D&D with ChatGPT
Growing up, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) had always intrigued me. A neighbor with whom I was friendly but not very close had all these mysterious books and beautiful dice, and he tried to explain things to me … but we didn’t have much time to get into it.
Then a few years ago, I picked up a starter set to try playing with my older girls. I acted as the Dungeon Master (DM) and read the story to them, explaining how to play while keeping one eye on the instructions. They liked imagining their characters and playing with the dice, but it wasn’t a very memorable experience.
Fast forward to yesterday. I suddenly wondered, can ChatGPT be the DM, provide the story, and take care of remembering all our stats, abilities, and inventory? Heck yeah it can!
Yes, I can absolutely be your Dungeon Master (DM) for a Dungeons & Dragons game! Since you’re new, I’ll guide you through everything step by step, keeping it fun and simple.
We used ChatGPT to create our own characters, track stats, and play out a unique story. My daughters completely loved making up their own characters easily — Frostfang, a cat wizard and Shadow, a wolf rogue. Plus, I could play along with them as Cool Blue, a human fighter named after the Gatorade I was drinking. It was great to experience a story we could guide, but didn’t need to totally invent. We are searching an enchanted forest for dragons to tame and ride. The forest is full of warrior cats because my 12yo insisted on this. And every so often there’s a platypus involved because my 7yo is partially playing.
At this point, what we’re doing probably does not count as Dungeons & Dragons, but we’re having a blast. We’re rolling physical dice to determine outcomes, exercising special abilities ChatGPT created for our characters, and moving through a rich choose–your-own-adventure story with challenging battle sequences. A great family activity for dark winter evenings. We’re definitely going to do more of this during holiday downtime.
Here’s an example response after we made a decision:
Investigating the Scale: Results
Your team carefully examines the glowing dragon scale from all angles, piecing together its mysteries.
Frostfang: Arcane Insights
• Roll (14 + 3 = 17): Success!
Frostfang’s eyes narrow as they trace the faint magical runes etched into the scale’s surface. They recognize these as dragonbinding glyphs, ancient magic used to create bonds between dragons and those deemed worthy.
The scale is clearly more than a trophy—it’s a key to establishing a connection with a dragon. Frostfang deduces that finding and taming a dragon will require this scale as proof of your worth.
Shadow: Perceptive Observations
• Roll (5 + 4 = 9): Partial success.
Shadow sniffs the scale and catches faint traces of sulfur and ozone—likely from the fiery dragon construct—but nothing else stands out. They growl softly in frustration, muttering, “It smells like… magic and burning rocks.”
Cool Blue: Physical Examination
• Roll (18 + 1 = 19): Success!
Cool Blue feels the scale’s surface, noting that it’s cool to the touch despite its faint glow. It’s lighter than expected but incredibly durable, hinting at its draconic origin. Turning it over, Cool Blue notices that the scale has a slot or groove on the underside, as if it’s meant to fit into something larger—perhaps a pedestal or artifact deeper in the forest.
What the Party Discovers
The glowing scale is a powerful artifact that serves two purposes:
1. Dragonbinding Key: Proof of your worth to bond with a dragon.
2. Part of a Larger Puzzle: The slot underneath suggests the scale is part of a more significant artifact or device that you may find deeper in the forest.
Next Steps
1. Follow the Map: Return to the map and choose the next path (Shadowed Hollow or Crystal Glade).
2. Discuss as a Group: Talk about what you’ve learned and how to proceed.
3. Rest and Prepare: Heal up or recover before moving forward.
What does your group do next?
Onward! 🐉