Episode 125

Online D&D Sessions and The Future of D&D and Generative AI: Andrew Clayton from Foundry VTT

Welcome back to How to Be a Better DM.

Today, I sit down with Andre Clayton, founder of Foundry VTT to chat about VTTS, virtual D&D sessions, and AI.

Thanks for listening.

Mentioned in this episode:

We Like You

Hey Bud… How’s it going? Just wanted to say… we like you. We’re think you’re pretty cool. We hope you like us too. If you do like us and what we’re doing, you can support us on our Patreon. Just $1 a month is enough. Just go to https://session0studios.com/patreon and show your support. But even if you don’t… we still like you. See ya around bud.

Patreon

Always Have Your Sessions Prepared!

You work 8 hours a day. You spend time with your family when you come home. You do work around the house and it seems you never have as much time as you would like to prepare your D&D sessions. Does this sound like you? Wouldn’t it be amazing to have endless material prepared for your D&D sessions anyways? That’s where Roll and Play Press comes in. Roll and Play Press provides D&D 5e Compatible materials for any type of session. Running a one-shot? Check out their One Shot Wonders book with over 100 one-shot ideas. Getting started with your new sci-fi campaign? Get their Game Master’s Sci-Fi Toolkit to have your games much more prepared. Why reinvent the wheel? Check out Roll and Play Press at rollandplaypress.com and get 10% off when you buy something by using the code BETTERDM10.

Roll and Play Press

Brought to you by Session 0 Studios

Visit session0studios.com for more information.

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome back to How to be a Better DM, the

official podcast of Monsters.Rent.

2

:

I'm your host today, Justin Lewis.

3

:

Today we are going to talk about how to

weave better stories for yourself and your

4

:

players playing Dungeons and Dragons.

5

:

And today we are probably going to be

talking about doing that online, because

6

:

today I have a very special guest.

7

:

I'm joined by Andrew Clayton of the

Foundry VTT team.

8

:

So how's it going, Andrew?

9

:

doing great.

10

:

Thank you so much, Justin.

11

:

I really appreciate the invitation to join

the show.

12

:

And I'm looking forward to chatting with

you and your community about a topic that

13

:

I care a lot about.

14

:

Excellent.

15

:

Uh, let's, let's dive right in.

16

:

Um, first let's give the listener, if

they're not familiar with Foundry or, uh,

17

:

VTTs in general, or you yourself, Andrew

Clayton, um, you know, give the listener

18

:

just a brief background of all of those

things, uh, as far as you see fit.

19

:

Sure, happy to do that.

20

:

So Foundry Virtual Tabletop is a software

for playing games like D&D, including D&D,

21

:

but many games as well, online in a

self-hosted virtual tabletop environment

22

:

where we have a pretty unique business

model.

23

:

It's a one-time purchase with a perpetual

license.

24

:

So you as the game master can purchase the

software, and then you own it.

25

:

forever and you get all of the updates we

release to the software.

26

:

Your players don't have to purchase the

software.

27

:

You just connect via a web browser.

28

:

So it's all web-based.

29

:

It's built using modern web technologies.

30

:

And one of our proudest and strongest

attributes is our very developer-friendly

31

:

API that allows for the development of

modules and systems that augment.

32

:

the software.

33

:

And that's what allows Foundry to have so

many different game systems supported,

34

:

like over 250 different game systems that

you can play on Foundry and over 2,500

35

:

different modules that you can install

that expand or augment or enhance the

36

:

functionality of the software in some way

or another.

37

:

And so we're a tool that's really designed

to allow GMs to tell powerful and

38

:

immersive and memorable

39

:

stories with a really high level of

production value using a lot of great

40

:

tooling that lets you deliver experiences

that really bring your player into the

41

:

action and really help enhance their

imagination or comprehension of a scene

42

:

that you're, that you're depicting.

43

:

And, yeah, and we love building the

software.

44

:

I am the original creator of the software.

45

:

But now there's a whole team of us

involved in making Foundry VTT.

46

:

And we've got all kinds of projects that

were involved in, in addition to making

47

:

the core software with regards to content

partnerships with amazing publishers like

48

:

Paizo, we're just releasing Kingmaker for

Foundry VTT right now for Pathfinder 2E.

49

:

We've got some other really big projects

that are ongoing or underway or coming out

50

:

soon.

51

:

We've got a brand new version of the

software that we're working on creating.

52

:

So we're very, very busy and yeah, you

know, we're up to a whole lot, but

53

:

Um, if you're not familiar with Foundry,

the best place to start is at our website,

54

:

which is foundryvtt.com.

55

:

And on the homepage, there's a nice sort

of, uh, introductory video that gives you

56

:

like a, uh, an introductory tour to, to

everything that Foundry has to offer.

57

:

And, uh, that's probably a great place to

start if you're not already familiar, but

58

:

I hope it's something that many of you

already use or know about or are thinking

59

:

about and, and for those of you who

aren't,

60

:

familiar with it yet.

61

:

I hope you discover it to be something

that is a godsend to you that can really

62

:

help you and your groups if you find

yourself playing online.

63

:

Or in person.

64

:

It can be good for that too.

65

:

Yeah, actually, it is a great software if

you use Battlemaps, but you use like TV

66

:

screens or things like that as the

Battlemaps.

67

:

That's a great way to pair it in person.

68

:

Our listener can range from, you know,

never been a DM and they're preparing to

69

:

be a DM to people who have reached out to

me saying, yeah, they played, you know,

70

:

first edition D&D and they've kind of been

doing it this whole time.

71

:

So I'm curious and I'm sure they're

curious too.

72

:

What sparked the idea for Foundry and what

made you actually decide to make it happen

73

:

because that's a very long road in between

those two instances.

74

:

Yeah, so I guess most of my life I've been

really involved in gaming, both tabletop

75

:

computer gaming.

76

:

I think that's an important background

that leads me a little bit to the software

77

:

side of things.

78

:

And I've always had sort of tech hobby

projects going on, something or other.

79

:

And so it was several years ago in...

80

:

2018 that I found myself kind of in

between projects and the gaming group I

81

:

was playing with, we were thinking about

starting a new campaign and we had

82

:

historically been playing on using some

other online tools because we played

83

:

remotely, we played online and you know,

we'd had a good but not great experience

84

:

with other products and you know, there

were a lot of things that kind of I as the

85

:

DM of that

86

:

group really wished, like, oh, I wish I

could do this, or, oh, it would be so cool

87

:

if I could do this, or wouldn't it be

awesome if, like, when we were exploring

88

:

these maps, I could do this other thing?

89

:

And all of those ideas just kind of built

up to a point where I was like, well,

90

:

maybe I'll try putting something together.

91

:

And it was a sort of good moment of

opportunity where web technologies were at

92

:

a place of some

93

:

maturity, some, some technologies had

reached a place where they were really

94

:

good choices to work with.

95

:

So, you know, modern HTML, canvas, web GL,

um, new, you know, new JavaScript

96

:

features, web sockets, uh, you know, I, I

won't get into the, the gory technical

97

:

details aside from to say like a lot of

the building blocks to make a good VTT

98

:

were available to, you know, to work with.

99

:

And it was sort of a matter of thinking

about what would

100

:

be a good way to formulate the software

and my ideas in a way that could take

101

:

advantage of those technologies and really

harness their potential.

102

:

And so Foundry was born pretty quickly

after that because it turned out that it

103

:

actually was really working to put these

ideas into practice and start putting

104

:

something together.

105

:

And before long, there was kind of a

viable prototype.

106

:

And then I faced some very serious...

107

:

decisions about like how seriously do I

want to pursue this because not only, you

108

:

know, was it something that was looking

very promising for me and what I wanted,

109

:

but it turns out that as I was sharing it

around, you know, a little friend group

110

:

and, you know, everyone's response to it

was very positive.

111

:

And so I had to decide like, well, you

know, maybe I should see how many people

112

:

are interested in this.

113

:

So I started a Patreon membership where I

could share details about the project.

114

:

you know, people started following along

and staying tuned and being interested and

115

:

really engaged with what I was doing.

116

:

And, uh, and everything really grew from

there.

117

:

And I think, um, you know, as, as terrible

as like:

118

:

for a lot of people, um, you know, the

timing kind of did, I guess, work out a

119

:

little bit for, for this project, at least

that, you know, there I was kind of

120

:

a year and a half, two years into

development of this new thing and suddenly

121

:

everyone's kind of thinking, oh, maybe we

need to start playing online now.

122

:

And so that kind of helped to really grow

the community around Foundry and bring a

123

:

lot of people to the community.

124

:

And yeah, the rest is history, I guess, as

they say, the launch of the product went

125

:

well and so I started growing the team and

now there's, there's nine of us that,

126

:

that developed the core Foundry software

and then probably another nine or 10

127

:

beyond that are working on various content

related projects.

128

:

So it's been a whirlwind couple of years

going from just this being an idea for my

129

:

own group to a business with employees and

full-time everyone.

130

:

And yeah, it's been a big change in my

life and a really exciting one.

131

:

And I'm really thankful that I...

132

:

you know, got a little bit lucky, you

know, sort of right place, right idea,

133

:

right time, but also had the, you know,

the courage to kind of go after it and see

134

:

what I could do.

135

:

I'll tell you, so I used to do, this isn't

my first podcast.

136

:

It's not even my second.

137

:

Um, my first podcast was a personal

development podcast and I, we often talked

138

:

about business and I'll tell you hearing

your story a little bit, definitely.

139

:

I have the edge to kind of dig into that,

but we might have to do that off screen

140

:

or, or something.

141

:

Um, but 2020 aside, right?

142

:

We all know that, uh, the world was

basically waiting at home for

143

:

2020 to end that year and twiddling our

thumbs.

144

:

And so we all, you know, played online

D&D.

145

:

But now why should someone consider online

D&D and or, sorry, not and or, but, you

146

:

know, add it to the list of things that

they should do instead of just doing

147

:

in-person.

148

:

Does that make sense?

149

:

Mm-hmm, it does.

150

:

I mean, I think I'd start by saying, if

you have an in-person group that you love

151

:

and that meets regularly and that you have

a great relationship with the people at

152

:

the table, cherish that, do not let it go.

153

:

You have something special and be thankful

for that.

154

:

That doesn't mean you can't play online or

you.

155

:

can't also play online with other friends

or another group or anything else, but I

156

:

would be wrong to sort of disavow the

magic of the in-person experience.

157

:

But the reality is that's not practical

for everyone.

158

:

And there's so many more reasons why

playing in person doesn't work out than

159

:

reasons why it does.

160

:

The timing doesn't work or the location

doesn't work or.

161

:

You don't actually like the people that

much or you're not really vibing and

162

:

you're not wanting to tell the same sort

of stories.

163

:

And it turns out that there's people

online that do wanna tell the same sort of

164

:

stories that you do, that you do have a

great relationship with where your

165

:

schedule does match up with.

166

:

And the only thing that doesn't match is

you just don't happen to live in the same

167

:

town.

168

:

And so, I think the thing to ask yourself

is...

169

:

how important is the location bit versus

all of the other things that go into

170

:

having an amazing role-playing experience?

171

:

And sometimes the stars line up and

everything works out that in-person group

172

:

is, that's the dream, I think.

173

:

But there's lots of great reasons to look

online, to find the right kind of game for

174

:

you, the right game system for you, the

right time to play, the right at-table

175

:

expectations or tone or storytelling.

176

:

And those are things that are a lot easier

to find when you have the whole universe

177

:

of TTRPG players to, you know, to connect

with and to draw from, then, then just who

178

:

happens to live down the street.

179

:

So, um, yeah, I mean, I guess that's kind

of part of the way I think about it, but,

180

:

you know, I would also say that for groups

that maybe have the choice, like we could

181

:

do either, or, you know, um, I think that

the experience of playing online is a

182

:

little bit different.

183

:

It leans into some things a little bit

more heavily and it

184

:

maybe shies away from some things a little

bit more heavily.

185

:

And so I do think it is subtly, but

importantly, a little bit of a different

186

:

game experience.

187

:

And I think that that's something that

suits people very well.

188

:

It's also something that can cause

frustration to people and maybe just like

189

:

that mode of play isn't for you.

190

:

And so if you've tried it, you probably

know which camp you're in.

191

:

And if you haven't, then, you know, I

think it's interesting to discover like,

192

:

what the differences are and what you like

about it and what you don't.

193

:

And of course, the quality of your

experience will depend a lot on the

194

:

people, the platform, the story.

195

:

So, you know, it's hard to judge anything

like this is for me or this isn't for me,

196

:

but it's nuanced in a lot of ways.

197

:

I couldn't agree more, honestly, just

thinking about:

198

:

of playing D&D or tabletop games as far as

a DM, maybe not the biggest hurdle, but

199

:

definitely the first hurdle is finding

players, first of all, getting people to

200

:

say, yeah, I'd love to play with you.

201

:

And I mean, logically, like you said, when

you open up your field to anyone, you're

202

:

going

203

:

right, who has connection to the internet.

204

:

It makes it a lot easier to find people.

205

:

And actually to that end, I would

recommend to the listener, you should work

206

:

on being good at both versions of

gameplay, right, in person or online and

207

:

work at enjoying both because if you can

do that, you will always be able to find

208

:

players and campaigns and stuff like it's

just a better way to be rather than

209

:

limiting yourself to one or the other.

210

:

in my personal opinion.

211

:

So you did mention there are nuances to

both online and in person.

212

:

And I actually wanted to talk about that,

dig in a little bit.

213

:

So what would you say are some of the

challenges that you might have to overcome

214

:

when doing online play?

215

:

And what are some really cool things that

you can do online that you can't do or

216

:

maybe would be really awkward or weird to

do in person?

217

:

you're probably gonna have to cut me off

at some point because I bet I could talk

218

:

about this for hours.

219

:

I think about this a lot because it really

informs in a large sense, like what is it

220

:

that we're trying to build?

221

:

What is our product and who is it for and

why?

222

:

Because it's very difficult to do

everything and.

223

:

You know, if you try and be everything for

everybody, you probably aren't going to

224

:

really succeed at, you know, at whatever

your main focus is or your core mission

225

:

is.

226

:

So, in the interest of time, I guess my

answer will be from the perspective of

227

:

Foundry Virtual Tabletop.

228

:

But I will say that like, that answer is

not the universal answer for playing

229

:

online.

230

:

That's just my answer with respect to the

software that we make.

231

:

Um, I think that playing online is really

fascinating because it changes a lot of

232

:

the expectations for the game master in

an, in a, in a meaningful way in terms of

233

:

expectations around preparation,

expectations around capacity to improvise

234

:

expectations around what happens when the

players go off script.

235

:

Um,

236

:

I think that one of the things about

playing online, especially in Foundry, is

237

:

it's such a fantastic platform for visual,

auditory, immersive storytelling.

238

:

It really leans into the fact that when

you're digital, you have all of these

239

:

amazing assets that you can draw from maps

and artwork and portraits and tokens and

240

:

music.

241

:

And all of these things can...

242

:

help you tell your story in a way that is

so visually engaging and immersive.

243

:

But part of what happens as a result of

that is that there is like a little bit of

244

:

expectation sometimes to like prepare all

of those things.

245

:

You know, it's one thing to say like, oh,

I have a collection of 75,000 tokens.

246

:

It's probably about what I have.

247

:

you know, in terms of like individual

images of like different creatures or

248

:

characters that you can use, but the

pressure to like prepare, you know, which

249

:

ones are we going to use or which maps are

ready to go or which pieces of artwork are

250

:

the ones that we're using this week.

251

:

There's, there can be kind of just more

expectation on the GM sometimes to set

252

:

those things up and to do prep work before

the session than there is when you're just

253

:

playing in person and like.

254

:

everyone kind of knows you're not gonna

have those things.

255

:

You're not gonna have the beautiful

printout map, maybe every once in a while,

256

:

but usually no.

257

:

You're not gonna have the perfect mini for

every creature that you encounter.

258

:

You're not gonna have this beautiful

illustrated artwork that you put up on the

259

:

wall for every scene that your party

explores.

260

:

And so the expectations just shift a

little bit.

261

:

And I think this is something that...

262

:

some GMs really lean into because they

love the idea that like, this is my hobby

263

:

and I'm happy to prep six hours for a four

hour session because I freaking love it.

264

:

And I just like want that moment of those

four hours with my friends to be like just

265

:

amazing.

266

:

But that's not for everybody and it

doesn't have to be and it shouldn't be,

267

:

but you know, I think like there is a.

268

:

And I don't want anyone to get the wrong

idea about our software.

269

:

Like there's nothing inherently about

Foundry that requires you to spend that

270

:

amount of time preparing for a game

session.

271

:

But it is sort of like the social contract

that exists online with so many artists

272

:

making amazing artwork and musicians

making music and putting it all at your

273

:

fingertips.

274

:

It sort of is like raising the bar and

raising the stakes about...

275

:

what's available to you and therefore like

what you might be expected to, to engage

276

:

with or to prepare to present to your

players.

277

:

And so it's a really interesting paradox.

278

:

I think that like with that increased

power comes sort of increased obligation

279

:

and like does playing online make playing

easier?

280

:

It's complicated.

281

:

Yes.

282

:

Question mark.

283

:

It does.

284

:

It can, but it also

285

:

doesn't, and it also can't sometimes,

because it means that you find yourself

286

:

spending more time on some other things.

287

:

But maybe the time that you're spending on

prep is time that you're not spending on a

288

:

long commute to drive to wherever your

game night is or something like that.

289

:

So there's puts and takes everywhere.

290

:

But I do think it's really different.

291

:

And I think that we try and lean into

allowing

292

:

the sort of most spectacular experience

that they can.

293

:

And so, you know, we do kind of build a

power tool like for the GM that wants to

294

:

go that extra mile and do all of that

prep.

295

:

Like we want to give that game master as

much capability and power as they can

296

:

handle in the software.

297

:

And then at the same time, we wanna think

about like, how can we make set up and how

298

:

can we make things easier and accessible

to people that, you know, any, whether

299

:

you're, you know.

300

:

sort of hardcore about that or not.

301

:

Anything we can make faster and easier and

more approachable is a win for everybody.

302

:

But yeah, you know, it's just a really

interesting situation where like, because

303

:

we are that kind of, I guess power tool is

a sort of fair way to think about it.

304

:

It comes along with a lot of extra, you

know, considerations about like how you

305

:

use it and the time that you spend with

it.

306

:

And is that something that you

307

:

Enjoy or is that something that comes as a

tax to you that makes you feel like

308

:

you're, you know, you're paying more for

your gaming experience and different

309

:

people respond different.

310

:

Those are really interesting points you

bring up.

311

:

And the first thing that comes to mind is

that you're absolutely right in that it is

312

:

a power tool, right?

313

:

Like if you are going to use a VTT, right,

you have already made the decision that

314

:

you are going to try and go a little bit

more all out than maybe, you know, the

315

:

average DM.

316

:

And that's because, and I've said this on

other podcast episodes before, but at its

317

:

core,

318

:

a role playing game, right?

319

:

Like the barest bearer of a role playing

game just consists of a story, people,

320

:

something to record the story maybe, and

an agreed upon set of rules, right?

321

:

And I know people who do, you know,

theater of the mind over the phone or on

322

:

Zoom calls, right?

323

:

If you're going to use a VTT, then you've

already made that decision to try and make

324

:

it spectacular.

325

:

right?

326

:

And the next thought that comes to my mind

is also, we have so much content that we

327

:

can consume in the form of, you know,

shows like Critical Role, Dimension 20,

328

:

High Rollers from the UK, you know, things

like that, that are a little bit more

329

:

towards that spectacular level and seeing

tools like these VTTs, we do start to

330

:

think, you know, why can't I do that?

331

:

So I definitely agree with everything

you're saying.

332

:

And as far as the accessibility, that was

one thing I did want to

333

:

So as a technological neophyte, I would

kind of think of VTTs and think, what are,

334

:

in your opinion, what are the technical

specifications you'd have to have for your

335

:

computer to just run a VTT fairly well

without technical issues?

336

:

And what are some ways that you could

hopefully mitigate any technical issues

337

:

that might pop up?

338

:

Yeah, sure.

339

:

Great question.

340

:

So different VTTs are going to be

different in that regard.

341

:

Some of them are built using a game engine

like Unreal or Unity where everyone has to

342

:

install a piece of software.

343

:

Some are just very lightweight web-based.

344

:

You just pop onto a website and you go.

345

:

Foundry is a little bit in the middle, I

would say, in terms of it's not the most

346

:

lightweight, but it is relatively

lightweight because it's easy for the

347

:

Game Master to install and everyone else

just joins with a web browser.

348

:

In terms of our technical system

requirements, they're relatively modest,

349

:

but because Foundry is a tool that really

leaves it up to the GM, how big do you go?

350

:

The requirements for people playing do

depend on sort of what...

351

:

the game master does.

352

:

So for example, Foundry can do things

like, it can use big like video maps, or

353

:

it can use map images that are extremely

large, like 16,000 pixel square.

354

:

But that doesn't mean that everyone can do

that.

355

:

So like on your laptop or on your

computer, you have a GPU, whether it's

356

:

integrated or a discrete card.

357

:

And that GPU has like a maximum size that

it can do.

358

:

And so, you know, it really does depend a

little bit on what your GM is doing, but

359

:

for like basic usage, you know, any, any

laptop or PC that you purchased in the

360

:

last, you know, six or seven years is

going to work just fine with Foundry VTT,

361

:

um, we're, we don't have a spectacularly

high bar in terms of technical

362

:

requirements.

363

:

One of the

364

:

probably the biggest technical requirement

that we do have that is a struggle for

365

:

some of our users is the nature of

networking because, we unlike some other

366

:

platforms, we are self-hosted.

367

:

That is a blessing, but that is also a

challenge in some ways.

368

:

What that means is that as the DM, you're

running Foundry on your computer.

369

:

all of the files that you're using, the

maps, the music, the tokens, it's all

370

:

stuff that you have right on your

computer.

371

:

You own your own files and you use your

own files and you own your own data.

372

:

It's not like some cloud service that

like, if you stop paying for it, you lose

373

:

it.

374

:

Or if the website goes down, you can't run

your session because like someone else's

375

:

website went out.

376

:

The great thing about it being self-hosted

is

377

:

you know, you're in control, it's your

computer and you can play as long as your

378

:

computer is working.

379

:

And there's something that like is

empowering about that.

380

:

But it also means that among other things,

your players need to be able to connect to

381

:

your computer.

382

:

And we don't actually control your home

wireless network or your home router.

383

:

And so, you know, we can't solve some

problems for people in terms of like...

384

:

how your player gets connected to you.

385

:

We have a lot of support for working

through that and troubleshooting it.

386

:

It can be as easy as you have to do

nothing.

387

:

It can be as difficult as you have to go

to your router and add a port forwarding

388

:

rule.

389

:

And that is technically daunting to

people.

390

:

So yeah, there's pros and cons of it.

391

:

We do have, I should be clear, we do have

a couple of really great partnered hosting

392

:

service providers where

393

:

If for whatever reason you don't want to

or can't navigate the technical

394

:

requirement of hosting Foundry yourself,

you can pay a modest amount and one of our

395

:

partners will host a server for you that

is always available for you and your

396

:

friends to log into with zero headaches

attached.

397

:

But yeah, these are the sorts of things

that are tough to navigate.

398

:

And it is tough sometimes with...

399

:

users who might not necessarily

understand, like, why can't you make it

400

:

just work?

401

:

And, you know, it's tough to not always

have a great answer to that.

402

:

It's like, because the Internet is a

little bit complicated and, you know, how

403

:

traffic gets from one place to another,

it's not as simple as you might think.

404

:

On the heels of that somewhat technical

question, I think, you know, we're coming

405

:

down to the end of our talk today.

406

:

I do want to ask one question before we

sort of wrap up that is also technical,

407

:

maybe, but what AI is sort of this

buzzword right now, you know, artificial

408

:

intelligence, all that jazz.

409

:

AI or generative experiences as it

pertains to VTTs.

410

:

Yeah, great question.

411

:

Tough question, I think.

412

:

generative models are evolving and

improving faster than most of us are able

413

:

to really comprehend and keep up with.

414

:

I think the improvements in quality of

output from generative models is really

415

:

impressive.

416

:

Now, there are very crucially and very

importantly,

417

:

issues at play here in terms of how those

results are produced and how we should

418

:

feel about them.

419

:

But setting those aside for a moment, and

that is a fairly big but, you know,

420

:

focusing a little bit more on the

technology itself, I think that generative

421

:

assets, generative content is inevitably

going to be part of

422

:

the landscape of role playing.

423

:

I think it's unavoidable.

424

:

I think that...

425

:

you know, there's a certain hallmark of

role playing experiences about, you know,

426

:

improvisation and collaborative

storytelling and the desire to communicate

427

:

ideas, creative ideas, quickly in a way

that allows everyone at the table to then,

428

:

you know, intake those ideas, be inspired

by them, and then respond.

429

:

And one of the amazing things about

generative, whether it's text or image or

430

:

video or even audio, the ability for it to

take an idea and then give you something

431

:

tangible to react to or respond to that

expands upon that idea or heightens it or

432

:

takes it to a next level of depth.

433

:

I think there's not.

434

:

clear answers about how this is going to

work or how it's going to affect the way

435

:

that people role play, but I think it's

inevitable that it will.

436

:

The ability for, as the DM, for you to be

in real time, live improvising and say,

437

:

you walk into the town and there's a

market and in front of the market, there's

438

:

a juggler who's juggling balls woven of

all of the different elements of magic,

439

:

fire and frost and...

440

:

electricity and thunderbolts of force

erupting out and the crowd is watching

441

:

with rapt attention as a little pickpocket

goes around and takes coins from

442

:

unsuspecting people's garments.

443

:

And you're just saying that, and as you're

saying it, an image is displayed of that

444

:

very scene.

445

:

Like interpreting voice into prompt and

interpreting prompt into image.

446

:

and interpreting image into a stimulus

that then comes back to your storytelling

447

:

and that people can respond to, it's

unbelievably powerful conceptually.

448

:

And I think it's something that will

change the way that we role play for sure.

449

:

Now, what's it take to get there?

450

:

I think, you know, there's technical

challenges to solve, like how would...

451

:

a technology platform, make it to where

you can have that kind of experience where

452

:

the GM says the thing and lo and behold,

the image of it appears and everyone's

453

:

like, I see it now I'm there.

454

:

How do you get there?

455

:

Well, there's technical problems to solve.

456

:

But you know, as I said, there's also, you

know, ethical problems to solve and you

457

:

know, how that artwork gets generated.

458

:

is a very contentious and rightfully so

topic.

459

:

And so I think, you know, while the

technical, the technology problem is one

460

:

that's very exciting to me, to others,

it's a problem that is not really

461

:

appropriate to try and, you know, bring to

life until I think some of the, you know,

462

:

the ethical concerns about.

463

:

sourcing of training data about generation

of results about, credit or compensation

464

:

or even consent of the people whose work

has been used to create these results is

465

:

better handled.

466

:

And so, we're at the cutting edge of this

stuff and it cuts in addition to being

467

:

exciting.

468

:

And so I think, I'm very excited about

where this might lead.

469

:

Um, but you know, I think it's going to be

a little bit of time until it becomes

470

:

normative, but I do think it's inevitable

that this is really going to fundamentally

471

:

alter the way that we play games.

472

:

Absolutely.

473

:

I definitely think the world in five, 10

years is going to look a lot more like the

474

:

Jetsons.

475

:

Maybe not so much in flying cars or Rosie

the robot, but I don't know.

476

:

Things are definitely changing.

477

:

But thank you so much, Andrew, for joining

me on this conversation and talking to my

478

:

listener here.

479

:

Before we let you go, can you tell my

listener how can they reach out to you,

480

:

support you, see what you're up to, and

possibly connect with you?

481

:

Absolutely.

482

:

So the best place to start is at

foundryvtt.com.

483

:

So if you're not familiar with our

software yet, that's the best place to go.

484

:

If you are familiar or you want to get

more involved, we have an official Discord

485

:

server, discord.gg slash foundryvtt.

486

:

We have an amazing community where, you

know, like-minded TCRPG enthusiasts who

487

:

love technology and love foundryvtt.

488

:

And

489

:

are eager to share their tips and tricks

and experiences with you, help out, are

490

:

able to be found.

491

:

It's a really wonderful community.

492

:

I encourage everyone to check it out.

493

:

We are available on socials, Twitter slash

Foundry VTT, YouTube, Foundry VTT, Twitch.

494

:

We have a Twitch channel.

495

:

We'll be live on Twitch next week with a

development.

496

:

update of our latest and greatest

versions, very exciting announcements and

497

:

first looks and things coming there.

498

:

And yeah, we have a Patreon as well, as I

mentioned earlier in the in the podcast,

499

:

this all sort of started on Patreon, we do

still have a Patreon for anyone who just

500

:

loves what we're doing so much that you

want to like show a little bit extra

501

:

support or something, you can do that

there.

502

:

It's it's incredibly appreciated.

503

:

It is not required.

504

:

The whole

505

:

business model that we operate on is a

one-time purchase.

506

:

You don't have to subscribe to anything.

507

:

It's just if you love what we're doing so

much that you want to shower us with your

508

:

affection, you may do so at your

discretion.

509

:

And yeah, the best place to interact with

me and the team is on our Discord server.

510

:

We're very active there, and we love

chatting with the community about what

511

:

we're doing.

512

:

So do check it out, and I hope to see you

there.

513

:

Excellent.

514

:

Well, listener, I hope you enjoyed today's

conversation and I am 100% certain that

515

:

you learned something today or at least

have something to chew on mentally and

516

:

hopefully it nourishes your body and soul.

517

:

We'll be back next week for another

amazing episode.

518

:

Until then, friend, let's go ahead and

roll initiative.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
How to Be a Better DM: Dungeon Master Tips for the DM Newbie, the Hobbyist and the Forever DM
Make Better Stories Playing DnD

Listen for free

About your hosts

Profile picture for Tanner Weyland

Tanner Weyland

Profile picture for Justin Lewis

Justin Lewis

Justin has been playing D&D for about 5 years and has been DMing for the last 2. He is a student of the game and genuinely loves the art of storytelling. In his day-job he performs SEO at an agency called NPDigital, but at night, he furthers the hobby of cooperative storytelling that is Dungeons and Dragons.