Who's Who in Krakow

[Ryan Pendergast]

Hi all. On a total lark I started using AI to generate some NPCs and then discovered how to create their portraits. I went back this evening and created portraits for all of the primary NPCs from FCoK. Sharing here just in case someone else may be interested.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qmIMzXx6cKb-r_CIAaZEHKwZu0DRuMGs/view?usp=drive_link

[Bulldog1972]

Forgot to put this in my first reply: Cool concept! Doesn't look like it generates stats, so I assume you had characters already & had AI flesh them out?

Now that the topic is out there, I'm intrigued. What AI do you use?

I'm specifically looking for something to generate pictures of the PCs & NPCs for a US campaign set in present day or a few years out.

[Raellus]

Those portraits look great.

As someone who admires concept art but lacks the skill to produce it myself, AI is an attractive option. That said, I worry about its impact on artists. A lot of artists- writers, actors, visual- are very concerned about their livelihood being threatened by AI (see the recent Hollywood writers' and SAG strikes).

For personal use, it's a really neat tool- one for which I can't really see any downside. For publication, on the other hand, it can be a bit tricky. Free League, for example, has legal language in its fan publication guidelines that discourages the use of AI for some materials, and requires that acceptable AI images be clearly identified as such. I included a few AI-generated images in The Poisoned Chalice (a T2k mini-adventure); I wanted to include more (especially portraits of its featured NPCs), but I felt a bit weird about it and, ultimately, decided not to.

Anyway, sorry for the pontification. Thanks for sharing your application of the tool.

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[Ryan Pendergast]

Here's a comparison of the original module art with the AI-generated portraits. I'm sharing for no other reason than I'm just amazed that this technology exists (and is free).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SS1fb3frk4a98M5rR_-BMk7vk0OpA0Yi/view?usp=sharing

Also, here is an updated version of the Who's Who in Krakow pages from the original GDW module including some expanded biographies of NPCs either hinted at or mentioned in passing in the module.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qmIMzXx6cKb-r_CIAaZEHKwZu0DRuMGs/view?usp=sharing

[Ursus Maior]

Interesting approach. Which AI was used here?

[Raellus]

Here's a comparison of the original module art with the AI-generated portraits. I'm sharing for no other reason than I'm just amazed that this technology exists (and is free).

It's really impressive what that AI can do. What input did you give the AI? I'm assuming, based on the uncanny likenesses, that you fed it the OG module portraits. Is that so? Was there any other input?

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[Ryan Pendergast]

No, this is done using text inputs. That's why I wanted to share the comparison/side-by-side images as I was shocked at how close they came out. You type in a general description of what you're looking for and then generate. It generally is only taking 2-3 requests to get a really suitable portrait.

I'm playing with NightCafe Creator. Its free and seems to work really well.

I think Referee's descriptions of NPCs are always superior so I'm not advocating this as a replacement for role-playing or anything. More of a nostalgic trip for trip as I have so many fond memories of being a 12 year old, barely able to find Poland on a map, and me and my buddies sneaking through Krakow trying to steal the helicopter! Fun just to revisit the original module and take a fresh look at these NPCs I spent hours talking with 40 years ago.