My AI Policy

New Dungeon Master Guide Giveaway, RPG news, Wishlist and more...

Nov 15, 2024

I've recently been asked if I use AI to write my books. I've also been accused of using AI content and AI art, mostly in Amazon reviews or on Reddit when my books were included in the Humble Bundle last year. I thought I would set the record straight.

I've been thinking about AI and what it means for writers for a long time. You can even watch my presentation on writers and AI from Gen Con Online 2023 below. But first, let me break things down.

Obviously, it is impossible that any of my works before November 30, 2022, could have been generated by AI, even though some people think it is possible. I can honestly say I write my books, and I always want to be able to say that.

Do I use tools? Of course, I do. Like any good woodworker or blacksmith, I use tools related to my profession.

People have questioned how I can produce books so quickly. First, this is my full-time job. Second, many days I work fourteen hours or more. Third, I have template InDesign files now, so I'm not starting layout and design from scratch. Fourth, using AI saves me tons of time, as I'll explain below.

How I Use AI

Grammar Checking: I use ChatGPT to correct my grammar, even for this post. I have quite a few learning disabilities, and I've always struggled with grammar. In a previous job, I had to write several 2,000-word blog posts per week, and that improved my writing immensely, but I still struggle. Using spelling and grammar checkers is hardly controversial these days. It’s funny that Grammarly is rarely mentioned when people condemn using AI, even though it is AI.

I will note that using AI as a grammar checker (even Grammarly) changes the style of the writing quite a bit. It tries to eliminate all passive voice, even when passive voice makes sense, for example. I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, as I'm still grappling with this brave new world.

Search Engine: I use ChatGPT like I use Google. I ask it questions like, “What is common camping gear?” or “What are popular baby names in the US?” or “What are theoretical habitats we could build on Mars?” or “What are some items in a 1930s hotel room?” This is where ChatGPT shines over Google. It gives me information quickly and has drastically cut down my research time. I still use Google to double-check facts, but Google just gives AI-generated answers now as well.

Formatting: Oh my goodness, I can't tell you how much time this has saved me. I create many random tables in spreadsheets and then copy them into Google Docs. For some reason, the tabs between columns remain, even if you clear formatting. I know there is some formula that probably combines all data into one column, but I could never get it to work right. However, I can just tell ChatGPT to "replace all tabs with single spaces," and it is done. Seriously, this alone has saved me between two to four hours of work per day.

Copying and Pasting: I am committed to not copying and pasting AI-generated text for two main reasons: 1) I didn't write it, so I'm not saying I did. 2) You can't copyright AI-generated text, which would not help me build a business.

I will copy and paste dictionary words because I did that with Google and they are just single words. So if I'm building a list of items and I ask ChatGPT for ski equipment, I will copy and paste items from what it gave me. Also, I take a short phrases on occasion and rewrite them in my own words. I feel this is completely different from mindlessly copying and pasting full sentences.

For my last two books, The Book of Random Tables: Post-Apocalyptic 2 and The Book of Random Tables: Superheroes, I did use some AI-generated text in the product descriptions on DriveThruRPG and Amazon, though I edited them heavily. I always struggled with writing good product descriptions, and I thought I would try it. I had ChatGPT create them based on text I wrote and then fixed its errors.

Product descriptions, to me, are a different beast than actual text in a book. Product descriptions are often not written by the writer of the book, especially in large companies, and people rarely claim authorship or copyright over them.

I Do Not Use AI Art

I haven't knowingly used AI art in any of my books and I do not plan to any time soon. I use stock art mostly purchased from iStock or DriveThruRPG. I use public domain art, and I've used a bit of original art from a couple of artists.

The only AI art I've ever used for Dicegeeks was for two YouTube thumbnails where I used Photoshop to replace a number on a die. And in one of my Star Trek videos, I tried to put an '80s heavy metal band t-shirt on Commander Data with limited success.

That's How I Use AI

I hope my ramblings have been clear. I just wanted you to know that I'm a real person who is considering how AI will shape our future, and I take this seriously. This is how I use AI today, but who knows about the future? As Master Yoda said, “Always in motion is the future.”

I’ve added this to my dicegeeks about page as well.

My 2023 Gen Con Online Presentation on AI

Dungeon Master Guide Giveaway!

I’m giving away a copy of the new Dungeon Masters Guide!

To Enter: Reply to this email and mention you want to be entered into the giveaway.

Winning: The winner will be chosen randomly. I’d like to reveal the winner’s first name in the newsletter once they receive the DMG.

Why this Giveaway Happened

I pre-ordered the DMG from DnD Beyond. Last week, I got an email saying my order was canceled. I checked my order history; it was blank. I re-ordered the DMG. Several hours later, I received an email saying the order cancellation email was an error, and by that point, both books had shipped. I contacted customer service, but it is non-existent. So… I thought I’d have a giveaway, because I’m never going to get this resolved.

RPG Wishlist

From the DMs Guild

Greyhawk Player's Guide
Greyhawk Campaign Guide
Tales From Greyhawk
Greyhawk Adventures: Journey into the Jotens (7th - 8th level)
The Great Turkey Chase - "The Great Turkey Chase is designed for a group of three to four level 1 characters, offering a family friendly, Thanksgiving themed adventure filled with whimsical encounters and lighthearted challenges."

The Dicegeeks Insider