How to Make a 1 Page Illustrated RPG

More about How to Make a 1 Page Illustrated RPG

This is probably only for a niche audience. But since I recently discovered, totally by accident, that generative AI models, specifically ChatGPT, can create, from scratch, an (almost usable) illustration for a simple 1 Page RPG I decided to share how to get closer to something actually readable. While it's been eons since I played a TTRPG I found this process fascinating. So bear with me as I over explain.

The main problem is text.

Unfortunately, without specifically provided text, the randomly generated results are barely 80% legible.

Why?

This is the DDG generated description of the attached image: A neon-themed, dark, post-apocalyptic RPG ruleset featuring character creation with options like Pure Strain Human, Cyber-Enchantress, Scavenger, and Bioengineered, each with unique stats and special abilities. The gameplay section outlines core rules, an example of play involving a scavenger and a turret, and a mission objective to find a 'Master Override Ticket' within a crumbling, neon-drenched futuristic ruin called Neon Metropolis. The game also includes an adventure map with locations like the Hall of Mirrors, Radioactive Popcorn Stand, Carnival Gates, and Self-Destruct Control Room. The NPC section introduces characters such as 'The Holographic Sorceress', 'Carnival Mutants' (clowns), and 'Cyborg Frankenstein', each with distinct behaviors. The bottom of the image features a warning about cotton candy being 80% sugar and 20% enriched uranium, and a logo for 'Kestrel's Nest Gaming'.

Believe it or not you can copy-and-paste that and use it to generate...something. But if you want a readable, actually usable, 1 page RPG card you will need to play with text to text AI. Ask it to create a PROMPT for use with GENERATIVE AI image generators (otherwise the prompts seem to default to Midjourney or Stable Diffusion formats) and NAME the target generator (ChatGPT, Grok, etc) in your prompt. Don't forget to include WHAT SORT OF GAME you want. Include details. Feel free to copy and paste the above and test it, but all you need is to prompt for something like "a children's fairytale storytelling fantasy RPG with elves, fairies, and princesses with a clearly set goal". Or whatever genre you prefer.

Your results, unless using a high quality PRO model, will probably look great as a thumbnail but, when zoomed in to examine details, be a mess. Fixing this requires YOU to provide the generator TEXT. For the best result you will want to have a good layout, that's why you need to ask Gemini or ChatGPT to create a prompt.

This may take several attempts in different generators if relying on free ones. But you should eventually get a usable output in the form of a very long prompt. (Mine was too long to use here, sadly. Thus the low quality sample image.) Once you've tested a prompt, and it works, meaning it produces an acceptable 1 page illustrated RPG, KEEP IT. [EDIT: And KEEP THAT PROMPT, the one asking ChatGPT or Gemini to generate a prompt. I can't stress this enough. I realized I forgot to do that when going back to generate a prompt for a different test RPG and decided the one was enough.] This is now going to be your working prompt template. Back up this file. Create a work file. Edit as you wish. Copy-and-paste into your favorite AI image generator, picking whatever generative model you prefer. It's that simple.

Step 1: Outline your concept.
Step 2: Write a prompt, including your concept Outline, asking the AI to format the concept AS A PROMPT for "an illustrated 1 page RPG" (or whatever you specifically want).
Step 3: Run your prompt through your AI of choice, editing the prompt until you get a output prompt that looks workable to you.
Step 4: Test your new prompt.
Step 5: Repeat process until you get a satisfactory result.

That's it. More or less.

Remember this will only work with Generative AI models like ChatGPT or Nano Banana. The sample image attached to this article was created with ChatGPT but I also used the same prompt in Gemini. Gemini (Nano Banana) produced more legible text, but the ChatGPT image had more character. But that's personal preference. Now...

Try it!

That's how the image for this tongue-in-cheek 1 page RPG was created. Need clarification, but don't want to ruin the surprise by asking publicly? Use the DDG e-mail. Yep, we Dreamers do have one. Look for the envelope icon with the word "Messages" next to it in the drop down menu. Cheers! 🍻