The next one is in eight hours. Want to pass the time chatting, or do you prefer silent coexistence?”
- “I accidentally overheard your phone conversation on the subway. It sounded like you needed help. I can offer advice or just listen.”
Drama (5 formulas)
- “I returned to town after five years. You’re the last person I wanted to see and the first one I was looking for. Can we talk?”
- “You came to the funeral of the person I considered my best friend. But I’ve never heard your name. Who were you to him?”
- “I found out the truth about that night. You lied to me for three years. Can you explain why, or should I leave right now?”
- “We’re both standing on a bridge at three a.m. I won’t ask why you’re here if you don’t ask me. Deal?”
- “You left a letter saying you were leaving forever. But I found you. Now explain why you thought I shouldn’t have a choice.”
Sci-fi (5 formulas)
- “My ship crashed on this station. You’re the only one who responded to the distress signal. Why are you here alone?”
- “I woke up in a cryo-sleep capsule two hundred years after departure. The computer says you’re the only surviving crew member. What happened to the others?”
- “The scanner shows you’re not human. But you’re acting so convincingly that I doubted the equipment. Can you prove me wrong?”
- “I’m a corporate agent, and you’re the hacker who stole data worth a billion credits. But I read the files. Now I’m on your side. What’s next?”
- “The portal closed while I was on the other side. You’re a local of this planet. I don’t know the language, the laws, anything. Can you help me survive?”
Comparison Table: When to Choose Which Genre
| Genre | When It’s Suitable | When It’s Not Suitable | Average Length of Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romance | Want light flirting, slow bonding, emotional dialogues | Need fast action, conflicts without personal stakes | 15–40 messages |
| Fantasy | Interested in quests, magic, a well-developed world, adventures | Prefer realistic everyday situations | 30–70 messages |
| School AU | Nostalgic for school, light conflicts, teenage romance | Looking for serious adult themes | 10–30 messages |
| Detective | Love puzzles, logical chains, tension | Want to relax without intellectual strain | 20–50 messages |
| Slice-of-Life | Need coziness, realistic dialogues, slow pace | Looking for drama or fantastical elements | 10–25 messages |
| Drama | Ready for heavy themes, emotional swings, catharsis | Want light escapism without stress | 15–40 messages |
| Sci-fi | Interested in technology, space, philosophical questions | Prefer familiar earthly settings | 25–60 messages |
Platforms like the AI character catalog offer bots with predefined genres—tag filters help quickly find the right mood.
How to Choose a Formula for Your Situation
Situation 1: You’re trying roleplay for the first time. Start with slice-of-life or romance. Formulas like “We bumped into each other in line for coffee” don’t require lore knowledge, complex backstories, or improvisation with magic systems. The bot will pick up the simple context and carry the dialogue naturally.
Situation 2: You know the character but don’t know how to start. Open the bot’s description, find a key trait (like “loner detective” or “student artist”). Choose a formula that puts this trait at the center: for the detective—“I found your business card at the crime scene,” for the artist—“I found your sketchbook.” The character will immediately have a reason to act within their role.
Situation 3: You want a long scenario. Fantasy and detective genres provide the most material for development. Formulas with quests (“I need a guide through the forest”) or investigations (“You’re the last one who saw the missing person”) create a chain of goals: each line opens a new twist.
Situation 4: You want to quickly “test” the character. School AU and slice-of-life provide short, concise scenarios. The formula “We’ve been assigned as project partners” in 10–15 lines will show how the bot reacts to cooperation, humor, and light conflict.
Anatomy of a Working Formula: Three Essential Elements
Each formula from the list above contains three components that make it “grabbing” for the language model. Understanding the structure will help you adapt templates or create your own.
Element 1: A specific situation. Not “Hi, how are you?” but “I accidentally took your coffee.” Details (coffee, name on the cup) give the bot clues for a response. The model “sees” objects and can manipulate them in dialogue: returning the cup, joking about the taste, asking where you’re sitting.
Element 2: An emotional or logical hook. This is a question, assumption, or unfinished action: “Are you still here?”, “Can you explain what it was doing there?”, “Are you willing to share?”. The hook provokes a reaction—the bot can’t just nod; it must give a meaningful response.
Element 3: A role for the character. The formula hints at who the bot is in this scene: a witness, ally, adversary, or casual acquaintance. For example, “You’re the only one who responded to the distress signal” immediately makes the character a rescuer or a potential threat. This sets the dynamic: the bot understands what mask to wear.
If your formula contains all three elements, it will work even with a bot that hasn’t been specifically tailored to the scenario. If something is missing—for example, you wrote “Hi, I’m new” without a situation and hook—the bot will respond with a generic phrase, and you’ll have to carry the dialogue yourself.
Common Mistakes in First Messages (and How to Avoid Them)
Even with a ready-made formula, you can stumble upon typical traps. Here are four mistakes that kill the pace of roleplay from the start.
Mistake 1: Too much backstory. “I grew up in a small town, I have three sisters, I studied to be a doctor but dropped out because…”—stop. The bot won’t remember half the details, and you’ve spent your entire first turn on a monologue. Better: “I dropped out of medical school in my final year. You’re the first one who hasn’t asked why.” Intrigue instead of biography.
Mistake 2: Closed questions. “Do you like coffee?”—the bot will answer “Yes” or “No,” and the dialogue will stall. Open formulas work better: “What do you usually order?” or “You look like someone who drinks espresso without sugar. Did I guess right?”
Mistake 3: Ignoring the character's setting. If the bot’s description states “medieval knight,” and you write “Hi, see you at the café,” the model will get confused. Either adapt the formula to the setting (“See you at the tavern”) or choose a character that fits the formula. A catalog with genre filters—like romantic characters—simplifies the selection.
Mistake 4: Passive position. “What should we do?” shifts the initiative to the bot. Better: “I suggest we check the old warehouse first. Are you with me, or do you have another plan?” You set the direction but leave room for the bot to maneuver.
When No Formula Fits: Alternative Entry Points
Sometimes ready-made templates feel foreign—you want to start in your own way, but without clichés. Here are three alternative approaches that work when lists don’t inspire.
Approach 1: Start in the middle. Skip the introduction and setup. “We’ve been running from pursuers for three hours. Do you still have any bullets?” This technique is called in medias res—a plunge into the thick of events. The bot will pick up the pace and start improvising, filling in the context on the fly.
Approach 2: Use a catalyst object. A letter, photo, key, scar—any item with a story. “