{"articles":[{"id":"d2c0b459-cf8b-4a19-865f-0c23caa81a43","slug":"getting-started","locale":"en","title":"Getting started with Hinvel","content_md":"\nHinvel is a place to read and play illustrated, branching visual novels — and to talk with the characters in them.\n\n## Start reading\n\n1. Open [Discover](/discover) and pick a story by mood, or swipe through [Shorts](/shorts) for five-minute stories.\n2. Before your first story we ask for your birth year and month. Hinvel is for adults (18+) only.\n3. Tap a choice to move the story forward. **Choices are always free.**\n\n## Two ways to play\n\n- **Choices** — the branches the author wrote. Free, always.\n- **Talk** — type your own words and the character answers. Replies are generated by AI and use Sparks after your daily free turns. See [Talking to characters](/help/talking-to-characters).\n\n## Why create an account\n\nAn account keeps your progress, saves, unlocked CGs and endings, and each character's memory of you. It's also what you need to Talk, create stories and buy Sparks.\n\n## Where things are\n\n- [My library](/me) — what you're playing, favorites and your own works.\n- [Sparks](/credits) — your balance and history.\n- [Settings](/settings) — language, content warnings, AI and data controls.\n","category":"getting-started","sort_order":10,"updated_at":"2026-10-10T09:01:27.655751+00:00"},{"id":"79dd6a94-c616-4d0e-b76f-d4e2035122ee","slug":"sparks-and-pricing","locale":"en","title":"Sparks & pricing","content_md":"\n**Sparks** are Hinvel's in-app credits. They pay for the parts of Hinvel that run AI for you.\n\n## What's free\n\n- Reading and choosing — every author-written choice, in every story.\n- Browsing stories, characters and Shorts.\n- A daily allowance of free Talk turns for signed-in adults.\n\n## What uses Sparks\n\n- Talk turns beyond your daily free allowance.\n- Creating a story: the Story Bible, sprites, backgrounds, CGs, cover and chapters. Higher quality tiers cost more.\n- Regenerating a step in the Studio.\n\nYou always see an estimate before anything starts. If a generation fails, **the Sparks for that step are returned automatically** — you don't need to ask.\n\n## Buying Sparks\n\nSparks come in one-time packs on the [Sparks page](/credits). There are no subscriptions and no auto-renewal. Purchased Sparks don't expire while your account is open.\n\n> Payments are in preview right now: you can walk through checkout, but nothing is charged and no Sparks are added.\n\n## Refunds\n\nUnused packs can be refunded within a limited window, and the rules for failed generations, chargebacks and legal withdrawal rights are in [Sparks & refunds](/refunds).\n","category":"sparks","sort_order":20,"updated_at":"2026-10-10T09:01:27.655751+00:00"},{"id":"512ff18c-8e81-4988-b19b-85176470c659","slug":"creating-a-story","locale":"en","title":"Creating your first story","content_md":"\nAnyone 18+ with an account can turn an idea into a playable visual novel. Start on the [Create page](/create).\n\n## 1. Write a premise\n\nOne or two sentences is enough: who, where, and what's unusual. Not sure? Tap one of the examples.\n\n## 2. Pick the shape\n\n- **Vibe** — sweet, cozy, starlight, mystery, fantasy or guofeng. It sets the palette and tone.\n- **Format** — a chaptered *Story*, or a vertical *Short* (one chapter, about five minutes).\n- **Quality tier** — Sketch, Standard, Detailed or Cinematic. Higher tiers produce richer images and cost more Sparks.\n- **Content rating** — General or Mature. Mature is for darker or more intense themes; it is still subject to the [content policy](/content-policy).\n\n## 3. Quick or Studio\n\n- **Quick** generates the whole story in one go. It's playable as soon as it's done.\n- **Studio** pauses after each step so you can review it. You can edit any line or sprite, and approve or regenerate each node. Your edits are never overwritten by AI.\n\n## What gets generated\n\nThe AI pipeline writes a **Story Bible** (world, cast, arcs), draws **character sprites** with expressions, **backgrounds**, **CGs** for key moments and a **cover**, then writes the **chapters** with branching choices.\n\n## Cost and waiting\n\nThe estimate is shown before you start. Sparks are held when a step starts and settled when it finishes; failed steps are refunded automatically.\n\n## Publishing\n\nWhen you publish you confirm three things:\n\n- The story shows a **\"Made with AI\"** label, and generated images carry machine-readable AI markers.\n- **You own your story.**\n- Whether Hinvel may use it to improve models — **off by default**, and you can change your mind later.\n\nStories with characters who appear to be minors in romantic or sexual situations, real people, or other prohibited content are removed. Read the [content policy](/content-policy) before you publish.\n","category":"creating","sort_order":30,"updated_at":"2026-10-10T09:01:27.655751+00:00"},{"id":"e07289c2-1dc2-4443-9060-be015e7a055e","slug":"talking-to-characters","locale":"en","title":"Talking to characters & memory","content_md":"\nIn stories with open moments — and on each character's page — you can type your own words and the character answers.\n\n## Characters are AI, and fictional\n\nReplies in Talk are generated by AI. The characters are fictional and are not real people; they won't claim to be human. They can be wrong, and nothing they say is professional advice. More in [About AI content](/ai-disclosure).\n\n## Consent first\n\nThe first time you Talk we ask for your consent: what you type and the story's memory are sent to our AI provider to generate the reply. They're **not used to train models**. You can turn Talk off at any time in [Settings](/settings#ai) and keep playing with choices.\n\n## Cost\n\nSigned-in adults get a number of free Talk turns each day. After that each turn uses Sparks. If a reply fails, the turn is refunded.\n\n## Memory\n\nEach character remembers your conversations with them — across stories they appear in — so the relationship can grow. You can:\n\n- See what a character remembers on their character page.\n- Clear one character's memory in [Settings](/settings#ai). Your story choices and saves aren't affected.\n\n## If you're going through something hard\n\nIf a message suggests you might be in crisis, the story pauses, the message is **not sent to the AI**, and we show helplines such as 988 (US) and Samaritans 116 123 (UK & Ireland). You can return to the story whenever you're ready.\n","category":"talk","sort_order":40,"updated_at":"2026-10-10T09:01:27.655751+00:00"},{"id":"ce5a4d64-da96-4c0a-9c7c-e697e3177a90","slug":"safety-and-reporting","locale":"en","title":"Safety, reporting & blocking","content_md":"\nHinvel is an adults-only platform, and every story and character is still subject to the [content policy](/content-policy).\n\n## Content warnings\n\nStories list what's inside — for example horror, violence or romance — and you confirm once before you start. You can turn warnings off in [Settings](/settings).\n\n## Report something\n\nUse **Report** (the flag icon) on a scene, story, character, chat message or comment. Choose a reason — inappropriate content, involves a minor, harassment or hate, violence, self-harm, copyright, spam — and add details if you like. We aim to review reports within 24 hours, and content involving minors is prioritized.\n\nYou can also email reports and urgent concerns to [hello@hinvel.com](mailto:hello@hinvel.com).\n\n## Block\n\nWhen you report a creator you can block them at the same time. Blocked creators and characters disappear from your feeds. Manage your block list in [Settings](/settings).\n\n## Getting help now\n\nIf you or someone else is in danger, contact local emergency services.\n\n- US: call or text **988**\n- UK & Ireland: Samaritans **116 123**\n- Elsewhere: [findahelpline.com](https://findahelpline.com)\n","category":"safety","sort_order":50,"updated_at":"2026-10-10T09:01:27.655751+00:00"},{"id":"fb5ec6fa-f753-4a3e-96e4-3a701c605103","slug":"account-and-data","locale":"en","title":"Your account & data","content_md":"\nEverything below is in [Settings](/settings) unless noted.\n\n## Language\n\nSwitch between English and 中文 at any time. Stories keep their own original language.\n\n## Export your data\n\n**Export my data** prepares a file with your account details, play history, chats and Sparks history. We email you when it's ready; the download requires you to be signed in.\n\n## Delete your account\n\n**Delete account** schedules permanent deletion of your account and data. You have 30 days to change your mind. A narrow set of payment and security records is kept for up to 12 months where the law or fraud prevention requires it — see the [Privacy Policy](/privacy).\n\n## Character memory and AI\n\n- Clear any character's memory individually.\n- Turn Talk (free input) off to stop sending your words to our AI provider.\n\n## Analytics\n\nAnalytics and error reporting run only if you accept them. Change your choice on the [Cookie policy](/cookies) page.\n\n## Anything else\n\nFor access, correction or other privacy requests, email [hello@hinvel.com](mailto:hello@hinvel.com).\n","category":"account","sort_order":60,"updated_at":"2026-10-10T09:01:27.655751+00:00"}],"locale":"en"}