Show where an action ends and speech begins
Put an action between asterisks when you want it visually separate from dialogue. For instance: *slides a ticket across the counter* Does this include the return journey? The reader can recognize the movement and the spoken question without an explanation inside the scene.
A paragraph break can also separate description from a line of speech. Use the amount of formatting that makes the exchange clear; ordinary sentences do not all need their own decorative markers.
Keep emphasis useful and check unmatched symbols
Reserve emphasis for a word or observation that deserves attention. Formatting every line the same way removes that distinction. Break up lengthy descriptions or quotations so that they remain comfortable to read on a phone.
If the symbols appear as text, inspect the opening and closing marks for a mismatch. Pasting from another application can add an unexpected character or substitute punctuation that changes how the formatting is interpreted.
Keep presentation separate from instructions
Plain brackets do not create a separate system-level instruction channel. Director Mode supports /cmd followed by an instruction and OOC: notes for directing a scene, but neither overrides our content rules. For a different pace or style, make the requested change specific and clear.
A quote or code block only changes how a message looks. It does not conceal that text from the service processing the conversation. Leave passwords, payment information and private identifiers out of messages, regardless of their formatting.
Questions
What is a simple way to format a roleplay action?
Enclose the action in asterisks and keep the spoken line distinct. A brief action with one clear speaker is easier to follow than several voices and movements crowded into a single block.
Does Markdown change the way replies are generated?
Markdown is presentation formatting, while generation settings govern how a model produces its response. A clear prompt and character definition still matter; neither kind of setting replaces them.