A.I., my thought on it and Metro...

 

So here's the controversy, to use A.I. or not?

 It is obvious that I use it to generate images for Metro, which has added to the vision, but do I use it to generate other things? And if so, how much should I lean on it?

I must admit that it has been helpful in coming up with room descriptions for my actual sessions (in the current duet campaign I have been running). But I have also been using it flesh-out concepts that I have for Æther City. 

From names to actual mechanics. Sometimes.

And of course I still rely on my own imagination. And I tweak stuff that A.I. generates for me. But, as I see it, our constant push to incorporate A.I. in all aspects of our lives will have dire repercussion if we can't veer away from irresponsibility. And the Robot Wars are coming, make no mistake. So I'm going to try and at least get something out of the deal while I can. 

My only real problem is with the environmental impact my use of A.I. has.

Does this make me a bad person? 

Will this prevent some people from appreciating what I'm creating?

 We'll see.

...but I hope not.

Now in its sophomore era...

 It was almost three years ago that I started working on Metropolis. I knew I wanted to eventually DM, having not since about the mid nineties, and wanted, like so many nascent game masters before me, come up with my own setting. So I came up with an idea. Magic meets technology. Urban. And a fictitious version of our modern world. Niche. It was a world I felt drawn to after playing high fantasy ad nauseam. 

 So the Work began. 

Soon I had a setting, and a friend that was willing to play in it. The duet campaign started, and the fleshing out of Æther City continued. And all during the campaign, and the extended break we took, work on Æther City carried on. A little idea? Work on Metro. Free time in front of the TV? Work on Metro. Penning a new session? Work on Metro. After a while, what began as a simple idea tied to a desire that seemed out-of-reach at the time, became something. 

Now, with the freshman "year" is over, and work's now being done on subclasses and specialized backgrounds (as well as holidays and other assorted lore), Metropolis' sophomore era is in full swing. Thoughts of publishing a PDF on DM's Guild has begun stirring and running games set in Æther City on StartPlaying are becoming a thing. So for those wishing to learn more about Metro, and my process, this is the place to return to from time to time.

 Here's to the future.