The Artificer's Portal Pat Backmann and Andrew Searles

Join Pat and Andrew as they talk to Andrew Zhu, creator of Avrae, a discord bot designed to help you and your friends play D&D online. Zhu is an expert in language-based AI and has found a way to use ttrpgs as a testing ground for AI performance. In this episode, you can hear him answer the many questions brought up by Pat and Andrew regarding the efficacy of AI, how it can help DMs run their games, and what the future looks like for AI in the realm of game-playing and storytelling.

Guest: Andrew Zuh. You can follow him by going to Zuh.codes

Discussion Topics: Using AI to run TTRPGs as a game runner, creating random encounters and outcomes of interactions, the efficacy of AI in story telling and game management.

Sponsor: Start Playing Games. Whether you are a TTRPG player or a DM, find a group you can instantly book a game with by going to StartPlaying.Games. Check out Pat and Andrew’s Episode with the Company’s Founder here.

Credits: Gabriel Gonzalez from theinspiredbard.com for the use of our theme song and Lee Smithson for the voiceover recording.

For updates on the show, follow @acsearles on Twitter.

Join Pat and Andrew as they talk to Anne the Gnome, an all out DM and D&D enthusiast who uses AI art to help tell the stories and design the characters used in her games. Anne is known by her audience on TikTok for using prompts she either makes up for herself or gets from her community and imputing them into the Discord AI art software called MidJourney, to get these illustrations.  In this episode, she shares the benefits and realistic expectations people can have when they use AI art software to create and share their own ideas. She also weighs in with the guys on topics like, what impact AI art will have on the value of creators and their work, and how the D&D community feels about using AI art software….she also knows a lot about mushrooms.

Guest: Anne the Gnome. You can follow her on TicTok @annethegnome

Discussion Topics: Using AI art bots to recreate our imagination in roleplaying games, The Impact of AI in the value of Art and Artists, the TTRPG Community’s reaction to using AI art.

Sponsor: Start Playing Games. Whether you are a TTRPG player or a DM, find a group you can instantly book a game with by going to StartPlaying.Games. Check out Pat and Andrew’s Episode with the Company’s Founder here.

Credits: Gabriel Gonzalez from theinspiredbard.com for the use of our theme song and Lee Smithson for the voiceover recording.

For updates on the show, follow @acsearles on Twitter.

Join Pat and Andrew as they talk to Gunnar Holmsteinn from Quest Portal, and get his “hot take” on the importance of actually seeing your character as you play TTRPGs. Gunnar and his team at Quest Portal, have found a way to help players organize their games and characters and help them generate custom portraits of their characters that they can use to illustrate what they look like to the rest of the party. This episode also continues the ongoing conversation the guys like to have about using tools like video conferencing to contribute to the immersion that characters feel when playing their games.

Guest: Gunnar Homsteinn from Quest Portal. You can follow him on Twitter @questportal_app or questportal.com.

Discussion Topics: Video Conferencing for Immersion, Character Portrait Generation

Sponsor: Start Playing Games. Whether you are a TTRPG player or a DM, find a group you can instantly book a game with by going to StartPlaying.Games. Check out Pat and Andrew’s Episode with the Company’s Founder here.

Credits: Gabriel Gonzalez from theinspiredbard.com for the use of our theme song and Lee Smithson for the voiceover recording.

For updates on the show, follow @acsearles on Twitter.

Join Pat and Andrew in part 2 of their conversation with Chris Eddie from AlchemyRPG. In this episode, you can listen to them talk about methods of measuring Immersion and debate as to whether or not "ease of use" and fun are the same thing. Towards the end they also discuss the impact that different tools like audio chat, video calling, and digital avatars can have on the relationships you build when playing ttrpgs online.

Guest: Chris Eddie from AlchemyRPG. You can find him on Twitter @chrisjeddie.

Discussion Topics: Digital Technology's Effect on Immersion and Fun.

Sponsor: Start Playing Games. Whether your are a TTRPG player or a DM, find a group you can instantly book a game with by going to StartPlaying.Games. Check out Pat and Anderw's episode with the company's founder here.

Credits: Gabriel Gonzalez from theinspiredbard.com for the use of our theme song and Lee Smithson for the voiceover recording.

For updates on the show, follow @acsearles on Twitter.

Join Pat and Andrew as they talk with Chris Eddie from AlchemyRPG. Listen as they chat about immersion and how digital tools can help improve immersion in your games. Or do they? Immersion and fun are illusive and nebulas topics. They discuss times where digital tools might get in the way and harm your immersion and fun. They also touch on how someone might measure immersion and compare different solutions to one another. 

Guest: Chris Eddie from AlchemyRPG. You can find him on Twitter @chrisjeddie.

Discussion Topics: Digital Technology's Effect on Immersion and Fun.

Credits: Gabriel Gonzalez from theinspiredbard.com for the use of our theme song and Lee Smithson for the voiceover recording.

For updates on the show, follow @acsearles on Twitter.

If you're new to the Artificer's Portal, this is a great place to jump into the conversation!

Join Pat and Andrew as they talk discuss the last 9 episodes and how the conversation has evolved. They review each guest and sum up the important points.

Discussion Topics: The Player's Experience in TTRPGs, the importance of roleplaying games, the future of roleplaying games, etc.

Credits: Gabriel Gonzalez from theinspiredbard.com for the use of our theme song and Lee Smithson for the voiceover recording.

For updates on the show, follow @acsearles on Twitter.