In the mood to step on a land mine? No? Suit yourself. More for me...
Question #4 comes from my buddy Will L.,
What is your opinion of the increased use of AI tools to generate artistic and written assets in the tabletop RPG industry? Can you share any insights of how stalwarts of the industry are reacting to the usage?
The key word in the first part of the question, which in my mind defines what is being asked, is 'industry'. I am therefore interpreting this as 'how do I feel about the increased use of AI art and writing in professionally produced and sold products.'
Well...I'm against it.
Now don't get me wrong, I think AI Art is fun to 'make' and I do use it in my personal games and here on this blog. AI Art is a quick, easy way to generate images to show my players and viewers. That said, I spend about an hour or two [minimally] on each image, modifying them in Photostudio and often adding elements drawn by yours truly. When finished, the piece often looks quite different from what the AI Art program created.
Thing is, I'm not selling any of it. I am not using any AI generated material, artwork or writing, in any product I claim to be my own creation and then attempting to make money on that product. I don't see that as ethical for all the reasons AI work isn't wholly ethical. Almost more importantly, I see it as kind of defeating the purpose of RPGs and the Gaming Hobby.
RPGs are a business, no doubt about it. The goal in selling a game, whether you're a big company like WotC or a small, independent creator on itch.io is to make money. At the same time, if paying the bills is your only motivation, there are a lot of other, far more lucrative careers you could undertake. No, if you're someone who takes the time, energy, and brain power to make RPGs, you are [to some degree] a creative person who feels the need to, well, create.
So you are putting your heart and soul (metaphorically speaking) into a gaming product and yet you're going to let ChatGPT write it for you? You're going to use AI Art when there are hundreds of artists out there dying to work as an illustrator? Why even bother? Step away from the computer, put away the notes, and go get a mundane job. You aren't a creative. You're too lazy for that esteemed calling.
As for the second part of the question, how the 'stalwarts of the industry' feel about the situation, I really couldn't say. Honestly I'd be curious to find about what the well-known pros think about the subject myself, as it would inform me on whether or not I am going to support their projects. I would definitely be less likely, if not completely unlikely, to buy anything from a company not using real people to make creative works.
At the same time, as contrary as it may seem, I don't think it would effect my decision to 'purchase' free or pay-what-you-want materials. I've seen a number of Japanese Indie TRPG items with AI generated art but the majority of them have been free to download or under 300 Yen (roughly under $2 USD). If they look really good and I'm only going to find them usefulk in my personal game, I might spend the two bucks (though more likely I wouldn't). Free though? Sure, why not.
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Barking Alien
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