I’ve been feeling pretty down lately because whenever I share my thoughts against using AI generators, I keep getting negative responses from the community.
To me, tabletop gaming is supposed to be about using your imagination and coming up with original ideas. Why would you want a machine to handle the creative stuff for you? It just feels empty and lifeless. Things like player backstories, campaign plots, and custom rules should come from your own mind, not from some algorithm.
I’m totally okay with using published adventures and random tables though, since actual people wrote those. They can spark ideas and help when you’re stuck, instead of replacing your creativity entirely.
Anyone else feel this way or am I just being too old fashioned about this whole thing?
you’re definitely not alone here. there’s something magical about sitting around a table with friends, just making stuff up as you go - ai can’t touch that. yeah, it’s convenient, but where’s the fun? my best gaming memories happened when we threw the plan out the window and just winged it.
I get where you’re coming from, but I think there’s more nuance to this. I’ve been GMing for fifteen years and had the same concerns when AI tools first showed up. What changed my mind was realizing these tools don’t replace creativity - they’re just another source of inspiration, like published adventures or supplement books. When I’m burned out from work and my creative tank is empty, an AI prompt can give me that spark I need. Then I build it into something that’s actually mine. The difference is how you use it. Copy-pasting AI content straight into your game? Yeah, that’s hollow. But using it like a random encounter table to kickstart brainstorming? That makes sense to me. The creativity happens when you adapt those ideas and weave them into your campaign world.
Look, I’ve spent years building systems and watching people argue about “pure” coding versus frameworks. This feels identical.
Here’s what managing teams taught me: creativity isn’t starting from scratch every time. It’s solving problems in interesting ways.
After a 60-hour work week, sometimes I need a quick NPC name or basic plot hook to get rolling. Once players start interacting, that’s when real creativity kicks in. How does this NPC react when the rogue pickpockets them? What happens when players ignore my hook and go left instead of right?
The magic happens at the table, not in prep. I’ve seen campaigns built on published modules become incredible because of player choices and GM adaptation. I’ve also seen games with 100% original content fall flat because the GM was too attached to their creation to roll with the chaos.
Your concerns are valid though. If someone’s just reading AI responses word-for-word during sessions, yeah that’ll feel hollow. But most people aren’t doing that.
There’s a generational shift happening that goes way beyond tools. Newer players sometimes treat RPGs like video games - optimize everything upfront instead of embracing the messy collaborative storytelling that makes tabletop special. It’s not about AI vs. published content. It’s about keeping that improvisational spirit alive during play. I’ve watched GMs obsess over perfect prep whether they wrote it or generated it. Both miss the point. What matters? Being present at the table and rolling with whatever your players throw at you. My best sessions came from ditching my prep completely and following player curiosity down weird rabbit holes. The real issue is GMs who can’t adapt when players derail their plans - doesn’t matter how those plans got made.
I get the frustration, but I think we’re missing something bigger. I’ve been GMing for eight years, and the real problem isn’t the tools - it’s when people completely check out of being creative. You nailed it about published adventures though. Those are still community creativity. When I run a module, I’m constantly tweaking it for my table, my players, my world. AI tools work the same way if you use them right. What actually worries me? GMs who refuse to go off-script, whether that script came from a person or an algorithm. Real creativity in tabletop happens during improvisation and player moments you can’t prepare for anyway.