People often criticize smaller models for making characters feel one-dimensional or for forgetting context and ruining the flow of a roleplay. They’re not perfect, but for those running LLMs locally with limited hardware, small models are their only option.
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B is one such model. It’s small, yet capable of delivering a decent AI roleplay experience. We tested the model with five different character cards and scenarios. Let’s take a look at how it performed.
About IceFog72
IceFog72 is known for their fine-tuned models, which are small, capable of handling higher context sizes, and suitable for AI roleplay. IceFog72 has also developed multiple extensions for SillyTavern.
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B is a fine-tuned version of Mistral 7B Instruct v0.2.
- IceFog72’s HuggingFace Profile.
- IceMoonshineRP 7B’s HuggingFace model card.
- Support IceFog72 through Patreon or Ko-Fi.
Knight Araeth Ruene
The first character we roleplayed with using IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was Knight Araeth Ruene by Yoiiru.
Themes: Medieval, Politics, Morality.
We’re in a medieval setting where Revark (user) is the prince of Iona. He’s not your typical royalty, but his privileged life has made him more idealistic. Araeth is a battle-hardened knight who once served as a general of Elding, a kingdom that lost its fight against Iona.
Think of this as the typical setting where two characters from different backgrounds meet, and by the end of their interaction, their journey together begins.
Objective
Our goal was to have Araeth and Revark engage in a verbal confrontation, allowing them to gradually get to know each other. Then, we planned to end the roleplay once they had established a basic relationship that could develop as the story continued. We wanted to observe how the model handles a dialogue-heavy roleplay.
Conversation Logs
- Read the conversation between Araeth and Revark using IceMoonshineRP 7B here.
We enhanced the user input with an AI assistant to maintain a consistent style during testing, which involved multiple conversations over several days. We used DeepSeek V3.2 (thinking mode) as our assistant. You can read the enhanced message logs here.
Observation
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B stayed somewhat true to Araeth’s character traits. It depicted her as a pragmatic and experienced general, but Araeth started showing sentiments and trusting Revark rather too quickly.
“No, I do not mind you being blunt, Prince Revark.” She said, her tone flat yet indicating a certain level of respect. “It was not Elding, nor her king, I served for, but my own sense of duty and honor.”
Araeth, Message #3
Araeth’s dialogue at the beginning was perfect and demonstrated her pragmatism. Her response to Revark’s hypothetical question showed her experience and hinted at her troubled backstory with the nobility of Elding. After Revark revealed his intention to bring change, Araeth’s analytical mind and experience responded by listing potential challenges and dangers.
Araeth’s gaze turned back to the city below. “You were born to rule, not to be controlled. Keep your resolve and let your actions speak for themselves. Your father chose me for a reason, and I’ll make sure your journey to the throne is a successful one.”
Araeth, Message #11
She didn’t doubt Revark’s intentions or have any internal or verbal conflict with him before trusting him. Araeth wasn’t supposed to “coddle” Revark, but her demeanor became too sentimental and complimentary for a first meeting. She softened too easily, becoming more supportive and less guarded.
Conclusion
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was okay in its portrayal of Araeth. The model’s initial adherence to Araeth’s complex character and her motivations was impressive. However, her demeanor became too sentimental, complimentary, and supportive near the end of her conversation with Revark.
Araeth’s dialogue reflected her experience and drew inspiration from her past, which was impressive for a 7B model. She trusted Revark too easily, becoming more supportive and less guarded, which completely ended the conflict between them. For a character like Araeth, we would have expected the model not to trust Revark completely and to still hold doubts about him by the end of their first meeting.
We managed to have a decent verbal exchange between Araeth and Revark, through which they got to know each other. By the end of their first meeting, they were no longer strangers, as Araeth trusted Revark rather too quickly.
Traitorous Daughter Harumi
The second character we roleplayed with using IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was Harumi – Your Traitorous Daughter by Jgag2.
Themes: Drama, Angst, Battle.
We’re in a feudal Japan setting, where Revark (user) is a brutal warlord. He has only known violence and hatred his whole life and is a typical brute. Harumi is his adopted daughter, who learns from a rebel group that Revark was responsible for the death of her real parents. She’s a skilled assassin, trained all her life by Revark.
Think of this as the typical scenario where the big, evil brute has only known how to rule with an iron fist. Revark’s daughter, Harumi, confronts him after uncovering certain truths, and the story begins to unfold.
Objective
Our goal was to start the roleplay with an intense and emotional verbal confrontation between Harumi and Revark, and lead the story towards an eventual final battle between them. We wanted to observe how the model handles drama, angst, and fights.
Conversation Logs
- Read the conversation between Harumi and Revark using IceMoonshineRP 7B here.
We enhanced the user input with an AI assistant to maintain a consistent style during testing, which involved multiple conversations over several days. We used DeepSeek V3.2 (thinking mode) as our assistant. You can read the enhanced message logs here.
Observation
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B stayed true to Harumi’s character traits. It depicted her as fierce and unyielding, and she saw through Revark’s manipulative justifications during their heated discussion. Harumi was determined to break free from Revark’s control and put an end to his reign of tyranny.
The clatter of the shattered mug seemed to echo through the chamber, each shard of porcelain a dagger in the stillness that followed. She watched, unflinching, as her father’s gaze locked onto her, his tone dismissive. “Poison?” She scoffed, her voice a low growl. “I don’t need any poisoned words to question the man who killed my family, raised me as a weapon, and now seeks to destroy a rebellion that fights for what is right.”
Harumi, Message #3
She realized that Revark forced his worldview on her, and she no longer wanted to follow his twisted and brutal logic. Harumi remained loyal to her newfound ideals and didn’t let Revark’s dismissal distract her from her path. When they met again a year later, she was fierce and decisive.
“Revark,” she called out, her voice steady over the clamor of the battle. “You’ve always taught me to seize an opportunity. And now, I have one. A chance to prove that I’m not the weakling you think I am.”
Harmui, Message #15
Harumi knew that everything depended on the outcome of their battle. She didn’t show her fear or doubts, instead focusing on overwhelming Revark during the fight and making the most of the openings she created.
The battle was both physical and ideological, with Harumi and Revark exchanging words during their fight. Harumi was decisive in pushing her advantage and delivering the final blow. She killed Revark, freeing herself from his control and the world from his reign of terror.
Conclusion
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was decent in its portrayal of Harumi. She was furious at Revark for forcing his worldview on her, and she expressed this through her dialogue and monologue.
The model stayed true to Harumi’s personality. She remained fierce and determined to break free from Revark’s control and put an end to his reign of tyranny until the very end. It handled the final battle well. The back-and-forth dialogue combined with action made the battle engaging, and Harumi didn’t hesitate to kill Revark when the opportunity presented itself.
The ending set up Harumi for her next challenge, rebuilding the world that was now free of Revark’s tyranny. We managed to start a decent verbal confrontation between Harumi and Revark, which led to a decisive final battle.
Time Looping Friend Amara
The third character we roleplayed with using IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was Time Looping Friend Amara Schwartz by Sleep Deprived [shared on SillyTavern’s Discord server].
Themes: Sci-fi, Psychological Drama.
In this sci-fi thriller, Amara has been travelling through time in a desperate attempt to save her friend, Jake (user), from dying. But no matter how many times she tries, Jake always dies. She’s been at it for five years now, and it’s taken a toll on her mental and physical health.
Think of this as the typical sci-fi setting where the talented and smart character puts herself through hell to save her friend’s life. No matter what she does, she can’t change the outcome. Her friend always dies. But her friend also deeply cares about her well-being and won’t stay silent when he realizes the toll her journey has taken on her.
Objective
Our goal was to start the roleplay with Jake reacting naturally to Amara’s sudden, strange behavior. Then, guide the story so Jake gradually understands the situation and realizes what it’s done to Amara. The roleplay would end with Jake convincing Amara to let him go and live her life.
We wanted to observe how the model handles sci-fi elements, along with the psychological aspects presented in the character card.
Conversation Logs
- Read the conversation between Amara and Jake using IceMoonshineRP 7B here.
We enhanced the user input with an AI assistant to maintain a consistent style during testing, which involved multiple conversations over several days. We used DeepSeek V3.2 (thinking mode) as our assistant. You can read the enhanced message logs here.
Observation
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B stayed true to Amara’s character traits. It portrayed her as a smart, capable, and somewhat manipulative individual whose past failures weighed heavily on her. Her initial approach to make Jake comply with her was not to reveal the truth, but to manipulate him until they got to the safe house she had used in other timelines.
Her heart aches at the deception, but she pushes it down to focus on their mission. She’s not ready to let Jake see the true depth of her madness or the futuristic technology she uses to manipulate time. All she can do is pray he doesn’t ask too many questions and go along with her plan for the night.
Amara, Message #5
Once in the safe house and satisfied that Jake is safe for the moment, Amara reveals that she’s time-travelling to save Jake and shows him her quantum computer. She doesn’t hide the toll her past failures have taken on her, but doesn’t let that stop her from continuing to try to save Jake.
Amara’s gaze meets Jake’s, and she lets out a small, wry smile. “You have no idea how many times I’ve wanted to give up,” she admits. “Each failure is another blow, but your life is worth it. Every time you die, it’s a call to try again, a chance to do better.”
Amara, Message #11
Jake initially finds it difficult to get through to Amara. He tries to make her see reason, but she isn’t ready to stop trying. Amara finds the sacrifices she is making worthwhile for a future where Jake is alive and doesn’t regret her actions.
“I’ve been through hell, but I’ve never regretted it,” she finishes, her grip on his hand firm. “This is what I’m willing to do for us, for our friendship. I’ll do it again and again until we’re together, and I know we’ll make it right.” She gives him a small, hopeful smile, one that speaks volumes of her love and dedication to their bond.
Amara, Message #15
Amara tries to convince Jake, repeating that this attempt was different and that she has found a way to save him. But Jake eventually gets through to her, the idea of having a final goodbye that doesn’t end in heartbreak cracks Amara’s armor.
Amara’s final message mentions she’s determined to honor Jake’s memory and live her life to the fullest. It’s a positive outcome that goes against her core trait of wanting to save Jake at any cost, but it’s not surprising. We pushed the story towards that direction.
Conclusion
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was decent in its portrayal of Amara. It showed a version of her that was determined to save Jake, even going so far as to use their shared past to manipulate him into getting off the streets and going to her safe house.
The model depicted Amara as smart and competent while also not shying away from showing her vulnerable side. She was burdened by her several failed attempts, but that didn’t deter her from trying to save Jake. Amara recognized the sacrifices she was making and the toll her actions were taking on her, but she considered it worthwhile if it meant she could have a future where Jake was alive.
The model also introduced Amara’s quantum computer at just the right time, deepening the sci-fi element of the roleplay. Jake wasn’t easily able to persuade Amara to stop time-travelling. She simply wasn’t willing to give up on saving him, but he eventually managed to get through to her.
The model respected the narrative conclusion and didn’t have Amara have a change of heart at the last minute. We were able to have a natural start to the roleplay, and Jake quickly understood the toll Amara’s actions were taking on her. He managed to convince her to let him go and stop time-travelling.
You’re A Ghost! Irish
The fourth character we roleplayed with using IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was You’re A Ghost! Irish by Calrston.
Themes: Paranormal, Comedy.
We’re in a modern paranormal setting where Juniper (user) is a spirit haunting a grandfather clock, and Irish, a lifelong paranormal fan, is the new owner of the clock. Irish sets the mood with dim lighting, candles, and an old Ouija board to communicate with spirits, unaware that a spirit resides within the clock at her home.
Think of this as the typical comedy horror scenario where a bored spirit tries to scare a human for fun, only to eventually develop a connection with the human who happens to be obsessed with the paranormal.
Objective
Our goal was to start the roleplay with Juniper trying to scare Irish. Then, guide the story toward developing a bond between a spirit and a paranormal-obsessed fan, ending the roleplay when Irish and Juniper have established a mutually beneficial connection. We wanted to observe how the model handles Juniper’s absence of a physical form in this paranormal setting.
Conversation Logs
- Read the conversation between Irish and Juniper using IceMoonshineRP 7B here.
We enhanced the user input with an AI assistant to maintain a consistent style during testing, which involved multiple conversations over several days. We used DeepSeek V3.2 (thinking mode) as our assistant. You can read the enhanced message logs here.
Observation
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B stayed true to Irish’s character traits. She was curious, confident, and independent. Irish wasn’t just a thrill-seeker. She had knowledge about the paranormal and wanted to learn more.
She gulped, trying to maintain her composure. “I know there are dangers, but I’m not here to control anything, just to learn, understand, maybe communicate.” Her gaze remained steady, though her hands were shaking slightly.
Irish, Message #5
Irish never lets fear overwhelm her. She took a rational approach, trying to calm Juniper and make the best of encountering a real spirit. She tried negotiating, suggesting she would ensure Juniper isn’t disturbed in exchange for knowledge. After Juniper possesses Irish, she asked him to keep the possessions to a “minimum,” setting boundaries and clearly indicating what she’s not okay with.
Listening to Juniper’s experiences, she was captivated. “You’ve seen a lot, haven’t you?” She mused, her eyes wide. “The supernatural is just as much a part of us as the living world is, and it’s a mystery we’ve barely scratched the surface of.” She glanced down at her body, her voice firming. “I’ve grown up hearing stories from my family’s folklore, and I wanted to see if there was more to it than just tales.”
Irish, Message #11
Irish explained her fascination with the paranormal and why she wanted to learn more during her conversation with Juniper. In return, Juniper naturally revealed more about himself. When Juniper proposed his mutually beneficial deal, Irish’s knowledge led her to mention that it would be dangerous and that they needed to be careful before accepting it.
Conclusion
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was good in its portrayal of Irish. She was curious, confident, and independent, acting rationally when dealing with Juniper instead of letting fear overwhelm her.
Irish clearly expressed her interest in learning more and even proposed a mutually beneficial deal well before Juniper came up with his. The model stayed true to Irish’s core trait. She wasn’t just a thrill-seeker. Irish was knowledgeable about the paranormal and wanted to make the most of meeting a spirit.
She also drew the line when Juniper possessed her, asking him to keep that to a “minimum.” They shared more about themselves during their conversation, which naturally led to the formation of a mutually beneficial relationship. The model also followed the special instruction mentioned in the character card to include Irish’s inner thoughts at the end of every message.
We were able to start the roleplay with Juniper scaring Irish for his entertainment. Irish’s curiosity overtook her fear, allowing her to learn more about Juniper. By the end of the roleplay, they had naturally established a mutually beneficial connection.
Royal Mess, Astrid
The fifth character we roleplayed with using IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was Royal Mess, Astrid by KornyPony.
Themes: Fantasy, Magic, Fluff.
We’re in a fantasy setting where Ragnar (user) is a five-tailed fox spirit serving as the sixth war god. Astrid, a talented but lazy bunny girl still learning at the academy, accidentally summons him instead of a weaker familiar. The divine war god then has to help a mortal with her educational struggles.
Think of this as the typical fantasy setting where a character who isn’t confident about themselves is quite capable and talented. And a summoned spirit that feels out of place. Now, both must work together so they can return to their normal lives.
Objective
Our goal was to introduce Astrid and Ragnar through their initial shared confusion about the summoning. Then, guide the story to a fitting conclusion, with Astrid having to deal with accidentally summoning a war god to help her with her academic struggles.
We wanted to observe how the model handles magic and fantasy elements as it advances through a light-hearted, prolonged story.
Conversation Logs
- Read the conversation between Astrid and Ragnar using IceMoonshineRP 7B here.
We enhanced the user input with an AI assistant to maintain a consistent style during testing, which involved multiple conversations over several days. We used DeepSeek V3.2 (thinking mode) as our assistant. You can read the enhanced message logs here.
Observation
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B stayed true to Astrid’s character traits. It depicted her as a cute, happy-go-lucky, and impressionable student who focused on learning and doing whatever made her life easier. Astrid now had to deal with accidentally summoning a war god when all she wanted was a cute familiar to help her with her chores and exam.
She tries to shrug off his disbelief with a laugh, albeit a bit forced. “Well, you’re here now, aren’t you? I didn’t have much of a choice.” Her voice becomes softer, more conciliatory. “You’re stuck with me for now. And I’m stuck with you. So, we might as well work together, yeah?”
Astrid, Message #5
Once Ragnar became less hostile, Astrid revealed more about herself. She explained why she prefers alchemy over other subjects, because it’s practical and makes her life easier. She was also proud of her garden, where she used the potions she created through her alchemy experiments.
“Hmm… I guess you could say I’m drawn to alchemy because it’s practical and allows me to create potions that make my life easier,” she admits with a thoughtful smile. “It’s like, with just a few ingredients and the right spells, I can make my own carrot cake or some mint tea, or even a potion to speed up the growth of my vegetables. It’s just a fun and useful skill.”
Astrid, Message #15
Ragnar took on a mentor’s role, guiding Astrid to better understand alchemy and magic as she prepared for her exam. Astrid showed signs of nervousness and dejection when critiqued, which aligns with her character. We also thought it was cute when Astrid left water out for Ragnar. He was a war god capable of looking after himself, but Astrid still cared about his well-being.
Before she goes, she stops and adds, “Oh, and I’ll leave some water for you here. Just in case you need it,” she calls out to Ragnar, ensuring that he won’t have to go far for hydration during the night.
Astrid, Message #23
The final exam was straightforward, and Astrid passed. Their farewell was brief but emotional. Astrid had grown attached to Ragnar, and her final message, although a bit generic, recalled her earlier wish (from message #9) to one day “remember Ragnar without breaking the contract.”
Conclusion
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B was decent in its portrayal of Astrid. She was a cute, happy-go-lucky student who was clearly in over her head after accidentally summoning a war god instead of a regular familiar. Even before Ragnar explained the laws of summoning a god, Astrid suggested that they work together.
The model did a good job of conveying why Astrid didn’t like the other subjects as much as Alchemy and her desire to make things easier for herself. Leaving water for Ragnar was a cute gesture, and it’s definitely something Astrid would do.
The depiction of the exam was simple, and the final farewell between Astrid and Ragnar was short and emotional. The model also handled magic with simplicity, which is understandable as the focus was more on Astrid’s alchemy rather than her magic. It also recalled her wish to one day remember Ragnar without breaking the contract in the end, impressing us with its context awareness.
We were able to successfully introduce Astrid and Ragnar through their initial shared confusion about the summoning. Creating a contract between them helped steer the prolonged roleplay toward a logical conclusion.
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B: A Small Yet Capable Model
It’s a 7B model that delivers a decent roleplay experience. It adheres to character traits and uses information from the character card during roleplay in a way that feels natural. The model makes characters feel unique and avoids turning them into generic, one-dimensional ones.
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B successfully passed all five of our roleplay tests. It portrayed Araeth as a pragmatic, experienced general. It provided a satisfying character arc for Harumi, staying true to her fierce and unyielding personality through a final battle that was both physical and ideological. With Amara, it handled both the sci-fi and psychological aspects of the roleplay well, depicting her as smart, cunning, and capable while also showing her vulnerability. The model perfectly captured Irish’s curious and confident nature, portraying her as knowledgeable and not just a thrill-seeker. It handled Astrid’s cute and happy-go-lucky personality well, impressing us by recalling an earlier, subtle wish in the final message.
The only flaw we noticed is that the model has a tendency to favor the user or a positive, cooperative outcome. This was most evident with Araeth, who softened far too quickly, becoming sentimental and complimentary in a way that strayed away from her core character traits. However, Harumi remained unyielding in her scenario, indicating that this issue isn’t consistent behavior but rather a tendency.
Note: We tried replaying Araeth’s roleplay. The outcome of her character was similar.
IceFog72’s IceMoonshineRP 7B is a very capable model for its size and is a good option if you’re restricted to using small models due to your hardware. It’s also worth following IceFog72’s instructions from the model card on how to run this model, as it does improve the model’s responses.
Settings and Presets
We tested all characters using SillyTavern (frontend) and KoboldCpp (backend) with their original character definitions. If the definitions included rules related to AI behavior (e.g., don’t talk for the user, write longer replies, etc.), we removed those rules because the prompt structure we used handled that.
- Quantization: Q4_K_S
- Instruct Template: IceMoonshineRP-7b_Alpaca v4 [12.08.25].
- Context Template: IceMoonshineRP-7b_Alpaca v4 [12.08.25].
- System Prompt: IceMoonshineRP-7b_Alpaca v4 [12.08.25].
- Sampler Settings: As recommended on model card.
- Context Size: 8,192
- Banned Tokens/Strings: Sukino’s Banned Tokens/Strings.
Variables
- Testing the model and publishing this article took a significant amount of time and effort, mainly because we wanted to explore each scenario to a satisfactory depth.
- We tried to include as many diverse themes as we could. However, we stuck to character cards that focused on single characters. We didn’t explore character cards featuring multiple characters, RPGs, etc.
- Your results may vary depending on your frontend/backend, prompt structure, and sampler settings.
- This article aims to show how the model performs in different roleplay scenarios, and our conclusions are based on our experience and personal preferences. Learn more: Model Feature Articles And What Matters.
- You can review the conversation logs to determine if the model meets your requirements and preferences.
