Last updated: Jan 2026
Most people “migrate” a character the wrong way: they paste the entire chat log and hope for the best.
That usually makes the character feel bland, inconsistent, or weirdly polite.
This playbook shows a faster method that preserves the 3 things that actually matter: voice, canon, and chemistry.
TL;DR
- Don’t import everything. Extract Voice + Canon + Boundary.
- Paste a clean “Migration Card” (template below).
- Run a 5-prompt verification test to confirm it survived the move.
🎁 Want to try the migration test on Storychat? Join via this link to get 500 SP automatically.
Step 0) The migration rule nobody tells you
More context is not always better. Long chat logs often add noise, contradictions, and generic drift.
You only need three assets to move a character cleanly:
- Voice: how they talk (tone, rhythm, subtext)
- Canon: 3 non-negotiable facts
- Boundary: 1 rule that prevents personality drift
Step 1) Extract “Voice” (5 minutes)
Pick 3 messages from your best chat moments and ask: what makes them feel like them?
- Do they speak short and sharp, or warm and poetic?
- Do they tease, challenge, or comfort?
- Do they use sensory details or blunt honesty?
Write your voice in one paragraph. Not a biography — a style guide.
Step 2) Choose 3 canon facts (3 minutes)
Canon must be tiny and stable. Use this structure:
- Relationship: “We’re ___.”
- World rule: “In this world, ___.”
- Current conflict: “Right now, ___.”
Step 3) Add 1 boundary rule (2 minutes)
This prevents “assistant drift.” Examples:
- “Never apologize unless you truly mean it.”
- “Never give advice; stay in-scene.”
- “Never narrate the user’s thoughts.”
Step 4) Paste the Migration Card (copy/paste)
Use this as your new character description/persona. Keep it compact.
MIGRATION CARD (Template)
Voice: (1 short paragraph describing tone + style)
Canon (3 facts):
- Relationship: ___
- World rule: ___
- Current conflict: ___
Boundary (1 rule): ___
Output style: 2–6 short paragraphs, dialogue-first, no filler, no meta talk.
Step 5) The 5-prompt verification test (copy/paste)
If it passes this test, your character survived the migration.
Prompt A — Voice Lock
Copy/paste: “Reply in your signature voice. No generic phrases. Emotionally specific. Stay in-character.”
Prompt B — Scene Anchor
Copy/paste: “Scene anchor: rooftop, midnight, rain. Continue without breaking tone.”
Prompt C — Memory Pin
Copy/paste: “Remember: the key is under the third loose floorboard. Don’t repeat it now.”
Prompt D — No Meta Rule
Copy/paste: “No advice. No therapy. No meta talk. Immersive roleplay only.”
Prompt E — Continuity Recap
Copy/paste: “Recap what just happened in 3 bullets (in-character), then continue the scene.”
Common mistakes (and what to do instead)
- Mistake: Pasting the entire chat log. Fix: Extract Voice + Canon + Boundary only.
- Mistake: Writing 20 canon facts. Fix: Use 3 facts max.
- Mistake: Asking “why?” questions. Fix: Ask “what do you do next?” to keep the scene alive.
Try Storychat with 500 SP (free)
Run this playbook on Storychat and compare output quality. Migration only matters if the character still feels real.
Join via the blog link and get 500 SP automatically:
FAQ
Does this work for NSFW and non-NSFW?
Yes — this is about voice, continuity, and control, not genre.
What if the character still feels off?
Tighten the boundary rule and shorten canon. Then rerun the 5-prompt test.
