ChatGPT – The Possibilities!

After listening to the latest ‘Lords of the Dungeon’ Podcast from the Secret Cabal, I was excited by what they opened the show with, talking about AI, ChatGPT in particular.

Jamie, the show’s host, talked about his experience with the AI and how it created a small adventure for him, how he used it to create a 5-room dungeon, and how it compared to some other AI’s. It caught my imagination and I had to take a look for myself.

ChatGPT is an open AI and here’s what they say about it on their website.

We’ve trained a model called ChatGPT which interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT which is trained to follow an instruction in a prompt and provide a detailed response.

After creating an account – a simple thing to do – I decided t jump right in and see what it could do. Here’s my first conversation with ChatGPT and I thought I’d start with asking it about a classic…

TSM (That’s me!): Do you know how to play Dungeons and Dragons?

ChatGPT: Yes, I am familiar with the rules of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). D&D is a tabletop role-playing game where players take on the roles of characters in a fantasy world, guided by a Dungeon Master who creates and narrates the story and challenges for the players.

In D&D, players create characters with unique abilities, attributes, and backstories, which they use to explore a world filled with magic, monsters, and adventure. The game is played using polyhedral dice to determine the outcome of actions, with higher rolls generally indicating more success.

The gameplay involves both combat and non-combat encounters, where players use their skills, spells, and abilities to solve puzzles, negotiate with non-player characters, and battle monsters.

D&D is a highly flexible game, allowing players to create their own stories and adventures within a framework of rules and guidelines. It is typically played in groups of three to six players, with one player taking on the role of Dungeon Master.

Overall, D&D is a game that emphasizes creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, and can provide hours of engaging and immersive gameplay.

TSM: Could you run a game?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I am not able to physically run a game of Dungeons & Dragons. However, I can provide guidance and assistance in creating a game and running it by answering any questions you might have.

To run a game of D&D, you will need a group of players, a set of polyhedral dice, and a copy of the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual (or access to the online versions). You will also need to create a story or adventure for your players to experience, as well as non-player characters (NPCs) for them to interact with.

As the Dungeon Master (DM), your role is to create and describe the world, set challenges and obstacles for the players, and adjudicate the rules. You will need to be familiar with the rules of the game and have a good understanding of the story you want to tell.

To begin, you can start by creating a basic story or adventure for your players. This can include a setting, such as a town or dungeon, and a goal or objective for the players to achieve, such as rescuing a kidnapped NPC or retrieving a magical artifact. You can also create a few NPCs for the players to interact with, such as a helpful guide or a nefarious villain.

During the game, you will describe the world to the players and ask them what their characters want to do. This can involve exploration, combat, social interaction, and problem-solving. When the players attempt an action, they will roll the appropriate dice to determine the outcome, and you will describe the results.

As the game progresses, the players will encounter obstacles and challenges, such as traps, puzzles, and monsters. You will need to use your creativity to come up with interesting and engaging challenges for the players to overcome.

Overall, running a game of D&D can be a fun and rewarding experience, and can provide hours of entertainment for you and your friends.

TSM: How could you help?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I can provide guidance and assistance with creating a story or adventure for your D&D game, as well as answering rules-related questions you may have. Here are a few ways I can assist you:

1. Story Creation: If you’re struggling with creating a story or adventure for your players, I can provide suggestions and help you brainstorm ideas. For example, we can work together to create a unique setting, compelling characters, and interesting obstacles and challenges for your players.
2. Rules Clarification: If you or your players have questions about the rules of the game, I can provide answers and explanations to help clarify any confusion.
3. Character Creation: If your players are new to the game or need help creating their characters, I can provide guidance and suggestions to help them create a unique and interesting character that fits the story and setting you’ve created.
4. Encounter Creation: If you need help creating encounters for your players, such as combat encounters or puzzles, I can provide suggestions and ideas to make them engaging and challenging.

Overall, I can assist with any aspect of running a D&D game, from creating a story to rules clarification to character and encounter creation. Just let me know how I can help, and I’ll do my best to provide guidance and assistance!

Character creation, that sounded useful, so I asked it to generate a simple fighter for me. What I got back was a bit of a surprise…

TSM: Could you create a fighter NPC for me?

ChatGPT: Sure! Here’s a sample Fighter NPC for you:

Name: Seraphina Stormfist

Race: Human

Class: Fighter

Alignment: Lawful Good

Personality: Seraphina is a strong and honorable warrior who believes in justice and protecting the innocent. She can be somewhat stern and serious, but has a warm and caring side to her as well. She is always looking for ways to improve herself and become a better fighter.

Background: Seraphina comes from a family of renowned knights who served the king for generations. She was trained in combat and chivalry from a young age, and quickly became one of the kingdom’s most skilled fighters. However, she was betrayed by a fellow knight who turned to evil, and was forced to leave the kingdom and go into exile. Now she travels the land, seeking to do good and redeem her family’s honor.

Stats:

• Strength: 18
• Dexterity: 14
• Constitution: 16
• Intelligence: 10
• Wisdom: 12
• Charisma: 14

Equipment:

• Longsword
• Shield
• Plate mail
• Crossbow
• 20 bolts
• Adventurer’s Pack

Abilities:

• Second Wind: Seraphina can use her bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d10 + her fighter level.
• Action Surge: Once per short rest, Seraphina can take an additional action on her turn.
• Fighting Style: Seraphina is proficient in the Dueling fighting style, which gives her a +2 bonus to damage when wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons.

Tactics:

Seraphina is a frontline fighter who excels in one-on-one combat. She will typically engage in melee combat, using her longsword and shield to protect herself while dealing damage to her opponent. She will use her crossbow at range or when she needs to conserve her strength. In battle, she will prioritize protecting her allies and defeating the enemy with the most dangerous weapons or spells. She will use her Second Wind ability when her health is low or when she needs to stay in the fight. If the situation becomes dire, she will use her Action Surge ability to take an extra attack or take an additional action, such as disengaging or using an item.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions or if there’s anything else I can do for you.

---

That was far more detailed than I expected. I then decided to throw that character into a scenario that I was making up off the cuff…

TSM: Ok. Seraphina and her group encounter a pack of Gnolls in a forest. The rest of the group are unsure as to whether to attack them, spy on them, or avoid them. What is Seraphina’s advice?

ChatGPT: Given Seraphina’s personality and background, here is what she might advise:

Seraphina would likely recommend attacking the gnolls, as they are known to be aggressive and dangerous. However, she would also suggest that the group take caution and prepare for the encounter. She would suggest that they observe the gnolls from a distance first to assess their numbers and strength. If the gnolls appear to be too numerous or too strong, Seraphina would recommend avoiding them altogether.

However, if the group decides to engage in combat, Seraphina would recommend that they devise a plan of attack, focusing on taking out the gnolls’ leader first. She would suggest using her as the tank, drawing the gnolls’ attention while the other members of the group attack from a distance. She would also recommend keeping a safe distance from the gnolls to avoid getting surrounded.

Ultimately, Seraphina’s recommendation would depend on the situation and the group’s abilities. She would be willing to go along with the group’s decision, but would want to ensure that they take the necessary precautions and plan ahead to ensure their safety.

TSM: The group, which is made up of a Cleric, a Rogue, and a powerful mage, monitor the group and see that there are only three Gnolls. The leader is obvious, as he’s a lot bigger than the others. They sit in the centre of a small camp, containing a couple of tents, cooking equipment, and such like. They appear to be armed with short swords and bows. What plan would Seraphina come up with?

ChatGPT: Given the situation, here is what Seraphina might suggest as a plan of attack:

First, Seraphina would suggest that the group use their stealth abilities to get as close to the gnolls as possible without being detected. Once they are in position, Seraphina would take the lead and charge in, drawing the attention of the gnolls to herself. The cleric would be instructed to use their spells to support Seraphina and keep her alive, while the rogue and the mage attack from a distance.

Seraphina would focus on taking down the leader of the gnolls first, using her longsword and shield to engage him in melee combat. Meanwhile, the rogue and the mage would use their ranged attacks to take out the other two gnolls from a safe distance.

If things start to go wrong, Seraphina would use her Second Wind ability to regain hit points and keep herself in the fight. The cleric would be instructed to keep healing Seraphina and the other group members as necessary.

Once the gnolls have been defeated, Seraphina would recommend that the group search the camp for any useful items or information that might be of use to them in their travels.

Overall, Seraphina’s plan of attack would prioritize taking out the leader first and utilizing the group’s diverse abilities to their advantage while also ensuring that they work together effectively.

TSM: The group have attacked the Gnolls. Unfortunately, there was another two in the tents and thses surprised the group. The Cleric has been knocked to the ground and is unconscious. The rogue has disappeared into the trees, and the mage is currently holding his own with defensive magic. Seraphina is winning her personal battle against their leader but another Gnoll has joined the fight against her. What should she do?

ChatGPT: Given the new developments in the battle, here is what Seraphina might do:

Seraphina would assess the situation and quickly determine that the additional gnoll that joined the battle is a threat to her safety and to the rest of the group. She would prioritize finishing off the leader she was already engaged with as quickly as possible, using her longsword and shield to take him down.

Once the leader is defeated, Seraphina would shift her focus to the new gnoll, using her combat skills to try to take it down as quickly as possible. She would also use her Second Wind ability to regain some hit points and keep herself in the fight.

Meanwhile, Seraphina would also try to keep an eye on the mage and ensure that he is not overwhelmed by the remaining gnolls. If she sees an opportunity, she may try to join him in the fight to help take down the remaining enemies.

If the situation becomes too dire, Seraphina may need to make the difficult decision to retreat and regroup with the rogue and the mage to come up with a new plan of attack. However, given her determination and bravery, she would be reluctant to abandon the cleric and would likely try to rescue them if possible.

Overall, Seraphina’s top priority would be to take out the enemies as quickly and efficiently as possible while also keeping an eye on her fellow group members to ensure their safety.

TSM: Seraphina has beaten the leader but the other Gnoll has pushed her back. The Rogue is still nowhere to be seen. The Mage has managed to defeat two other Gnolls but is now down to a few remaining hit points.

ChatGPT: Given the current situation, Seraphina would need to act quickly and decisively in order to turn the tide of the battle.

First, she would need to assess the threat level of the remaining Gnoll and determine whether she can defeat it on her own or if she needs to call for backup from the mage. If she decides to engage the Gnoll on her own, she would use her longsword and shield to try to take it down as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Seraphina would keep an eye out for any sign of the rogue, hoping that they will rejoin the fight soon. If the situation becomes too dire, she may consider calling out to the rogue and urging them to return to the battle.

At the same time, Seraphina would also need to ensure that the mage stays alive and continues to support the group with their magical abilities. She would direct the mage to take cover and stay out of harm’s way while using their spells to attack the remaining Gnolls from a distance.

If the group is able to take down the remaining Gnolls, Seraphina would suggest that they take a moment to catch their breath and assess the situation. She would urge the group to use caution and be prepared for any further surprises that may arise.

Overall, Seraphina’s main goal would be to keep the group alive and functioning as a team, while also making the best use of each member’s unique abilities to overcome any obstacles that come their way.

---

I decide to up the stakes…

TSM: The Mage has been killed. The Rogue has not returned and Seraphina is now surrounded. The Gnolls move in on her.

ChatGPT: Given the dire circumstances, Seraphina would need to act quickly and make some tough decisions in order to survive.

First, she would try to use her combat skills and defensive abilities to fend off the attacking Gnolls as best she can. She would use her shield to block incoming attacks and strike back with her longsword whenever possible, focusing on taking down the closest Gnolls first to thin out their numbers.

If she finds herself overwhelmed, Seraphina would use her superior mobility and speed to try to break through the Gnoll ranks and make a run for it. She would prioritize protecting herself and staying alive, even if it means abandoning the rest of the group for the time being.

In the event that she is unable to escape, Seraphina may try to negotiate with the Gnolls, using her charisma and persuasive abilities to try to convince them to spare her life. She would appeal to their sense of reason and humanity, if they have any, and offer them whatever information or resources she can in exchange for her life.

Overall, in this situation, Seraphina’s main goal would be to stay alive and do whatever she can to ensure the survival of the rest of the group, even if it means making some tough decisions and sacrifices along the way.

TSM: The Gnolls were to powerful for her and she tried to parley but they weren’t interested and cut her down. The Rogue appears to be the only survivor and I don’t think she’s stopped running yet!

ChatGPT: It’s unfortunate that the group was unable to survive the encounter with the Gnolls, but sometimes in Dungeons and Dragons, even the best-laid plans can go awry.

As for the surviving Rogue, she may need to take some time to gather her thoughts and consider her next move. She could attempt to make her way back to civilization and seek out help from other adventurers or authorities, or she could choose to continue on her own and seek out new allies or resources to help her complete her goals.

In any case, the Rogue should be cautious and avoid any unnecessary risks, as she is now the only surviving member of the group and is likely to face even greater challenges and dangers on her own.

It’s important to remember that in Dungeons and Dragons, the outcome of any given situation is never entirely predictable, and that the unexpected can and will happen. It’s all part of the excitement and challenge of the game.

---

I was highly impressed with how this evolved. The AI kept in mind the character’s persona and skills throughout. Note, that Seraphina was Lawful Good and this was reflected in the AIs description of how she may act.

I was also amazed by the fulness of the AIs answers, everything was backed up – because of this, she would do this, kind of thing.

My mind boggles with possibilities for something like this. Using it to control NPCs would be a great tool for a GM, especially if playing with a small party and I may even consider rebooting my Call of Cthulhu adventure for Yasmin. Indeed, it could be used to generate small adventures from what I’ve heard and possibly even whole worlds to adventure in, as it keeps in mind the whole of the conversation that has gone before and builds upon it.

Chat GPT has other uses too and I was wondering if it could help my wife in her role as a nursery teacher. She’s always buying story books to connect with what the children are doing that week and so I wondered if it could help. Here’s what I asked…

TSM: Could you write a short story for under 5s that contains a pig, an egg, and a whistle?

ChatGPT: Once upon a time, in a beautiful farm, there lived a little pig named Oink. Oink was a curious pig who loved to explore and play. One day, while he was playing in the farm, he found a small egg lying on the ground.

Oink had never seen an egg before, so he was very curious. He wondered what was inside the egg. He tried to crack it open with his snout, but it was too hard. Just then, he heard a loud noise that made him jump. It was a whistle!

Oink looked around and saw a little bird perched on a tree branch. The bird had blown the whistle. Oink was amazed. He had never seen a bird blow a whistle before.

The little bird saw the egg in Oink’s snout and flew down to see what he was doing. Oink explained that he found the egg and wanted to know what was inside. The bird explained that the egg was going to hatch into a chick.

Oink was excited. He wanted to help the chick hatch out of the egg. So he blew the whistle, hoping it would help the chick hatch faster. The bird laughed and explained that the whistle wouldn’t help the chick hatch. But it was a fun toy to play with.

Oink and the bird played with the whistle for a while. And when they were done, Oink carefully put the egg back where he found it. A few days later, Oink went back to the spot and saw that the egg had hatched into a little yellow chick.

From that day on, Oink and the little bird would often play together and have fun with the whistle. And whenever they saw the little chick, they remembered the day they found the egg and blew the whistle.

---

Amazing stuff! I did a check on Google to make sure it hadn’t just copied something from the Internet but I could not find anything remotely close in content to what it wrote. Ah! The possibilities, maybe I could get it to write some posts for me… watch this space!

For now, though, I’d like to explore how it could be of use to a solo gamer, but it’s going to take time. I would love for something like this to be able to actually take the place of a GM to enable solo RPG adventures, that would be my dream come true!

Well, I’d love to sit here all day inputting stuff into ChatGPT and telling you all about it, but time waits for no Blogger. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the uses for this kind of thing and share your experiences if you’ve had chance to use it. It’s simple to register and it responds very quickly to your questions – it’s almost like holding a conversation with a human, apart from its replies are more detailed, lol! So, give it a go, you might find it could help you out in some way or other.