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The dawn of AI (Patreon)

Published:
2024-01-08 17:05:16
Imported:
2026-06

Content

In recent days I have found myself reflecting on a phenomenon that is profoundly influencing the world of VTT maps: the arrival of maps AI generated.
They invade the market at a surprising speed but often to the detriment of the quality and depth that characterize artisanal creations

As you know, I dedicate hours of my life to drawing these works by hand, trying to infuse each line with a story, an atmosphere, a soul. I have to admit that this wave of AI-generated maps has left me a little disappointed. Seeing the fruit of many hours of work obscured by rapid and superficial production is a difficult feeling to digest.

At the same time, I cannot deny the fascination that artificial intelligence has on me. It is undeniable that it represents a revolution, not only in our field but in almost every aspect of modern life. Artificial intelligence has opened doors that we could only imagine before and its potential is enormous. I'm intrigued by how it could evolve and what new opportunities it could create, even for us creators.

So yes, I'm disappointed to see works of art reduced to mass-produced objects, but I'm also excited about what the future might hold. Maybe there are ways to embrace this new era without losing the essence of what we love to do.

I leave you with these thoughts, hoping that you too can perceive the beautiful complexity of this moment of transition.

I will continue to draw them by hand, I'm currently preparing the first map of 2024, and I can't wait to publish it.

Comments

Alembik_1212

Generative AI is a fascinating thing...but so far it cannot by itself tell a story the same way an artist does in their works. I think with time people will learn to harness it as a tool to give life to their visions much like digital graphics software. I am looking forward to your next map since many of the past ones have provided inspiration for hours upon hours of great RP.

Guardian

Everything you create far surpasses all of that. Thank you for being awesome!

Dan Gragert

110% your earliest work vastly surpasses anything from AI. As somebody to utilizes AI in a TON of my DMing, I'm more than happy at the risk of a publicly supplied noose, willing to share my perspective on it as a frequent user. First off, I am ON these patreons, (i'm on nearly $200 a month with them; not trying to flex, just again, perspective. DMing is my primary hobby, i run 3 games a week, i need the material to deliver for my table. I love creators and want to support as many as I can, since I lack the talent to be one myself) because of the love put into them. And Every. Last. One. I am on because they -dont- use AI, and are worth money, no matter the monthly cost. Very few exceptions, like hand-made maps but they come with a Theater-of-the-Mind ai piece to show with it? I'd generate that myself. I'd draw it if i could, commission one if i could afford it. But 9/10 times I just need to describe something and may be flustered, tired, or just out of 'the spark' that night and want to keep my players enjoying the same quality of game as if there weren't only one of me. I also use Midjourney for some of my NPCs. Its great for throw-aways, or new random weird monsters, especially with 1-4 veteran players, game-pending, at disguising what a token is in Foundry by not using the bog-standard art. If i had enough for ten grand a month? I wouldn't use MJ at all. Instead, what I DO do, is put my money where my mouth is, and get every one of my players a commission. I could just as easily sit here and flip MJ re-rolls on my sub until i hit something that pleases them, Lord knows it can do it. But that's not the real deal. Real art, as you said, has soul. It has something AI never will. Deliberate choices. Only players, BBEGs, and REALLY beloved NPCs get the commissions, but that's solely because of where my finances leave me limited. I use GPT to help with content prep. Not to "hey write me a whole-ass adventure." I have it do things like keep a list of our table's lines and veils and check my work to make sure i'm not forgetting something or crossing too loosely into dangerous territory. I use it as an idea wall. "Give me 10 things they might find in this crate in a mine." I don't take that and make a roll table, i choose one or two of the best ideas if i don't have one myself (which is typically why i asked it in the first place) to get my brain juices flowing. Its a HELPER. Its not a replacement. Anyway, I hope that perspective helps you or really anybody else. Its a great tool, its fascinating, but it is NOT by any stretch of the imagination (and i use the term loosely in context to AI), a replacement for the real deal. Its a wonderful tool and there's no reason we shouldn't take the game to its limits with it. We just have to keep our eyes on our morals and standards, and not let it become the replacement, or we end up in a grim dystopia where "good enough" is the best there is.

Tehox Maps

Thank you for explaining your thoughts, it is very interesting and I agree with it very much. I am extremely fascinated by this world and I use AI for my main job (I am a coder) and for this reason I know how useful it can be. At the moment AI lack precisely that soul that is still seen a lot in artistic works; Well, if one day AI comes to "emulate" that too, it will be a problem ;-)

Dan Gragert

it'd be a dark day indeed. x__x that's why i say, yeah its a tool but we have to remember that people matter, people come first.

Mongoose's Marvellous Miscellany

On the rare occasions (so far) I've made my own maps it's because they needed to have a certain something (a pub with a mezzanine floor and trapdoor to a cellar springing to mind). Other maps created by a real artist have that sort of thinking behind them too, and it's a little sad to think of the most creative aspects of humanity being lost to an algorithm. The same's true in other fields, I've lost work (I'm a writer) to AI. For what it's worth, I greatly appreciate the maps you make, not just the maps themselves but the assets too (Arctic Encounters are very handy for a campaign in a Scandinavian/northern Europe type setting).