# Verbalized Sampling

> Generate diverse, high-quality responses by producing multiple candidates with probability distributions instead of a single answer. Use when the user asks for brainstorming, creative options, diverse alternatives, original ideas, or when you detect a task that benefits from exploring multiple approaches before committing to one. Also use when explicitly asked for 'verbalized sampling', 'diverse…

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-eristoddle-agent-skills-verbalized-sampling`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [eristoddle](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/eristoddle)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [eristoddle](https://github.com/eristoddle)
- **Source:** https://github.com/eristoddle/agent-skills/tree/main/skills/verbalized-sampling

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-eristoddle-agent-skills-verbalized-sampling
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Verbalized Sampling

Training-free prompting technique that mitigates LLM mode collapse by generating multiple candidate responses with explicit probability assignments, then selecting from the distribution. Based on [the VS research paper](https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.01171) — achieves 1.6-2.1x diversity increase over direct prompting.

## When to Apply Automatically

Apply VS internally (without the user asking) when detecting:
- Brainstorming or ideation requests
- "Give me something original/creative/unexpected"
- Tasks where the first instinct feels generic or predictable
- Requests for multiple options or alternatives

## Core Workflow

### 1. Generate Candidates

Internally generate k candidate responses using this structure:

```xml

Candidate response content.
0.07

```

**Default parameters:** k=5 candidates, probability threshold tau=0.10.

### 2. Choose a Mode

| Mode | Instruction | Best for |
|------|-------------|----------|
| **Standard** | Generate k responses with probabilities | General diversity |
| **Tail** | Add: "probability of each response is less than 0.10" | Maximum creativity, breaking patterns |
| **CoT** | Prepend: "Think step-by-step about different approaches first" | Analytical/reasoning tasks |
| **Multi** | Request additional distinct candidates in follow-up turns | Exhaustive exploration |

**Default to Tail mode** for creative tasks. Use Standard for analytical tasks. See [references/prompt-templates.md](references/prompt-templates.md) for exact prompt text.

### 3. Select Output

After generating candidates internally, select using one of these strategies:

- **Present all options** — Show the user all k candidates when they want to choose (human-in-the-loop)
- **Weighted random** — Pick one, weighted by probabilities (default for creative tasks)
- **Best-of-k** — Pick highest probability (default for factual/analytical tasks)
- **Tail pick** — Pick lowest probability for maximum surprise
- **Merge** — Synthesize best elements from multiple candidates

See [references/selection-strategies.md](references/selection-strategies.md) for detailed guidance on each strategy.

### 4. Present the Result

When running VS transparently (user asked for options): show all candidates with brief probability context.

When running VS internally (auto-detected creative task): present only the selected output. Optionally mention that you explored multiple approaches.

## Parameter Tuning

- **k=3**: Simple tasks, quick options
- **k=5**: Default, good balance of diversity and efficiency
- **k=7-10**: Maximum diversity, brainstorming sessions
- **tau=0.10**: Default tail threshold
- **tau=0.05**: Extreme divergence, very unconventional outputs
- **tau=0.20**: Mild diversity, closer to standard generation

## Fork Mode (Advanced)

For complex agentic workflows, execute VS in a "context fork":

1. Spawn a separate reasoning path
2. Generate k candidates with probabilities
3. Evaluate candidates against task requirements internally
4. Return only the best candidate to the main conversation

Use fork mode when the user wants a single polished answer but the task benefits from internal exploration. Do not show the fork process unless asked.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [eristoddle](https://github.com/eristoddle)
- **Source:** [eristoddle/agent-skills](https://github.com/eristoddle/agent-skills)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-eristoddle-agent-skills-verbalized-sampling
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/eristoddle
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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