I haven’t blogged for the past few days for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, I’ve been suffering from a general lassitude that seems to have crept up on me. I have no idea why, other than it’s the last hurrah of the flu-like bug I caught after Christmas, coupled with rather over indulging myself on my birthday.
Secondly, I’ve been learning how to use two new-to-me apps, ChatGPT and Discord. I’ve already mentioned ChatGPT on my blog, but what I’ve been doing is experimenting with its use as a means to create period specific versions of the PORTABLE WARGAME rules (e.g. the Chaco War), potential scenarios, and related campaign Matrix Games. So far, the results have been variable because I’ve had to learn how much and what type of information I need to input in order for it to generate meaningful results.
Discord is used by the local gaming group I have joined to organise its activities and as a means for players of particular games to communicate with one another. Having begun to explore its potential, I have begun to realise that so far that represents only a fraction of what it can do, and that it can be a viable alternative means of playing wargames online … something that I’ve tended to use Zoom and FaceTime to do in the past.
I may be old and worn out, but I hope that I’m not too old and knackered to learn - and use - new things.
Discord is news to me. Bit of a strange name but I guess people don't have to agree all the time!
ReplyDelete
DeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
It certainly is an odd name for an app … but I understand that several wargame groups run their activities using it. Perhaps - once I’ve gained more experience using it - it might make sense to set up a PW group on Discord.
All the best,
Bob
I'm finding these AI experiments interesting and they have provoked some discussion of AI-written ancients rules on the Society of Ancients forum. One member tried to get a set of rules for the Punic Wars written in Latin. Result - incomplete rules in bad Latin. Or, as another commented, " the AI produces something that looks like a set of wargames rules, but isn't actually." Re-inforces your comments about the type and quantity of input to get a useable result.
ReplyDeleteAnthony Clipsom,
DeleteI hope to share the methods I have used to refine the rules produced by ChatGPT by giving it specific instructions ... and comparing the results with an existing set of rules.
I suspect that the old computing adage of 'garbage in, garbage out' is as true for ChatGPT and other AI programs, and its knowing what to ask and what to tell it that is vital.
All the best,
Bob
I'm really interested to see where you go with ChatGPT and your games. I know a few others using it to enhance their posts, but you are the first I'm aware of using it for rules and scenarios work.
ReplyDeleteWEK 3,
DeleteI hope to share the results of my most recent forays into the use of ChatGPT to write wargame rules and scenarios over the next few days.
Read and enjoy!
Bob
I was under the impression that Discord was only an audio application (ie, like an internet telephone). However, your comment in addition to numerous mentions in other gaming contexts leads me to believe that there is more to it (duh). Perhaps you might use your Youtube channel to bring we dullards up to speed on what you've found.
ReplyDeleteEd M,
DeleteI am still learning how to get the most out of Discord. Once I feel confident to use it and explain how it works to others, I may well produce a relevant YouTube video for novices and potential users.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you have noticed the same, but in my experience the AI is very bad at adding up numbers. Ask it to produce an army list totalling a certain number of points, and it will add up to some number that is guaranteed to not be the number you asked for! I continue to regard it and its output with deep suspicion!
Steve
Steve (Steve),
DeleteTo date, I've not yet asked ChatGPT to do anything involving mathematics ... so thanks for the warning! It's something that I'll be looking out for.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
ReplyDeleteI'll be following your adventures with these various apps with considerable interest. I don't reckon I'll be going down that track, though. Sounds like too much of a diversion and distraction!
Meanwhile, apart from a couple of paint jobs, the Ruberian fleet has been built. Blog posting coming up shortly...
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteMy investigations into the use of ChatGPT and Discord are all very experimental at the moment, although so far the results have been interesting and thought-provoking ... but I am not sure how extensively I will be using them long-term.
I look forward to seeing your completed Ruberian fleet. Your models are always inspiring to look at!
All the best,
Bob
I have recently added several short story audiobooks to my car stereo system. I have some of Lord Baden-Powell's works, some short true crime stories, a few documentaries about music history and a Roald Dahl short story called The Great Automatic Grammatizator. It's a story about a man who, more or less, builds a mechanical ChatGPT and uses it to become a successful writer. Check it out, it's a fun story. You can find it on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteGiven the way LLMs actually work and learn, the best thing to do would be to start with an "empty vessel" of an AI and feed it the rules to hundreds of games. A computer could quickly read all of that material and then assemble an LLM that's more capable of writing coherent wargame rules.
My boys enjoy playing with ChatGPT and they're good about not using it to cheat with homework. They also really enjoy Discord and use it to hang out with friends after school. It's helpful because we live a good 10 miles from their closest schoolmates. I like using Google's Gemini AI to come up with short legends and myths to use as rumors and background stories for use in games like Dungeons & Dragons.
Take a look into training ChatGPT on some wargame rules but you may get some pushback from authors. Many people don't like having their work used this way.
Bob, that hits me more often than I’d like. Hard to shake it off.
ReplyDelete