There’s something oddly satisfying about capturing the chaos of a tabletop RPG session and turning it into something concrete. The idea started as an experiment: recording game sessions on Discord, transcribing them, and seeing what could be made of the results. While it’s slower and definitely less effective than writing a recap by hand, it’s all in good fun. The mistakes that come from the process often lead to moments of unexpected comedy—and, occasionally, new ideas.
Below is an example of a session summary generated by AI:
Tides of Chaos: A Session on the High Seas
The salty breeze of the open sea did little to temper the bizarre antics aboard this peculiar vessel, a ramshackle crew cobbled together from questionable origins and even more questionable morality. At its helm—well, loosely speaking—was Egon, the hapless captain, a man whose leadership was as solid as driftwood. Around him, chaos reigned supreme.
A Ship in Distress
It began with a signal: a sinking merchant ship flailing flags in desperation. The crew, after much debate (and jokes at Egon’s expense), decided to investigate. As they approached, arguments over whether to assist or take advantage of the situation grew louder. “Why not board them and ‘recruit’ survivors?” one suggested. Another countered, “What if we just take the opium and leave them the fish?” This pragmatic-yet-morally-dubious suggestion summed up the crew’s ethos: efficiency with a side of chaos.
A brutal boarding followed. The crew struggled with rolls, strategies, and their own incompetence. The result? Victory—at a cost. The crew’s morale took a hit, Egon’s authority continued to erode, and yet they secured opium, whale oil, and strange metal cargo. “Let’s just sell it before someone asks questions,” muttered Two Shark, the fishman with a penchant for climbing the rigging.
The Surgeon’s Dark Art
Among the survivors was an unlucky soul, plucked from the sinking wreckage and dragged aboard for interrogation. What followed could only be described as macabre: tongue-removal surgery performed in the most unsanitary conditions imaginable. Amid clouds of opium smoke and nervous laughter, the “patient” was sedated, his tongue removed, and the wounds cauterized with less precision than a drunk carpenter with a blowtorch. “See? He’s fine!” declared the makeshift doctor. No one looked convinced.
Port of Shadows
The ship limped into Najar, a town reeking of fish, salt, and ill repute. The slave market buzzed with activity, drawing wary glances from some crew members and eager calculations from others. “Couldn’t we just buy some slaves as crew?” one asked, half-joking. In the end, they sold their ill-gotten cargo, haggled over leather goods in the bazaar, and tried to blend in with the local criminal element.
The captain (reluctantly) approved a luxurious guided tour of the city. Led by a suave guide named Nassim, the crew marveled at the sprawling university, historic forts, and bustling markets. Two Shark, ever the opportunist, eyed every shiny object with an appraisal for resale.
Morale, Mayhem, and Moving On
With supplies restocked and wallets heavier, the crew prepared to leave Najar behind. New recruits bolstered their ranks, including a pair of simian laborers who quickly became the subject of both practical jokes and existential musings. “Are they crew or…specimens?” someone quipped darkly. Morality aboard this ship was as fluid as the tide.
As the session drew to a close, plans for the next leg of their journey began to take shape. Maddock, a mysterious NPC they were meant to escort, loomed large in their thoughts. The promise of more profit—and more chaos—beckoned.
A Motley Tale
This session wasn’t just about strategy or objectives; it was a swirling cocktail of comedy, absurdity, and mischief. Whether it was haggling for overpriced goods, debating naval combat tactics mid-battle, or performing dubious medical experiments, the crew proved one thing: they might not be the best sailors, but they were certainly the most memorable.
Tools for the Job
Recording starts with Craig, a Discord bot that can record audio directly from the server. It handles overlapping voices well enough to make the next steps possible. After the session, the recording gets uploaded to Riverside.fm, which generates a transcription. While not perfect—especially with the inevitable cross-talk of an RPG—it works well enough to provide a rough script of what happened.
The transcription is then run through ChatGPT to generate a summary. The results are often a mix of accurate retellings and amusingly surreal interpretations, offering a fresh and hilarious way to revisit the events of the game.
Why Go Through This Process?
Although this method isn’t better than sitting down to write a proper recap (not even by a long mile), it has its own peculiar charm. The transcription’s mistakes often create comedic reinterpretations, highlighting the absurdity and creativity of the session. Sometimes, these odd summaries reveal perspectives or threads that might not have been noticed otherwise, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the process.
Steps to Capture and Summarize a Game Session
- Set Up Craig: Add the Craig bot to a Discord server and use simple commands to start recording during the session. Players should, of course, be aware and agree to being recorded.
- Record the Session: Let Craig handle the recording. The bot’s ability to separate audio tracks is particularly useful for clarity.
- Transcribe With Riverside.fm: Upload the recording to Riverside and let the platform create a transcription. While it won’t catch every nuance, it provides a readable and mostly accurate version of the session.
- Summarize With ChatGPT: Input the transcription into ChatGPT to generate a summary. Adjust prompts as needed to get the desired level of detail or tone.
- Review the Results: The output can act as both a recap and a quirky reinterpretation of the session. Whether accurate or slightly off, it offers a new perspective on the events.
Why It’s Worth Trying
The process is undeniably chaotic, but that’s part of what makes it entertaining. It’s not about getting a perfect recap; it’s about embracing the mess and seeing what emerges. Sometimes it’s useful, sometimes it’s just funny—but it’s always a unique way to revisit the game.
For anyone curious to explore their game sessions from a slightly different angle, this method is worth a try. It’s an exercise in embracing the chaos, turning it into something tangible, and finding new ways to appreciate the stories being told around the table.