Blog 2/2: Step-by-Step Guide to Using ChatGPT to Build RPG Adventures from Images

This is the second of a two-part blog. If you have not read the first blog, you can find it here.

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In this blog we are going to continue building the adventure for this location. We will generate the encounter content and transform it into a playable encounter with complete AI enabled NPCs. Get ready! This is going to be fun.

Shadows Over Keth’Lorra

Step 11: I took the 6 step process and uploaded it to ChatGPT. I told it to read the content and reply with "ready" when done. This trains ChatGPT on the step-by-step outline for the encounter.

Here is the content for you to copy

Read the following content and reply with "ready" when done.

Step-by-Step Outline for Building a D&D Encounter in Keth’Lorra

Step 1: Define the Scope and Objectives Objective Identification: Define what the main objective of the encounter is (e.g., retrieve a sacred relic, solve a mystery, protect the village). Scope of the Encounter: Decide if this will be a single session adventure or part of a larger campaign.

Step 2: Develop the Plot Introduction: Set the stage with an introductory narrative that pulls the PCs into the story (arrival in the village, a mysterious invitation, etc.).

Main Body: Outline the main events and challenges of the encounter, including potential combat scenarios, puzzles, and social interactions.

Climax: Design a climactic event that resolves the main objective, such as a final battle, a ritual to save or destroy something, or a significant choice that the PCs must make. Conclusion: Provide closure to the encounter, reflecting on the outcomes of the PCs' actions and setting up potential future adventures.

Step 3: Develop the Setting Location Descriptions: Detail key areas within Keth’Lorra, such as the sacred waterfall, the ancient library, and residential tiers.

Environmental Factors: Include potential challenges related to the environment, such as navigating narrow cliff paths or dealing with the mist from the waterfall.

Step 4: Create Key NPCs NPC Profiles: Develop detailed descriptions, backgrounds, motivations, and secrets for each key NPC, like High Keeper Eldrin, Mira the Loreweaver, and Tarn, Guardian of the Falls. Role in the Plot: Define each NPC’s role in the encounter. Are they allies, antagonists, or neutral parties?

Step 5: Map Design Village Layout: Create a detailed map of Keth’Lorra, showing major landmarks, residential areas, and hidden spots.

Key Locations: Develop specific maps for important locations like the library, waterfall, and festival grounds, including traps, secret passages, and encounter zones.

Step 6: Detail Items and Rewards Magical Items: Invent unique items that can be found or earned in Keth’Lorra, such as enchanted manuscripts, potions derived from the sacred waterfall, or artifacts of the Keepers. Rewards and Consequences: Establish what the PCs gain from succeeding, what they lose from failing, and any impacts of their decisions on the village.

Step 12: Now I am going to have ChatGPT begin to build out the encounter in detail.

In this step I want to tell ChatGPT how many steps I want it to complete and the encounter that I chose earlier in the process.

ChatGPT output for the first 3 steps

Keth’Lorra: A D&D Campaign Encounter - "Shadows Over Keth’Lorra"

Step 1: Define the Scope and Objectives

Objective Identification: The main objective for the PCs is to investigate and address the disturbances caused by a malevolent spirit, disturbed by recent archaeological digs in the village. The PCs must decide whether to appease or banish the spirit to prevent further harm to the villagers.

Scope of the Encounter: This encounter is designed as a single session adventure but can be expanded into a multi-session subplot within a larger campaign, especially focusing on themes of ancestral spirits and the consequences of disturbing sacred grounds.

Step 2: Develop the Plot

Introduction: As the PCs arrive in Keth’Lorra, they find the village in a state of unease. Reports of shadowy figures and eerie whispers have unsettled the residents, and recent attacks have left the villagers fearful. The elders believe these disturbances are linked to a spirit disturbed by their latest digs into ancient ruins beneath the village.

Main Body: The PCs need to gather information from the frightened villagers, explore the excavation site, and study ancient village lore to understand the nature of the spirit. Their investigation will lead them through mysterious, spirit-infested ruins, encountering both spectral enemies and physical traps.

Climax: The PCs discover the source of the unrest—a sacred burial site was desecrated during the excavations. They must decide how to deal with the spirit: performing a ritual to appease it or confronting it directly to banish it. This decision will affect not only their standing in the village but also the spirit's reaction and the safety of the excavation team.

Conclusion: Depending on the PCs' actions, the village either returns to normal, facing occasional minor disturbances if the spirit is appeased, or enjoys complete peace if the spirit is banished. Should they fail or avoid the conflict, the spirit’s wrath might cause long-term damage to the village’s spiritual and physical fabric, affecting future interactions with the spirit world.

Step 3: Develop the Setting

Location Descriptions:

• The Excavation Site: Located at the village’s edge, near the base of the cliff. Recent digs have unearthed part of an ancient structure believed to be a burial site, now exposed and vulnerable.

• The Village Square: Central to Keth’Lorra, where most of the shadow sightings and attacks occurred. It's a hub of activity, making the disturbances all the more disruptive.

• Ancient Ruins: A network of partially unearthed chambers beneath the village, rich with carvings and artifacts, that serve as the focal point of the spirit's unrest.

Environmental Factors:

• Eerie Fog: A thick, supernatural fog blankets the excavation site at night, reducing visibility and heightening the sense of fear among the villagers.

• Unstable Ruins: The structural integrity of the ancient ruins is questionable, with the risk of collapses and falling debris adding physical danger to the spiritual threats.

This setup provides a rich, atmospheric backdrop for the encounter, blending elements of mystery, horror, and moral dilemmas, making "Shadows Over Keth’Lorra" a memorable experience for both players and the Dungeon Master.

Step 13: Now we are going to complete Steps 4-6.

I tell ChatGPT that I want to complete steps 4-6 (1) and I paste in the encounter overview (2) the description and NPCs that I want it to use (3). I do this to ensure that it remembers what we are doing.

One thing that I would like to highlight is the fact that ChatGPT provides me with the encounters that I need to build in Step 5. This is amazing as it spells out what I need to build next.

Step 5: Map Design

1. Village Layout: Provide a detailed map of Keth’Lorra, indicating key locations like the village square, Eldrin’s residence, the ancient library, and the paths leading to the sacred waterfall.

2. Excavation Site and Ruins: Show the site where the disturbances began. Include details of unearthed burial chambers, disturbed sanctuaries, and paths that the spirit might use to move around the village.

3. Sacred Waterfall Area: Detail the area around the waterfall, including hidden groves, ancient altars, and natural caves that might serve as focal points for appeasing or confronting the spirit.

ChatGPT output for steps 4-6

Step 4: Create Key NPCs

1. High Keeper Eldrin

   • Description: Eldrin is a venerable, wise old man with a gentle demeanor and piercing blue eyes, dressed in robes adorned with the symbols of the Eternal Word. His life is dedicated to preserving the village’s sacred knowledge.

   • Role/Title: High Keeper of Keth’Lorra and spiritual leader.

   • Involvement: Eldrin seeks help from the PCs to deal with the disturbed spirit, fearing its impact on the sacred sites and the village’s historical records.

2. Mira the Loreweaver

   • Description: Mira is a middle-aged woman, knowledgeable in local history and skilled at weaving enchanting tales. She dresses in attire that incorporates elements of the environment, like leaves and feathers.

   • Role/Title: Chief Historian and Storyteller.

   • Involvement: Mira provides the PCs with background information on the village’s history and legends that may hint at the nature of the spirit and possible solutions to appease it.

3. Tarn, Guardian of the Falls

   • Description: Tarn is a robust and stern man, always seen wearing a weather-beaten cloak and carrying a rune-carved staff. He is deeply connected to the natural and spiritual energies of the waterfall.

   • Role/Title: Protector of the Sacred Waterfall.

   • Involvement: Tarn experiences the disturbances first-hand and can guide the PCs to specific locations where the spirit’s presence is strongest. He might also assist in rituals or confrontations with the spirit.

Step 5: Map Design

1. Village Layout: Provide a detailed map of Keth’Lorra, indicating key locations like the village square, Eldrin’s residence, the ancient library, and the paths leading to the sacred waterfall.

2. Excavation Site and Ruins: Show the site where the disturbances began. Include details of unearthed burial chambers, disturbed sanctuaries, and paths that the spirit might use to move around the village.

3. Sacred Waterfall Area: Detail the area around the waterfall, including hidden groves, ancient altars, and natural caves that might serve as focal points for appeasing or confronting the spirit.

Step 6: Detail Items and Rewards

1. Magical Items:

   • Whispering Cloak: A cloak that allows the wearer to hear and understand spectral and ethereal voices. Useful in negotiating or understanding the disturbed spirit.

   • Rune Stones of Binding: Stones that can temporarily bind a spirit, giving the PCs time to perform rituals or prepare for a confrontation.

2. Rewards:

   • Spirit’s Boon: If the spirit is appeased, it grants the village and the PCs a blessing, such as enhanced healing properties of the waterfall or visions of ancient knowledge.

   • Artifacts of the Ancients: If the spirit is banished, the PCs may discover hidden artifacts or ancient texts that were protected by the spirit.

3. Consequences:

   • Success: The village returns to peace, and the PCs are honored in village lore, possibly gaining permanent allies in Keth’Lorra.

   • Failure: The spirit’s wrath increases, leading to more frequent and dangerous attacks, damaging important village locations and harming residents. The PCs may become unwelcome in the village.

   • Pass: The ongoing disturbances cause a decline in the village’s spiritual and physical health, possibly leading to its abandonment or a decrease in its historical significance.

Step 14: Copy the encounter content into The Gamemaster Platform overview.

Final content that I am using to structure the encounter

### Keth’Lorra: Shadows Over Keth’Lorra D&D Encounter Overview

**Location Description:**

Keth’Lorra is a mystical village carved into a steep cliffside, featuring multi-tiered buildings of stone and wood, interconnected by pathways and staircases. At its heart lies a sacred waterfall, cascading into a serene pool, adding to the otherworldly ambiance of the place.

**Main Hook:**

Recent archaeological digs have disturbed a malevolent spirit, leading to increased attacks on the villagers. Tarn, the Guardian of the Falls, requests the PCs' help to investigate and resolve this supernatural threat.

**Outcomes:**

- **Success**: The PCs successfully banish the spirit, restoring peace and earning a revered place in village lore.

- **Failure**: The spirit causes havoc, damaging the village and harming residents, with the PCs held responsible.

- **Pass**: The PCs choose not to engage, leading to worsening disturbances and potential long-term repercussions for the village.

**Key NPCs:**

- **High Keeper Eldrin**: The elderly spiritual leader dedicated to preserving sacred knowledge. He oversees the restoration of damaged ancient manuscripts.

- **Mira the Loreweaver**: A storyteller and historian, known for her deep knowledge and the enchanting tales she weaves. She is currently organizing a festival to unite and inspire the villagers.

- **Tarn, Guardian of the Falls**: The stern protector of the sacred waterfall, experiencing firsthand the unusual disturbances caused by the spirit.

**Other Tensions:**

- **Cultural Preservation vs. Progress**: A growing debate between elders wishing to preserve traditional ways and the youth pushing for modernization.

- **Sacred Knowledge vs. Curiosity**: Conflicts arise over whether to protect the village’s secrets or share them with the outside world.

- **Environmental Threats**: Landslides and changing weather patterns threaten the village’s structural integrity and safety.

**Encounter Steps:**

**Step 1: Define the Scope and Objectives**

- **Objective**: Investigate and address the disturbances from the disturbed spirit.

- **Scope**: Designed as a single session or expandable into a larger campaign subplot.

**Step 2: Develop the Plot**

- **Introduction**: Arrival in Keth’Lorra during uneasy times, with the village under the shadow of increased supernatural attacks.

- **Main Body**: Gather information, explore the excavation site and ancient ruins, encountering spectral enemies and navigating physical and spiritual traps.

- **Climax**: Discover and resolve the conflict at the desecrated burial site, deciding whether to appease or banish the spirit.

- **Conclusion**: Reflect on the outcome’s impact on the village and future interactions.

**Step 3: Develop the Setting**

- **The Excavation Site**: Newly unearthed burial site, vulnerable and filled with disturbances.

- **The Village Square**: The central hub of activity and most affected area.

- **Ancient Ruins**: Network of chambers beneath the village, rich with carvings and artifacts, central to the spirit's unrest.

**Step 4: Create Key NPCs**

- Develop relationships and define roles of Eldrin, Mira, and Tarn in aiding or guiding the PCs through the encounter.

**Step 5: Map Design**

- Provide detailed maps of the village, excavation site, and surrounding areas to guide exploration and encounters.

**Step 6: Detail Items and Rewards**

- **Magical Items**: Include items like the Whispering Cloak and Rune Stones of Binding.

- **Rewards**: Vary based on the outcome, from blessings if the spirit is appeased to ancient artifacts if it is banished.

- **Consequences**: Detail the repercussions of success, failure, or avoidance on the village’s future.

This clean and organized overview ensures a structured and immersive gaming experience, facilitating deep player engagement and strategic challenges within the mystical setting of Keth’Lorra.

By building in The Gamemasters Platform, I can associate PCs, NPCs, Items and more to the encounter. The GMP will calculate the difficulty of the encounter, and the AI assistant will learn from the encounter and the overall campaign empowering GMs to chat with their content and save different conversations for later to be used during sessions. The GMP is the technology where the content changes from content to a playable encounter.

The content from ChatGPT is in the overview section. I also created a player's map for the encounter.

Here is the Village Layout Encounter.

Step 15: Generate the NPCs and add them to the encounter

From the GMP encounter I open up the AI assistant and click on Read Encounter. Then I tell it to tell me who the NPCs are in this encounter and then I ask the AI assistant to generate for me the first NPC, High Keeper Eldrin.

Blog: AI and Antagonists: 7 Steps to Crafting Deep Convictions in Your D&D Villains >>

Blog: Bringing your NPCs to life with detailed backgrounds using advanced prompt engineering in ChatGPT >>

Here is the first NPC, High Keeper Eldrin

I asked the AI assistant to write a description of The High Keeper Eldrin and used The Gamemaster Platform to generate an image of her.

Here is what a completed NPC looks like.

Wouldn't it be cool if you can chat with each of your NPCs. Now you can!

Here is what the overview encounter looks like when it is completed. The AI assistant is trained on the encounter. I have created 3 important NPCs and saved off a separate chat for each one, this way when I run this encounter I can generate dialog or ideas from each of the NPCs.

In one location you have an AI assistant trained on your encounter, your NPCs powered by AI, your content, maps, items already to go when you run this session.

Step 16: Generate the other encounters.

I used a combination of the AI assistant and the encounter generator to create the other two encounters. Here you can see them all.

Here is how to create a new encounter in the GMP. You can either generate one using AI or create a blank encounter.

Here is what the AI generated encounter looks like. The encounter will automatically generate for me a playable NPC or Foe.

If you are interested in seeing what this short adventure looks like, check it out on my GM page under the personal tab.

Crafting a compelling Dungeons & Dragons adventure like "Shadows Over Keth’Lorra" from a single evocative image showcases the depth of creativity and storytelling that can emerge from visual inspiration. Through this process, we've taken an image of a mystical cliffside village and transformed it into a rich narrative filled with conflict, mystery, and cultural depth.

As GMs, you have the unique opportunity to weave intricate stories that not only engage but also challenge your players to think critically and empathize with the characters they interact with. By starting with an image and asking the right questions about its elements—such as the architecture, the environment, and any visible characters or symbols—you can develop a backdrop that feels alive and dynamic.