Anything BUT whatever dumb ass 💩 WotC has recently done or is currently doing, literally ANYTHING

AEDorsay · Apr 17, 2024

YeAh, i did mean the only original character -- Eurayle and Bab are more pulled from myth.

And I can verify that is the story Gry told to folks who asked -- Tasha didn't exist until he made it an alias of Iggwilv, whom he created as the baddie for tsojcanth.

But, I mean, it was the early 80's -- chainmail bikinis were high fashion for women in those days. No matter how much they would pinch nipples. Hell, Working Girl hadn't even come out yet, and political correctness meant saying postal carrier or Airline Attendant instead of Postman and Stewardess.

"it was a different time"...

Xalthu · Apr 17, 2024

Ahhh, I see. Original is an important distinction.

The_Summoning_Dark · Apr 18, 2024

Quote from AEDorsay >>

QOTD: What do you think of the use of the "legendary" characters in a lot of newer D&D products?

I like the idea and it is fine the way they do it now, but it could be much cooler. I think it is cool to have spells named after someone because it adds a little extra flavor and lore to the world. I'm not interested in the Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk settings at all though and I think the characters they do have are pretty boring. Tasha, Mordenkainen, Vecna, etc. seem to be pretty basic and boring. They aren't characters I would actually use in my game, not without trying to actually give them interesting lore. I don't actually know a lot of the official lore so maybe I'm missing something, but from what I've seen I haven't been impressed. It would be more cool if they tried to come up with compelling, interesting characters to drop Easter eggs about instead of ones whose only value lies in their age.

SirTawmis · Apr 18, 2024

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Quote from SirTawmis >>

Quote from AEDorsay >>

Anyway, yeah, um, Hi, I am around for more than just checking on listings, lol, and um, well, *waves*

Well, well, well. Look who finally showed up after ignoring my concerned PM from like months ago! :D

I didn't exactly ignore it, I just didn't respond. And especially given where I was trapped at the time (a toilet), you would have, at best gotten little more than grunts, groans, and some foul smelling odors. (yes, do not try to guilt me or face the wrath of TMI!) and good to have time to be back!

Heh, being married 20+ years now - my poor wife endures the worse from me. I barge in while she's on the toilet and sing songs, but change the lyrics to be toilet related.

Quote from AEDorsay >>

QOTD: What do you think of the use of the "legendary" characters in a lot of newer D&D products?

I mean the use of things like Tasha and Vecna and Mordenkainen and Tenser and Leomund and such?

If you're playing straight Forgotten Realms D&D, great.

If you're home brewing - or DMing in a world that isn't specific to Forgotten Realms - say, Dragonlance - it can be a bit jaunting when a player says, "I cast Tasha's Hideous Laughter."

Why not just call it Hideous Laughter? And in the spell description explain, "The powerful mage Tasha created...."

That way when people say I cast the spell - there's no name attached.

Tasha, for example, never existed in my homebrew world.

AEDorsay · Apr 18, 2024

Yeah, I don't have any of them either (and I don't use any named spell, i strip them, and then end up adding them as players create them).

Also, there is a "tell me a story" thread in Lore sub forum, and I just told the story of the first Bard. Which is kinda wild, since my Bards don't exactly stick to the standards of the game, lol, but damn, that was kinda cool given I didn't even know the story until i told it.

Wysperra · Apr 18, 2024

Quote from AEDorsay >>

QOTD: What do you think of the use of the "legendary" characters in a lot of newer D&D products?

And who the **** was Tenser with his little floating disk?

From Rogues Gallery:

Wysperra · Apr 18, 2024

I like using the spells as named because it's nostalgic for me. It reminds of when I started playing, so warm fuzzies.

As far actually having them in game and interact with the party? Probably not. I mean, most of my players don't even know who they are anyway.

AEDorsay · Apr 18, 2024

There are four mages scattered across the parties I am running for, and one of them is named Giggles and another is named Karen.

They are being run by the same pair of sisters who once very smartly and deftly tricked me into letting Frozen characters into my game. I fully expect them to be inventing new spells.

Giggles' Thunderous Spear has a certain ring to it, does it not?

Karen's Fabulous Alarm anyone?

SirTawmis · Apr 20, 2024

Not every DM loves a page worth of backstory, but I do...

... and typically, my players give me some details about their character, ask me to write up their backstory - I pass it to them, make sure they're good with it.

Now the reason I love a good page or so of backstory, is I tend to pull NPCs, towns, whatever, from a character's background, somewhere down the campaign - and it gives them a hook to really be interested in that particular story/plot that's unfolding. (I have an entire thread on another forum, like 38 pages or so deep, worth of people who have requested a backstory from me) Recently one of my players mentioned he wants to (briefly) swap his character in the main campaign with another (reason being his main character's wife is currently pregnant and he wants to be there for the childbirth) - so he was going to bring in another character while that was happening. And I was very OK with that - but when he came at me and had a backstory already (it needed SOME work), I told him I was impressed with what he'd written, because he wasn't known for writing backstories (but was an excellent RP person - one of my favorites, as a matter of fact, from my main game). So I thought, "Oh, these ... six... seven years of RP through my D&D campaign taught him how to delve into a character history! Very cool."

Was not the case. He used ChatGPT and fed it some information about the new character, and what he wanted and it spit out a backstory. Again, needed some work, but overall was still pretty solid.

It was, admittedly, a little heart breaking because he didn't write it himself, and didn't come to me to ask - he used AI.

I don't hate AI, but for myself - creating campaigns is what helps my brain calm down, because it's a maelstrom of ideas (not just D&D, but writing in general whether it's D&D, stories, lyrics, poems, whatever the case may be). But I know not everyone has the thousand voices screaming in their head keeping them up at night.

So DMs (or heck, even players!) - how do you feel about using AI to generate backstories? Or, perhaps some DMs use AI to generate campaign ideas?

The_Summoning_Dark · Apr 20, 2024

I wouldn't use AI, but I wouldn't mind a player or DM using it as a tool. They could use it to get ideas or lay down something basic as long as they build on it and add their own touch to it.

When AI first became a thing, a friend made it write a DND campaign set in a fantasy version of the reformation where you played Martin Luther and the Pope was the BBEG.

Nothic3SeeHere · Apr 20, 2024

I’ll admit to having asked AI for advice and inspiration on a few occasions, but I’d never try to use it in the place of my own writing. I’m far too egotistical for that ;)

As for my players using AI, it’s really a case-by-case basis. The biggest issue is that it feels sort of disrespectful — you only needed to write two or three sentences, after all.

Gnomarchy · Apr 21, 2024

Quote from SirTawmis >>

Not every DM loves a page worth of backstory, but I do...

So DMs (or heck, even players!) - how do you feel about using AI to generate backstories? Or, perhaps some DMs use AI to generate campaign ideas?

I tried using GPT 3.5 to help refine some D&D ideas, but in general the stories it spits out are just not as good as people are giving it credit for. The backstories I've seen people drop on this forum are particularly terrible. See this thread for an example. My comment is the last in the thread, for reference.

Using it for backstories is also probably a waste of its potential. A good backstory should be short, and establish the connection that a character shares with the world, and leaves room for the DM to expand. Remember, Luke Skywalker's backstory was just that he was a talented pilot on a backwater desert planet with unknown parentage, and is stalked by a weird old dude.

As far as campaign ideas go, Chat GPT is strongest when it does the lightest lifting. It can help refine ideas if given a detailed set of inputs, but will settle back on tropey played-out ideas if not given guidance.

SirTawmis · Apr 21, 2024

Quote from The_Summoning_Dark >>

I wouldn't use AI, but I wouldn't mind a player or DM using it as a tool. They could use it to get ideas or lay down something basic as long as they build on it and add their own touch to it. When AI first became a thing, a friend made it write a DND campaign set in a fantasy version of the reformation where you played Martin Luther and the Pope was the BBEG.

Yeah - one of my GMs (this was for the World of Darkness setting) used AI to generate some ideas. And then he just took that, and filled it with what was needed to unify the different sessions.

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere_ >>

I’ll admit to having asked AI for advice and inspiration on a few occasions, but I’d never try to use it in the place of my own writing. I’m far too egotistical for that ;)

As for my players using AI, it’s really a case-by-case basis. The biggest issue is that it feels sort of disrespectful — you only needed to write two or three sentences, after all.

Question - if a player approached you where you're the DM and said, "Could you give my character a backstory? Inspiration isn't hitting me."

Would you also do two or three sentences, or write something out? I ask, since you mentioned being a writer. Curious, if it was on you, if you'd still only write two or three sentences, or find a way to tie things in with your own campaign?

Quote from Markell_Thrasher_704 >>

I like AI, but not that much!

Heh! What do you typically use AI for?

Quote from Gnomarchy >>

Quote from SirTawmis >>

Not every DM loves a page worth of backstory, but I do...

So DMs (or heck, even players!) - how do you feel about using AI to generate backstories? Or, perhaps some DMs use AI to generate campaign ideas?

Using it for backstories is also probably a waste of its potential. A good backstory should be short, and establish the connection that a character shares with the world, and leaves room for the DM to expand. Remember, Luke Skywalker's backstory was just that he was a talented pilot on a backwater desert planet with unknown parentage, and is stalked by a weird old dude.

As far as campaign ideas go, Chat GPT is strongest when it does the lightest lifting. It can hep refine ideas if given a detailed set of inputs, but will settle back on tropey played-out ideas if not given guidance.

Yes, at the core - that's what Luke was. However, if it were fleshed out more to talk about how Luke grew up, moisture farm, arid desert, pretty much alone, uncle didn't seem to care too much because he was so strict, aunt seemed more forgiving, that's who he was raised by, then go into detail about this is why Luke often spent time with the only friend he truly had, a young man his same age, named Biggs. So that, if this were a D&D (Star Wars) game - when Luke gets with the Rebellion - and a familiar voice calls out, "Luke, is that you?" The reunion scene between play and NPC feels stronger (rather than the DM saying, "A familiar voice calls out your name - it's Biggs." And the player having no idea of the significance. (I am, for example, referencing this scene).

Gnomarchy · Apr 21, 2024

Quote from SirTawmis >>

Quote from The_Summoning_Dark >>

I wouldn't use AI, but I wouldn't mind a player or DM using it as a tool. They could use it to get ideas or lay down something basic as long as they build on it and add their own touch to it. When AI first became a thing, a friend made it write a DND campaign set in a fantasy version of the reformation where you played Martin Luther and the Pope was the BBEG.

Yeah - one of my GMs (this was for the World of Darkness setting) used AI to generate some ideas. And then he just took that, and filled it with what was needed to unify the different sessions.

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere_ >>

I’ll admit to having asked AI for advice and inspiration on a few occasions, but I’d never try to use it in the place of my own writing. I’m far too egotistical for that ;)

As for my players using AI, it’s really a case-by-case basis. The biggest issue is that it feels sort of disrespectful — you only needed to write two or three sentences, after all.

Question - if a player approached you where you're the DM and said, "Could you give my character a backstory? Inspiration isn't hitting me."

Would you also do two or three sentences, or write something out? I ask, since you mentioned being a writer. Curious, if it was on you, if you'd still only write two or three sentences, or find a way to tie things in with your own campaign?

Quote from Markell_Thrasher_704 >>

I like AI, but not that much!

Heh! What do you typically use AI for?

Quote from Gnomarchy >>

Quote from SirTawmis >>

Not every DM loves a page worth of backstory, but I do...

So DMs (or heck, even players!) - how do you feel about using AI to generate backstories? Or, perhaps some DMs use AI to generate campaign ideas?

Using it for backstories is also probably a waste of its potential. A good backstory should be short, and establish the connection that a character shares with the world, and leaves room for the DM to expand. Remember, Luke Skywalker's backstory was just that he was a talented pilot on a backwater desert planet with unknown parentage, and is stalked by a weird old dude.

As far as campaign ideas go, Chat GPT is strongest when it does the lightest lifting. It can hep refine ideas if given a detailed set of inputs, but will settle back on tropey played-out ideas if not given guidance.

Yes, at the core - that's what Luke was. However, if it were fleshed out more to talk about how Luke grew up, moisture farm, arid desert, pretty much alone, uncle didn't seem to care too much because he was so strict, aunt seemed more forgiving, that's who he was raised by, then go into detail about this is why Luke often spent time with the only friend he truly had, a young man his same age, named Biggs. So that, if this were a D&D (Star Wars) game - when Luke gets with the Rebellion - and a familiar voice calls out, "Luke, is that you?" The reunion scene between play and NPC feels stronger (rather than the DM saying, "A familiar voice calls out your name - it's Biggs." And the player having no idea of the significance. (I am, for example, referencing this scene).

I mean sure, but we're still a far cry from some of the over-the-top epic poems that you see people write as backstory on these forums. The major information we needed from the first act of ANH (ignoring the scene with Leia) was that Luke had no known parents (bond & flaw), that Obi-Wan and the droids are his path onto the hero's journey and space magic (bond & ideal), and that the Empire is evil and needs to be defeated (ideal). Biggs (bond) was a nice touch that added some emotional heat through his death during the trench run, but ultimately I suspect you and I are the only people that recognize his significance there. Luke was seemingly much more affected by Obi-Wan's death than Biggs'.

EJODM18604 · Apr 21, 2024

Oh god

My DM is doing a 2E CAMPAIGN

WHYYY

Gnomarchy · Apr 21, 2024

Hold on to your butt.

Black is white, up is down, and high AC represents worse armor.

¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

EJODM18604 · Apr 21, 2024

It's gonna take some getting used to as I have never played anything except 5e and don't really see any reason otherwise.

Nothic3SeeHere · Apr 21, 2024

Quote from SirTawmis >>

Quote from Nothic2SeeHere_>>

I’ll admit to having asked AI for advice and inspiration on a few occasions, but I’d never try to use it in the place of my own writing. I’m far too egotistical for that ;)

As for my players using AI, it’s really a case-by-case basis. The biggest issue is that it feels sort of disrespectful — you only needed to write two or three sentences, after all.

Question - if a player approached you where you're the DM and said, "Could you give my character a backstory? Inspiration isn't hitting me."

Would you also do two or three sentences, or write something out? I ask, since you mentioned being a writer. Curious, if it was on you, if you'd still only write two or three sentences, or find a way to tie things in with your own campaign?

I’d probably write 2-3 paragraphs, with ten sentences at most. IMO, that’s a good length for a backstory that seems detailed without being unnecessarily intricate. However, as I mentioned earlier, I hold myself to a higher standard than I’d expect from my players and I don’t expect them to put a great deal of thought into their characters. After all, we’re just a group of friends looking to have some fun over the weekends.

As for tying things into my campaign, I would likely avoid doing so because that feels sort of like railroading/lore-dumping when it isn’t needed. It’s much easier to get invested in a simple character than an overly complex one.

My average backstory length for real-life campaigns is around three paragraphs. In PBPs and online campaigns, it can be anywhere from three to ten, usually erring on the low side. Going past that is doable, but more annoying than impressive — and I try to avoid the stereotypical chapter-book-backstory because I don’t want the DM to fall asleep in our session zero!