I Hope D&D Is Paying Attention To The Ennies' AI Ban For TTRPGs

screenrant.com:

I couldn’t be happier with the ENNIES’ decision to ban any works that include AI-generated elements from consideration in their awards, and I sincerely hope Wizards of the Coast, the owner and publisher of , takes notice. I have been a tabletop RPG hobbyist for decades now. Seeing the encroachment of AI in TTRPG products, from Large Language Models generating the text of books to the use of AI in creating algorithmically generated images, twists my stomach in knots. I applaud the ethical decision of the ENNIE Awards, and my hope is WOTC will make a course correction.

A few months ago, Hasbro’s AI plans offended fans. The company that owns the world’s most well-known TTPRG seemingly fails to understand what makes the hobby special, and why AI troubles consumers. There is the environmental impact to consider, along with the fact that much of AI-produced content is essentially theft, mimicking the styles of hard-working writers and artists. People trying to make a living with commercial art or tabletop RPG writing already face an uphill battle, as I know from personal experience. Beyond this, AI robs TTPRGs of that vital human connection.

Anyone who regularly browses DriveThruRPG and other TTRPG marketplaces is aware of the rising tide of books that flagrantly showcase AI-created art, and many with LLM-produced writing. The annual ENNIE Awards consider 5e books, alongside all other TTRPG systems. If WOTC does not change its plans, there could be a scenario where books are not eligible for these awards. The ENNIE Awards are the most prestigious awards fully dedicated to tabletop RPGs. When the ENNIES announced its policy on AI recently, which will go into effect with the 2025-2026 submission cycle, it drew a line in the sand.

Some incorrectly state that the use of AI art in Tabletop RPGs helps to "" TTRPGs, but an indie game could either simply forego art, or license one of the reasonably priced libraries of paid stock art, many of which are available on the same