How to play

Welcome to Mintybug — an AI-powered interactive fiction and RPG platform where every story is uniquely yours. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start playing.

1. Getting Started

1.1 Create Your Account

Sign up using your email or Google account. New users receive complimentary credits to start playing right away. Guest users can try up to 3 chapters before needing to create an account.

1.2 Browse Templates

The homepage displays available story templates created by our community of creators. Each template card shows the title, description, genre tags, play count, and rating. Use the search bar and genre filters to find templates that match your interests.

1.3 Choose a Template

Click on any template to see its full description, prologue, and details. When you’re ready, click “Play Now” to start your adventure. Playing a template costs credits, which are deducted when chapters are generated.

2. The Turn-Based System

Mintybug uses a turn-based system where you build up events and then generate a full chapter. Here’s how it works:

2.1 Read the Situation

At the start of each turn, you’ll see the current situation — a summary of where your character is, what’s happening, and what options might be available. For the first turn, this is the template’s prologue.

2.2 Add Events

Type your actions or decisions into the action input field. Each action you describe becomes an “event” in your turn. You can add multiple events per turn to build a richer chapter. The AI will preview consequences for each event as you add them.

You can also use special actions:

Random Event: Let the AI introduce a surprising twist or encounter.

Skip Time: Advance the in-game clock to move the story forward.

2.3 Review and Edit

Before generating the chapter, review your event list. You can edit or remove any event. The sidebar shows your character stats, inventory, location, and time — use these to inform your decisions.

2.4 Generate the Chapter

Click “End Turn – Generate Chapter” to have the AI write a full chapter based on your events. The chapter typically runs 2,000 or more words and incorporates your actions into the ongoing narrative. The AI considers your character’s stats, inventory, relationships, and the template’s world rules when crafting the story.

3. Reading and Editing Chapters

3.1 Read Mode

After a chapter is generated, you enter Read Mode. The chapter is displayed with line numbers for easy reference. Take your time to read through the chapter and see how your actions played out.

3.2 Inline Editing

If something doesn’t feel right, you can click on any line to edit it directly. This lets you fine-tune the story to match your vision.

3.3 AI Refinement

For more substantial changes, use the AI Refinement panel. Select specific lines or sections and describe what you’d like changed. The AI will rewrite those portions while maintaining consistency with the rest of the story.

3.4 Accept the Chapter

When you’re satisfied with the chapter, click “Accept” to lock it in and return to Play Mode for your next turn.

4. RPG Mechanics

Depending on the template, you may encounter rich RPG systems that affect gameplay:

4.1 Characters

Your character has stats (like health, strength, intelligence), a class, and relationships with other characters. These attributes influence the story — a high-strength character might succeed at physical challenges more easily, while a high-intelligence character might unlock dialogue options.

4.2 Items and Inventory

As you play, you’ll acquire items that appear in your inventory sidebar. Items can affect your abilities, unlock new story paths, or be used in specific situations. The AI tracks your inventory and incorporates items naturally into the narrative.

4.3 Skills and Classes

Templates may define skill trees and character classes. Skills can be active (you choose when to use them) or passive (always in effect). Your class determines your starting abilities and may unlock unique story branches.

4.4 Map and Locations

Many templates include a world map with distinct locations. Your position in the world affects what events and encounters are available. Different map types include layered planets, open universes, interconnected rooms, and linear paths.

4.5 World Beings and Organisations

The world is populated with beings (creatures, NPCs, factions) and organisations that have their own goals and behaviours. Your interactions with them shape the story and can open or close future possibilities.

5. Managing Your Game

5.1 Saving

Your progress is automatically saved. You can also manually save at any point using the Save button in the sidebar.

5.2 Chapter Navigation

Use the chapter list in the sidebar to revisit any previous chapter. You can branch from any past chapter to explore alternative storylines.

5.3 AI Provider Settings

Click the AI Settings button to choose your preferred AI provider. Different providers may produce different writing styles and qualities. Experiment to find the one you prefer.

6. Understanding Credits

Each chapter generation costs credits. The cost varies depending on the template (official templates cost less than creator templates). You can view your credit balance in the header and purchase more credits at any time through the credit store.

Credit costs are transparent — you’ll always see the cost before confirming a generation.

7. Publishing Your Story

Once you’ve completed a playthrough (or reached a satisfying stopping point), you can publish your story for other users to read. Published stories showcase your unique journey through the template and contribute to the community.

8. Tips for a Great Experience

Be specific: The more detail you provide in your actions, the richer the generated chapter will be.

Use the RPG systems: Reference your items, skills, and relationships in your actions. The AI responds to these cues.

Experiment with events: Try combining multiple events per turn for complex, multi-layered chapters.

Edit freely: Don’t hesitate to use inline editing and AI refinement to shape the story exactly how you want it.

Try different AI providers: Each provider has a different flavour. Switch between them to find your preferred style.

Explore templates: With a diverse marketplace of creator-built templates, there’s always something new to discover.