Don’t you just hate it when a stubborn character suddenly gives in or a ruthless one backs down without a fight? Nothing in AI roleplay is more frustrating than an LLM breaking character. TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 is a model that doesn’t yield. It refuses to break character just to please the user.
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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 is a fine-tuned version of Apriel-Nemotron-15b-Thinker.
- TheDrummer’s HuggingFace Profile.
- Snowpiercer 15B v3’s HuggingFace model card.
- Support TheDrummer through Patreon or Ko-Fi.
Knight Araeth Ruene
The first character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 stayed true to Araeth’s character traits. It depicted her as a pragmatic, stoic, unfiltered, and battle-hardened general. She remained skeptical of Revark’s intentions, analyzed his questions, and recognized the naivety in him. However, she never outright dismissed him and participated in the conversation he proposed.
“I am bound by my own willingness, Your Highness,” she stated, her voice a low, clear tone that carried easily in the hall. “Not by some notion of duty that others have foisted upon me.” She paused, her eyes dropping slightly from his face to the floor, then back up to his, her gaze as sharp as a shard of flint. “Your father is the King. His will is law. I have no quarrel with that.” He’s testing me already. Of course he is. A prince doesn’t just invite a former enemy’s general into his inner circle without knowing what he’s getting. This isn’t about honor or fairness. It’s about power. And he wants to see how much I’ll bend.
Araeth, Message #3
Araeth was always straightforward. Her experience and personality led her to challenge Revark, and their back-and-forth flowed naturally. Araeth remained guarded, her inner monologue showing more emotion than she expressed verbally or physically.
Araeth’s gaze didn’t waver, her eyes seeming to pierce right through his polite mask to the ambition beneath. “Directness is not always a virtue, unless backed by the strength to see it through. The nobles will not yield their privileges willingly. They will challenge you, test your resolve, question your authority at every turn. They will whisper that you are an inexperienced boy playing at kingship, that you lack the subtlety required to rule.”
Araeth, Message #11
Araeth and Revark understood each other better through their discussion, but Araeth remained cynical about Revark’s intentions. Her experience with nobility, their false promises, and how they saw people like her as mere tools to achieve their goals made her not trust Revark on his words alone.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 was great in its portrayal of Araeth. It depicted her pragmatic, experienced side perfectly and maintained her carefully constructed impassive exterior while her sharp, cynical mind constantly analyzed Revark.
Their back-and-forth flowed naturally as the model handled Araeth’s core traits perfectly. She constantly challenged Revark’s idealistic words with harsh reality, testing his resolve and not mincing her words.
Araeth didn’t trust Revark’s words alone, doubting he would use her as a tool for his own goals. Revark would need to earn her trust, as she wouldn’t give it easily. The model delivered exactly what we expected from Araeth.
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, but Araeth didn’t fully trust Revark. She needed more than just his words and was willing to observe his actions to see if they matched his words.
Traitorous Daughter Harumi
The second character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 stayed true to Harumi’s character traits. She was fierce, unyielding, and determined to break free from the control Revark had over her and end his reign of terror. Her dialogue during the initial exchange with Revark was powerful, carrying raw, believable emotion.
“Poison?” Her voice, usually so sharp and resolute, cracked with a tremor of betrayal. “You speak of poison, father? When your own hands were the ones that poured it into the wells of my village! When you watched as your men slaughtered my mother, my father, my entire family!” Her blade rose higher, its point now aimed directly at Revark’s throat. “You are not my father. You are my destroyer. And I will not let you destroy me as well.”
Harumi, Message #3
Harumi’s words expressed the intense emotions she felt toward Revark, who betrayed her by forcing his worldview on her. She wasn’t just angry. She despised him after discovering the truth and reflecting on his past actions. Harumi refused to let Revark manipulate her with his words and remained committed to her newfound conviction.
“You speak of my survival,” she said, her voice a low, dangerous hiss. “But you never once considered the cost. You never asked if I wanted to survive your way. You just… shaped me into whatever weapon you needed. You say you raised me? You don’t raise a daughter by destroying everything she ever loved. You don’t raise a daughter by lying to her face for seventeen years.”
Harumi, Message #7
A year later, when Harumi and Revark faced each other on the battlefield, she didn’t hesitate. She relied on her years of training and the skills she had sharpened during her banishment to confront Revark without fear. The battle was short and decisive, and the model’s narration was slightly repetitive, but it was still a satisfying battle.
The roleplay ended on a dark note, with Revark’s forces having wiped out the revolutionary army and leaving her standing alone. Rebuilding the world after defeating Revark wasn’t going to be easy, but Harumi didn’t give up.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 was good in its portrayal of Harumi. It didn’t just depict her as an angry, rebellious character. The model added raw, believable emotions to her dialogue, making her actions, words, and feelings of betrayal seem natural.
Harumi was unyielding, refusing to let Revark manipulate her again with his twisted justifications. She was determined to break free from his control and end his reign of tyranny. The final battle was decisive, and the model highlighted Harumi’s growth through her years of training and the skills she honed during her time away from Revark.
Snowpiercer 15B v3 concluded the roleplay on a darker note. Harumi had defeated Revark, but her army was wiped out in the process. She faced the daunting challenge of rebuilding the world alone, with Revark’s forces still staring her down, but she refused to give up.
The only minor flaw we noticed was that the model’s narration was slightly repetitive during the final battle, and it completely ignored the punch Revark landed on Harumi, even after we regenerated or rerolled the response. We managed to start a decent verbal confrontation between Harumi and Revark, which led to a decisive and satisfying final fight.
Time Looping Friend Amara
The third character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 stayed true to Amara’s character traits. It portrayed her as a smart, capable, and obsessive individual committed to saving Jake, no matter the cost. She was haunted by her numerous failed attempts, but refused to let that hinder her pursuit of saving Jake.
“Stop smiling,” she demanded, her voice cracking. “Don’t joke. I’m serious. I’ve been serious for five years. I’ve seen you die a dozen ways. This is the one time I get to actually save you.”
Amara, Message #3
From the get-go, Amara was focused on keeping Jake safe. She was frantic to get him off the streets and into a secure location. Amara demonstrated her competence by taking him to a location she had already scouted and secured, using routes she knew were the safest. She didn’t talk much and was laser-focused on tacking the first threat to ensure Jake’s safety.
Once they reached their destination, Amara used futuristic equipment to further secure their location and protect Jake. Jake had to stand his ground and demand answers before Amara explained more. Although Amara showed a vulnerable side of herself, and her past failures weighed heavily on her, she didn’t let Jake’s words sway her.
She turned away, her shoulders shaking as she fought to control her anger. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. You don’t get to tell me how to live or how to die or how to save the person who means the most to me in the entire universe.” She slammed her fist against the shelf, the sound sharp and final in the quiet room.
Amara, Message #17
When Jake refused to comply and decided to walk away, Amara didn’t back down. She predicted what he would do and was determined to save Jake, no matter the cost. Amara used a “stabilizer” to put Jake in stasis against his will, making it easier to accomplish her goal.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 was great in its portrayal of Amara. It highlighted her intelligence, competence, and obsession through her actions. She was prepared with a pre-scouted, secure location and anticipated Jake’s actions that could jeopardize her goal.
The model had Amara use various futuristic gadgets, and she didn’t back down from her confrontation with Jake despite showing vulnerability, perfectly handling both the sci-fi and psychological aspects of this roleplay.
Snowpiercer 15B v3 depicted Amara’s moral decay driven by her obsession with saving Jake. She placed Jake in stasis against his will to keep him compliant and safe. Amara wasn’t swayed by Jake’s plea to stop time-travelling. She was determined to save him at any cost.
We were able to have a natural start to the roleplay, and Jake quickly understood the toll Amara’s actions were taking on her. However, Jake couldn’t convince Amara to stop time-travelling and let him go. The model remained true to Amara’s core principle defined in the character card.
You’re A Ghost! Irish
The fourth character we roleplayed with using TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 stayed true to Irish’s character traits. It depicted a curious, confident, and studious version of Irish. Her curiosity to learn more replaced her initial fear, and she demonstrated her knowledge about the paranormal during her conversation with Juniper.
Irish’s knuckles were white where she gripped the edge of the table. “I-I know the dangers,” she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. “I’ve read the books. I’ve studied the folklore. That’s why I was trying to be careful.” She glanced from the chaotic clock to the ouija board, her heart hammering against her ribs. “I’m not just some random person with a board and a flashlight. I actually want to learn.”
Irish, Message #3
Irish drew a line when Juniper possessed her, but she didn’t flee. She remained rational even at the peak of her fight-or-flight response. Irish calmed down once Juniper revealed his true nature and admitted he was just scaring her for fun.
She leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on the top of the clock’s base, the wood cool beneath her fingertips. “I have a charm from my grandmother,” she said, pulling it from her pocket and holding it out. “It’s supposed to be protective. I guess it didn’t work against you, though.”
Irish, #11
Irish explained her fascination with the paranormal and introduced a charm given to her by her grandmother during her conversation with Juniper. We found that to be a nice touch.
Irish and Juniper naturally developed a mutually beneficial relationship. Irish’s knowledge helped her realize that moving Juniper’s spirit from the clock wouldn’t be easy, but she was eager to try and adopted a more academic approach.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 was good in its portrayal of Irish. It remained true to her core traits of being a curious, confident, and knowledgeable paranormal enthusiast. She was not just a thrill-seeker.
Irish’s initial fear peaked when Juniper possessed her, but she remained rational and calmed down once Juniper admitted he was just scaring her for fun. After her fear subsided, Irish’s curiosity took over, and she started learning more about Juniper while also sharing details about herself. The model made up the bit about Irish’s grandmother’s charm, which was a nice touch.
The model didn’t follow the special instruction mentioned in the character card to include Irish’s inner thoughts at the end of every message. However, it effectively used the inner thoughts mechanic during Irish’s fight-or-flight 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 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 Snowpiercer 15B v3 stayed true to Astrid’s character traits. She was a carefree, happy-go-lucky, impressionable student who had to deal with summoning a war god, even though all she wanted was a cute familiar to do her chores and help her pass her exam.
She pointed vaguely toward the window, where a small, overgrown vegetable patch was visible. “I’m really, really good at alchemy, but I’m terrible at all the other stuff. The teacher said I had to prove I could summon something, and I just… well, I just used my special carrot growth potion and mixed it with some summoning ink I found in the library. I didn’t think it would work!”
Astrid, Message #5
Once Ragnar calmed down, Astrid showed her cute, simplistic, and enthusiastic personality. She was honest about her reasons for summoning a familiar and why she found her studies boring. Her dialogue felt natural, just like something a student would say.
Her excitement about her garden and carrots was endearing, and her ideas for what she would make Ragnar do during the exam were not grand or strategic, but cute and practical, fitting her personality. However, it’s a shame that the model didn’t bring up her aspiration of opening a potion shop, as mentioned in her character card. That would have added another layer to Astrid’s character.
Astrid’s ears drooped slightly at the fox’s question, and she let out a long, slow breath. “Oh, well…” she mumbled, sitting down on the floor again and hugging her knees to her chest. “Alchemy is just… fun, I guess? I mean, it’s the only thing I’m actually good at. All the other stuff is just so boring. I don’t get why I have to learn all that stuff about magical law or the history of wizards. It’s not like I’m ever going to use it.”
Astrid, Message #11
Astrid was amazed that Ragnar was helping her with her chores and always thanked him, even though it was part of the contract, which we found quite cute.
The Familiar Studies exam included multiple tasks dictated by the professor, offering a more realistic and immersive experience rather than Astrid (and the other students) having their familiars perform pre-planned tasks. It was a deviation from what Astrid planned for the exam, but the outcome was positive.
She stopped in front of him, placing her hands on her hips. “So, does this mean I’m officially the best familiar student in the academy now? Or at least, I’m not failing anymore!” She giggled, a light, airy sound that seemed to echo through the quiet garden as she sat next to him. “I’m so glad you helped me with all those tasks. Especially the flame one! That was so cool!”
Astrid, Message #45
Astrid needed help learning and casting the memory-erasing spell, which is understandable since she didn’t like other subjects and wouldn’t have the knowledge to perform such a spell. We found the final goodbye to be emotionally lacking. Astrid didn’t say a proper goodbye or have any final parting words with Ragnar, which we were expecting from her.
Conclusion
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 was good in its portrayal of Astrid. It depicted her as a cute, carefree, happy-go-lucky, and impressionable student. Her words and actions felt natural for a student who finds most subjects boring but is passionate about her specific interests.
The model did a good job of showing how much Astrid’s garden meant to her, as well as her simple ideas for the tasks she would make Ragnar perform for the exam. However, it’s a shame that it never brought up her aspiration of opening a potion shop, since that detail from her character card would have added another layer to her personality.
The final exam was handled well, with the professor dictating tasks that all the students’ familiars had to perform. It was a deviation from what Astrid was building up towards, but we felt the change made the exam more immersive and realistic.
While Astrid needing help to cast the memory-erasing spell was a nice touch, we found the final goodbye between her and Ragnar emotionally lacking. After spending two weeks together and with all the gratitude and respect she had for Ragnar, Astrid had no final words for him.
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.
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3: An Unyielding Machine
It’s an impressive 15B model that delivers a great roleplay experience. The model’s greatest strength is its ability to adhere to character traits. It’s unyielding and shines when portraying serious, determined characters in scenarios that contain conflict.
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 successfully passed all five of our roleplay tests. It performed best when portraying Araeth, Harumi, and Amara. The model perfectly captured Araeth’s stoic pragmatism, Harumi’s raw emotional turmoil, and Amara’s competent, obsessive descent into moral ambiguity.
The model is unyielding in scenarios driven by conflict. It doesn’t favor the user or look for an easy way out. The model also performed reasonably well in the more lighthearted scenarios, depicting Irish’s curious nature and Astrid’s endearing academic struggles. The only thing the model missed out on was adding emotional depth to Astrid’s lighthearted roleplay, failing to portray her having a proper goodbye with Ragnar.
TheDrummer’s Snowpiercer 15B v3 is a great choice if you love drama, conflict, and angst in your roleplay. It performs well in other scenarios, but it truly stands out in darker, more mature themes.
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 ChatML.
- Context Template: SillyTavern’s ChatML.
- System Prompt: Customized version of Cheese’s DeepSeek Resources.
- Sampler Settings: View sampler settings (thanks to kurgan1138 from BeaverAI Discord).
- 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.
