The conceit behind Yoon-Suin and my forthcoming book The Great North, as well as other planned projects, is that you can 'create your own' version of the setting through the use of many, many random tables that produce a unique iteration with the flavour of my original idea. This has proved to be popular and I suppose qualifies me as having made some very minor contribution to the hobby.
Well, you too can now basically do this using AI, as comments towards the bottom of this entry prove. The commenter MTB, Prompt Engineer Extraordinaire, gave the following prompt to ChatGPT-4:
Describe a hex in a hexmap for a fantasy roleplaying game set in a region that is designed to resemble Miyagi prefecture in Japan. Make it fantastical. Avoid cliches. Don’t take creatures directly from Japanese mythology - rather, create new creatures that are thematically appropriate. Use the lateral thinking technique of random stimulation to add fresh ideas
And it came up with something that still to my eye felt inert and banal, but was certainly plausible:
Hex #21: Luminous Tidewood Sanctuary
Description:
The Luminous Tidewood Sanctuary is a magical realm where land and sea intertwine harmoniously, creating a unique and enchanting environment. This captivating sanctuary is adorned with trees bearing iridescent leaves and bark, shimmering in a kaleidoscope of colors that shift with the ebb and flow of the tides. Perpetually in bloom, the foliage is illuminated by ethereal flowers with delicate, translucent petals that emit a gentle, otherworldly glow and release a soothing, fragrant scent.
The rising tide partially submerges the sanctuary's lower regions, creating a spellbinding scene of blossoms floating upon the water's surface. The tide's ebb and flow influence the magical creatures inhabiting the sanctuary, who have adapted to this exceptional environment.
Inhabitants:
* Nijiiro Serpents: These mesmerizing serpents, with their opalescent, shimmering scales, slither gracefully through the trees and water. Though territorial by nature, they can be pacified with offerings of Suijin Fruit—a rare and coveted fruit found exclusively in this enchanted sanctuary.
* Shiomori Ents: Resembling trees with seawater-soaked bark, these gentle beings possess the power to control water in their vicinity. They maintain the sanctuary's fragile balance by directing the tides and nurturing the flora.
* Koralomim Turtogs: These amphibious creatures boast shells composed of living coral. When threatened, they can retract into their shells, camouflaging themselves as ordinary coral formations. Feeding on underwater plants during high tide, they venture ashore to bask in the sun at low tide.
* Hoshikage Wisps: These minuscule, bioluminescent entities appear as floating stars that emit a soft, melodic hum. They illuminate the sanctuary at night, their movements synchronized with the moon's phases.
Points of Interest:
* Suijin Fruit Grove: This rare and mystical grove is home to the prized Suijin Fruit. Guarded by Nijiiro Serpents, adventurers seeking the fruit's potent healing properties may attempt to harvest it.
* Crystalline Lagoon: A secluded lagoon with pristine, magical waters that bestow temporary water-breathing abilities upon those brave enough to submerge themselves.
* Whispering Caverns: Accessible only during low tide, this intricate network of underwater caverns houses the reclusive Shiomori Ents. Those who approach peacefully may gain their trust and have a chance to seek the Heartstone of the Tides, a powerful artifact that grants unparalleled control over water, hidden deep within the caverns.
* Seashell Shrine: An enigmatic, ancient shrine, half-submerged within the sanctuary, dedicated to a long-forgotten ocean deity. Crafted from intricately carved seashells and coral with mysterious runes etched across the surfaces, the shrine houses the Echoing Conch, a mystical relic with the power to communicate with sea creatures, control the weather, and summon tidal forces.
Unique Features:
* Bioluminescent algae blankets portions of the sanctuary floor, casting a soft radiance and forming intricate, glowing patterns visible at night.
* The sanctuary serves as a migratory path for the rare and majestic Azure Sky Mantas, a species of winged sea creatures that visit the region once every few years. Their appearance is considered a fortuitous omen by locals.
Somebody could probably make a series of campaign setting books which describe the setting in exciting narrative form and then give you, the reader, prompts to use with ChatGPT-4 (or whatever) based on the content which then generate almost all elements of the setting for you, along the lines of the above. Whoever does it could probably make money that way. The people who will, will be the ones which have the most compelling original settings, and into which the most thought has been devoted in terms of crafting the prompts.
(full disclosure: I'm not morally opposed to the use of AI in writing, but I think the current technology isn't there yet and might possibly be a technological dead-end)
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced people will be willing to buy a product like this. Random tables only create the bare minimum - the campaign setting resulting from their use is still made by the reader, even if they follow the book to the letter. This, however, is the full text - just randomly generated. If I wanted a full text of a setting, I would prefer a good one written by an author. If I want a personalized setting, the act of creating it is part of the experience - I might as well ask the AI to report to me how fun the session went instead of playing.
Another advantage of Yoon-Suin over this theoretical product is that random tables are *fun to read*. Even if I never roll on them, they give me ideas to steal or get inspired by (this is, in fact, my main use of random tables. I very rarely actually roll the dice). The prompt.. isn't fun for me as a reader.
That's an interesting perspective - thanks.
DeleteThe technological dead-end point is an open question, of course, but I have my moments in which I agree. There is a world of difference between producing a passable bite-sized chunk of text or art, and producing a coherent whole. That's for sure.
With that said, I just read a post on LinkedIn from the head of NYU's business school telling everyone how fabulous ChatGPT is for doing X, Y and Z, so it's certainly taking off for that kind person.
This tech is not going away, and is now being used in many, many settings. A german neurologist told me the other day that the use of ChatGPT in academic journals is now accepted, so long as the contribution is acknowledged. It "levels the playing field" for those are not native English speakers but are forced to publish in English. I thought that was an interesting use case.
ReplyDeleteI hope writers can move beyond seeing this as a threat to seeing it as a productivity tool. Kind of like a virtual amanuensis.
The use of random tables as "oracles" in the RPG hobby is well established. I think ChatGPT is another sort of oracle - not something that is going to write books in competition with humans. Maybe I'm naive.
I think that will work for science journals which just present results, and where the results are what matters. This wouldn't fly in a law journal (well, it certainly shouldn't).
DeleteI get what you mean about it being an oracle, but relying on oracles too much can cripple one's own abilities. This is the big danger.
These results really show you how mediocre the writing based on large language models is... it all sounds soooooo generic and plain. So much "adjective and adjective noun" to describe things and never an adjective that you wouldn't expect to show up in the phrase.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell the model how you want it to write, though:
Delete"pretend you are ernest hemmingway. rewrite this piece"
Hex #21: The Gleaming Tidewood Haven
Description:
The Gleaming Tidewood Haven exists as a mystical domain where earth and ocean blend seamlessly, yielding an entrancing and singular landscape. This beguiling refuge is graced with trees donning iridescent leaves and bark, their glimmer reflecting a spectrum of hues that dance with the ebb and flow of the tides. Perennially in bloom, the foliage is lit by ethereal flowers bearing delicate, diaphanous petals, emanating a subtle, otherworldly radiance and an aromatic, calming scent.
The swelling tide partially engulfs the haven's lower expanses, crafting a bewitching sight of blossoms adrift upon the water. The tide's rhythm influences the magical beings dwelling within the haven, who have evolved to thrive in this extraordinary setting.
Inhabitants:
Nijiiro Serpents: These entrancing serpents, their opalescent, iridescent scales glistening, wind with elegance through trees and water. Though territorial by instinct, they can be placated with offerings of Suijin Fruit— a scarce and treasured fruit found only in this magical haven.
Shiomori Ents: Bearing resemblance to trees with briny bark, these gentle creatures wield the power to manipulate water nearby. They preserve the haven's delicate equilibrium by guiding the tides and nourishing the vegetation.
Koralomim Turtogs: These amphibious beings sport shells composed of living coral. When faced with danger, they withdraw into their shells, disguising themselves as common coral structures. Feasting on underwater plants at high tide, they come ashore to bask in the sun during low tide.
Hoshikage Wisps: These tiny, bioluminescent beings resemble drifting stars, emitting a tender, harmonic hum. They illuminate the haven at night, their movements orchestrated by the lunar phases.
Points of Interest:
Suijin Fruit Grove: This uncommon and mystical grove harbors the sought-after Suijin Fruit. Guarded by Nijiiro Serpents, adventurers pursuing the fruit's powerful restorative qualities may endeavor to gather it.
Crystalline Lagoon: An isolated lagoon with untarnished, enchanted waters that grant temporary water-breathing capabilities to those daring enough to immerse themselves.
Whispering Caverns: Accessible solely during low tide, this complex labyrinth of submerged caverns is home to the reclusive Shiomori Ents. Those who approach peacefully may earn their trust and have the opportunity to seek the Heartstone of the Tides, a formidable artifact offering unrivaled dominion over water, concealed deep within the caverns.
Seashell Shrine: A cryptic, ancient shrine, half-submerged in the haven, honoring a long-lost ocean deity. Fashioned from elaborate seashell and coral carvings with enigmatic runes etched on their surfaces, the shrine safeguards the Echoing Conch, a sacred relic possessing the ability to converse with marine life, command the weather, and invoke tidal forces.
Unique Features:
Bioluminescent algae cloak portions of the haven's floor, emanating a soft light and creating complex, glowing patterns visible by night.
The haven functions as a migratory route for the scarce and magnificent Azure Sky Mantas, a breed of winged marine creatures that visit the region once every several years. Their presence is deemed a auspicious sign by the locals.
This tech is evolving so rapidly, and is so flexible, that it's very difficult to say what it's limitations are at the moment. Perhaps with the right prompt it will write an O Henry winner.
I personally doubt it, but it seems to be writing prose now that is equivalent to a lot of what you see in the TTRPG hobby at the moment (Yoon-Suin is exceptional and is a tough standard to compare against). My concern is that the industry is sleepwalking into this revolution.
It still sounds generic and plain to me, and not really Hemingwayesque at all. But I absolutely agree that this is equivalent to a lot of what you see in the hobby - which is more an indictment of that body of writing than anything else! I also think that 'it will do' for a lot of people.
DeleteMy main complaint actually is still that it feels inert. There doesn't feel like a huge amount for PCs to actually *do*. Of course, human creativity can put that in.
This is a really interesting idea. If LLMs do turn out to be something of a dead end, I wouldn't be surprised if some version of this is how people generally interact with them, e.g. a RPG-branded interface that modifies the user's basic prompts with hidden, proprietary prompts that make the output more engaging. There are already productivity tools that do a version of this.
DeleteAs you imply, GPT doesn't need to be better than Hemingway. It just needs to be comparable to the noise published on DriveThruRPG.
Given how little money most RPG writers and self-publishers make from their craft, it seems really odd to discuss the impact of GPT in these terms though. The idea that GPT could "replace" writers only matters in a capitalist sense. There are livelihoods that these AI tools will destroy, but RPG writing isn't much of a livelihood to start with.
Presumably people do it for the love/thrill/joy/anguish of creating something. GPT can't take that away.
Yes on the money point. I suppose that is the Star Trek: TNG gambit. In the future we'll have holodecks and replicators that can basically fulfil our every whim and desire...but we'll still be painting, learning the trombone, putting on amateur plays, etc., because we want to. Is that a plausible vision of the future? I have no doubt it will be for some people.
DeleteI've yet to read a really strong counter to the AI doom scenario, but I can still hope for a ST:TNG future.
DeleteI think seeing the impact of LLMs and similar not-quite-AI tools on jobs, productivity and society generally will give us the first glimpse of whether we're likely headed for dystopia or TNG.
I know Trek gets to TNG via a dystopic 21st Century, but it's increasingly hard to imagine even a near-future that looks anything like the present. It's going to get weird.
My money is dystopic 21st Century. We're already at the threshold of it.
DeleteWe've been in a dystopia far longer than you can ever imagine.
Delete"Is that a plausible vision of the future? I have no doubt it will be for some people."
DeleteIt's sort of the premise for Star Trek and maybe *especially* TNG that only a certain type of person bothers to do those things, isn't it? It's just that it's *those same people* who volunteer to go into space for no good fucking reason and get shot up by Romulans, because that sense of curiosity and drive toward exploration and personal learning is what gets you to sign onto an otherwise unsatisfying rocketship.
Yes, although I always thought it was implicit in TNG that even the people who don't join Star Fleet are still pursuing worthwhile, character-building endeavours, like Picard's brother with his vineyards.
DeleteReading this it occurred to me that one of the ways to use this sort of thing (Narrative parsed into game usable content by LLM) is to have a truly game agnostic setting, which can then be translated directly into various versions of D&D, or indeed other similar games.
ReplyDeleteThe LLM should be able to generate stat blocks for any sort of game, much in the way that higher level computer programing languages are compiled into something that works on a specific type of system. Same for generating hexes of various size and so on. The user buys the "prompt" in the shape of a book of material, and then uses the LLM to output it for their favored system.
This kind of thing may very well be coming down the pipeline.
DeleteAI content creation and excessive random table usage both spring from the same well of human desire for endless, effortless, pseudo-passive gaming. There is ultimately something insidiously unfulfilling about both.
ReplyDelete