Thoughts about AI in RPGs

I’m not trying to write a big, all-encompassing essay on the subject here, just a few thoughts based on one experiment I did. I briefly mentioned this on one discussion group, but met so much hostility I thought I’d post here instead.

So I am working on a novel that involves traveling to parallel worlds, as well as an RPG on the same theme. I wanted some inspiration for a world the characters jump to. I remembered Traveler’s random system and planet generation, which is a lot of fun, and wondered how I might modify it to fit. I went to one of the AI bots and asked if it knew the game; it did. It also knew the planet generation system, and was able to generate several planets in seconds.

So far this is not much different than running any online generator especially designed for the purpose. But here is the interesting part: I used this as a starting point. I engaged in a dialogue with the AI, telling it what I wanted to do and asking it to modify the planet generation procedure accordingly. After a bit of back and forth, I got something useful.

The original method involved using predetermined lists, and rolling dice to select from it. When it comes to AI, there is no need to have a list of limited choices, so that went away. Anyway I’m putting the end result and an example of its output, below.

One of the objections I got was that the use of AI harms creativity. IMO this is a good example of why that’s not true. The AI’s output gives me something to work from, a springboard for me to be creative with.

If I were going to use the output below to prep for a game, for example, I’d flesh out the conflict between the Boundarians and Explorers a bit more, and lay the seeds for a situation where the PCs are involved in an incident at a research station – perhaps they are blamed for sabotage, and have to prove their innocence. A Boundarian faction wants to frame them and use them as propaganda, while an Explorer group wants to help them, but one of them is secretly working for the Others. At this point, I’d use AI again, to come up with NPCs (especially names) and stat them, and perhaps to detail a map or two. That’d be fodder for at least a session or two, done very quickly, and the process would be fun for me. And for my novel, of course this is great stuff I can modify and use as I like.

Now could I have done all this without AI? Sure. But it would have taken hours instead of minutes. For me, this is a fun process that saves time. I might even include the procedure in the GM section of the game itself, maybe with some alternative tables for those who prefer to roll for themselves.

I don’t get the hate for AI in this context, but I’m open to persuasion if someone has some cogent arguments on why using AI this way is bad.

Anyway your comments are welcome!

Have you used AI in your games or fiction, and if so, how?

Here is the procedure the AI and I came up with:

Parallel World Creation Procedure

First keep in mind what kind of world the characters just jumped from. Unless they jump “far”, in interdimensional terms, the world they jump to should be similar to the world they just jumped from, in most respects. The closer a world is to another one in interdimensional space, the more similar they tend to be.

Dimensional Distance Metric – a scale (1-10) where each increment represents exponentially greater divergence potential. Level 1-3 jumps show minor variations, 4-6 moderate differences, and 7-10 radical departures from the original world.

Natural History – Determine when this parallel Earth (that the characters just arrived on) diverged from our own in terms of natural history (including geology), if it did at all, and whether that changed things like the shape of the continents or sea levels.

Physical Laws Variation – Determine if fundamental physical constants differ slightly in this world. Even minor variations could lead to fascinating technological implications.

Temporal Offset – Consider whether time flows at the same rate across all parallel worlds. Some might be “ahead” or “behind” your characters’ original timeline, even with similar historical paths.

Local Terrain – What is the local terrain like where the characters appear?

Interdimensional Scars/Features – Identify places where the boundaries between worlds are thinner or have been damaged, creating unique phenomena (strange weather, gravitational anomalies, aurora-like effects, etc.) that might appear in the local terrain.

Dominant Species or species – Determine whether the indigenous sentient inhabitants of this parallel Earth are human, or if some other species evolved instead (if so, what did they evolve from and what are they like physically). Determine whether there is more than one such species.

Biological Compatibility – Determine whether food, microbes, and other biological elements from one world are compatible with visitors from another. This could create interesting survival challenges or health concerns for the characters.

Historical divergence – Determine how the history of the inhabitants’ civilization differed or diverged from ours, and to what extent.

Dimensional Echoes – Decide if parallel versions of your characters exist in this world, and if so, what happened to them. Meeting one’s parallel self could create fascinating plot points or complications.

Trust Level – Determine how welcoming or distrustful the inhabitants are to strangers.

Interdimensional Awareness – Determine if the inhabitants know about parallel worlds, how common this knowledge is, and whether they have tried (successfully or not) to reach them. This might affect how they respond to your characters.

Tech level – Determine the level of technology the inhabitants have developed.

Habitations – Decide how large the groups are that the inhabitants dwell in: solitary, or nomadic clans, small villages, cities, etc.

Clothing – Determine the style and type of clothing the inhabitants wear.

Culture – Come up with some unique aspects of their culture.

Conflicts – to what extent do the indigenous inhabitants live in harmony with each other? Are there large-scale conflicts, more local conflicts only, or none? What other threats do they face?

There is an evil force of interdimensional beings known as the Others, who try to destroy and corrupt the worlds they come across. Determine whether this parallel world has been at all affected by the Others, and if so to what extent.

Others’ Signature Effects – Create a consistent set of telltale signs that the Others have influenced a world (specific environmental damage, behavioral changes in inhabitants, technological corruptions, strange symbols or structures).

Dimensional Return Mechanics – Establish whether some worlds are easier to leave than others, perhaps based on how corrupted they are by the Others or other interdimensional factors that might trap or free your characters.

Here is one result:

Parallel World: The Nebelwelt

Dimensional Distance: 5/10 (Moderate divergence)

Natural History

This world diverged approximately 65 million years ago when the Chicxulub asteroid impact was significantly less severe. While still devastating, it didn’t cause the complete extinction of large dinosaurs. As a result, some theropod dinosaurs survived alongside early mammals, leading to co-evolution. The continental layout is recognizable but with higher sea levels (+40m compared to our Earth), creating large inland seas in North America and Central Asia.

Physical Laws Variation

The electromagnetic constant is 0.5% stronger, resulting in slightly more efficient electrical conduction. This has led to unique technological developments around electricity and magnetism, including advanced magnetic propulsion systems that emerged earlier than electrical combustion in this world’s technological timeline.

Temporal Offset

Time flows 1.2x faster in this world compared to the characters’ origin world. The year is equivalent to what we would call 2087, though their calendar system is entirely different.

Local Terrain

The characters materialize in a temperate rainforest where massive, ancient redwood-like trees tower overhead. The forest floor is surprisingly clear—maintained by the local inhabitants. Nearby flows a wide, slow-moving river with unusual blue-green phosphorescence. In the distance, the ruins of what appears to be a modern city peek through the canopy.

Interdimensional Scars

The area where they arrive features vertical “light pillars” that occasionally shimmer through the forest—a natural thinning of dimensional boundaries. During certain lunar phases, these pillars intensify and objects placed within them temporarily phase between visible and invisible states.

Dominant Species

Two intelligent species co-evolved: humans (very similar to Earth humans but with slightly denser bone structure and enhanced night vision) and the Saurians—descendants of surviving theropod dinosaurs. Saurians stand 1.5-1.8 meters tall with feathered crests, scaled skin, and four-fingered hands. Their society is technologically sophisticated and they possess natural electromagnetic sensitivity organs along their spines.

Biological Compatibility

Food from this world is mostly compatible with human visitors, though some fruits contain compounds that create mild euphoric effects. The local microbiome is different enough that visitors initially experience heightened allergic responses that subside after approximately one week of exposure. The characters may need to seek medical attention from the locals to manage this transition.

Historical Divergence

Human civilization developed later and in partnership with Saurian culture rather than as the sole dominant species. Major historical events include the Great Communion (first formal alliance between species in 5000 BCE), the Age of Magnetic Sciences (4th-10th century CE), and most recently, the Retreat (the gradual abandonment of megacities due to climatic shifts and resource depletion).

Dimensional Echoes

Parallel versions of the characters exist, but their lives took dramatically different paths. One character’s echo became a respected diplomat between human and Saurian nations; another’s echo died young in a dimensional experiment; a third’s echo never exists because their ancestor married a different person after meeting a Saurian diplomat.

Trust Level

The inhabitants are cautiously welcoming of strangers but have developed sophisticated methods to detect “dimensional corruption.” Newcomers are subjected to a ritual involving exposure to specific magnetic fields that reveal signs of Others’ influence. Those who pass are welcomed and offered guidance; those who fail are isolated and studied.

Interdimensional Awareness

Both species have known about parallel worlds for approximately 150 years. A joint scientific body called the Boundary Commission actively studies interdimensional physics. Intentional travel remains rare and dangerous, but they have developed technology to detect incursions and communicate across dimensional boundaries in limited circumstances.

Tech Level

Technology is advanced in some areas and deliberately restrained in others. They’ve mastered fusion power, magnetic transportation networks, and biological engineering, but have strictly limited AI development and nanotech after early disasters. Their computers are organic-electronic hybrids with living components, and most cities are designed to integrate with rather than dominate the natural environment.

Habitations

Society is organized around “nexus communities” of 5,000-10,000 individuals (mixed human and Saurian) connected by efficient magnetic rail systems. These communities blend seemlessly with surrounding ecosystems, with buildings constructed within and around natural features rather than replacing them. The largest city, Concordia, houses approximately 300,000 people.

Clothing

Humans wear adaptable garments made from engineered fibers that change properties based on environmental conditions and the wearer’s physiological state. Saurians wear minimal clothing but adorn their natural scales and feathers with bioluminescent patterns that indicate social role, emotional state, and personal achievements. Both species wear ceremonial magnetic jewelry that serves both decorative and practical functions.

Culture

Society operates on a “contribution recognition” system rather than monetary exchange. Both species practice a form of shared dreaming facilitated by ceremonial gatherings where participants consume a native fungus. Music is predominantly percussive among Saurians and vocal among humans, creating a unique complementary art form when performed together. Major cultural values include ecological harmony, knowledge preservation, and dimensional responsibility.

Conflicts

The main societal conflict is philosophical rather than military—a deep division between “Boundarians” who believe dimensional boundaries should remain strictly regulated and “Explorers” who advocate for more active interdimensional engagement. This conflict occasionally flares into sabotage of research facilities or unauthorized travel attempts. Additionally, both species are dealing with fertility challenges, with birth rates declining for unknown reasons over the past 50 years.

Others’ Influence

This world has experienced limited contact with the Others. Approximately 35 years ago, an incursion occurred in what was once northern Europe, creating a “dead zone” where technology fails and living things develop unusual mutations. The area is quarantined, but researchers study it from secure observatories. The inhabitants have developed early warning systems for detecting Others’ energy signatures.

Others’ Signature Effects

When the Others influence an area, plant life develops metallic properties, water bodies emit a subtle hum at 17.8Hz, and electronic signals contain embedded fractal patterns visible when analyzed. Affected individuals report shared dreams featuring geometric structures that shouldn’t be mathematically possible, and develop an aversion to certain sound frequencies.

Dimensional Return Mechanics

The magnetic anomalies that pervade this world make dimensional travel unpredictable. The characters will discover that their return mechanism functions at only 60% efficiency, requiring them to either locate a naturally occurring dimensional thin point or seek help from the Boundary Commission, who may demand knowledge exchange as payment for assistance