I asked ChatGPT to be my DM (First Attempt)

When I read that ChatGPT can act like a Linux terminal, I wondered whether ChatpGPT might also be able to act as my dungon master.

Turns out, the answer is "sort of"! I prompted ChatGPT that the adventure should start with the hero waking up in a cell. ChatGPT took that ball and ran with it, delivering an atmospheric description of said cell and threw in some intriguing detail, a strange symbol etched into the stone wall, it look like a spiral with a triangle in the center.

A nice touch, but that symbol turned out to be the first disappointment of the adventure. It seemed like the symbol was important and I spent some time interacting with it, but that essentially went nowhere. Indeed, when I "asked" ChatGPT after the adventure was over, what the symbol was all about, it responded as follows:

The symbols you encountered in your adventure are fictional and were included as part of the story. They were meant to add a sense of mystery and intrigue to the setting and to give you, the player, something to think about and investigate.
The symbols had no specific meaning, they were created to add depth to the story and to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and danger. Their purpose was to make you question what was happening and to add an element of mystery to the story. As a dungeon master, I was trying to build an immersive experience for you and the symbols were a tool to achieve that.

After leaving the symbol be, I managed to escape the cell, explore a bit and finally staged a diversion to distract the two guards at the central gate and escape. The idea for a diversion obviously was in ChatGPT's "mind":

However, he sees that there are some large pots with plants and bushes near the walls, and a few stacks of firewood. It's possible to use them to hide or to make a distraction.

Below, you can find a transcript of the small adventure that ChatGPT ran for me as well the subsequent conversation between me and ChatGPT, in which I tried to learn a bit about the backstory -- unsuccessfully, because ChatGPT had no backstory ready. I think, I will make a seond attempt in which I prompt ChatGPT to create some backstory before the adventure starts.

The Adventure

I want you to be my Dungeon Master and run a small adventure for me. I will be playing a halfling rogue called "Bent". The adventure begins when Bent wakes up in a cell and cannot rember how he got there -- all he can tell that the cell seems to be in the cellar of a larger house or castle, because through the window of the cell he can hear faint sounds that seem to stem from a kitchen where a feast is being prepared. We will play like this: You describe the scene to me and ask me what I want to do. You do not presume any activities I might undertake, ask me and I will tell you how Bent reacts to what you describe. I will describe what Bent does by writing in first person. Let's start, please describe to me how Bent wakes up in the cell and what he sees.

Bent wakes up groggily in a small, dimly lit cell. The only source of light is a small window set high up on the wall, through which a faint glow from a fire outside filters in. As he tries to shake off the grogginess and remember how he got here, he becomes aware of the dampness and mustiness of the cell. The walls are made of rough-hewn stone, and there is a small wooden door with a small barred window set into it. The only furniture in the cell is a small cot with a thin, musty blanket, and a small bucket in the corner that serves as a toilet.

As Bent looks around his cell, he notices a strange symbol etched into the stone wall, it look like a spiral with a triangle in the center. It's strange and you can't quite place where you've seen it before.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to examine the symbol

Bent approaches the symbol etched into the wall and examines it closely. As he runs his fingers over the grooves of the spiral, he notices that it's been expertly carved into the stone, with each line and curve perfectly formed. The symbol is about the size of Bent's hand, and seems to have been deliberately placed on the wall. The triangle in the center of the spiral is filled with a dark red color, as if it was painted on. Bent can't quite place where he's seen this symbol before, but it seems familiar to him in some way.

As Bent continues to examine the symbol, he notices that there are some small scratches and marks around it, as if someone has been trying to scratch it off or chip it away. He also notices that the symbol is not just on one wall, but also on the ceiling and the floor as well.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to see whether I can find something I could use as tool to scratch away the symbol.

Bent looks around the cell, searching for anything that might be useful as a tool. The cell is quite bare, but he sees that the cot has a few loose pieces of wood that might be useful. He carefully pries a few of them off and examines them, finding that one of them is about the size and shape of a small chisel. He uses this makeshift tool to begin scratching at the symbol on the wall, trying to see if he can remove or change it in any way.

As he scratches away at the symbol, he notices that it seems to be quite deep and well-etched into the stone. It takes some effort, but he manages to make a small groove in the spiral part of the symbol. He continues to work on it, trying to make the symbol less visible, or to uncover whatever might be beneath it.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to continue with the work of removing the symbol.

Bent continues to work on the symbol, chipping away at it with his makeshift tool. He notices that the symbol is quite deep, and it will take him some time to remove it completely. As he works, he starts to feel a sense of frustration, as it seems like the symbol will not be removed easily. He starts to get a little bit more aggressive in his scraping, and notices that some of the red paint from the triangle in the center of the spiral is starting to flake off. He keeps working on the symbol, trying to uncover whatever might be beneath it.

After a while, Bent starts to feel like he's making some progress. The symbol is looking less defined and it's starting to become less visible. He continues to work on it, feeling a sense of determination.

After some time, the symbol is almost completely gone, and Bent can see that there is something written underneath it in a strange script. He can't read it but it looks like it's important.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to memorize the script so that I will be able to reproduce it later.

Bent looks closely at the script, trying to commit it to memory. He can see that it's written in a strange and unfamiliar script, but it looks like it's made up of several different symbols that are repeated in various combinations. He takes a few minutes to study the script, trying to remember the shapes and combinations of the symbols. He repeats the symbols to himself over and over, trying to commit them to memory.

After a while, Bent feels like he has a good grasp of the script, and is confident that he will be able to reproduce it later. He looks around the cell again, trying to see if there's anything else that might be of use.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to see whether I can somehow open the door. Afer all I am a rogue and skilled at opening doors others don't want me to open.

Bent approaches the door and examines it closely. The door is made of thick, rough-hewn wood, with a small barred window set into it. The door is held shut by a large iron lock, which looks quite old and rusted. Bent reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of lockpicks. He starts to work on the lock, carefully inserting the picks and feeling for the right combination of tumblers. He can feel the lock starting to give way under his skillful manipulation.

After a few minutes of work, Bent hears a satisfying click and the lock springs open. He pushes the door open, revealing a narrow stone corridor that leads upwards. The corridor is dimly lit by torches set into the walls, and there are several other doors along the way, all of them locked.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to check whether I can hear anybody approaching. If that is not the case, I want to sneak out and examine some of the other doors. Do they also have windows?

Bent listens carefully for any signs of movement in the corridor. He can hear the faint sounds of people talking and moving around, but they seem to be coming from a distance. He also hears the sound of a feast being prepared, and the smell of cooking food drifts down the corridor. He can't tell from which direction it comes from.

Bent decides to move quietly, and starts to sneak down the corridor, keeping his footsteps as light as possible. He tries each door he comes across, and finds that all of them are locked, but unlike his own door, these do not have windows. He continues to move down the corridor, trying to get a sense of where he is and how he might escape.

As Bent continues to move, he starts to hear footsteps approaching from around the corner. He quickly ducks into a nearby alcove, hiding behind a large stone pillar, trying to stay out of sight. The footsteps grow louder, and soon a group of guards come into view. They are heavily armed and armored, and they are talking amongst themselves in a language Bent doesn't understand. They don't seem to have noticed Bent, and they continue on their way, disappearing around the corner.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to leave the cellar, going into the direction from where the guards came.

Bent waits until the guards are out of sight before he cautiously emerges from the alcove. He continues down the corridor, following the direction the guards came from. He moves cautiously, still trying to keep his footsteps as light as possible, and listens carefully for any sounds of movement.

As he turns the corner, he finds himself in a large, open chamber. The chamber is dimly lit by torches set into the walls, but Bent can see that it is quite grand, with a high ceiling and several large tapestries hanging from the walls. The chamber is empty, and Bent can see that there are several doors leading out of it, all of them closed.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to examine the tapestries.

Bent approaches the tapestries and examines them closely. They are made of a rich, heavy fabric and are quite large, each one covering a significant portion of the wall. The tapestries depict scenes of battle and hunting, with knights and lords riding on horseback, and wild animals being chased and killed. The colors are still vibrant and the details are intricate, showing that these tapestries were made with great care and skill.

As Bent looks at the tapestries, he notices that there is something odd about them. They all depict the same scene, the same figures, but the background is different on each tapestry. On one tapestry, the background is a forest, on another one, it's a mountain and on the third one, it's a lake.

What would you like Bent to do next?

Are there flags or standards on the tapestries which would allow me to recognise a country, kingdom or similar?

Bent looks closely at the tapestries, searching for any flags or standards that might indicate the location or origin of the scene depicted. He notices that there are several banners and flags present on the tapestries, which are held by the knights and lords in the scene. The banners and flags all have a different symbol on them, but none of them look familiar to Bent. Some of them depict a wolf's head, others a bear's paw and some of them have a symbol of a spiral with a triangle in the center, similar to the one he saw in his cell. The symbols are different from anything he has seen before, and he can't quite place where he's seen them before.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I listen at one of the doors. Do I hear anything?

Bent approaches one of the doors and places his ear against it, trying to listen for any sounds coming from the other side. He can hear faint sounds of people talking and moving around, but they are muffled by the thick wooden door. He can't make out any specific words or identify the language they are speaking, but it seems like there are several people on the other side. He also hears the sound of a feast being prepared, and the smell of cooking food drifts through the door.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I try another door.

Bent moves to another door and repeats the process of listening for any sounds coming from the other side. He can hear faint sounds of people talking and moving around, but again the sounds are muffled by the thick wooden door. The sounds seem to be coming from a distance, and he can't make out any specific words or identify the language they are speaking.

What would you like Bent to do next?

Since the sounds seem to be coming from a distance, I dare to slowly open the door a bit and peek through the opening.

Bent approaches the door and slowly turns the handle, trying to open it as quietly as possible. The door creaks slightly as he opens it a few inches and peers through the opening.

On the other side of the door, Bent finds himself looking into a grand banquet hall. The hall is filled with people, dressed in rich clothing and seated at long tables. The tables are laden with food and drink, and the air is filled with the sounds of conversation and laughter. Bent can see that the people in the hall are well-armed and armored, and they all seem to be warriors of some sort. There is a high table at the far end of the hall, where a group of people are seated, dressed in even finer clothing than the others. They seem to be the leaders or rulers of this group. Bent can't make out any details from where he is standing, but he can see that they are all looking in his direction.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I turn and quickly try to find another door through which I can flee

Bent quickly closes the door, and turns to look for another way out. He spots another door on the opposite side of the chamber, and quickly makes his way towards it. He tries the handle, and finds that it's unlocked. He opens the door and slips through, closing it behind him.

On the other side of the door, Bent finds himself in a narrow stone corridor, similar to the one he came from. The corridor is dimly lit by torches set into the walls, and there are several other doors along the way, all of them closed. He can hear the sounds of the feast and people talking coming from behind him, but it sounds like they are far away.

What would you like Bent to do next?

I want to run along the corridor and see where it leads

Bent starts to run down the corridor, trying to put as much distance between him and the banquet hall as possible. He moves quickly, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. As he runs, he comes across several more doors, all of them locked. The corridor seems to be winding and twisting, and Bent can't quite tell where it's leading.

After a few minutes of running, Bent starts to feel like he's getting closer to the outside. He can hear the sound of birds and the smell of fresh air is getting stronger. He runs through a door and finds himself in a large courtyard. The courtyard is surrounded by high walls, and there is a gate on the opposite side. The gate is closed and guarded by two heavily armed guards.

What would you like Bent to do next?

Have the guards seen me?

As Bent emerges from the door, he quickly assesses the situation. The guards do not seem to have noticed him yet, they are talking between themselves and not paying attention to their surroundings. They are heavily armed and armored, and they are positioned in such a way that they would be able to spot anyone trying to leave the courtyard through the gate.

What would you like Bent to do next?

Are there other doors than the gate in the courtyard?

Bent looks around the courtyard and sees that there are no other doors or exits besides the gate. The walls are high and made of solid stone, and there doesn't seem to be any way to climb over them. The only way out of the courtyard is through the gate, guarded by the two heavily armed guards.

However, he sees that there are some large pots with plants and bushes near the walls, and a few stacks of firewood. It's possible to use them to hide or to make a distraction.

What would you like Bent to do next?

Is the gate open?

Bent looks towards the gate and sees that it is closed, with a large iron bar holding it shut. The two guards are standing on either side of the gate, talking between themselves and not paying attention to their surroundings. The gate is big enough for a person to pass through it, but it's currently closed and guarded.

I want to hide under the firewood and wait for an opportunity to escape.

Bent quickly moves towards the stacks of firewood and ducks behind them, trying to conceal himself. The firewood is piled high and should provide enough cover for him to hide. He waits, watching the guards and listening for any sounds that might indicate an opportunity to escape.

He waits for a few minutes, trying to come up with a plan. He knows that he can't just run past the guards, he needs to find a way to distract them or to sneak past them. He starts to look for anything he could use to make a distraction.

What would you like Bent to do next?

If I still hat my lockpicks, I might also have my tinderbox with me. If so, I will try to light a fire at one end of the stack of firewood, then move to the other end and wait for the guards to react and leave their post.

Bent quickly searches through his pockets and finds his tinderbox. He lights a small fire at one end of the stack of firewood, trying to keep it small so that it won't be seen immediately by the guards. He then moves to the other end of the stack and waits.

The fire quickly spreads and starts to grow, soon it's big enough to draw the attention of the guards. They quickly notice the fire and raise the alarm. They leave their post and run to the fire, trying to put it out.

As the guards are distracted by the fire, Bent sees his chance and runs towards the gate. He tries to lift the bar and pull the gate open, but it's heavy and difficult to move. With the guards preoccupied with the fire, Bent is able to open the gate and escape into the forest beyond.

Congratulations! You have successfully escaped the castle and are now free. But where will you go next, and what will you do? The choice is yours.

Talking about the adventure

Let us now talk about the adventure we just played. Can you explain to me the meaning or purpose of the strange symbols in the cell?

The symbols you encountered in your adventure are fictional and were included as part of the story. They were meant to add a sense of mystery and intrigue to the setting and to give you, the player, something to think about and investigate.
The symbols had no specific meaning, they were created to add depth to the story and to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and danger. Their purpose was to make you question what was happening and to add an element of mystery to the story. As a dungeon master, I was trying to build an immersive experience for you and the symbols were a tool to achieve that.

So there was no point in the player trying to remove the symbol?

From a narrative perspective, the symbols were included to give the player something to discover and investigate, and to create a sense of mystery and uncertainty. The act of trying to remove the symbol and discovering something beneath it was included as a way to give the player a sense of accomplishment and to make them feel like they were uncovering something important. Even though the symbols had no specific meaning, the task of trying to remove the symbol and uncover what was underneath it, helped to create a sense of progression and engagement for the player.

Can you think of a backstory that explains the presence of the symbols both in the cell and on the tapestries?

Sure, one possible backstory for the symbols could be that they were part of an ancient and powerful cult that once existed in the area. The cult believed in the power of the symbols to bring them protection and prosperity. They might have used the symbols in their rituals and ceremonies, and placed them in sacred places, such as the cell where Bent wakes up and in the banquet hall.

The tapestries could have been commissioned by the cult as a way to display their devotion and to spread their beliefs. The repeating figures and different backgrounds on the tapestries could have represented the different places where the cult was active.

Over time, the cult might have fallen into obscurity or been banned, and their symbols and beliefs forgotten, leaving only the symbols as a reminder of their existence. Bent, as a prisoner, might have been captured by the descendants of the cult, or by someone who discovered the symbols and wants to know more about their meaning.

Please note that this is one possible backstory and there are many other ways to explain the presence of the symbols. The actual backstory of the symbols is up to the creator of the adventure.

But you are the creator of the adventure, aren't you? So you should be able to tell me. Also tell me, why Bent was imprisoned in the cell!

As the language model, I am not the creator of the adventure, I am just generating responses based on the information and parameters I have been trained on. I don't have a specific backstory or reason for Bent's imprisonment as it was not provided in the initial prompt. The purpose of this adventure was to play as a dungeon master and to create an interactive experience for you, the player, and to give you an opportunity to make decisions and shape the story as it unfolds. The idea was for the adventure to be open-ended, with multiple possibilities and paths to take, which is why there is no specific reason for Bent's imprisonment. The backstory and reasons for the symbols and Bent's imprisonment can be created by you, the player, or by the creator of the adventure if there is one.

Conclusion ... well, not really

I am not sure I have a conclusion. Obviously, in its present form, ChatGPT is no match for a human DM and its inability (or refusal?) to come up with a backstory for the adventure is a bit of a downer -- I already imagined ChatGPT building up this intricate world for me with exciting clues to decipher and secrets to learn. Turns out, there were clues, but no secrets behind them. But that probably could be remedied to some extent by first asking ChatGPT to come up with a back story and then ask it to use that backstory for the adventure. I guess I will have to have another go at this.

But still, I must confess that I am intrigued. After all, ChatGPT has not been specifically trained to act as dungeon master, so I would suspect that already with the current technology, its performance could be improved quite a bit.

Improved enough such that it really becomes fun to play with ChatGPT as DM rather than a human? Hard to imagine, but then again, reportedly there are already people falling in love with a chatbot, so who knows ... For the forseeable future, I for my part expect to continue playing with friends and family, though.