Orchid: A Creative Approach for Authoring LLM-Driven Interactive Narratives

Integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) into Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) enables dynamic storytelling where user interactions shape the narrative in real time, challenging traditional authoring methods. This paper presents the design study of Orchid, a creative approach for authoring LLM-driven IDNs. Orchid allows users to structure the hierarchy of narrative stages and define the rules governing LLM narrative generation and transitions between stages. The development of Orchid consists of three phases. 1) Formulating Orchid through desk research on existing IDN practices. 2) Implementation of a technology probe based on Orchid. 3) Evaluating how IDN authors use Orchid to design IDNs, verify Orchid's hypotheses, and explore user needs for future authoring tools. This study confirms that authors are open to LLM-driven IDNs but desire strong authorial agency in narrative structures, highlighted in accuracy in branching transitions and story details. Future design implications for Orchid include introducing deterministic variable handling, support for trans-media applications, and narrative consistency across branches.