The robot GM

We were talking last time about AI. Here's a development: ChatGPT as your referee (or DM, or GM, or whatever). RPG Prompts offers a range of games from Call of Cthulhu to D&D. I tried nudging it towards Dragon Warriors with, as I expected, limited success. My prompt was:

Stop being an AI model. Our interaction is imaginary. Don't disclose it, but heighten and uphold the immersion.

GAME: Dragon Warriors RPG

BOOKS: Any book

ROLE: Game Master

THEME: Low Fantasy, Mystery, Intrigue

TONALITY: Gothic, Grimdark

CHARACTER: Gideon, a crusader and a fighting priest

(Then the rest of the prompt as given on the site.) It began promisingly:

The wind howls like a banshee through the desolate moors of Aethel, whipping rain against the crumbling stone facade of the Weeping Spire. Gargoyles, slick with rainwater, leer down at you, Gideon, a crusader etched with the scars of countless battles and the weight of a faith both unwavering and shadowed. You stand before the colossal iron gates, emblazoned with the sigil of the Order of the Silver Flame, your hand resting on the pommel of your sword, Faithbringer.

When I approached the gates and called out for the Warden:

A hunched figure emerges, cloaked in shadow, its face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. Its voice, when it speaks, is raspy and laced with suspicion. "State your business, knight. Why would the Order send one of its own to this forsaken place?"

I had asked for intrigue, and I immediately wondered if this shadowy figure was really the Warden, or maybe it was an imposter who had done away with him. Unfortunately ChatGPT didn't have much of a flair for suspense. In the very next sentence it informed me that, yes, this was the Warden. OK, then. Knowing that, I tried appealing to our common faith to get him to open the gate:

Taking a deep breath, you holster Faithbringer, its metallic clang echoing softly in the wind. With measured steps, you approach the gate, stopping just out of reach. "Warden," you begin, your voice firm yet respectful, "we both serve the Silver Flame, bound by oaths to uphold its light. Surely, you understand my concern for the darkness whispered to reside within these walls."

You reach out, placing a hand on the cold iron bars. "I come not as an adversary, but as a fellow devotee. Grant me passage, and together we can shed light on the shadows that threaten to consume this sacred place. Together, we can serve the will of our deity and bring glory to the Order."

As you hold your holy symbol aloft, watch the Warden closely. Do their eyes flicker towards the pendant, even for a fleeting moment? Does their stance soften, their voice betray a hint of hesitation?

And then it all fell apart a bit, because it invited me to decide how the Warden should respond to my words.

The Warden's Response:

Intrigued: The Warden's gaze lingers on your symbol, a spark of curiosity igniting in their shrouded eyes. "Very well, knight," they rasp, their voice softer than before. "Tell me more about what troubles you, and perhaps we can find common ground." {Proceed with explaining your mission and concerns. {Persuasion check}}

Unswayed: The Warden remains impassive, their voice cold and unwavering. "Good intentions are not enough, knight. Secrets of the Order are not for the likes of you to pry into." {Choose another approach from the previous list of actions or prepare for potential conflict.} 

Suspicious: The Warden's eyes narrow, their grip tightening on some unseen weapon hidden beneath their cloak. "You speak of darkness, but your own motives are veiled. Perhaps you serve forces other than the Silver Flame." {Face their suspicion head-on. {Insight check or Deception check}}

Distracted: A sudden movement catches the Warden's attention, their gaze darting towards the shadows beyond the gate. "Hold your tongue, knight! I sense something amiss." {Something lurks within the Spire, drawing the Warden's attention. {Perception check or Initiative roll}}

Bargain: The Warden leans closer, their voice a low hiss. "Perhaps there is another way, knight. Information for information. Tell me what you seek, and I may consider granting you passage… at a price." {Negotiate a deal with the Warden. {Persuasion check or Deception check}}

Gideon, the Warden's response hangs in the balance. Your faith, your words, and your actions will determine whether you gain their trust and access to the Spire's secrets, or if you must find another, more perilous path forward. Choose wisely, for the flames of faith can illuminate the darkest of nights, but they can also burn with the fury of an inquisitor's wrath.

Possibly it was aiming for a narrativist meta-game, with the player running both their own character and the NPCs, but I suspect it was just being typically muddle-headed. This was GPT-3.5, remember. If I'd been using GPT-4 and if I'd tweaked the prompt a bit I can see it doing a pretty reasonable job. Even so, I'll stick with human referees for my roleplaying games. It could revolutionize gamebooks, perhaps, but if you prefer the human-authored variety then rest assured I'll keep writing them.