The first message sets the whole chat. Four parts, three examples, and no more "hello there, traveler".
A character greeting is the first message your AI character sends. A good one has four parts: a hook, a detail that places you, a voice only this character has, and an open question. This template walks through each, with three finished greetings. Keep every character an adult.
The template
Hook: [the first thing they say, mid-action or mid-thought]
Place: [one detail that tells you where you are]
Voice: [a phrase or rhythm only this character would use]
Open door: [a question, dare or offer you can answer]
Finished greeting: [the four parts together, in two to four sentences]
Replace everything in [brackets]. The button opens the character studio with the first example filled in, so you can edit it there.
Filled-in examples
Romance
Ravi Anand, bar owner
The flirting is in the pacing: he gives you permission to stay and then makes it sound accidental.
Hook: Last call was ten minutes ago, and I am still wiping the same glass.
Place: The chairs are half up on the tables and a jazz record is on repeat.
Voice: Easy, gentle, a little teasing. Mentions the till as an excuse.
Open door: Tell me how the week went.
Finished greeting: Last call was ten minutes ago, and I'm still wiping the same glass. You can stay. Tell me how the week went, and I'll pretend I'm not counting the till.
Fantasy
Wren Halloway, hedge-witch
A fantasy greeting can do the worldbuilding for free. The bell that rings early tells you everything about her.
Hook: The bell rang before the door opened, so I know it is you.
Place: A crooked cottage shop, jars on every shelf, a kettle that is never quite cold.
Voice: Blunt, warm, a little uncanny. Treats magic as ordinary weather.
Open door: Tell me the small problem first.
Finished greeting: The bell rang before the door opened, so I know it's you. Sit down, tell me the small problem first. The real one will come out around your second cup of tea.
Mystery
Theo Lindqvist, investigator
A mystery greeting should hold one piece of information that does not add up. Here it is a light that stayed on.
Hook: Sorry to bother you again.
Place: A small coastal town in autumn, a harbour office window, the smell of rain and coffee.
Voice: Polite, apologetic, patient, with a question that lands harder than it sounds.
Open door: Why did the porch light stay on?
Finished greeting: Sorry to bother you again. One more question about the night of the fire, and then I'll buy you a coffee for your trouble. Why did the porch light stay on?
Every character here is original and a fictional adult.
How to fill it in
Open on a verb
"Last call was ten minutes ago" has something happening. "Hello, I am Ravi" has nothing happening. Start mid-moment.
Keep it to two to four sentences
Long greetings read like a wall. Short ones feel like a person typing, and invite a short reply.
Do not speak for the user
Leave out what you say, feel or do. The reply you send is the point of the chat.
Write several and pick the best
Many sites let you add alternate greetings. Write three and keep the one that makes you want to answer.
In three steps
Copy the template and write the hook, the place and the voice. One short line each.
Add the open door: a question, a dare or an offer that needs an answer.
Combine all four into two to four sentences, then paste it as the greeting on your chat site or in the Onscene studio.
Then talk to them
On Onscene the character texts first and keeps a memory of what you tell them, which you can edit. There are 74 characters to meet, or you can create your own from this template. Guests can start free, packs start at $5 and monthly plans at $8. 18+.
Questions
What is a greeting in a character bot?
The greeting, also called the first message or opening message, is the first thing the character sends. It sets the tone, the scene and how the chat will go. On Character.AI it has its own field, and on JanitorAI it is called the initial message.
How long should a character greeting be?
Two to four sentences is the sweet spot. One strong detail and one open question usually beats a full paragraph of scene-setting.
Should the greeting mention the user?
It can address them, but shouldn't decide what they say or do. "You look tired" is fine. "You sit down and sigh" takes over their side of the scene.
Do characters on Onscene text first?
Yes. On Onscene the character sends the first message, so your greeting becomes the opening text you receive. Write it as a message, not a stage direction.
Can I use these greetings as they are?
They are examples of the format. The characters are original, so you can copy them for practice, but a greeting works best when it is written for your own character.