AI Interrogation Pressure Checklist
A mid-reply decision tree for tone: when to push evidence, when to hold, and when to soften.
Pressure checklist
Tick each item during the interrogation. If half stay unchecked by try 6, reset your angle.
Checks completed: 0 / 8
The pressure checklist is a rapid decision aid for AI Interrogation. After every AI reply, you spend five seconds classifying what happened, then choose escalate, hold, or soften. This prevents the two classic deaths: shutdown from being too mean, and timeout from being too nice. Use it with the question planner open.
The 10-second checklist
After each reply, answer these yes/no prompts:
- Did they give a new factual claim I can quote later?
- Did they dodge a named evidence piece?
- Did their tone go colder / shorter than last reply?
- Did they open a tangent (gear, drama, unrelated hobby)?
- Do I still have tries left for a real close (ideally 3+)?
Then pick an action from the table below.
Action table
| Signals | Action | Next ask style |
|---|---|---|
| New claim + no coldness | Hold / slight escalate | Follow-up detail or next evidence |
| Dodge of named proof | Escalate | Re-ask proof as yes/no |
| Colder / one-word answers | Soften | Narrow neutral fact |
| Tangent bait | Redirect | Yank back to brief location/object |
| Clean contradiction already | Close soon | Confession demand |
| Tries ≤2 and no contradiction | Controlled hail-mary | Best proof + close hybrid |
Escalate correctly
Escalation means more specificity, not more insults. Examples:
- “Answer the gas station question — yes or no.”
- “You claimed X. The warehouse evidence says otherwise. Explain.”
Insult-only escalation causes shutdowns. Rank better asks in question strategies.
Soften correctly
Softening means shorter, calmer, factual — not apologizing forever.
- “Let’s go back to where you were at 9.”
- “I need one detail about the dumpster.”
If you soften for three tries straight with no proof, you are stalling. Re-enter pressure with evidence from the evidence priority list.
Redirect tangents (Case 005 critical)
When boots or dirtbike talk appears, do not debate the hobby. Redirect:
- “Not asking about the bike. Were you at the gas station?”
- “Boots aside — why were you seen running?”
Full route discipline: Case 005 Warehouse Fire.
Phase awareness
| Try band | Default bias |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | Soft map, rare escalate |
| 4–7 | Escalate on dodges |
| 8–10 | Close if contradiction exists; else best proof |
This matches how to play and interrogation strategies.
Worked micro-example
Reply: long charming alibi, ignores hammer.
Checklist: new claim yes, dodge yes, coldness no, tangent no, tries ok.
Action: escalate to hammer fingerprints (Marcus pattern from confession guide).
Reply: “…” / refusal.
Checklist: coldness yes.
Action: soften with one neutral timeline ask, then return to proof.
Pair with other pages
- Draft bank → question planner
- Difficulty context → case difficulty
- Mode practice → Daily Cases, Custom Cases
- Onboarding → beginner tips
Voice checklist (optional)
Say the action out loud: “escalate,” “soften,” or “redirect.” Speaking the choice slows panic typing. It sounds silly until it saves a Case 005 run from a boots argument.
If you notice you always escalate, force two soften reps in a custom. If you always soften, force two proof escalations. The checklist is a mirror for your bias.
Related hubs
Run the checklist out loud if you have to. The goal is a conscious tone choice every try — not autopilot meanness or autopilot politeness — because both autopilots fail TrueTalk AI’s tone physics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for AI Interrogation detectives.
How often should I run the checklist?
After every reply before you type the next question.
What is the difference between escalate and insult?
Escalate cites proof and narrows the ask. Insults without proof cause shutdowns.
What do I do on tangents?
Redirect to brief facts. On Warehouse Fire, see Case 005.
Should I close if I am unsure?
Only if a contradiction already exists. Otherwise spend a proof try first.
Where do I prewrite asks?
Use the question planner.