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Today, I have a special surprise for you. My friend, ChatGPT, wrote a guest post. I asked it to write a post on role-playing games, which he insisted should be entitled, Table-Top Role-Playing Games: A Guide for Beginners. Here are its thoughts.
Table-Top Role-Playing Games: A Guide for Beginners
Table-top role-playing games (RPGs) are a unique and exciting form of gaming that has been around for decades. They offer a chance for players to enter a completely different world and take on a new persona. RPGs allow players to create their own storylines and characters while collaborating with others to explore a fictional universe. Here’s a beginner’s guide to getting started with table-top RPGs.
- Choosing a Game
The first step is choosing a game that suits your interests. Dungeons & Dragons (“D&D“) is one of the most popular and widely known RPGs. However, there are countless other options available, each with their own rules, settings, and storylines. Some other popular RPGs include Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, and Shadowrun. Consider the themes and genre that you enjoy most in books, movies, or video games when choosing an RPG.
- Finding a Group
Once you’ve chosen an RPG, it’s time to find a group to play with. Look online for local gaming stores or gaming groups that are actively seeking new players. Social media platforms like Facebook, Discord, or Reddit can also help you connect with other players. Joining an existing group will help you get started with the game and understand the rules and mechanics quickly.
- Creating Your Character
Once you have a group and a game, it’s time to create your character. This is one of the most exciting and fun aspects of RPGs. You can create any type of character you want, from a sneaky rogue to a powerful wizard. Many RPGs provide character creation sheets that walk you through the process. You will need to decide on your character’s race, class, background, and abilities. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of your character’s backstory, personality, and motivations to make them come alive.
- Playing the Game
During the game, players take on the role of their characters, and the Game Master (“GM”) guides the story. The GM is responsible for creating the world, setting up the encounters and challenges, and controlling non-player characters (“NPCs”). Players use dice to determine the outcomes of their actions and decide on their next moves as a team.
- Having Fun
Table-top RPGs are meant to be fun, social, and creative. Players should never feel stressed or pressured to perform. Instead, focus on storytelling, teamwork, and immersion in the game world. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or ask for help from the group. Remember, the ultimate goal is to have fun and enjoy the game.
In conclusion, table-top RPGs are a fantastic way to explore new worlds, make new friends, and exercise your creativity. With the right group of people, you can create unforgettable memories and epic adventures. So, find your group, choose your game, create your character, and start playing. The possibilities are endless!
Okay, that was useless, so I asked, “Can you write a more advanced post for me?” I requested the mathematics used to generate a system. Here’;’s the response.
The Mathematics Behind Table-Top Role-Playing Game Systems
Table-top role-playing games (RPGs) are a unique blend of storytelling, game mechanics, and mathematics. While the storytelling aspect is the most noticeable and critical, the underlying math used to generate the game system is equally important. In this advanced post, we’ll explore the math behind table-top RPG systems and how it affects gameplay.
Game Design and Probability Theory
The mechanics behind table-top RPG systems are based on probability theory, which is a branch of mathematics that deals with the likelihood of an event occurring. Game designers use probability theory to determine how different actions in the game will affect the outcome of the player’s actions. The result is a series of rules and dice-rolling mechanics that determine the success or failure of actions taken by the players.
Dice Rolling and Randomness
Dice rolling is the most common method used to introduce randomness into the game system. Each type of die has a different number of sides and represents different probabilities of success or failure. For example, a 20-sided die has a 5% chance of rolling any specific number from 1 to 20.
Game designers use dice rolling mechanics to introduce randomness into the game system. For example, a player attempting to hit a target may need to roll a 15 or higher on a 20-sided die to succeed. The outcome is not predetermined, and players must rely on their luck and probability to succeed.
Game designers also use probability theory to create balanced systems. They must ensure that the probabilities of success and failure are fair for all players, regardless of their abilities or character types. This balancing act can be challenging, as different character types may have different abilities and skill sets that affect their probabilities of success.
Mathematics and Game Mechanics
Game designers use a range of mathematical concepts to create different game mechanics. One of the most important is probability theory, which we’ve already mentioned. Other mathematical concepts used in table-top RPGs include:
- Geometry: Used to determine the range and area of attacks, spells, and abilities.
- Calculus: Used to determine rates of change, such as the speed at which a character is moving.
- Algebra: Used to determine the values of variables such as hit points, armor class, and damage.
Game designers use these mathematical concepts to create game mechanics that are balanced, fair, and realistic. For example, a spell that affects an area of effect may be limited to a specific radius or shape, based on geometric calculations. Similarly, a character’s ability to move and attack may be determined by their speed, which is calculated using calculus.
In Conclusion
The mathematics behind table-top RPG systems is complex and requires a deep understanding of probability theory, geometry, calculus, and algebra. Game designers use these mathematical concepts to create balanced and fair game mechanics that allow players to immerse themselves in a fictional world. Understanding the mathematics behind RPG systems can help players better understand the game mechanics and how their actions affect the outcome of the game. Ultimately, table-top RPGs are a fascinating blend of storytelling, game mechanics, and mathematics that provide a unique and engaging gaming experience.
I pressed further to see which game systems use calculus, and it said that both Champions and GURPS do. I’ve never played either, so I have no idea if that’s correct. In any event, I had a better idea, but I’ve said enough for today.
Tuesday’s post should be weird.
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Hello, a lot of your posts were interesting, but this was the first one I had to comment on. I was curious about your opinions on the use of AI for TTRPGs? I have been using AI for things like artwork or designing 3D printables, moreso than for worldbuilding. I have noticed a lot of different stances on the value/drawbacks of AI in TTRPGs and was curious about your thoughts on this!
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There are a lot of concerns from artists that aren’t within my field, so my opinion means little more than anyone else’s. One concern that’s right up my alley is that of copyright infringement. As you probably know, what we’re referring to as AI is not true intelligence yet. As a result, today’s AI is analogous to a camera with a timer set to snap a photograph every 30 minutes regardless of what’s in front of it, how the area is lighted, etc. The only human interaction is setting the timer, and that isn’t in any way creative. That interaction is itself analogous to me saying to an artist, “Draw a picture of a tall guy in a hat riding the subway.” That’s an unprotectable idea until someone expresses it through, for example, the drawing I requested. That drawing isn’t mine; it belongs to the artist. AI allows such creation without the artist doing the work. Merely prompting the AI shouldn’t count as creativity for copyright purposes.
On the flip side, is the AI infringing artist copyrights? If no human is there to claim a copyright, then there’s no human there to blame for infringement. This is why most artists in my experience are referring to it instead as “plagiarism,” and there’s nothing they can do at the moment to stop it. That cuts into their wallets. (Side note: Screenshots from the intro sequence to Marvel’s Secret Invasion has been published, and they were generated with AI. Artists are pissed.) Again, I don’t know if my opinion on this issue counts for much, but in one narrow regard, AI is no different than any other past technology. As technology infiltrates an industry, it reduces the need for human labor for the positions it fills. Until we’re in an “I, Robot” scenario, there’ll always be jobs, but not as many. This requires workers to adjust their skill sets, which can be hard. It’s much easier to have students adjust their class selection so that they’re ready for the new world before they get there. Nevertheless, whenever these adjustments occur, especially if they occur dramatically, it’s always accompanied by growing pains. We eventually adjust, but if it takes a generation to adjust, it really sucks to be the guys qualified only for jobs that no longer exist in numbers to sustain them. I don’t know how to deal with the times between now and when “I, Robot” becomes the reality. It’s going to be a long, tough transition.
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Thank you for the thorough response! I think you captured the major points around the issues many creators and artists have with AI and the challenging environment the disruption will create between now and the new state. It is also pretty clear the genie isn’t going back in the bottle, so I am wondering what the next several years look like.
As far as I can tell, you are correct that AI art is not copyrightable as there is no human artist creating that piece (so it looks like the courts do not considering writing the prompt a creative process – a debate that I imagine will take place many times in the near future). I believe the creativity around the AI art can be protected, based on the ruling around a comic book made from Midjourney art.
I guess time will tell how this all shakes out. Thanks again for the post and chat!
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