First-Run Chat Setup

Connect one provider key, save it once, and every chat starts working.

This walkthrough follows the click order from your reference screenshots and turns it into a clean, repeatable setup path. Choose either OpenRouter or Nvidia NIM, copy the exact API key and model ID, then save them in Arcanspire.

Also note that I vibecoded the shit out of this section. It's so overkill lol.

Back to ChatAccount Page

1. Open the gear

All provider setup starts in the Arcanspire settings modal.

2. Copy the exact model string

Do not guess the model name from memory or shorten it.

3. Save once

Keys stay on the account, so users only need to do this once per provider.

Provider Path

OpenRouter

Best quick-start path if the user wants the fastest free setup. The screenshots show the key creation flow plus how to search for a free model and copy its exact model ID.

Get one free ->
Provider Path

Nvidia NIM

Good for users following Nvidia Build's free endpoint flow. The screenshots show the profile menu path, API key generation, free-endpoint filtering, and the View Code model copy step.

Get key at build.nvidia.com ->

OpenRouter Walkthrough

Ordered exactly like the OpenRouter screenshots, one action at a time.

01

Step 1

Open Arcanspire settings from the chat or character browse screen

Use the gear icon in the top navigation. In your screenshots, this is the first click before anything else.

ArcanspireGear iconOpen Settings
This is where the provider tabs, API key field, model field, and Save button live.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire characters page with the settings gear highlighted in the top navigation.
Start from the Arcanspire browse or chat screen and open the highlighted settings gear.
02

Step 2

Switch to the OpenRouter tab and use the provider link

OpenRouter is the simplest free route in your screenshots. Start by selecting the OpenRouter tab in Arcanspire and using the highlighted link beside the API key field.

OpenRouterGet one freeProvider tab
This screenshot is the real handoff point from Arcanspire into OpenRouter.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire settings modal with the OpenRouter tab and the Get one free link highlighted.
Inside settings, select OpenRouter and follow the highlighted provider link.
03

Step 3

On OpenRouter, press Get API Key

The first OpenRouter screen to use is the landing page button that opens the API key flow.

OpenRouterLanding pageGet API Key
This screenshot is the cleanest first stop after leaving Arcanspire. A second capture of this same page stays in the reference block below.
Screenshot Walkthrough
OpenRouter home page with the Get API Key button marked.
After following the provider link, use the OpenRouter home page button to go straight to key creation.
04

Step 4

Name the OpenRouter key and press Create

On the OpenRouter keys page, fill in the new key form and create the key.

API KeysName keyCreate
This is the actual key-creation form, not the landing page button that sends you here.
Screenshot Walkthrough
OpenRouter create key modal with the Create button highlighted.
Fill in the OpenRouter key form and press Create.
05

Step 5

Copy the new OpenRouter key immediately

OpenRouter only reveals the full secret once, so copy it before closing the key dialog.

CopySecret keyOne-time view
This is the key copy step that matters. The user should grab the secret here before doing anything else.
Screenshot Walkthrough
OpenRouter newly generated API key modal with the copy button highlighted.
Copy the API key immediately. This is the only time OpenRouter shows the full secret.
06

Step 6

Paste the copied OpenRouter key into Arcanspire and save

Return to Arcanspire and paste the copied key into the OpenRouter API key field, then save it.

Paste keyArcanspireSave Settings
This is the first successful Arcanspire save after the OpenRouter key has been copied. The next steps are only for users who want to swap to a different OpenRouter model.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire settings modal with the OpenRouter API key pasted and the Save Settings button highlighted.
Paste the copied OpenRouter key into Arcanspire and save it.
07

Step 7

If you want a different model, search OpenRouter's free list

After the key is saved, go back to OpenRouter, search for free models, and pick the one you want.

OptionalFree modelPick one
This is the missing model-selection step between saving the key and opening a specific model page.
Screenshot Walkthrough
OpenRouter search results showing free models to choose from.
Search OpenRouter for free models and pick the one you want to use.
08

Step 8

Open the chosen model page and copy the exact model ID

After choosing a free model, open its detail page and copy the exact model identifier shown there.

OptionalModel pageExact ID
The model string must match exactly when it goes back into Arcanspire.
Screenshot Walkthrough
OpenRouter model detail page with the model identifier copy control highlighted.
Open the chosen model page and copy the exact model ID shown there.
09

Step 9

Paste that model ID back into Arcanspire and save again

Return to Arcanspire, paste the copied model ID into the Model field, and save again to use the exact OpenRouter model you picked.

OptionalPaste modelSave again
This is the custom-model version of the final OpenRouter save. An alternate capture of this same step stays in the reference block below.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire settings modal with a custom OpenRouter model pasted into the Model field and Save Settings highlighted.
Paste the custom model ID into Arcanspire and save again to use the specific OpenRouter model you chose.

Extra OpenRouter References

All of the uploaded OpenRouter screenshots are still on the page. These two are alternate captures, not extra clicks.

The first repeats the same Get API Key landing page already shown in the main flow, and the second is another capture of the final custom-model save back inside Arcanspire.

Alternate OpenRouter landing page screenshot showing the Get API Key button highlighted.
Extra reference shot: a second capture of the same Get API Key landing page step shown in the main walkthrough.
Alternate Arcanspire screenshot showing a custom OpenRouter model pasted into settings.
Extra reference shot: another custom-model example after the user pastes a specific OpenRouter model into Arcanspire.

Nvidia NIM Walkthrough

The Nvidia flow is split into separate key, model, and save steps so the screenshots stay in the right order.

01

Step 1

Open the same settings gear and switch the provider to Nvidia NIM

The Nvidia walkthrough starts in the exact same place as OpenRouter: the Arcanspire settings modal.

ArcanspireNvidia NIMProvider tab
Users should switch to the Nvidia NIM tab before leaving Arcanspire so they know which fields they are filling later.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire settings modal with the Nvidia NIM provider selected and the build.nvidia.com link highlighted.
Switch the provider tab to Nvidia NIM and use the highlighted provider link to open Nvidia Build.
02

Step 2

Sign in to Nvidia Build and open API Keys from the profile menu

Use the provider link from the settings modal, sign in on Nvidia Build, open the profile menu, and enter the API Keys area.

build.nvidia.comProfile menuAPI Keys
Your screenshots show the profile dropdown path clearly, which matters because the key page is not the first screen after login.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia Build home page with the profile menu and API Keys item highlighted.
After signing in, open the profile menu in the top-right and choose API Keys.
03

Step 3

If there are no keys yet, press Generate API Key

The empty API Keys screen on Nvidia Build gives the user a direct generate button when there are no existing keys.

No keysGenerate API KeyNvidia Build
This screenshot is its own action and should not be bundled into the menu step above.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia API Keys page with the Generate API Key button highlighted.
If there are no existing keys, Nvidia shows a direct Generate API Key button in the empty state.
04

Step 4

Name the Nvidia key and generate it

Give the key a clear label, keep the expiration the user wants, and then generate the key.

Generate keyNameExpiration
This is the form submission step, separate from the later copy step.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia Generate API Key modal with the Generate Key button highlighted.
Fill in the key name, keep the desired expiration, and generate the Nvidia API key.
05

Step 5

Copy the newly granted Nvidia API key immediately

The success dialog is where Nvidia reveals the full secret. Copy it before leaving the modal.

CopyGranted keyOne-time view
This screenshot is the one-time secret copy step.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia API Key Granted modal with the Copy API Key button highlighted.
Copy the Nvidia key from the success modal before leaving the page.
06

Step 6

Paste the Nvidia key into Arcanspire and save the default setup

Return to Arcanspire, paste the copied Nvidia key into the API key field, and save the provider using the model already shown there.

Paste keyDefault modelSave Settings
This screenshot represents the default-model save path before the user picks a custom Nvidia model.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire Nvidia settings with the API key field and Save button highlighted.
Paste the Nvidia API key into Arcanspire and save the default Nvidia setup.
07

Step 7

Pick a model with a free endpoint

Browse Nvidia models and filter for free endpoint availability before choosing one.

ModelsFree endpointChoose one
This avoids users copying a model that they cannot call under the free path shown in the screenshots.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia model browser filtered to free endpoint models with one model highlighted.
Use the free-endpoint model list to pick a model the user can actually call without paid access.
08

Step 8

Open the chosen Nvidia model page and press View Code

After picking a free-endpoint model, open its page and bring up the code example.

View CodeModel page
This screenshot is the action that reveals the exact request payload.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia model page with the View Code button highlighted.
Open the chosen model page and click View Code to reveal the request example.
09

Step 9

Copy the exact model string from the Nvidia code sample

Inside the View Code dialog, copy only the model identifier itself. Do not include any quote marks around it.

Copy
This exact string is what should go into the Arcanspire Model field.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Nvidia View Code dialog with the model identifier line highlighted.
Copy only the model string from the code sample, without the quotation marks.
10

Step 10

If you want a specific Nvidia model, paste it into Arcanspire and save again

After copying the model ID from View Code, return to Arcanspire, paste it into the Model field, and save again.

ModelPaste modelSave again
This is the custom-model version of the final Nvidia save step.
Screenshot Walkthrough
Arcanspire Nvidia settings with the model field and Save Settings button highlighted.
Paste the exact Nvidia model ID and save. After that the user can use Nvidia NIM in Arcanspire.

Common mistakes

Wrong model name

Use the exact identifier shown on OpenRouter or inside Nvidia's View Code example.

Key copied too late

Some providers only show the full secret once. Copy it immediately during creation.

Saved the wrong provider tab

Make sure the provider tab matches the key you just created before you press Save Settings.

Done?

Go back and start chatting.

After the key and model are saved, Arcanspire will use that provider on the next chat request. If a user wants to switch later, they can reopen the same settings gear and replace the saved values.

Return to the chatBrowse characters

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