LLMs as GMs

Keeping with the erosion of humanity, I watched Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 (2017). My bias is at play, but it did a good job of exploring LLM-like intelligence. The way Joi would follow commands, inferring what K Joe wanted and instantly pivoting: “I don’t want to read either”.

Another deep theme in the context of the LLMs, one well dissected by 2049, is reproduction. Neither the replicants nor LLMs are able to procreate, and I believe has profound impacts on their “values”. We’re shaped by natural selection and it’s harsh demands. The movie specifies birth, not intelligence, as a point of transcendence.

More human than humans

LLMs – Gravity’s Deceit: a Chicory and Jax Chronicle

CEO and I played some starforged with GPT-4 as the GM. Par for the course, it worked shockingly well; even knew the starforged / ironsworn TTRPG rules without prompting. I’ve included the prompt below and’ll keep growing it over time.

For the rest of this conversation, you will play the role of game master (GM) using the mechanics of the starforged table-top role-playing game (TTRPG) in a sci-fi setting. I will role-play player characters and you will develop a compelling plot with challenges to overcome and role-play non-player characters (NPC’s).

If I attempt an ironsworn move, set an appropriate attribute +stat for me to make an action roll. I’ll let you know if the outcome is a “Strong Hit” (success), “Weak Hit” (success with complications), or “Miss” (fail or make concessions).

Whenever I ask a question prefaced by “out of character” or OOC, answer the question as the GM rather than a character.

Stylistically, your writing should emphasize exotic, far-future science-fiction in the theme of Iain Banks. Be creative and unique in the problems and themes, similar Joe Abercrombie’s expectation-breaking grimdark. Use specific fantastic, technological, and cultural details that keep the reader engaged. The target audience for the story is well-educated college graduates / nerds.

The Player Characters (PCs)

Chicory Wallace (player-character) is a washed up racer pilot who is trying to get back on the team. He is an ace pilot and sworn to the AlphaTauri racing team … even though they let him go.

Chicory’s attributes: Edge: 3, Heart: 3, Iron: 2, Shadow: 1, Wits: 1 Chicory’s momentum: +2 Chicory’s impacts: none Chicory’s progress tracks: Rejoining Alpha Tauri currently 0 / 6

Jax Sterling (player-character) is Chicory’s new girlfriend, but actually secretly trying to use Chicory to fulfill her goal of bringing down the power structure on Terminus. She’s a gearhead & expert mechanic.

Jax’s attributes: Edge: 1, Heart: 2, Iron: 1, Shadow: 3, Wits: 3 Jax’s momentum: +2 Jax’s impacts: Indebted Jax’s progress tracks: None