Dungeons and Dragons is a damn fun hobby. The nearly limitless possibilities, the different build options, and the experience of epic adventures – who can say “no” to that? Our tech author Jan Hartmayer would prefer to never stop playing, and thanks to an AI tool, he doesn’t have to.
I have been playing pen-and-paper games for over 14 years. During this time, I have tried various systems and variants. However, nearly all of them share one problem: Without a game master/Dungeon Master and co-players, it doesn’t work. That’s why I used to slip into the role of the DM myself and always prepared sessions diligently.
This was not a problem for someone like me, who had a lot of free time as a teenager. Today, however, I can no longer do that, as I no longer have the same amount of time available as before. Additionally, it is becoming increasingly difficult to coordinate a group of friends for a session.
About a year ago, I came across several sites that solved all my pen-and-paper problems at once: I’m talking about sites like airealm or oldgregstavern, which completely replace a game master using AI tools, making lengthy preparations and other participants unnecessary.
When it comes to decorative objects, I often weaken. That’s why the Lego set from Dungeons and Dragons came at a really bad time:
100 Hours of Gameplay in a Month
After discovering the concept of AI DMs and testing various sites, I was euphoric. Finally, I could experience adventures for hours at my own pace and play whenever I wanted. This went so far that within the first month, I spent nearly 100 hours on various AI pen-and-paper sites.
My personal favorite is airealm: The website is straightforward, works in any browser, and the AI crafts exciting stories for oneself or up to five players.
The principle of such sites is simple: You usually create a character with an editor or via AI chat, select a setting and starting options, and then it’s off you go. Through a chat window, the artificial intelligence describes what happens, and you simply respond via text message.
An example of what such a site looks like is shown here: On the left, you can see all ongoing campaigns, while in the middle character and text window are displayed.
This brings several advantages:
- You can play alone at your own pace.
- Depending on the AI, you can specify various parameters and thus create a multitude of scenarios. From sci-fi to series settings, the only limit is your imagination.
- The digital game master remembers everything, and requests are fulfilled without question.
However, the system is not perfect:
- An AI is not a human and often cannot understand you as well as a good friend would, which can lead to misunderstandings.
- Depending on the system, the error rate is not low, and even simple damage calculations can be wrong.
- Free versions are often limited, and a subscription is mandatory for regular players.
For me, as a fan of old text adventures, AI pen-and-paper tools came at the perfect time, but they are certainly not designed for everyone. Such websites are especially exciting for newcomers who want to get to know the hobby since they simplify lengthy preparations and complicated rules. However, for those who want to annoy their co-players or perhaps the AI, we have compiled the ultimate annoying tips.
Through sites like airealm, I rediscovered my passion for a once-forgotten hobby. Although I understand why many players like to play in a group, I and my friends simply no longer have the time to play together.
That’s why the AI tools are a blessing for me, as I can play anytime without complicated planning. Honestly, even after 100 hours, I haven’t noticed that I am playing alone, and I don’t miss my friends in this regard. For the perfect start into analog sessions, MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiss shares her wisdom with you: Start D&D for free and quickly? With these 8 essentials it works
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!