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Presets & sampling

A preset bundles the prompt structure and optional sampling controls that shape a chat. Switch presets and the scene's instruction scaffolding changes with it.

What a preset contains

A preset can define:

  • system prompt text,
  • post-history instructions,
  • modular prompt blocks,
  • impersonation and continue prompt overrides,
  • prefill / "start reply with" text,
  • optional sampling overrides.

Flat vs modular

Presets come in two shapes:

  • Flat: one system prompt plus one post-history block. Flat presets keep the simple editor.
  • Modular: a list of named prompt blocks, each with on/off state, role, before/after-history placement, and injection depth where applicable.

SillyTavern preset imports map naturally into modular blocks when the source preset is modular.

Template tokens

Preset text can use tokens such as {{char}}, {{user}}, {{description}}, {{persona}}, {{wiBefore}}, and {{summary}}. See Macros & template tokens.

{{summary}} places the Checkpoints recap exactly where you put it. If you omit it, Pyre falls back to its default summary placement.

Sampling overrides

Preset sampling fields are optional. Set only the values you want this preset to control; blank fields fall back to the global/default sampling baseline.

Supported controls include common fields such as temperature, top-p, top-k, max tokens, frequency/presence penalties, min-p, top-a, repetition penalty, DRY-style controls, banned words/strings, and logit bias where the provider supports them.

Prefill

The Start reply with / prefill field seeds the beginning of the model's reply. It is native on providers that support prefill and emulated elsewhere where possible.

Use it sparingly for style, formatting, or a deliberate opening phrase.

Locked defaults

Pyre ships locked default presets so there is always a known-good baseline. Locked defaults are re-seeded from the app on update, so improvements to Pyre's default prompt reach existing installs.

Copy a locked preset to make an editable fork.

Quick switch from chat

The chat menu can quick-switch the active preset without sending you back to settings. This active preset selection is global, not a per-chat lock.

Unlocked flat presets can also be quick-edited from chat. Modular presets should be edited in the full preset editor so block toggles, roles, and order stay visible.

See also