Testing ChatGPT for RPGs
With all the insanity going on with ChatGPT, a new conversational AI, I began wondering if it could be integrated into RPG experiences.
It feels pretty dystopian to me, but let’s suspend judgment for now.
So I asked ChatGPT itself how it could be used for RPGs…
And it made some good points. In short, it proposed to be used for generating setting descriptions on-demand, as a source of inspiration for plot ideas and challenges, and to generate unique dialogue for NPCs.
(You can read the whole article it wrote at the bottom of this blog post).
Let’s put it to the test!
I’m working on a storytelling game called Inventures. It uses symbol interpretation as a core mechanic. At the start of a turn, a player flips a challenge card and an object card, and they use that as inspiration to advance the story and set up the next challenge.
I asked ChatGPT to write a short story explaining a challenge a group of astronauts might encounter on an alien world, where they get surrounded, involving some kind of forest or tree-like thing.
You can see the results below.
So how’d it do?
Well, the obvious answer is, there’s no context here. There’s nothing to connect it with what happened earlier in the story or adventure. It’s an isolated bubble of a thing. The bubble is a good story, sure, but for ChatGPT to be useful, you’d have to provide more context.
So I provided more context, and told it what had happened before this challenge….
Conclusion: Useful, but only as a tool (you are not replaced)
If you want ChatGPT to be useful, you have to provide it a ton of context about situations that have already happened.
What makes a world feel ‘alive’ is how connected its parts are.
If you’re doing world-building or creating characters, nothing stands alone.
I can think of no better example of this than the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett: what makes those books ‘work’ aren’t the individual characters created out of thin air. It’s how characters’ lives interact with sociopolitical stuff, magic, history. So to create a new character using ChatGPT, it has to know all that history and what the world already is.
Of course that’s not a problem. You could just have a detailed prompt that you update regularly, so when you need to generate a character, you’re telling ChatGPT about the intricate world the character lives in, and using that to inspire the characters.
In that way, if you can create useful templates and formats for running queries, ChatGPT can be a DM/storyteller’s most useful tool. But it can’t do the work for you.
It also begs the question: why do we tell stories? Is it for the audience, or for the storyteller? If you’re going to use ChatGPT, will you gain satisfaction from the stories you’re telling? Probably not. It’s all about craft, baby.
Learn more about Inventures, an entirely new kind of storytelling RPG platform, HERE:
What ChatGPT said about how it could be useful for GMs
ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI, could be a useful tool for enhancing the storytelling experience in role-playing games (RPGs).
For those unfamiliar with RPGs, they are a type of game in which players take on the roles of characters in a fictional world and act out their stories and adventures together. The game is usually guided by a "game master" who sets the scene, presents challenges, and controls the actions of non-player characters.
One way that ChatGPT could be utilized in this context is by providing instant, on-demand descriptions of settings, characters, and events. For example, the game master could use ChatGPT to quickly generate detailed descriptions of the surroundings and NPCs, adding depth and realism to the game world.
Another potential use for ChatGPT in RPG storytelling is as a source of inspiration for plot ideas and challenges. The game master could input a basic premise or situation, and ChatGPT could generate a range of possible scenarios and challenges for the players to encounter. This could help to keep the game fresh and exciting, and prevent the story from becoming predictable or stale.
Additionally, ChatGPT could be used to help generate unique and interesting dialogue for NPCs. Instead of relying on canned responses or pre-written lines, the game master could input a brief description of the NPC's character and motivations, and ChatGPT could generate a range of natural-sounding responses and reactions. This could help to create a more immersive and engaging game experience for the players.
Overall, ChatGPT has the potential to be a valuable tool for RPG storytelling, providing game masters with a powerful and flexible way to generate rich, detailed narratives and challenges. Whether used for description, inspiration, or dialogue, ChatGPT can help to enhance the storytelling experience in RPGs and bring new levels of creativity and realism to the game.