Using AI to help write freeforms: Hordes

This is the fourth in my series of using ChatGPT to help write freeform larps. I didn’t think I was going to write another one, but then I started thinking about horde games…

(See here for part 1, part 2 and part 3.)

Horde games

Horde games feature lots of small characters and a few permanent characters. Some players play the permanent characters, while everyone else plays multiple small characters, usually one at a time.

I’m not a huge fan of horde games, as they can be very intense and very silly. But I did enjoy Across the City, the horde game I played at Peaky 2023. (Here’s my review.)

One thing I like horde games to do is to make them self-contained – rather than need to interact with the permanent characters.

So this idea for a horde game is based on one scene from Across the City. I’m setting my game in seventeenth-century London, and I need a horde to populate the marketplace and make it feel like a living place. Let’s see what ChatGPT can suggest.

First prompt

Give me ten characters that you might encounter in a marketplace in seventeenth century London, with their name, occupation, what they are doing in the market and what they need from other people in the market

And ChatGPT dutifully provided me with a tailor, a herbalist, a fishmonger, a baker, a blacksmith, an apothecary, a cooper, a cheese monger, a wine merchant and a merchant. Some examples:

• Elizabeth the Herbalist - Occupation: Herbalist - She is selling various medicinal herbs, potions, and remedies. She needs fresh herbs, roots, and plants from local farmers and gatherers in the market.
• Alice the Cheese Monger - Occupation: Cheese Monger - She is selling a variety of cheeses from different regions. She needs fresh milk from local farmers and dairymen in the market.
• Henry the Wine Merchant - Occupation: Wine Merchant - He is offering a selection of wines from around the world. He needs barrels, corks, and high-quality grapes from cooperages and vineyards in the market.

Unfortunately, ChatGPT didn’t make them completely self-referential. So although Alice the cheesemonger needs milk from the dairyman, it didn’t give me a dairyman as a character. (Although I can do that – or I could have asked ChatGPT again.)

Second prompt

Now give me six customers, along with what they need and where they can get it from.

I need to work on this list, because it wasn’t great – a housewife, a cobbler, a housemaid, a bookworm, a brewer and a farmer.

• Agnes the Housewife - Needs: Fresh produce for cooking - She can get vegetables, fruits, and herbs from local farmers and greengrocers in the market.
• Olivia the Brewer - Needs: Barley and hops for brewing - She can source malted barley, hops, and other brewing ingredients from grain merchants or specialized brewing suppliers in the market.
• Matthew the Farmer - Needs: Tools and equipment for farming - He can acquire tools such as plows, scythes, and animal harnesses from blacksmiths, toolmakers, or agricultural supply vendors in the market.

Again, ChatGPT didn’t refer to the previous characters, which I was hoping it would do. I should have been specific. But rather than amend my prompt, I kept going.

Third prompt

Six people (stallholders and customers) don't get on. Why not, and what do they do?

ChatGPT gave me six conflicts (so actually twelve people who didn’t get on). My favourites:

Margaret the Apothecary and Olivia the Brewer clash due to their differing beliefs about the use of herbal remedies. Margaret believes in the power of natural herbs and traditional medicine, while Olivia thinks that modern brewing techniques and alcohol have their own medicinal benefits. They engage in heated debates, each trying to convince customers of the superiority of their methods.

Catherine the Baker and Agnes the Housewife have an ongoing disagreement over the quality of ingredients used in baking. Agnes believes that Catherine's bread and pastries are subpar and lack the freshness and flavor she expects. She often voices her dissatisfaction, which puts Catherine on the defensive and sparks arguments about the quality of Agnes' home cooking.

Fourth prompt

So who’s being naughty?

Which three couples are having a secret affair?

As well as Thomas & Margaret and Rebecca and Frederick, ChatGPT gave me:

Catherine the Baker and Samuel the Fishmonger are also engaged in a secret affair. Their forbidden love blossomed over shared lunches and whispered conversations in the bustling marketplace. Catherine, intrigued by Samuel's rugged charm and culinary knowledge, often sneaks out of her bakery to meet him near his fish stall, hidden from prying eyes.

(I later asked why Catherine and Samuel’s love was forbidden – it’s due to a long-standing feud between their families. So Romeo and Juliet, then.)

Fifth prompt

And what about criminals?

A gang of cut-purses operates in the market. Who is their leader? Who are the gang members?

I didn’t specify numbers, but ChatGPT gave me a gang leader (Malcolm the Slick) and his five accomplices: Isabella the thief, Simon the lookout, Amelia the distraction artist, Tobias the fence and Lucas the muscle. For example:

The leader of the cut-purse gang in the market is Malcolm the Slick. He is a charismatic and cunning individual who has mastered the art of pickpocketing and orchestrating thefts in the bustling marketplace.

The gang members of Malcolm's cut-purse gang include:

• Isabella the nimble-fingered thief - She is known for her exceptional dexterity and sleight of hand, able to steal valuable items from unsuspecting victims effortlessly.
• Amelia the distraction artist - Amelia excels in creating diversions to distract victims while her fellow gang members swiftly pick their pockets. She uses her wit, charm, and theatrical skills to draw attention away from the theft in progress.
• (And Simon, Tobias and Lucas.)

Sixth prompt

Who keeps the peace in the market? What is the punishment if the thieves are caught?

This was a bad question – ChatGPT summarised who maintained the peace (City Watch or Constables) and some example punishments (public floggings, branding, imprisonment.) That wasn’t what I was looking for, so, I asked again.

Seventh prompt

Give me three City Watch members who might be found in the market. Who are their contacts, and how do people know whether they are trustworthy (or not)?

Along with Captain Edmund Hawthorne and Constable Agnes Marshall, we have:

Sergeant Thomas Bennett - Sergeant Bennett is known for his no-nonsense attitude and his keen sense of order. He ensures that the City Watch patrols are organized and effectively cover the market area. His contacts include fellow City Watch members, market stallholders, and local tavern owners who provide information about criminal activities within the market. People gauge Sergeant Bennett's trustworthiness based on his consistent enforcement of the law, his direct communication style, and his reputation for swift action against troublemakers. While some might find him stern, they appreciate his commitment to maintaining order and deterring criminal behavior.

Eighth prompt

Who in the City Watch can be bribed? And why?

While the majority of the City Watch members strive to uphold the law with integrity, there may be a few corrupt individuals who can be bribed. In this case, two members of the City Watch who can be bribed are:

Constable Marcus Reynolds - Constable Reynolds is known to have a weak moral compass and a tendency to prioritize personal gain over upholding justice. He can be bribed because he has succumbed to the allure of financial incentives and favors offered by local criminals or individuals seeking to bend the law in their favor. Due to his greed and lack of principles, Constable Reynolds can be easily swayed to turn a blind eye to illegal activities or provide privileged information to those who offer him bribes.

(And Inspector Lydia Hartman, who has become disillusioned with the system.)

It is important to note that these instances of corruption are exceptions within the City Watch and do not represent the overall integrity of the organization. Most City Watch members are dedicated to their duty and maintain a high level of professionalism and integrity in upholding the law.

I enjoyed seeing ChatGPT stressing that the majority of the City Watch upholds the law with integrity and professionalism. It almost went overboard in telling me that.

Ninth prompt

Who in Malcolm's gang is a snitch?

Within Malcolm's cut-purse gang, there is a snitch named Lydia. Lydia is a member of the gang who secretly provides information to the City Watch or other rival criminal factions. She has betrayed her fellow gang members by sharing details about their plans, hideouts, and identities.

Lydia's motives for being a snitch may vary. She might be seeking personal gain, attempting to secure a deal or favor with the authorities, or simply trying to save herself from potential consequences if the gang were to be caught. Regardless of her reasons, Lydia's actions have put the entire gang at risk, making it challenging for them to operate covertly and undermining the trust and cohesion within their ranks. The gang members, including Malcolm, remain unaware of Lydia's betrayal, as she operates discreetly, posing a significant threat to their illicit activities.

That was the full response, which was fine, but I should have rephrased as I really wanted ChatGPT to name one of the existing members of Malcolm’s gang, not create a new one.

Next time

I am enjoying this immensely. I already have a long list of characters to populate my marketplace, and I could quickly create a simple horde of characters going about their daily business just from that.

But can I go further than that? Can I use GPTs to write the characters themselves? That’s next time’s challenge.