AI Dungeon Masters? Isn’t that a Video Game?

One of the wild and crazy things to be hatched and crawled into the light during the Open Game License and Wizards of the Coast saga was the mention of AI dungeon masters.

I did a double take when I read the phrase: AI dungeon masters. To be completely honest, I hadn’t ever really thought about this being a thing. Of course, I should have, especially with the buzz surrounding ChatGPT. (Not to mention the drop of Google’s Bard AI.)

Will AI replace DMs?

Actually, rumors and rumblings of AI dungeon masters have been swirling for some time. Scroll to the bottom for news articles on the topic. However, the concept seems to have gained force with the so-called dungeon master shortage plus the aforementioned AI buzz. If there are not enough DMs, will AI reel in the slack?

Example of ChatGPT Running a Dungeon

As I began thinking about AI and running Dungeons and Dragons thought I’d give it a shot. I went to ChatGPT, typed a simple query and this is what I got.

Dicegeeks: Can you lead me through a dungeon, like in D&D?

ChatGPT: Sure! Let’s begin. You find yourself in a dark, damp dungeon filled with danger around every corner. You can either continue forward or take a left or right turn.
Which way do you choose?

Dicegeeks: Forward

ChatGPT: As you move forward, you come across a fork in the path. To the left, the passage narrows and appears to be blocked by debris. To the right, the passage widens and continues into darkness. Which direction do you take?

Dicegeeks: Right

ChatGPT: You cautiously move forward, taking the right path. Suddenly, you hear the sound of clanging metal and the shuffling of feet. A group of goblins appears from the shadows, brandishing weapons and shouting battle cries. Do you:
A) Draw your weapon and prepare for battle
B) Attempt to sneak past unnoticed
C) Try to negotiate with them

Dicegeeks: A

ChatGPT: You unsheathe your weapon and prepare for battle. The goblins charge forward, and you must use your skills and wits to defeat them. The battle is fierce, but with your training and bravery, you are eventually able to overcome the goblin horde and continue deeper into the dungeon. As you move forward, you come across another fork in the road. To the left, you see a staircase leading upwards. To the right, you see a door with strange runes etched upon it. Which way do you choose?

Dicegeeks: The door

ChatGPT: You approach the door and examine the runes. They appear to be some sort of magical barrier, but with your knowledge of the arcane, you are able to decipher the incantation needed to open the door. As you enter the room, you find yourself face-to-face with a powerful dragon, hoarding a pile of treasure. The dragon roars, filling the room with the heat of its breath. Do you:
A) Attack the dragon with all your might
B) Try to sneak past the dragon and grab as much treasure as you can
C) Attempt to negotiate with the dragon for the treasure

Dicegeeks: A

ChatGPT: You draw your weapon and attack the dragon with all your might. The battle is intense and challenging, but with your bravery and skill, you are eventually able to defeat the dragon and claim the treasure as your own. Well done! You have completed your journey through the dungeon. The treasure and experience you have gained will aid you on your next adventure.

Good Game of D&D?

Well, was that a good game of D&D? Of course, not. Maybe my queries needed to be stronger and more inventive. However, I’m not sure that would have helped. What is the main problem?

AI DMs will never be as good as a human

Artificial Intelligence while interesting technology cannot hold a candle to a human dungeon master. And I’ll go on record to say never. AI will never replace a human dungeon master.

Now, I should be careful. Treebeard in his great wisdom taught us that never is a very long word. So perhaps I should say it will not happen for at least many generations.

AI Cannot Compete with Human DMs

Why? The reactions, the experience, and the ingenuity of a human mind cannot and will not be rivaled.

Of course, an AI can have the sum of all Forgotten Realms lore available in milliseconds which a person cannot do. An AI dungeon will know all of the D&D rules which a person cannot do.

AIs cannot do what human DMs can do

But the first time an AI is asked a question that doesn’t fit into a nice box it will falter. What’s that NPC’s mother’s name? How does the night sky look if I stand near the stable? Do I know the innkeeper? I tap dance on the vampire’s corpse, what happens?

If the AI wasn’t given parameters for these and all the insane questions role-players ask, it will not be able to handle them as a human dungeon master could. Now, the human DM may be caught off guard and stumble for an answer, but their response will put the AI to shame.

Isn’t an AI Dungeon Master a Video Game?

Aren’t we just talking about a video game? Isn’t an AI dungeon master just what Skyrim is?

Don’t get me wrong Skyrim is great for what is: a video game. But, the experience of playing Skyrim is completely different than playing Dungeons and Dragons.

In Skyrim, there are doors that cannot be opened. There are NPCs you cannot talk to or ones that just say the same thing over and over again. In a game of D&D, that does happen, or at least one with a human DM.

There will always be a door you cannot open

Even if technology progresses and video games get more and more interactive. The designers will no doubt build AI tech into dialogue options and storylines. Video games will become more immersive and more like tabletop role-playing games, but it will still be a different experience. There will always be closed doors.

That doesn’t mean the experience will be bad or that I’m some sort of Luddite. It’s that the experience will be that of a video game. Fun, entertaining? Sure. Lacking the depth, improvisation, and interpersonal creativity between a human dungeon master and players? Absolutely.

What Does AI Mean for Dungeons and Dragons?

Of course, it means a lot of different things and will have wide-ranging consequences. Good and bad to be sure.

Different ways of playing D&D are great

It doesn’t mean there cannot be different modes of playing D&D. The Endless Quest books are awesome. The Baldur’s Gate video games have been excellent. If AI dungeon masters become just a different way to play Dungeons and Dragons, that’s fine. There are already ways to play D&D solo which is fine too.

If a person is traveling or in between campaigns or just simply wants to experience more D&D adventures, then AI dungeon masters may be great.

However, if AI dungeon masters are the way Wizards of the Coast plan to monetize their under-monetized brand, then I have a feeling it will fail. There’s a human element to buying rules and campaign books. I want to share them with my friends.

If AI replaces human DMs, D&D is doomed

Also, if AI DMs are meant to replace human ones or discourage people from DMing, the hobby and the game will suffer immeasurably. Probably won’t look good on a profit and loss statement.

Living breathing flesh and blood dungeon masters will always provide open endless worlds for their players to explore. No AI will come close, even when the human dungeon master is tired or tongue-tied, or stressed.

Running D&D for my friends and having them run it for me is just something I do not want to outsource to a soulless machine that will give me closed doors.

AI Dungeon Master Articles

• Dungeons & Dragons Player Gets AI Bot To DM, Works Surprisingly Well
• If your tabletop GM is too strict, why not use an AI game master
• I slayed dragons with an AI-powered dungeon master
• Experts Plan to Build an AI Dungeon Master for D&D and to Progress in other Tabletop Roleplaying Games