Introduction
🪶 The Definitive DD Puppeteer Guide
Master Character Posing, Scene Creation & Cinematic Storytelling
📖 Introduction
The Devious Desires Puppeteer system is one of the most powerful roleplay tools ever created for Conan Exiles. Rather than relying entirely on static animations, Puppeteer allows you to directly manipulate your character's skeleton, build completely custom poses, synchronize multiple actors, create cinematic screenshots, and tell stories that would otherwise be impossible.
Whether you are creating a quiet campfire conversation, an intense duel frozen in time, a dramatic execution, a bustling marketplace, or a carefully staged promotional screenshot, Puppeteer gives you complete artistic control over every movement.
This guide was written specifically for the Ash & Blood community, combining information from the official Puppeteer documentation with practical experience gathered by the roleplay community. It has been expanded and reorganized into a structured learning resource suitable for complete beginners and experienced users alike.
ℹ Credits
- Mod Creator: Tin
- Original Community Guide: scrampledbeef
- Official Documentation: Devious Desires
- Ash & Blood Wiki Edition: Expanded, rewritten, reorganized and formatted by faelynaris
📚 Chapter I — Getting Started
Before you begin posing characters or creating elaborate scenes, it is important to understand what Puppeteer actually is and how its interface is organized. Learning the layout of the editor first will save you countless hours later.
🪶 What is Puppeteer?
Puppeteer is an advanced posing system included with Devious Desires that allows you to manipulate your character's skeleton in real time.
Unlike traditional emotes or animations, Puppeteer is not limited to predefined poses. Every limb, joint, hand, foot, facial feature, and body position can be adjusted independently, allowing you to create poses that are completely unique.
Instead of selecting an animation, you become the animator.
Because of this, Puppeteer is capable of producing:
- 📸 Cinematic screenshots
- 🎭 Story-driven roleplay scenes
- 🏛️ Promotional artwork
- 📖 Character portraits
- ⚔️ Action sequences
- ❤️ Romantic scenes
- 👥 Multi-character interactions
- 🎬 Machinima and cinematic videos
🚀 Opening Puppeteer
There are two different ways to open the Puppeteer interface.
Method 1 (Recommended)
- Press the default hotkey H.
- The Puppeteer window will immediately appear.
Method 2
- Press Shift + H.
- Open the Devious Desires utility menu.
- Select the Puppeteer icon.
It is advised to unbind the "TOGGLE STORE" key from ESC -> Settings -> Controls -> Menus to avoid opening the Bazaar each time you do Shift + H.
Alternatively, You can also rebind your keybindings for Devious Desires through it's settings menu by pressing the cogwheel under the Puppeteer icon in Shift + H menu.
Figure 1.0 — Overview of the Keybinds settings menu
🖥 The Puppeteer Window
When opened for the first time, Puppeteer may appear intimidating. Fortunately, the interface is logically divided into four primary workspaces, each dedicated to a specific aspect of scene creation.
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ⚫ Category Buttons |
Hide or Show the categories below |
| 🔴 Animation Controls | Animations, partner scenes, playback speed and general scene functions. |
| 🟢 Edit Character | Pose editing, IK controls, bone manipulation and custom pose creation. |
| 🔵 Game Camera | Create cinematic camera angles and save custom camera presets. |
| 🟡 Scene Manager | Manage actors, synchronize scenes and organize participants. |
📷Puppeteer Window
Figure 1.1 — Overview of the Puppeteer Interface
Figure 1.2 — Overview of the Puppeteer Interface and it's buttons
💡 Before Continuing
Do not worry about memorizing every button immediately.
The goal of this chapter is simply to become familiar with the interface. Each section of the window will be explored individually throughout the following chapters, where every button, option, hotkey and workflow will be explained in detail.
- What Puppeteer is.
- How to open it.
- What each major interface section is responsible for.
- How the remainder of this guide is organized.
⚙ Chapter II — General Controls
Understanding the Core Controls of Puppeteer
The Animation Controls panel is the heart of Puppeteer. Before manipulating bones or creating complex poses, you'll spend some of your time here. Think of this panel as your control center. It is responsible for selecting animations, managing scenes, controlling playback, synchronizing characters, and preparing your scene before entering Edit Mode. Although most of these buttons appear simple, understanding exactly what each one does will make posing significantly easier and prevent many common mistakes.
🖥 Animation Controls Overview
The first section you'll encounter after opening Puppeteer is the General Controls panel. From here you can:
- Play or pause animations.
- Adjust animation speed by using the slider OR the +/- buttons.
- Toggle oscillation mode on and off.
- Reset animation speed back to normal.
- Adjust animation markers.
- Start partner scenes.
- Switch partner animation during the scene.
- Start carry scenes.
- Enable or disable dong physics.
- Adjust dong angle.
- Switch between dong animation & angle control.
- Reset dong angle.
📷 Animation Controls Panel
Figure 2.1 — The Animation Controls panel.
🎬 Animation Selection (Shift + H)
Everything inside Puppeteer should begin with an animation first. Animations provide the foundation upon which your custom poses are built.
Instead of moving every bone from a completely neutral position, it's usually much faster to begin with an animation that's already close to what you're trying to create.
✔ Best Practice
Choose an animation from Shift + H that resembles your intended pose before entering Edit Mode.
A standing animation requires far less work than building a standing pose from scratch.
Figure 2.2— The Animation Selection panel.
▶ Play Animation
The Play button unpauses the currently selected animation, all animations are automatically played when you select it.
Many roleplayers mistakenly believe they must freeze every animation. In reality, some screenshots benefit from natural movement, especially idle breathing, subtle hand motions and facial expressions.
Always preview an animation before editing it. Many animations look very different once they begin looping.
⏸ Pause Animation
Pausing temporarily freezes the current frame.
This can be incredibly useful when searching for the perfect starting position before entering Edit Mode.
- Play animation.
- Wait until a desirable frame appears.
- Pause animation.
- Enter Edit Mode.
- Begin refining the pose.
🤝 Partner Animations
Many Devious Desires animations involve multiple participants. Partner animations automatically synchronize two characters so both remain aligned during playback.
These aren't limited to romantic scenes. They also include conversations, interactions, grapples, embraces, combat poses and countless storytelling opportunities.
📷 Partner Animation Menu (SFW)
Figure 2.3 — Partner animation selection.
⚠ Common Mistake
Attempting to manually position two characters before synchronizing them. Always establish the partner animation first, then make adjustments afterwards.
🎒 Carry Scenes
Carry scenes allow one character to physically support or transport another. These animations are useful for rescue scenes, unconscious characters, wounded warriors, slaves, prisoners, exhausted travelers and dramatic cinematic moments.
Because these animations rely heavily on positioning, they're excellent starting points for more advanced custom poses.
- A wounded warrior carried from battle.
- A guard escorting an unconscious prisoner.
- A companion rescuing an injured ally.
- A grieving survivor carrying a fallen friend.
📷 Carry Animations Menu
Figure 2.4 — Carry animation selection.
⚡ Animation Speed
The Animation Speed slider controls how quickly the current animation plays. Slowing animations allows you to examine subtle movements frame by frame. Increasing speed can help preview loops or test synchronization.
📍 Animation Markers
Certain animations contain markers that represent important points during playback.
Markers allow Puppeteer to synchronize actions more accurately between multiple participants.
Although beginners rarely need to modify markers, understanding that they exist helps explain why some animations synchronize so precisely.
🎯 Preparing Your Scene
Before entering Edit Mode, experienced users almost always follow the same preparation process.
✔ Recommended Workflow
- Select your animation.
- Preview it.
- Adjust playback speed if necessary.
- Synchronize partner actors.
- Position the characters.
- Pause on an ideal frame.
- Enter Edit Mode.
➡ Next Chapter
Edit Mode & Character Manipulation
Now that your scene is prepared, it's time to learn the true power of Puppeteer. In the next chapter, you'll begin manipulating individual bones, creating custom poses, saving your work, and transforming ordinary animations into completely unique scenes.
🎭 Chapter III — Think Like an Animator
The Difference Between Moving Bones and Creating Believable Characters
Before learning how to manipulate bones, you should understand one important truth: Puppeteer does not create good poses. You do. The software simply gives you control over the character's skeleton. Whether that character appears alive or resembles a lifeless mannequin depends entirely on how you use those controls. Professional animators, photographers, sculptors and concept artists all study the same principles before touching any software. Fortunately, you only need to understand a handful of simple concepts to dramatically improve every pose you create.
⚖ Center of Gravity
Every living creature has weight. Even while standing perfectly still, your body is constantly balancing itself. Your hips shift. Your shoulders compensate. Your knees bend slightly. Your feet carry your weight. Characters inside Conan Exiles should do exactly the same.
Figure 3.1 —A T-Pose showing the available main bones in Devious Desires.
✔ Good Practice
- Let one leg support more weight.
- Allow the hips to shift naturally.
- Keep the spine relaxed.
- Avoid perfectly symmetrical standing poses.
📐 The Line of Action
One of the first concepts taught in animation schools is the Line of Action. Imagine drawing a single curved line running from the character's head all the way to their feet. That invisible line defines the entire pose.
Strong poses have a clear, readable direction.
Weak poses look stiff because every body part points somewhere different.
Figure 3.2 —An illustration showing the difference between Dynamic and Boring Line of Actions (Credit: Krishna M. Sadasivam)
Before moving individual bones, ask yourself:
"Which direction is my character's body flowing?"
Once you answer that question, every other adjustment becomes much easier.
For more information about The Line of Action, give this tutorial a read https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-the-line-of-action-make-your-character-poses-more-dynamic--vector-5554 (Credit: Krishna M. Sadasivam)
🦴 Symmetry Is Your Enemy
Humans almost never stand perfectly symmetrical. If both shoulders are level... both feet are parallel... both elbows bend equally... both hands hang at identical heights... your character immediately begins looking artificial.
Real people constantly favor one side of their body. Tiny imperfections make characters feel alive.
| ❌ Stiff | ✔ Natural |
|---|---|
| Both feet parallel | One foot slightly forward |
| Shoulders perfectly level | One shoulder slightly lower |
| Head perfectly centered | Head slightly tilted |
| Hands perfectly mirrored | Different relaxed positions |
Figure 3.3 —A custom pose showing how symmetry never works in realistic poses. (credit:Malorien)
👀 Eye Direction
People instinctively look where their attention is focused. Eyes tell the audience exactly what your character is thinking.
Before adjusting fingers, clothing or facial expressions, decide:
- What is your character looking at?
- Who has their attention?
- What emotion are they feeling?
Figure 3.4 —A custom pose showing how eye direction can drastically change a screenshot's feel. (credit:Malorien)
- Looking downward suggests sadness.
- Looking upward suggests curiosity.
- Direct eye contact creates tension.
- Looking away creates uncertainty.
- Watching another character strengthens interaction.
🤲 Hands Tell the Story
Beginners spend hours adjusting faces while completely ignoring hands. Ironically, viewers often notice hands before anything else.
Relaxed hands communicate calmness. Clenched fists communicate anger. Open palms communicate honesty. A single finger resting on a weapon may suggest anticipation.
Never leave hands perfectly flat unless the animation specifically requires it.
Figure 3.5 —A custom pose showing how hands can depict different meanings. (Credit: Malorien)
🧍 Every Pose Needs a Purpose
Never move bones randomly. Every adjustment should answer one question:
What is this character doing right now?
Are they waiting?
Listening?
Preparing to attack?
Flirting?
Reading?
Praying?
Mourning?
Exhausted?
The answer determines every decision that follows.
Figure 3.6 — A custom pose showing how poses can be used to write stories and enrich scenes. (credit:Malorien)
🎬 Build the Pose from the Ground Up
Professional animators rarely begin with fingers or facial expressions. Instead, they work from large movements toward smaller details.
Recommended Workflow
- Feet
- Legs
- Pelvis
- Spine
- Chest
- Head
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Hands
- Fingers
- Facial Details
Trying to perfect the fingers before the body is balanced almost always results in unnecessary work.
❌ Common Beginner Mistakes
- Standing perfectly straight.
- Perfect symmetry.
- Ignoring body weight.
- Flat hands.
- Looking straight ahead in every pose.
- Adjusting fingers before the body.
- Making every character pose like a mannequin.
- Forgetting to ask what the character is actually doing.
✔ Before Moving On
If you remember nothing else from this chapter, remember these five principles:
- Characters have weight.
- Symmetry looks unnatural.
- Every pose needs a purpose.
- Hands and eyes tell the story.
- Build large movements before small ones.
These principles will improve every pose you create, regardless of which software or game you use.
➡ Next Chapter
Edit Mode & Bone Manipulation
Now that you understand how believable poses are constructed, it's time to learn how to manipulate every bone in Puppeteer. We'll cover Edit Mode, transform gizmos, coordinate spaces, IK versus FK, saving poses, and the tools that give you complete control over your character.