This guide is a literal timeline. If you follow it exactly, in one hour you'll have a playable world, one tuned character, a session you can actually share, and a good sense of whether wilds.ai is for you.This guide is a literal timeline. If you follow it exactly, in one hour you'll have a playable world, one tuned character, a session you can actually share, and a good sense of whether wilds.ai is for you.

#Minutes 0–5: Sign up or go in as a guest

Two paths. Either works.

• Guest. click into the prompt on the landing page. 250 credits, no signup. Your progress is tied to this browser and IP.
• Signed-up free account. 500 credits + cross-device save + public creator profile + 3 character slots. Takes 30 seconds with Google/Discord/GitHub.

#Minutes 5–10: Pick a genre on purpose

Don't write a prompt first. Go to Create → World and look at the genre cards. Each one has a real mechanical impact. picking a genre before writing the prompt anchors the AI to a coherent ruleset.

• Want something you'll play a lot → Roguelike, Dungeon Crawler, or TTRPG.
• Want to write stories with the AI → Interactive Fiction or Visual Novel.
• Want to hang out with characters → Character mode (not a genre; it's the mode toggle above the genre cards).
• Just want to see what's possible → Surprise Me in the right sidebar. It's the fastest way to feel the range.

#Minutes 10–20: Write a prompt that actually works

Here's the pattern that works best. Three sentences. No more.

1. Setting. where and when. One concrete visual.
2. Conflict. what's wrong and who's involved.
3. Player role. who you are in this world.

This gives the AI three locks: concrete setting, specific mystery, personal stakes. Generic prompts like "a fantasy adventure" produce generic worlds. Specific prompts produce worlds with teeth.

#Minutes 20–30: Tune the knobs that matter

After you've typed the prompt, scroll the right sidebar. Most of the knobs don't matter much on your first world. these three do:

• Session length. Medium is the right default. Short = one-shot, long = campaign.
• Tone sliders. especially darkness (0 = cozy, 100 = grim) and humor (0 = serious, 100 = absurd).
• Content policy tier. Standard unless your story needs a Mature (18+) rating. Private (18+) is private to you.
• Narration. Auto (use your persona default), First person ("I enter the tavern"), Second person ("You enter the tavern"), or Third person (narrated by your persona name). Locked once the session starts.

Hit Generate World. It takes 30 to 60 seconds.

#Minutes 30–45: Your first session

When the world compiles you're dropped straight into scene one. The narrator opens with a prose description, sometimes a scene image, and suggested quick actions.

Play 4 to 6 exchanges. See if the world has the feel you wanted. If not, don't edit. just create a new one with a sharper prompt. Fast iteration beats tweaking.

#Minutes 45–55: Create one character

Once a world is going, open Create → Character. Characters are separate from worlds. they're standalone AI characters you chat with and can add to any world as party members.

1. Type a name and a one-sentence description.
2. Pick a relationship mode: friend, confidant, mentor, rival, therapist, or party member.
3. Tune the six HEXACO sliders. if in doubt, leave them at 50 and let the AI infer from the description.
4. Optional but worth it: paste a style inspiration like "Geralt of Rivia" or "McCarthy meets Le Guin". The system pulls writing samples and shapes dialogue around them.
5. Hit Create.

Chat for 5 minutes. Watch the mood orb in the header. it shifts as the conversation develops. That's the PAD model (pleasure, arousal, dominance) reacting in real time to what you say.

#Minutes 55–60: Share it and set up your profile

If you like the world, open its settings and toggle Visibility → Public. Copy the link. Send it to one person you think would like it. That's the acquisition loop. every world you publish becomes a billboard for you as a creator.

While you're there, take 2 minutes for your profile at /app/settings/profile. Your @username and display name are public by default (that's how people find you). Every personal-detail field — real name, headline, bio, location, pronouns, languages, links — defaults to Private and stays blank on your /yourname page until you opt it in. Each field has its own three-audience selector: Public / Followers / Private. There's also a master "List my profile in discovery" toggle that hides you from the creators directory, trending sidebar, and suggested-creators rail when off (your /yourname page still works for anyone with the direct link). See creator economy for the full rundown.

#After the first hour

• Read writing great prompts before your second world.
• Try browse and play to see what other creators are making — same area has a Creators tab with directory, search, and suggested-creators rail.
• If characters clicked, read the characters guide for the deeper mechanics (persistent memory, relationship dynamics, Style Inspiration).

#References

1. Getting Started: The three-minute quickstart version of this guide.
2. Writing Great Prompts: 12 prompt templates and anti-patterns.
3. Characters Guide: Persistent memory, relationship dynamics, Style Inspiration.
4. Browse and Play: Find and play worlds from other creators.
5. Creator Studio: Full editor with 28+ panels for every field.
6. Session Tactics: How to play deeper sessions.
7. Credits and Billing: Plans, credit pools, and monthly refreshes.
8. Creator Economy: Publish your worlds and earn credits as your audience grows.
9. HEXACO Personality Model: The 6-factor model behind character personality sliders.
10. wilds.ai Pricing: Free, Plus ($9/mo), Pro ($19/mo), Forge ($39/mo).