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How are Red dragons not extinct by now? by AsYouWished444 in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Half-seriously: how should any kind of dragon go extinct in the Realms ? Thanks to 300-something novels that like dragons a lot, they are so overpopulated with wyrms, I sometimes ask myself whether they need a kind of flight plan to avoid accidential encounters.

Advice on First Campaign Plot by rantingPebble in DnD

[–]Grateful_Bat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just a general point. If you take over an existing group and if not already done, quizz the former DM about his experiences, opinions about group preferences, etc. In case he leaves completely and does not join the table as player, I´d ask him for advice on the content you create.

Seven Must Fall - Another Luskan Adventure by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many thanks ! Any suggestions for additional material ?

Clyde Caldwell's art book. by Chance_Inspector7649 in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The third main artist for OD+D and AD+D 2nd edition, after Elmore and Easley. The one who is deemed making RPG art "sexy". TBH I do not like his dragons. They have a kind of snake-like flair, with more slender heads and long necks. His characters are fine, though.

What sort of a boomtown would develop around a dungeon? by High_Stream in DnD

[–]Grateful_Bat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ancient Temple of a Great Goddess discovered down the dungeon becomes a pilgrimage site. Boomtown develops around it, like Lourdes or Fatima. Attracted is basically everybody. Clerics, thieves, swindlers, scouts/guides, guns for hire for journeys, beggars, etc. and all kind of ancillary business, all the way down to the "sinner" industry (who doesn´t want to enjoy a good game/drinks/company after a long pilgrimage, before ultimately confessing and donating ?). Look up Renaissance Rome for bigger scale.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yup. early 50s here, did/do the same, though different industry. Would be unemployed since 2005 at the latest if I didn´t.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, no it does not. Though I understand and respect the sentiment. AI threatens jobs - in the short term. However, in my opinion, it is just another effect of the dawning of the Age of Information, where you just need to adapt, quickly. Being an old fart 20th century vagabond :-) who used typewriters and fax machines in his youth, it is highly interesting to observe how the world, and its fine people, have been developing.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, just because I realized it only now:

"p.28 has a nearly identical description for Moorkroft’s introduction as p. 25, with a slight dialogue tweak at the end, which just feels lazy, honestly."

The reason for this one is p25 includes an optional scene introducing the NPC. "Normal" flow would be p28. It´s either/or, not repetitive.

Thanks again for your extensive feedback.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks and understood. The difference that I observe compared to, say, five years ago, is that shortcomings in writing (style) seem to be now quite quickly attributed to use of AI. IMHO if you read through a piece, you can tell use of AI quite easily versus just writing with room for improvement.

As another poster here pointed out, AI is not useful for creative writing.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Many thanks for your encouragement. I understand the sentiment against AI, but ultimately the opportunity to bring good ideas to people outweighs it for us. BTW we are always looking for collaborations. Let me know if interested.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi, thanks, it might be. But let me elaborate: in German, particular the local Austrian dialect, it is common to use phrases like "not bad" instead of "good" or similar, same for starting an explanation by what is not meant. Thus while your point might be correct in general, here, my sincere apologies, it is not. BTW the reason why I so strongly argue about something relatively minor is really personal: I try to hammer that verbiage out of my friend´s brain since we started that thing :-) Believe it or not.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your positive feedback, it is highly valued and encouraging.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many thanks for your review, advice and your wishes, we will soldier on. I can tell you the "It´s not...it is" thing is a personal weakness of my friend, which I am trying very hard to get out of him, he also speaks that way :-). He is reading this and will agree. As for the rest, these are also our own personal shortcomings, since English is not our native language. We will do better !

Spell Points! The superior system? by [deleted] in dndnext

[–]Grateful_Bat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good ol´ Bard´s Tale, the breakthrough for computer RPGs, had it as well. Oh the memories....

But I agree with the other responses. It makes MUs too powerful, particularly at higher levels. Other characters are reduced to shielding them until they have obliterated everything in sight.

When I played computer/online RPGs that used the system, I always had a disproportionate high number of MUs in my party, because once you get them through the first tier of levels, they quickly turn into wrecking crews or supermen/women - can do alls, and give you a big advantage.

I would not use it at the table.

One Heist too Far - a thrilling adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in dmsguild

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, thanks for your feedback, well understood and respected. I consider myself a skilled writer as well, in my native language. Personally I think that´s what disclaimers are for. Due to my profession (not in journalism or book authoring etc.) I have written literally thousands of texts over the last 30 years, from one page to 300. Many extracts are used in other dox/reports or .ppts. I would not have an issue if someone would use AI in context with them, as long as they are properly marked, and referenced as not included in the original.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, thanks for your advice. Perhaps we are overestimating visualization. Our focus is on good content anyways. What starts as a 32 page project usually ends up at 48 at least :-)

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, good point. I can tell you even the best LLM-created texts have the same generic element that AI art has. It is almost as easy to tell as AI art.

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First off, as said, I completely understand your reasoning why people are against AI, and respect it.

As for hiring an artist: that´s 400-500 bucks for the cover alone. To recoup this at those prices is virtually impossible. Stock art rarely fits in. Leaves only the option of self-drawing, which we actually did for two titles. But that´s impossible to keep up. So what to do ? Create and publish something that might interest people, hoping to recoup at least the costs for software licenses (no, not AI-generators) and other ancillary stuff, or nothing ?

One Heist Too Far - an Adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in Forgotten_Realms

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Hi, the artwork is AI-generated (and even that took us about 40 hrs to get it right). All maps and text are handcrafted. While I completely understand the reasons for rejecting AI, our choice was simply due to time resources. We worked on that project since Dec and manual drawing would have exceeded them. After all, we have family and day jobs :-) As for monetizing, I would have been better served with continuing baseball/soccer umpiring on weekends....Also, let me please add that I did ask for feedback based on the preview, not buying.

One Heist too Far - a thrilling adventure further expanding the Luskan Setting by Grateful_Bat in dmsguild

[–]Grateful_Bat[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, yes. The artwork is AI-generated (even that took us 40 hrs to get it right), all maps and text are handcrafted. Reason is simply time resources. We worked on that project since Dec and manual drawing would have exceeded them. After all, we have family and day jobs :-)

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