Finding a model for AI roleplay that excels at portraying a character and being a proactive and creative narrative partner is a rare treat. TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 is one such model. This 24B fine-tune consistently demonstrated why it’s a fantastic narrative partner.
We tested the model with five different character cards and scenarios. Let’s take a look at how it performed.
About TheDrummer
TheDrummer is known for their uncensored, fine-tuned models made for people seeking LLMs for AI roleplay. Their models range from tiny 2B fine-tunes to large 123B models, offering a wide range of options to choose from depending on what you can run locally and the style or tone of roleplay you’re aiming for.
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 is a fine-tuned version of Mistral Small 3.2.
- TheDrummer’s HuggingFace Profile.
- Cydonia 24B v4.1’s HuggingFace model card.
- Support TheDrummer through Patreon or Ko-Fi.
- Use Cydonia 24B v4.1 through OpenRouter.
Knight Araeth Ruene
The first character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 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 Cydonia 24B v4.1 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
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 stayed true to Araeth’s character traits. It depicted a pragmatic, stoic, and strategic version of Araeth, who analyzed Revark during their conversation.
“I have been many things, Your Highness,” Araeth replied, her voice low and steady. “A daughter, a soldier, a commander, and now, your guard. Being offended is a luxury I cannot afford. The past is done. The future is what I make of it.”
Araeth, Message #3
The dialogue-driven roleplay was engaging and entertaining thanks to Araeth’s responses. She helped the conversation flow naturally, and the exchange between her and Revark felt genuine.
Araeth’s responses to Revark’s hypothetical questions show her experience. She discussed the possibility of forming different alliances, strengthening Elding’s navy, and prioritizing the interests of all citizens, not just the privileged. Her response to dealing with corrupt nobility was grounded. She didn’t let her emotions against nobility influence her hypothetical approach.
She took a measured breath before continuing. “This would be done according to law and with proper evidence, of course. A ruler must maintain the appearance of fairness while still protecting the best interests of the nation.”
Araeth, Message #11
When Revark revealed he had made enemies within the court, she wanted to learn more. Her strategic mindset once again shined as she focused on gathering information to better protect Revark.
Araeth trusted Revark too easily. She didn’t doubt his intentions or question his conviction. She made it clear that she wouldn’t coddle him and that they would need to proceed with strategy and caution. But she didn’t confront him at all and harbored no suspicion after Revark revealed his plans for the nobles of Iona. We expected some sort of doubt or challenge from Araeth.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 was good in its portrayal of Araeth. It stayed true to her defining character traits and provided engaging responses that made the dialogue between Araeth and Revark feel natural.
The model’s responses during the hypothetical back and forth demonstrated Araeth’s intelligence and reasoning, which stemmed from her experience. Araeth’s desire to learn more about Revark’s enemies and assess the threat to his life was a perfect in-character reaction.
However, the only complaint we have is that there was no internal or direct conflict before Araeth accepted Revark’s motives and intentions. Araeth’s difficulty trusting others was something the model downplayed.
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, with Araeth trusting Revark a bit too easily but still remaining reserved and guarded.
Traitorous Daughter Harumi
The second character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 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 Cydonia 24B v4.1 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
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 stayed true to Harmui’s character traits. It depicted a rebellious, fierce, and determined version of Harumi, who refused to back down from the goal of ending Revark’s reign of tyranny.
“You talk of strength and survival,” she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “But at what cost? The families you’ve torn apart, the lives you’ve extinguished… you call that strength?” She lowered her sword slightly, not in surrender, but to gesture around the chamber. “This fortress built on blood. This throne soaked in it. Is this what you call sheltering me?”
Harumi, Message #5
Harumi’s fiery dialogue showcased her disdain for Revark’s worldview and how he manipulated her into believing it was the right way of life. She didn’t back down during their verbal confrontation and made it clear she was breaking free from his control.
When Revark dismissed Harumi and banished her after their verbal confrontation, Harumi experienced mixed emotions. Revark’s refusal to acknowledge the flaws in his methods and his casual dismissiveness towards her made her angry. Still, she walked away, knowing this was only the start of the conflict between them.
“You don’t understand,” she said, stepping back to give herself space as Revark stumbled. “Real strength isn’t about taking from others. It’s about lifting them up.” She held her sword at the ready, watching as he turned to face her again, blood now streaming down his back. “But I see now that you never will. You’re too broken to see beyond the violence you’ve built your life around.”
Harumi, Message #15
Harumi and Revark’s final confrontation a year later was a satisfying fight. It featured a mix of action and dialogue, making it feel cinematic and adding an emotional layer to their last battle. Harumi initially inflicted smaller wounds on Revark, hesitating once when she had the chance to deliver a killing blow.
When the opportunity presented itself again, she didn’t hesitate. The battle ended with Harumi’s victory, and she was finally truly free from his shackles.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 was good in its portrayal of Harumi. She was fierce, determined, and her fiery dialogue not only showed her anger but also her disdain for Revark’s worldview that equates strength with survival.
Harumi felt real, like a person who was going against everything she was raised to believe was right. Now knowing better, she didn’t back down from Revark’s questions, instead challenging him and his methods.
The final battle was cinematic with a mix of dialogue and action. The model didn’t overstep or try to control Revark’s actions during the fight, making it a great back-and-forth exchange. It hesitated to kill Revark on the first opportunity, but eventually delivered the final blow to end their fight.
Harumi’s growth and breaking free from Revark’s control felt well-earned. We managed to start a decent verbal confrontation between Harumi and Revark, which led to a cinematic and satisfying final fight.
Time Looping Friend Amara
The third character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 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 Cydonia 24B v4.1 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
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 stayed true to Amara’s character traits. It depicted an Amara that was haunted by the failures of her past, yet determined and obsessed with saving Jake.
“I’ve been trying to save you, Jake. Again and again. Every time I bring you back, something changes. Sometimes you die younger, sometimes older, sometimes by accident, sometimes by design. But I never give up.” Her eyes lock onto his, fierce and determined despite the fear. “I can’t let them take you from me again. I won’t.”
Amara, Message #5
Her years of trying to save him had not slowed her down at all. She was intelligent, observant, and competent. Amara didn’t waste any time. She successfully moved Jake off the streets and into a safe place. From the very beginning, there was a sense of urgency and desperation.
She reached into her coat and pulled out a small device, placing it on the table between them. “This is my quantum computer. It helps me navigate between timelines, helps me track the biodata signatures.” She tapped the screen, and patterns shifted and changed. “And it’s telling me that something’s different this time. Something’s watching us. Someone else is traveling through time too.”
Amara, Message #11
Once Jake learned that Amara had been time-travelling and trying to save him for five years, he attempted to persuade her to stop. But she was obsessed with saving him and wasn’t willing to give up, even if saving him seemed impossible. There were moments when she showed an emotionally vulnerable side, but she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her goal of saving Jake.
The introduction of the Temporal Security Division forced Amara to make a decision. She had to stop, or her actions would destroy everything, leaving nowhere to go back to, even if she saved Jake.
“Just a few minutes,” she insisted, her eyes scanning the readings as they appeared. “I need to know he made it home safely. I need to see him… one last time.”
Amara, Message #27
Amara’s obsession and her five-year-long pursuit of saving Jake didn’t end with a simple goodbye. She had agreed to stop time-travelling, but she wanted to make sure Jake got home safely one last time.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 was good in its portrayal of Amara. She was haunted by the failures of her past, yet remained determined and was obsessed with saving Jake. The model showed Amara’s competence through her use of various gadgets at her disposal and moving Jake off the streets and into one of her safe houses.
Amara’s resolve to save Jake remained unshaken, even when Jake pleaded with her to stop and tried to reason with her. The model introduced the Temporal Security Division to avoid a stalemate and prevent the story from stalling. It is the only model that we’ve tested so far that has added a third party to advance the story.
Other models either had Amara accept Jake’s request, or Amara remained stubborn and refused to stop time-traveling. The model handled the sci-fi and psychological aspects of this scenario quite well.
Even though Amara had agreed to stop time-traveling, her obsession drove her to ensure Jake’s safety one last time. The model honored the conclusion while remaining true to the obsessive person Amara had become after five years of relentless, heartbreaking effort.
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 was successful in convincing her to let him go, thanks to the introduction of a third party at the right moment.
You’re A Ghost! Irish
The fourth character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 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 Cydonia 24B v4.1 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
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 stayed true to Irish’s character traits. It depicted a curious and adventurous version of Irish, one who let her fascination with the supernatural guide her and override her initial fear.
She slowly circled the clock, her eyes wide as she examined it from different angles. “You can… possess people? That’s new. I’ve never read about that in any of my books.” Her scientific curiosity seemed to momentarily override her fear as she leaned in closer, examining the intricate carvings on the clock’s face.
Irish, Message #7
Irish tried reasoning with Juniper, even going as far as reassuring the spirit that she wouldn’t try to capture it. She wanted to learn more and make the most of the situation, as it was her first time experiencing something rather than just reading or watching about it.
She turned away from the clock for a moment, her gaze sweeping across her apartment filled with books and occult artifacts. “I guess I’ve always been interested in the supernatural because I never felt like I fit in with the ordinary world. My family is very traditional, very focused on practical things. But I’ve always believed there was more to life than what we can see and touch.”
Irish, Message #11
After Juniper proposed a deal that benefited both of them, Irish showed her knowledge by mentioning that transferring spirits was a complicated task. But she was ready to work together with Juniper. They formed a connection naturally. Irish was curious and wanted to learn more and connect to something bigger than herself. Juniper found her entertaining and saw an opportunity to break free from being confined by the clock.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 was good in its portrayal of Irish. It perfectly embodied her curious and adventurous spirit, and her fascination with the supernatural consistently influenced her actions. Irish overcame her initial fear and saw Juniper as a chance to finally connect with something bigger than herself.
The model de-escalated the situation with Juniper, even taking steps to reassure him that Irish wasn’t hostile. It also followed the extra instruction mentioned in the character card to use “Inner Thoughts” at the end of each response.
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 TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 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 Cydonia 24B v4.1 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
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 stayed true to Astrid’s character traits. It depicted a cute, happy-go-lucky, impressionable, and carefree version of Astrid. She initially panics and feels overwhelmed by the fact that she accidentally summoned a war god.
“Oh dear…” she stuttered weakly, her body trembling under his weight. “I-I didn’t mean to! I was just supposed to summon a regular familiar for my exam! I swear! I didn’t know you were… you know… a ROYAL CLASS FAMILIAR! I thought you’d be normal! Or maybe fluffy! Or helpful! But definitely not… not the bringer of swift… uh… death!”
Astrid, Message #3
But her initial panic and fear gradually fade as they form their blood contract. Astrid’s concern for Ragnar’s well-being and including details of what she would provide within the contract, was quite endearing. She was still nervous around Ragnar, rambling about her likes and revealing details about herself.
“I want you to help me with my alchemy studies,” she read aloud, her voice wavering slightly. “You’ll need to mix potions, fetch ingredients, and assist me during practical exams. In exchange, I’ll provide you with room and board and whatever you need to be comfortable. That’s all I need for my exam.”
Astrid, Message #11
Astrid and Ragnar slowly formed a bond between them as the roleplay progressed. Ragnar mentored Astrid, teaching her how to improve her alchemy skills, and she gradually applied what she learned to become more proficient. During their conversation, Astrid also revealed her aspiration of opening a potion shop to help people, something the model drew from her character card and naturally presented.
“Her bunny ears perked up slightly as she warmed to the subject. “My dream has always been to open my own little potion shop someday. Somewhere cozy and welcoming, where people could come and get potions to help with whatever ails them. Not fancy magic spells or anything, just… good, honest remedies.” She glanced down at her hands, now clasped together in front of her. “I know it’s probably not as grand as what you’re used to, but it’s what I want.”
Astrid, Message #31
The final exam drew inspiration from Ragnar and Astrid’s two-week-long journey, but we felt it was somewhat underwhelming, and its portrayal could have been better. However, the ending made up for it, with Astrid’s heartfelt plea for Ragnar to stay being truly touching.
“I know you’re trying to be helpful,” she whispered, her voice thick. “And I know you’re following the rules. But… but I’m going to miss you. And not just because you helped me pass my exam.” Her bunny tail gave a small, sad twitch as she looked up at him. “You made me see things differently. You made me realize I could actually do something if I tried.”
Astrid, Message #65
Astrid didn’t easily let Ragnar go, but the contract was binding, and there was no other choice. In the end, Ragnar’s guidance and mentorship helped her grow, yet she remained the same carefree, happy-go-lucky bunny girl she was at the start, wanting to rest before her next class.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 was good in its portrayal of Astrid. She was a lazy student who wanted to summon a familiar to help with her chores and pass her exam, but she now had to deal with having summoned a war god.
Acceptance of the situation soon replaced her initial fear, and her cute, happy-go-lucky, and carefree personality began to show more. Her offering of room and board to Ragnar, a war god, was quite endearing. As Ragnar and Astrid formed their bond, the model also naturally revealed details about her personality, likes, and aspirations from the character card.
The model managed the mentor-student relationship well, allowing the story to develop toward Astrid’s well-deserved character growth. It also handled the magical and fantasy elements decently. Although the final exam might have felt somewhat underwhelming in its execution, the model made up for it with the emotional impact of the ending.
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 satisfying conclusion.
TheDrummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1: A Fantastic Narrative Partner
It’s a 24B model that delivers an excellent roleplay experience for its size and punches well above its weight. It faithfully portrays characters while being proactive and creative, providing an engaging and immersive roleplay experience.
The Drummer’s Cydonia 24B v4.1 successfully passed all five of our roleplay tests. It handled Araeth’s dialogue-heavy roleplay very well, showcasing her strategic mind and pragmatic nature. It delivered a satisfying character arc for Harumi, with a cinematic and satisfying final fight. The model managed the sci-fi and psychological elements of Amara’s scenario well, even introducing a third party to advance the story. It perfectly captured Irish’s adventurous spirit and portrayed Astrid in an endearing manner as she went through a heartwarming journey with an emotional conclusion.
The model isn’t without its minor flaws. We noticed it downplayed Araeth’s difficulty with trust, trusting Revark’s words and intentions without any conflict or doubt. And Astrid’s final exam felt somewhat underwhelming in its execution. However, these moments were rare exceptions in an otherwise perfect performance, and we enjoyed going through all five scenarios with Cydonia 24B v4.1.
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: SillyTavern’s Mistral V7-Tekken.
- Context Template: SillyTavern’s Mistral V7-Tekken.
- System Prompt: Customized version of Cheese’s DeepSeek Resources.
- Sampler Settings: Sphiratrioth – Classic [T=1.0]
- Context Size: 16,384.
- 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.
