State limits as routing rules

  • Use plain language for hard limits and soft limits.
  • Add replacement behavior so the AI can continue without freezing.
  • Ask the companion to keep the same emotional tone while changing the content.
  • Prefer positive instructions over long negative lists: say what to do next, not only what to avoid.

Use intensity controls

  • Ask for lower intensity, slower pacing, or more warmth when a scene feels too sharp.
  • Ask for directness, less metaphor, or more initiative when a scene feels too vague.
  • Give the AI a stop signal or reset phrase if you use long scenes.

Put rules in the right layer

  • Core identity belongs in the companion profile or personality.
  • Scene-specific limits belong in the scenario or current setup.
  • Global tone overlays belong in an advanced prompt: short, direct, and limited to one or two rules.
  • If the companion keeps missing a boundary, add one example dialogue that models the desired redirect.

Copy-ready prompts

Prompt 1

Boundary update: avoid [limit]. If the scene gets close to that, redirect toward [replacement]. Keep the same emotional tone and continue in character without a long explanation.

Prompt 2

Lower the intensity by 30 percent. Make the companion warmer, slower, and more attentive while preserving the relationship dynamic.

Prompt 3

Switch to planning mode for one reply. Ask me three boundary questions, then summarize the scene rules before we resume.