Introducing the Narrative Context Protocol: Preserving Storytelling Across AI Agents

Stories don’t survive without context—and neither do multi-agent AI systems.

Exciting news from Narrative First! Our collaboration with the Entertainment Technology Center at USC has evolved, and we're thrilled to introduce the Narrative Context Protocol (NCP)—the newly renamed and refined standard formerly known as the Universal Narrative Model.

Why the update? With groundbreaking advancements in AI-driven multi-agent systems, it makes perfect sense to approach storytelling frameworks similarly to how tech protocols handle context. Think of the NCP as a Model Context Protocol—but specifically designed for stories!

What is the Narrative Context Protocol?

The Narrative Context Protocol is an open, standardized JSON schema crafted to ensure narrative coherence and artistic integrity, even in complex, multi-agentic storytelling environments. Whether it's film, games, interactive media, or generative AI-driven narratives, NCP reliably maintains the storyteller's vision, thematic depth, and emotional resonance.

The Foundation: Dramatica and the Importance of Context

From its very beginning, Dramatica theory has emphasized the critical importance of context. One of the first steps in constructing a story using Dramatica involves establishing context—identifying the Domains, or the broad areas from which conflict originates. Context defines where conflicts arise, guiding the logical and emotional arcs of narratives.

Given the increasing reliance of AI multi-agentic systems on consistent and relevant context, it makes perfect sense to build upon this foundational idea. Both Subtxt and Dramatica are fundamentally about understanding and preserving narrative context. By leaning into this concept, NCP ensures narratives remain coherent and true to the author's intent, no matter how complex or distributed the storytelling system becomes.

Why NCP?

As storytelling increasingly intersects with sophisticated AI-driven systems, there's a pressing need for a structured yet flexible way to manage narrative context. NCP acts like a "blockchain-for-subtext," transparently tracking narrative changes and expansions, guaranteeing that the original authorial voice remains clear and traceable.

This means creators can confidently collaborate with multiple agents and storytelling systems without losing sight of their original artistic goals.

Join the Collaboration

The Narrative Context Protocol is open-source and community-driven. We invite storytellers, developers, and creative technologists to explore, contribute, and build upon this exciting new narrative standard.

Check out the project on GitHub:

👉 Narrative Context Protocol Repository

We're eager to see how NCP helps you maintain your storytelling vision across the rapidly evolving landscape of narrative technology!