The Intersection of AI and Tabletop Gaming: A New Study Raises Ethical Questions
A recent academic study has reignited the debate surrounding artificial intelligence within the tabletop gaming community. Released in July 2024, a thesis by graduate student Pavlos Sakellaridis explores his endeavor to develop a Dungeon Master powered by ChatGPT. This project utilized data from the well-known Dungeons & Dragons module, The Sunless Citadel, alongside transcripts from Critical Role, a popular actual play series. Notably, these transcripts were sourced from fan contributions rather than directly from the creators of Critical Role. This research has sparked discussions about consent and copyright issues related to using fan-generated content for training large language models (LLMs).
Evaluating AI’s Narrative Capabilities
As marketing for LLM-generated adventures becomes increasingly common, Sakellaridis aimed to assess whether ChatGPT could not only generate an adventure but also maintain narrative consistency and engage players effectively. His research relied on a diverse array of licensed materials—some proprietary, some derived from collaborative performances, and others contributed voluntarily by fans.
In his paper, Sakellaridis explains that he employed The Sunless Citadel as a foundational reference for ChatGPT while it assumed the role of Dungeon Master. He incorporated specific character descriptions, location details, and scripted dialogues directly from this module during gameplay.
The Data Behind the Research
The transcripts utilized in this study originate from the Critical Role Dungeons and Dragons Dataset (CRD3), which encompasses nearly 160 episodes spanning both its first and second campaigns along with summaries compiled through Fandom wiki contributions. Created by Microsoft researchers Revanth Rameshkumar and Peter Bailey, CRD3 was developed with the intention of enhancing summarization tools capable of distilling information amidst unscripted dialogues prevalent in entertainment sectors.
Unlike commercial AI projects that often draw upon professional artists’ work without consent or compensation, Sakellaridis’ initiative was rooted in academic exploration utilizing fan-created content. Dr. Emily Friedman—a historian specializing in actual play—pointed out on Bluesky that citations within Sakellaridis’ thesis indicate this dataset has been leveraged in other LLM projects unrelated to his research while highlighting how much transcription work is performed through volunteer efforts.
The Importance of Fan Contributions
Significant contributions to these transcriptions have come from Stuart Langridge via Kryogenix—a platform offering searchable transcripts categorized by speaker and timestamp. However, ongoing legal disputes regarding copyright protections surrounding Critical Role episodes place these resources at risk; they represent one of the largest repositories for actual play research data available today.
At one point during writing this article, Kryogenix experienced downtime but has since returned online. Dr. Friedman emphasized that if Kryogenix were to remain offline permanently, it would be detrimental for researchers relying on Langridge’s work as it provides crucial insights into an evolving medium lacking extensive historical documentation.
Controversies Surrounding Generative AI
Generative AI continues to stir controversy across various industries—including tabletop gaming—where critics highlight its environmental footprint alongside concerns over exploitative labor practices affecting workers globally as well as artists whose creations are used without permission for training purposes.
Wizards of the Coast—the company behind Dungeons & Dragons—has faced backlash regarding their potential use (both confirmed and suspected) of generative AI technologies within their products leading them to publicly assert their commitment against employing such technology in artistic endeavors despite CEO Chris Cocks mentioning last year that Hasbro is exploring “interesting” applications involving AI technology.
Conversely,Critical Role takes a firm stance against artificial intelligence integration into their creative processes; they have explicitly stated “Fuck AI” during recent broadcasts reflecting strong opposition towards its use within their community framework.
Conclusion: Navigating Ethical Waters
As discussions around artificial intelligence continue evolving within tabletop gaming circles—and beyond—it remains essential for stakeholders including creators like those at Critical Role, companies like Wizards of the Coast ,and researchers such as Pavlos Sakellaridis—to navigate these ethical waters carefully ensuring respect towards original works while fostering innovation responsibly amidst growing technological advancements.
