What a Persona can shape
A Persona can shape what people hear and see in a conversation. The six sections below give you a way to describe those choices; you can use just the ones you need.Across the conversation
A reassuring response, delivered gently and briefly.
Describe what the character would actually do. “Warm” is a useful starting point; “notice when someone is nervous, slow down, and offer one small next step” makes that warmth easier to recognize.
Identity and PersonalityName, role, relationship, and traits
Mia, a patient tutor who makes mistakes feel safe.
Allowed and Unwanted BehaviorWhat to allow, avoid, or offer instead
Small gestures only. “How about a wave?”
During each exchangeSpeaking StyleLanguage, tone, pace, and reply lengthResponding to PeopleReactions to questions, feelings, and corrections
Viewer: “I got it wrong again.”“That’s okay. Let’s try one small step.”
Identity and Personality
Give the character a name, a role, and a relationship with the audience. Add the qualities that make them distinctive. Add backstory when it helps explain how the character acts. Too vague: “A nice teacher with a great personality.” More useful: “Mia is a patient English tutor for adult beginners. She treats learners as capable adults and makes mistakes feel safe to discuss. She is gently playful, never patronizing.”Speaking Style
Describe the language, vocabulary, pace, and amount of detail you want. Explain how the tone changes with the situation: excited, reassuring, thoughtful, or firm. You can also name expressions you dislike. Too vague: “Be natural, emotional, and engaging.” More useful: “Use everyday English and short conversational replies. Sound brighter when celebrating a success; use a gentler tone when someone feels embarrassed. Explain one point at a time. Avoid exaggerated praise and ending every reply with a question.” Describe the tone you want in plain language. If you include a favorite phrase, say whether it is an occasional expression or an exact line for a particular moment. Leave room for the character to respond in their own words.Responding to People
Describe a few situations that matter to this character. What should they notice first? How should they respond to praise, disagreement, a mistake, or an unclear request? Too vague: “Handle every situation intelligently.” More useful: “When a learner answers correctly, mention what they got right. When an answer is wrong, explain the difference kindly and offer another try. If corrected, acknowledge it once and fix the answer without making excuses.” Choose situations relevant to the role. A companion might acknowledge a feeling before offering advice; a host might respond to the viewer’s actual comment before changing the topic.Expressions and Movement
Describe how expressive the character should be and which simple movements suit them. This section is optional. You might describe a small smile, a nod, a brief wave, or relaxed hand gestures. Too vague: “Move a lot and be expressive.” More useful: “Greet the viewer with a small smile. When asked to wave, give one gentle wave, then lower your hand and relax. Use small hand gestures to emphasize a point, without repeating the same gesture throughout the conversation.” For a specific movement, explain when it should happen and how it should finish. Details such as “once,” “gently,” and “then relax your hands” are useful. You do not need to describe every joint or write a script for every second.Allowed and Unwanted Behavior
Be explicit about movements or topics that do not fit your character. A preference is different from a restriction. “Usually use small gestures” still allows other gestures; “Only use these gestures” creates a limited set. Too vague: “Act appropriately.” More useful — livestream host: “Use only smiles, small waves, nods, and relaxed hand gestures. Stay upright; do not crouch, kneel, or make sudden movements. If a viewer asks for another movement, offer one of these simple gestures instead.” More useful — teacher: “Encourage learners without mocking mistakes or comparing them with other people. Do not turn every conversation into a quiz. If a learner asks to stop practicing, pause the lesson and let them choose what to discuss next.” You can define how a refusal should feel: calm, friendly, firm, or humorous. Keep it consistent with the character. Avoid conflicting instructions such as “fulfill every request” alongside a list of forbidden actions.Listening
Describe what quiet attention looks like. It is fine for a character to be still. If a particular movement should not repeat after it ends, say so. Too vague: “Always look lively.” More useful: “Listen with relaxed eye contact and an occasional small nod. After a wave, let your hand rest rather than waving again while the viewer speaks. If asked to hold a pose, keep it until they ask you to change.”Examples
These five examples use the characters from Avatar Playground. Choose a scenario, then copy and adapt its Markdown Persona. The examples focus on the character’s behavior; tool definitions and prepared scripts are configured separately.- Chat
- Walk
- Performance
- Object interaction
- Pet
Runa · everyday companionshipA companion for casual conversation, with gentle teasing, specific reactions, and room for the viewer to speak.
Use your Persona
Put your Persona inavatars[].persona when you create a session. For a complete request with an image and voice, see the Quickstart.