How to Use ChatGPT for Your D&D Games: Play by Post and Real-Time

Ever feel like you could use a little extra help in your Dungeons & Dragons campaign? Or maybe you just want to level up your game without adding a ton of extra prep work? Let me tell you about an amazing tool you can use – ChatGPT. It can help big time whether you’re doing Play-by-Post or sitting around the table with friends in a real-time game. Let’s dive in!

Today, we’re talking about how you can use ChatGPT to enhance your D&D games. Whether you’re playing Play-by-Post like I do, or in a real-time game with your group, ChatGPT can be an amazing resource. I’m going to show you how I personally use it, and how you can use it to create an even more immersive experience for your players.

Before we get to the meat of the matter, I’m really excited to tell you Ptolus folks and Patreon supporters about something truly epic that’s coming down the pipeline. I am custom programming a ChatGPT bot which will crawl my Ptolus website and be able to answer your questions about the setting! This will be a Patreon only benefit, and I might even have to set a certain tier to gain access to it – I’m not sure yet – simply because there will be a cost to me for using the API. More on this soon! Now! Let’s talk about…

Using ChatGPT in Play-by-Post (PBP) Games

First up, Play-by-Post. As many of you know, I run my main campaign in PBP style, and ChatGPT has become an awesome tool to make the game even smoother and more fun.

Here’s how I use ChatGPT in my PBP games. Let’s say you’re deep into a storyline and your character needs to interact with a complex NPC, but you’re short on time to fully flesh out their dialogue or responses. You can use ChatGPT to help write those interactions!

You just feed it a little context—something like, ‘My character is talking to a shady merchant who’s hiding something, but willing to cut a deal.’ ChatGPT will spit out responses and dialogue ideas that feel dynamic and help keep the story flowing. You can even tweak its responses to better fit your style.

It also works great for coming up with quick descriptions of settings or helping you brainstorm a cool encounter on the fly. When you’re posting every day, it saves a lot of time. Honestly, it’s like having a co-DM in your pocket.

Enhancing Your Real-Time D&D Game

But ChatGPT isn’t just for PBP. If you’re running a real-time game around a table or online with friends, it can also take some pressure off and help you run the game smoothly.

Picture this: You’re deep into a game session, and the players have just thrown a curveball at you. They decide to go in a completely different direction than you planned for. Sound familiar? It’s a classic DM nightmare! This is where ChatGPT can save you.

Instead of scrambling for an idea on the spot, you can ask ChatGPT for quick suggestions. Whether it’s a plot twist, an NPC’s motivation, or even the layout of a dungeon, ChatGPT can give you something you can work with instantly. And if you’ve got a laptop or phone at the table, you can even use it mid-session.

Another way to use ChatGPT in real-time? Random encounters or treasure generation. Let’s say your players beat a monster and you want to give them something unique. Ask ChatGPT to create a magic item on the fly, complete with lore and a cool name. No more scrambling through the Dungeon Master’s Guide for something that doesn’t quite fit!

Collaborative Storytelling with ChatGPT

Remember, D&D is all about collaborative storytelling, and ChatGPT can be a secret weapon in making that storytelling even richer.

You can use ChatGPT to brainstorm character backstories, or even work with players to develop new plot hooks. Imagine having an AI helping to flesh out that secret society in your world or generating ideas for that creepy dungeon the players are about to explore. And since it’s collaborative, it doesn’t take the creativity away from you or your players—it just makes things easier.

Using ChatGPT to Assist in Game Prep

One of my favorite uses for ChatGPT is prepping for sessions. I’ll ask it to give me detailed descriptions of locations or create NPCs with quirks that make them feel more alive. If I’m feeling really ambitious, I might even have it help me generate side quests or puzzles.

Managing Notes, NPCs, and Locations

But it’s not just about preparation. When you’re juggling a lot of NPCs, locations, and plot details, ChatGPT can be a huge help in keeping track of everything. Need to know when your party last encountered a particular NPC? Just ask ChatGPT. Can’t remember how you described the spooky tavern the first time? It’s got you covered.

By combining ChatGPT with your regular notes, you’ve got an organized system that helps you maintain consistency in your story. You won’t have to dig through old notebooks or struggle to remember those small details that make your world feel rich and alive.

Generating NPCs and Locations on the Fly

And let’s not forget one of my favorite uses—generating NPCs or locations on the fly. You know how it goes: your players suddenly want to talk to the shopkeeper you never planned for, or they decide to explore a part of the town you didn’t prepare.

Just type in something like, ‘Generate a description for a friendly blacksmith with a secret past,’ and ChatGPT will instantly give you a detailed NPC that fits right into your story. The same goes for locations—if the party suddenly wants to visit an abandoned temple, ChatGPT can create a fully fleshed-out description in seconds.

Generating Images for NPCs, Magic Items, Scenes, almost anything.

ChatGPT can enhance your D&D games by generating custom images for NPCs, magic items, and scenes, bringing your fantasy world to life. Whether you need a quick visual for a mysterious merchant, a powerful enchanted sword, or a vivid landscape for the next adventure, ChatGPT can create detailed and imaginative artwork. These visuals add depth and immersion to your campaigns, helping players better connect with the world and the characters they interact with. Perfect for both Play-by-Post games and real-time sessions, these generated images make storytelling even more dynamic and engaging.

ChatGPT Generated Battleaxe

ChatGPT Generated City Watch Sergeant

A Patron named Scott told me they prefer MidJourney for AI art generation to the DALL-E generator that ChatGPT uses. I haven’t tried it but wanted to share that with you.

Final Thoughts: Use ChatGPT to Make Your Game Even Better

ChatGPT is an awesome tool for enhancing your D&D experience, whether you’re running a Play-by-Post campaign like I do or sitting down with friends for a live game. It’s not about replacing your creativity as a DM—it’s about giving you that little extra support to make your game smoother, more dynamic, and more fun.

So next time you’re prepping for a session or find yourself in a pinch mid-game, give ChatGPT a try. It’s like having a digital co-DM who’s always ready to help. And who knows, it might just help you come up with your next great adventure!

Let me know in the comments how you use ChatGPT in your games, or let me know what questions you would like to have answered. If you’re new here, don’t forget to do all the YouTube junk. Like, subscribe, and Roll a d20 to hit the bell so you get notified when I post a new video.

Until next time, stay out of the Shadow of the Spire!

Example ChatGPT Prompts from my D&D game

Prompt: Write a description of the Ptolus City Watch being in the street in front of the house and hollering at Temple.

Output: 

With a loud crash, Temple and the dead drow woman were flung through the window, shards of broken glass scattering in their wake. The two tumbled through the air, their forms silhouetted against the decaying house as they plummeted toward the overgrown grass below. With a heavy thud, the undead body hit the ground first, followed closely by the weight of the falling debris and Temple himself.

 

The tall grass rustled as the drow’s lifeless form stirred from its prone position, its movements unnervingly slow but filled with an unnatural vitality. The body twitched violently, the sudden jolt from the fall seemingly reigniting its undead energy. Moments later, its withered hand lashed out toward Temple, fingers curled into sharp claws—but the strike missed its mark, the blow swiping just inches from Temple’s face.

Just as the creature reeled back to attack again, the sound of voices echoed down the street.

 

“Hold it right there!” a voice bellowed.

 

Temple’s eyes flicked toward the street where the City Watch had gathered, weapons drawn and tense expressions on their faces. A squad of Watchmen in blue tunics stood at the edge of the overgrown yard, eyes wide at the sight of the crumbling house and the chaos spilling out onto the street. Their leader, a sergeant with a yellow sash, raised a dragon pistol, pointing it squarely in Temple’s direction.

 

“Drop whatever you’re doing and step away!” the sergeant shouted, voice authoritative but wary. The other guards shifted nervously, some eyeing the undead drow woman while others kept their weapons trained on Temple.

 

The situation had just become a whole lot more complicated.

If you would love to read all content from my Play-by-Post games run in Ptolus you can checkout The Calling Campaign and the above excerpt is from Ugly Incorporate on my Ptolus : City by the Spire unofficial website.

Prompt: What would be a good Pathfinder 1e monster to have come up through the floor of the house from the ground below? A big monster.

There are several Pathfinder 1e monsters that would make an excellent and terrifying addition, emerging from the ground beneath the house. Given that the house is already in disrepair, adding a large, powerful creature emerging from below could add tension and chaos to the current battle. Here are a few options that might fit well based on the tone of your game:

 

1. Bulette (Land Shark) CR: 7

Description: The Bulette is a massive, land-shark-like creature that burrows through the ground and explodes up from below, devouring anything in its path. Its armored hide makes it very durable, and its leaping attacks allow it to cover large distances and engage multiple targets at once.

Why it works: A Bulette tearing through the floorboards of the house would make for a dramatic, sudden entrance. It would force the players to reposition and deal with a completely new threat. Its burrowing ability adds a layer of unpredictability.

 

2. Umber Hulk CR: 7

Description: The Umber Hulk is a large, insect-like humanoid with powerful claws for burrowing through the ground. It has an innate ability to cause confusion in creatures that meet its gaze, making it a dangerous foe in tight spaces.

Why it works: The Umber Hulk would cause chaos if it emerged through the floor, using its confusion ability to further disrupt the already scattered party. It’s also thematically fitting if the house sits above an underground complex or ruins.

3. Giant Slug CR: 8

Description: A Giant Slug is a massive creature that secretes acidic slime, which can melt through wood, stone, and flesh. It can spray this acid at range, making it a deadly opponent even in close quarters.

 

Why it works: The idea of a Giant Slug emerging through the rotting floorboards is not only terrifying but would also increase the tension as the party has to contend with the creature’s acid attacks. It could slowly dissolve the house around them, creating more environmental challenges.

 

4. Earth Elemental (Huge) CR: 7

 

Description: A Huge Earth Elemental is a towering creature made of stone and earth. It can move through solid ground effortlessly and can cause minor earthquakes or destroy walls and floors with ease.

 

Why it works: An Earth Elemental could be summoned or drawn up from beneath the house, smashing through the floorboards. Its ability to move through stone and dirt would let it manipulate the environment, potentially causing the house to collapse further.

 

5. Tendriculos CR: 6

Description: A Tendriculos is a massive, plant-like creature that lurks underground, bursting out to consume its prey. It can swallow creatures whole and has the ability to regenerate damage over time, making it hard to kill.

Why it works: If the house is near an area with creeping vines or natural overgrowth, a Tendriculos emerging from the ground would add a layer of body horror as this massive, plant-like monstrosity pulls adventurers into its maw.