There is a lot of talk today in the Tabletop RPG Design scene regarding AI, and the use thereof. AI used to create “art” for TTRPGs, especially for small creators (and big ones, like “Wizards of the Coast”). AI used to help write games, in whole or just parts. These are almost universally seen as Bad Things, but still you have lazy and cheap people (and companies) who sadly continue to persist in the use of these “tools”.
But something I very rarely see people talking about is the use of AI to edit TTRPGs.
Now I’m not talking about someone making use of AI as a glorified spell checker, mind you. I’m talking about people who ostensibly “write” their own TTRPG, then run it through AI to take the place of hiring an actual editor. Someone who is an actual professional in the field, who can help a writer actually present their thoughts in the best possible way.
No AI is doing that, and yet, there are still creators out there who insist on using these “tools” to edit their work… and frankly, the results speak for themselves (which is to say, they suck).
Look, I get it. Hiring outside artists, editors, and others to help you with your TTRPG can be expensive, especially if you are just starting out and really don’t have a budget for this. That said, as I said in a previous article, you can use cheap and free options to provide art for your game. Likewise, you can use cheap and free options for editing your game, as well.
For example, have you considered just editing it yourself? Yes, it won’t be as good as hiring someone to look over your writing with an outside perspective, but it is better than sending out your raw text. Also, you can crowd source your editing by asking your play testers to offer up their thoughts, let you know when your grammar could be improved, and so on. Also, if you have almost no budget to work with but absolutely need an editing pass done, have you looked on Fiverr? I’m seeing offers for professional proofreading and editing services for as low as $5. Not per hour, but per book. Obviously not all of these folk will be able to work on a TTRPG, and the quality will vary from person to person, but it is certainly better than nothing.
And they are most certainly better than using AI.
