We’ve got another big update for you this week! The narration module is getting another upgrade. Version 1.1.2 makes Franz feel smarter and more responsive to your requests, specifically OOC questions / requests.

Previously if you told Franz to “update X” or “Add Y to my inventory”, he may or may not do it. Now, we’ve created a special OOC mode where he is much more likely to complete your requests accurately.

To trigger an OOC response, just start a message with “Franz” or “OOC:”. You’ll know it worked if you see the little OOC badge on the message.

Here are some of the types of requests that OOC mode can handle really well:

• “Franz what did Blackburn drink earlier?” (Franz will search memories to answer this)

• “Franz please create a Sword of Being Real Sharp, it should have 2d6 slashing damage”

• “OOC: Reset my spell slots please“

• “Franz: Add Gamble Rutland to the encounter at 5,5, and put 2 more goblins in the mix as well“

• “OOC: Tell me what I have in my inventory”

• “Franz, what does Jurgen look like?”

Behind the scenes, we’ve given Franz new abilities to search memories, read character sheets, update things, create things, and more. There are some abilities we still haven’t added, like creating spells or deleting locations. If you ask him to do something we have not built yet, he will let you know that he tried but can’t do it yet instead of pretending like he did it.

IMPORTANT: If you have any custom instructions that tell Franz to do something when you say OOC, that will no longer work. We recommend removing those instructions, as custom instructions are not used in OOC responses.

Tip on getting the most out of Franz

Whenever we ship a new narration module update, we recommend disabling all of your custom instructions and adding them back in slowly as you play.

There might be custom instructions that are no longer relevant after an update, and can end up confusing Franz.

We know that some of you want to get the most out of custom instructions and cram as many in as possible, but this may actually lead to a worse experience. Let’s say you are DMing a campaign in person and have 5 focused notes in front of you. Now let’s say you have 500 notes. In which situation do you think you’ll do better? You should definitely use custom instructions to get Franz to do what you want to do, but try to keep them clean and focused. If it would be confusing for you as a human to follow the instructions, it might be confusing for Franz too!

We’ve also added a toggle to make it easier to disable and enable all instructions at once.

P.S Don’t forget about our lifetime legend subscription contest!

Win a free LIFETIME legend subscription to Friends & Fables by submitting a short form video. There are FIVE days left to submit a video, last day for submissions is midnight March 24!

Full details here.