Editing characters in Silly Tavern: what the Characters panel is for

Part 2 of Silly Tavern card editors. Concept layer aligned with official Characters docs; menu names depend on your ST build.

The built-in UI is the default Silly Tavern card editor for most people—you don’t need JSON first.

What you can reasonably expect

• Create a character with name, description, personality, scenario, greeting, etc.—field meanings: field series.
• Import existing cards (PNG/JSON support varies by version).
• Edit → chat: after changes, test in a fresh chat to reduce stale-context drift.

Think forms on the surface, JSON underneath.

Suggested loop (verbs)

1. Import or create a character.
2. Change one thing you care about (e.g. greeting), save.
3. Start a new chat for 5–10 turns and note drift.
4. Patch the next field—don’t flip ten knobs at once.

Official docs

Use docs.sillytavern.app and search Characters—this article won’t screenshot menus that may change next release.

When to leave the built-in editor

• Batch edits to one field across many cards.
• JSON diffs between versions.
• Offline file edits without launching ST.

Then read part 3 and part 4.

See also

• Editor types
• Third-party editors

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Series index: Silly Tavern card editors · index

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Manage PNG character cards and embedded JSON on Mac with Sillycard. Features: App Store and in-app copy.