ChatGPT as a DM copilot
Experiments with AI as a creative partner for Dungeons and Dragons
I have been using ChatGPT as a creative partner while preparing to run games of Dungeons and Dragons.
What shocks me is how effortlessly creative it is. I will prompt it with some version of a question that I’d normally brainstorm for a half hour and without so much as pausing it will spit out three perfectly valid ideas and five more shabby ones. There’s something about the pace of it. The mechanical consistency of brute force creativity is somehow intimidating, but also, a true miracle.
I've been running a Dungeons and Dragons game for seven years, and my game has been mostly "home brewed," which means I've been making up the world and the plot lines for the players essentially from whole cloth. This is not easy work.
In the game I'm currently running, magic is rare. An ancient and lost civilization had conquered electricity, but all that remains from their age are scattered relics with bizarre electrical properties. These ancient ones attempted to tame magic as well as lightning, and this led to a great calamity which destroyed much of planet and left a world where magic itself is rare.
The players are exploring a long-hidden station belonging to this ancient civilization. So I asked ChatGPT to help me brainstorm the details for the encounter with the main villain.
I’ve pasted some of the exchange and my prompts below. Not much of this made it into the game verbatim — but some of it did! Which is wild. Also, as part of the process I had Midjourney create the “battle map” for the game that you see at the top of this post. I did wind up using it in Owlbear.rodeo and it worked great for play.
Prompt: Pretend you are a great dungeon master for dungeons and dragons. You are running a game where the players are approaching a "control room" for a giant drill that is boring deep into the planet. The control room is the "lair" for the main villain of the storyline. It is a futuristic space made of metal and with electricity and it controls the drill, which is designed to mine "magic" from deep within the planet. What kinds of elements would you describe in this control room?
As the players approach the control room, they can feel a low, constant hum emanating from within. The entrance to the room is a large, metallic door that slides open with a hiss as they approach.
As they step inside, they are immediately struck by the futuristic feel of the space. The walls are made of gleaming metal panels, and a series of screens and displays line the walls. The air is filled with the crackle of electricity, and sparks dance along the edges of the various machines and devices.
In the center of the room is a large, circular console, which seems to be the main control panel for the drill. A series of screens and readouts display various pieces of information about the drill's progress and status. A single, ominous red button sits at the center of the console, with a sign reading "Emergency Shutdown" in bold letters.
Several other devices and machines can be seen scattered throughout the room, each one seeming to play a critical role in the operation of the drill. A large, humming generator sits in one corner, providing power to the various machines. A series of pipes and conduits snake along the walls, carrying various fluids and gases to and from the drill.
The air is filled with the sound of machinery, as various pumps, motors, and gears hum and clank away in the background. The players can feel a sense of tension and unease in the air, as if the very room is alive with a malevolent energy.
As they look around, they notice a figure standing at the console, his back turned to them. He wears a black cloak and a metallic mask, and his hands move quickly over the controls, as if he is directing the drill with his very thoughts. He seems completely focused on his task, unaware of the players' presence.
Suddenly, he turns to face the players, his metallic mask gleaming in the light. "Ah, so you have finally arrived," he says with a cold, emotionless voice. "You are too late to stop me. My drill will extract the magic from this planet, and I will become the most powerful wizard in all the land."
Prompt: Some of the elements you have created in the control room are interactive, and the players will be able to use them for tactical advantages or as attacks or as defenses during the battle with the wizard. What are those interactive elements and how can they be used by the players?
Sure, here are some interactive elements that the players can use in the control room during the battle with the wizard:
The emergency shutdown button - If the players can reach the control console and press the emergency shutdown button, it will stop the drill from operating and disrupt the wizard's plans. However, the wizard will likely try to stop them from reaching the console or try to stop them from pressing the button.
The generator - If the players can disable the generator, they will be able to cut power to the various machines and devices in the control room. This could cause the wizard's attacks to be less effective or even disable some of his abilities. However, the generator will likely be heavily guarded or protected.
The pipes and conduits - If the players can find a way to sabotage the pipes and conduits, they could cause a leak or explosion that would damage the wizard or his minions. This could also cause chaos and confusion in the control room, giving the players an opportunity to strike.
The screens and displays - If the players can find a way to hack into the screens and displays, they could access information about the drill's operation or the wizard's plans. They could also use the screens to distract or confuse the wizard during the battle.
The various machines and devices - If the players can find a way to use the various machines and devices in the control room, they could gain a tactical advantage over the wizard or his minions. For example, they could use a crane or lift to drop heavy objects on their enemies, or use a laser cutter to slice through obstacles or enemies.
Prompt: The wizard's magical drill is attracting all manner of ethereal monsters with a strong magical pull. He can use the drill to summon these monsters to fight on his behalf in a battle with the party. The party consists of five level 6 characters. As a great dungeon master, what monsters would you have the wizard summon?
As a great dungeon master, here are some ethereal monsters that the wizard could summon to fight on his behalf:
Shadow Demon - A shadow demon is a fiendish creature that can move through shadows and darkness, and has the ability to possess and control its enemies. It has the ability to create an aura of darkness, making it difficult for the players to see and attack it.
Intellect Devourer - An intellect devourer is a bizarre creature that feeds on the brains of its victims. It can attack with a powerful psychic blast, and has the ability to take control of its victim's body. It can also burrow underground and move through solid objects, making it difficult to detect or attack.
Gibbering Mouther - A gibbering mouther is a bizarre, shapeless creature that can emit a deafening, mind-shattering gibberish that can stun its enemies. It can also attack with a flurry of biting, writhing tentacles, and has the ability to swallow its enemies whole.
Death Knight - A death knight is an undead warrior that has been corrupted by dark magic. It is a formidable foe with powerful sword attacks and the ability to cast spells. It is also immune to many types of damage and can resist magical spells.
Flameskull - A flameskull is a fiery undead creature that can shoot bolts of fire from its eyes. It is immune to many types of damage and can only be destroyed by destroying its skull.
Prompt: Once the players defeat the wizard, it will take more than destroying the control room to return the magic to the world. The magic that has been sucked up so far in carried inside several amulets that were in the wizard's possession. What are some ideas for how the party might return the magic to the world?
Here are some ideas for how the party might return the magic to the world:
The party could destroy the amulets - If the party can retrieve the amulets from the wizard's possession, they could destroy them to release the magic back into the world. This could involve a difficult ritual or using a powerful magical artifact to destroy the amulets.
The party could perform a ritual to channel the magic back into the earth - If the party has access to powerful magic or knows of a sacred site that can channel magic, they could perform a ritual to channel the magic back into the earth. This could involve sacrificing something of great value or performing a series of complex spells.
The party could release the magic through a powerful artifact - If the party knows of a powerful artifact that can release magic into the world, they could use it to release the magic from the amulets. This could involve a difficult quest to find the artifact or to unlock its power.
The party could find a way to transfer the magic into willing recipients - If the party knows of individuals who are willing to absorb the magic from the amulets, they could find a way to transfer the magic into them. This could involve a difficult ritual or using a special device to transfer the magic.
The party could seek out the source of the magic and return it directly to the earth - If the party can find the source of the magic that was being extracted by the drill, they could return the magic directly to the earth. This could involve a difficult quest or journey to find the source and unlock its power.
Prompt: What kind of prompt would you give to midjourney to generate a playable map image of the control room?
Here's a prompt you could use to generate a playable map image of the control room:
"Create a detailed map of the wizard's control room for a giant drill that is boring deep into the planet. The control room is a futuristic space made of metal and with electricity, and it controls the drill, which is designed to mine 'magic' from deep within the planet. The control room has ten rooms connected by hallways, and it is the 'lair' for the main villain of the storyline. Each room has a specific purpose and contains various pieces of furniture and equipment. Use your imagination to create a detailed map that will be playable by the party, including any interactive elements or obstacles that might be present."