The AI Won't Come Up With Ideas For You
You are a unique, special, and wonderful person. Milk it for all it's worth.
AI is a tool, not an artist. You ask it to give you fantasy stuff, you get generic fantasy stuff. If that's all you wanted, donjon has you covered. (No offense to those guys. Great tools, I still use them myself.) No, where AI shines is riffing on a theme you come up with. Let's demonstrate with everyone's favorite new minion, ChatGPT. First we go with the obvious.
Generate me a description for a high fantasy tavern.
The "Dragon's Hoard Tavern" is a grand and ancient establishment nestled in the heart of a bustling medieval town. The tavern is known for its warm and inviting atmosphere, with a roaring fireplace at its center and the scent of roasting meats and spices wafting through the air. The walls are adorned with tapestries depicting dragons and other mythical creatures, and the bartenders are skilled in the art of potion-making, offering patrons a wide variety of magical elixirs and brews. As night falls, the tavern transforms into a hub of activity, with bards and minstrels entertaining the crowds with tales of adventure and daring deeds. The Dragon's Hoard Tavern is a favorite among adventurers, travelers, and locals alike, and is always bustling with life and excitement.
Now, this ain't bad. Standard ren faire stuff, but it paints a picture. You could work with this. It's a long, pretty good way of saying, "you, good adventurers, are in a Grade A standard-issue Fantasy Tavern where you will find a quest to do heroic daring deeds". Maybe that's all you want out of life, but let's have a bit more fun...
Generate me a description for a high fantasy tavern that is set up on a lakeside in a fantasy version of Minnesota's North Woods, and specializes in preparing local fish.
The "Lonely Loon Tavern" is a quaint and rustic establishment situated on the shores of a peaceful lake deep in the heart of a dense North Woods fantasy forest. The tavern is known for its stunning views of the lake and its delicious local fish dishes. The tavern's exterior is made of dark and knotty pine, with a thatched roof and large windows that offer a panoramic view of the lake. Inside, the tavern is cozy and warm, with a large fireplace that crackles and pops in the background. The walls are adorned with fishing nets and the mounted heads of various fish species. The menu of the tavern is centered around the local fish that are caught in the lake, and the tavern's chefs are experts in preparing them in a variety of delicious ways. The tavern also serves local brews and ales, as well as other traditional North Woods fare. The Lonely Loon Tavern is a favorite among fishermen, hunters, and travelers who are looking for a peaceful and secluded spot to rest and enjoy a delicious meal.
A bit on the nose with the name there, but it hits the target. It’s not completely off-the-walls, but even if you’re running a beer-and-pretzels game, that extra little bit of flavor adds something. That's the trick of it: the more unique, interesting, and flavorful your input, the more interesting the output will be. See how much more we got from just a simple conceit? Now, one more. Let's dial the strangeness up:
Generate me a description for a high fantasy tavern that is set up in a dwarvern fortress and doubles as a temple to Dakasarust, the dwarvern god of rainbows, glass, and painting.
The "Rainbow Forge Tavern" is an ancient and grand establishment situated deep within a massive dwarven fortress. The tavern doubles as a temple to Dakasarust, the dwarven god of rainbows, glass, and painting. The entrance of the tavern is adorned with intricate carvings of rainbows and precious gemstones, and as soon as you enter, you're struck by the colorful and intricate mosaics that adorn the walls. The tavern's centerpiece is a massive forge that glows with a rainbow of colors, and it is said that the forge was crafted by Dakasarust himself. The tavern's menu is centered around traditional dwarven fare, but with a unique twist, as the chefs are experts in incorporating colorful and exotic ingredients, inspired by the god of rainbows. The tavern also serves a variety of unique and flavorful ales, many of which are infused with different color and flavors. The Rainbow Forge Tavern is a favorite among dwarves, artists, and those who appreciate the beauty of rainbows, glass and paintings.
The typical fantasy world does not often link "rainbows" and "dwarves", and yet here we are. It’s about dwarfy things like crafts, forges, ale, and mining, but it throws in colors and art. (Not quite painting, though, unless you count the mosaics. This ain’t an exact science.) Which brings me to my number one piece of advice for using an AI to help you run your games: be weird.
(Also: at this point, the keen reader will have noticed a bit of repetition in the ChatGPT generations. "[X] and [Y] establishment situated [Z]." There's a few ways around this, the most basic being to just clear out your log every so often. For an introduction like this, though, it gives the gist of what a bit more creativity can do. Also, as a general rule, the generations should be treated as starting points unless you absolutely need them right now. Restate in your own words and improvise changes as necessary.)
For now, let's clear this thing and I'll demonstrate an important caveat. Let's be... "clever". (That last word should be read with dripping sarcasm and thinly-veiled contempt.) Why not skip the middle-man, be lazy, and have ChatGPT be creative for us?
Generate me a description for a unique, quirky high fantasy tavern.
The "Dragon's Hoard Tavern" is a one-of-a-kind establishment nestled in the heart of a bustling fantasy city. The exterior is adorned with intricate dragon sculptures and a sign that glows with a mysterious, enchanted light. Inside, the tavern is dimly lit by candlelight and filled with the sounds of lively conversation and the occasional burst of laughter. The walls are adorned with all manner of trinkets and treasures, many of which are said to have been plundered from the hoard of a mighty dragon. The menu is extensive and offers a wide variety of exotic foods and potent potions. The tavern is also known for its entertainment, featuring regular performances by bards, magicians, and even the occasional dragon-tamer. The tavern is a favorite among adventurers and travelers, and it's not uncommon to find a group of warriors or wizards regaling their comrades with tales of their latest exploits.
Observe how this isn't much different, even after cleaning up, than the first shot we took. (Even I was surprised how much this was the case.) Sure, it's got the clear origin of the name and all, but we can do better.
So I reiterate. As I (and others) continue to proselytize the joys of cybernetic DMing and share what we've learned, stuff that will wow today's players will be taken for granted tomorrow. But weirdness, your weirdness, that is your own. In AI-assisted DMing — and DMing in general — figure out what you love, and integrate it into what you do. Make the campaign truly your own.