ChatGPT's suggestions for T4.

[ManOfGrey]

I couldn't help myself. I decided to ask ChatGPT the following question, and received the following answer: (FYI)

How could Traveller T4 be improved?

Traveller T4 (also known as "Marc Miller's Traveller") is a science fiction tabletop role-playing game that was first published in 1996. Here are a few possible ways in which it could be improved:

1. Streamline the rules: While T4 is known for its detailed and realistic rules, some players find them to be overly complex and time-consuming. To improve the game, the rules could be streamlined to make gameplay faster and more accessible.
2. Expand the setting: T4 is set in the Third Imperium, a vast interstellar empire. While the setting is rich and detailed, it could benefit from more exploration and expansion. New alien races, star systems, and political factions could be introduced to keep the game fresh and exciting.
3. Increase character options: T4 provides a wide variety of careers and skills for player characters, but some players may feel limited by the available options. Additional career paths, skills, and talents could be added to provide more variety and customization.
4. Improve the artwork: The artwork in T4 is functional but somewhat dated. By updating the art style and commissioning new illustrations, the game could be made more visually appealing and engaging.
5. Emphasize storytelling: While T4 offers plenty of opportunities for combat and exploration, it could benefit from a greater focus on storytelling and role-playing. By encouraging players to create interesting characters with unique motivations and backstories, the game could become more immersive and engaging.

 

[mike wightman]

Not bad suggestions but the detail is missing

Wonder what it would suggest to fix T5?

 

[mike wightman]

I had to try it

I can suggest some ways that players and game masters might improve their experience of playing Traveller 5th edition:

1. Customize the rules to fit your group's play style: Traveller 5th edition is designed to be modular and flexible, so don't be afraid to adjust or omit rules that don't work well for your group. For example, if your players prefer a more streamlined combat system, you could simplify or speed up the combat rules.
2. Collaborate with players to create a shared setting: Traveller 5th edition provides a rich and detailed universe to explore, but it can be even more rewarding to create your own setting as a group. Consider having a session zero to brainstorm and establish the parameters of your shared universe, including the tone, themes, and major factions.
3. Use the available resources to create interesting characters and settings: Traveller 5th edition includes a wealth of resources for character creation, including lifepath systems and detailed skill sets. Consider using these tools to create complex, memorable characters with unique backgrounds and motivations. Additionally, the game provides many resources for worldbuilding, including planet generation rules and trade rules, which can help you create rich, detailed settings for your adventures.
4. Emphasize role-playing and storytelling over mechanics: While Traveller 5th edition includes a wide range of rules for ship design, combat, and other mechanics, don't forget that the heart of the game is the role-playing and storytelling. Encourage your players to develop their characters and engage with the setting, and use the mechanics to support and enhance the narrative, rather than overshadowing it.

These are just a few suggestions, but ultimately the best way to improve your experience with Traveller 5th edition is to experiment, communicate with your players, and have fun!

 

[Condottiere]

Could be plagiarized from any number of roleplaying games.

 

[davidjbullock]

Could be plagiarized from any number of roleplaying games.

Yes, it's derived from any number of articles about various editions of Traveller.

 

[Condottiere]

No, I really mean in the wide kaleidoscope of available publications from any number of game systems.

The Tee Four answer seemed more specific, whereas the Tee Five is rather generic.

 

[ManOfGrey]

Actually, Mr. Wightman... thank you for also running your experiment. While the wording is different between the T4 and T5 examples, the gist of the suggestions are not. Apparently the AI does not seem as impressive as I once thought.

Regarding the Rules
(T4) 1. Streamline the rules. -- (T5) 1. Customize the rules to fit your group's game play. For example, if your players prefer a more streamlined combat system, you could simplify or speed up the combat rules.

Regarding the Setting
(T4) 2. Expand the setting. New alien races, star systems, and political factions could be introduced to keep the game fresh and exciting. -- (T5) Collaborate with your players to create a shared setting. Consider having a session zero to brainstorm and establish the parameters of your shared universe, including the tone, themes, and major factions.

Regarding Character Customization
(T4) 3. Increase character options. Additional career paths, skills, and talents could be added to provide more variety and customization. -- (T5) 3. Use the available resources to create interesting characters and settings. Consider using these tools to create complex, memorable characters with unique backgrounds and motivations.

Regarding Role-Playing
(T4) 5. Emphasize storytelling. -- (T5) 4. Emphasize role-playing and storytelling over mechanics.

About the only difference is that ChatGPT seems to really prefer the artwork of T5 over that of T4.

 

[ManOfGrey]

Not bad suggestions but the detail is missing

Good point! Why don't I ask? Let's start with ChatGPT's first suggestion.

How could the rules to Traveller T4 be streamlined?

Traveller T4 is a complex tabletop role-playing game with a significant number of rules, which can make it challenging for new players to learn and for experienced players to manage. Here are a few ways that the rules to Traveller T4 could be streamlined:

1. Simplify Character Creation: Traveller T4 has a highly detailed character creation process that involves rolling for a character's skills, attributes, and equipment. While this level of detail can be appealing to some players, it can also be overwhelming for others. Simplifying the character creation process by reducing the number of skills or attributes a character can have, or by providing pre-generated characters that players can choose from, could help streamline the game.
2. Consolidate Rules: Traveller T4 has a lot of rules that are scattered throughout the rulebook. Consolidating similar rules together and presenting them in a more organized manner would make the game easier to reference during play.
3. Use Clear Language: Some of the rules in Traveller T4 are written in dense, technical language that can be difficult to understand. Re-writing these rules in clear, plain language would make them more accessible to players.
4. Simplify Combat: Combat in Traveller T4 can be complex, with rules for movement, cover, and a range of weapons. Simplifying the combat rules by reducing the number of modifiers or options available could make the game more accessible and easier to play.
5. Reduce Bookkeeping: Traveller T4 requires a significant amount of bookkeeping, with players needing to track their character's equipment, money, and other resources. Streamlining this aspect of the game by reducing the number of resources that need to be tracked, or by simplifying how they are tracked, could make the game less burdensome for players.

Ultimately, streamlining the rules to Traveller T4 would involve finding the right balance between simplification and maintaining the game's depth and complexity. It may be helpful to get feedback from experienced players and playtesters to see which rules can be streamlined without detracting from the game's overall experience.

 

[whartung]

I'll play!

How can the rules of Traveller 4 be streamlined?

Traveller 4 (T4) is a science fiction role-playing game with a relatively complex rule set. Here are some potential ways to streamline the rules:

1. Consolidate rules and eliminate redundancies: T4 has a large number of rules and sub-rules, some of which overlap or repeat each other. By consolidating these rules and eliminating redundancies, players can focus on the core mechanics of the game without being bogged down by unnecessary complexity.
2. Simplify character creation: Character creation in T4 is a multi-step process that can be overwhelming for new players. Simplifying this process by consolidating options or providing pre-generated characters can help players get into the game more quickly.
3. Reduce the number of dice rolls: T4 uses a number of different dice rolls to resolve actions, including 2d6, 3d6, and percentile rolls. Streamlining the dice mechanics by reducing the number of different types of rolls can make gameplay faster and more intuitive.
4. Provide clear and concise explanations: The T4 rulebook can be difficult to navigate, with rules scattered across different sections and pages. By providing clear and concise explanations of rules in a single location, players can quickly find the information they need without having to search through the entire rulebook.
5. Focus on the core mechanics: T4 has a large number of optional rules and subsystems that can be overwhelming for new players. By focusing on the core mechanics of the game and introducing optional rules gradually, players can become more comfortable with the game before exploring more complex options.

Can you give some examples of #1?

Sure! Here are some examples of how the rules of T4 could be consolidated and redundancies eliminated:

1. Combining similar skills: T4 has a large number of skills that are similar in nature, such as "Drive" and "Pilot." Combining these skills into a single "Vehicle Operation" skill would simplify character creation and reduce the number of skills players need to keep track of.
2. Eliminating unnecessary rules: T4 has a number of rules that are rarely used or are redundant with other rules. For example, the "Mass Combat" rules could be eliminated if the core combat rules are expanded to accommodate large-scale battles.
3. Simplifying combat rules: T4 has a detailed combat system that involves a number of different rolls and modifiers. Simplifying the combat rules by reducing the number of rolls or eliminating modifiers that have little impact on gameplay would streamline combat and make it faster and more intuitive.
4. Consolidating equipment lists: T4 has a large number of weapons, armor, and other equipment, which can be overwhelming for new players. Consolidating equipment lists by grouping similar items together or providing pre-made packages of equipment would simplify character creation and reduce the amount of time players spend looking up equipment stats.
5. Streamlining character advancement: T4 has a detailed system for character advancement, but the number of skills and attributes can make it difficult for players to track their progress. Streamlining the character advancement system by reducing the number of skills and attributes or providing a simplified advancement track would make it easier for players to track their character's progress.

Obviously these are player suggestions from across the interwebs, digested and summarized here. But they're certainly interesting!

 

[ManOfGrey]

How can the rules of Traveller 4 be streamlined?

Traveller 4 (T4) is a science fiction role-playing game with a relatively complex rule set. Here are some potential ways to streamline the rules:

3.Reduce the number of dice rolls: T4 uses a number of different dice rolls to resolve actions, including 2d6, 3d6, and percentile rolls. Streamlining the dice
mechanics by reducing the number of different types of rolls can make gameplay faster and more intuitive.

That's interesting. I am pretty sure nowhere in the rules for T4 does the game use percentile dice. I wonder where ChatGPT got that information, especially since it's inaccurate.

 

[mike wightman]

Just did a search of the T4 core rules, percentage is mentioned in world occurrence, hydrographic percentage etc. But I can't find an instance of using percentile dice rolls.

 

[Krikkitone]

That's interesting. I am pretty sure nowhere in the rules for T4 does the game use percentile dice. I wonder where ChatGPT got that information, especially since it's inaccurate.

That’s because ChatGPT doesn’t get information, it just gets correlations.(and presents those correlations in a form we interpret as information)

 

[whartung]

Yes, there's a couple of quote from Galaxy Quest that come to mind when working with ChatGPT.

Sir Alexander Dane: [Indicated Jason] Need I remind you that this man is wearing a costume, not a uniform. He's no more qualified to lead us than

[indicating Guy]

Sir Alexander Dane: ... this fellow... No offense...

Tommy Webber: You know, with all that makeup and stuff, I actually thought you were SMART for a second.

 

[davidjbullock]

Just did a search of the T4 core rules, percentage is mentioned in world occurrence, hydrographic percentage etc. But I can't find an instance of using percentile dice rolls.

Because ChatGPT has no idea or understanding of the question or what it's saying. It's not digesting the T4 rules and giving you its opinion. To oversimplify, it's auto-completion on steroids based on the massive amounts of content that has been fed into it. A lot of the magic is in making the response appear to be conversationally coherent to the question regardless of how wrong it is.

 

[kilemall]

Because ChatGPT has no idea or understanding of the question or what it's saying. It's not digesting the T4 rules and giving you its opinion. To oversimplify, it's auto-completion on steroids based on the massive amounts of content that has been fed into it. A lot of the magic is in making the response appear to be conversationally coherent to the question regardless of how wrong it is.

So how does that differ from a typical online experience?

 

[whartung]

So how does that differ from a typical online experience?

Most people in that case either post a clarifying question or don't post at all. The key component here is, most of the time, folks know when they don't know and act on that. ChatGPT doesn't know that it, well, doesn't know.

 

[kilemall]

Most people in that case either post a clarifying question or don't post at all. The key component here is, most of the time, folks know when they don't know and act on that. ChatGPT doesn't know that it, well, doesn't know.

Heh, good point, except again a lot of putative sentient humans on forums fit the criteria of not knowing what they don’t know.