Making more interesting fantasy wargame units with A.I

Following on from this: https://lizardmandiaries.blogspot.com/2023/02/using-ai-tools-for-fantasy-wargames.html post, I thought I would try and get Chat GPT to make some more unique faction units. How to generate some faction ideas without actually thinking myself? How about some random magic cards from: https://scryfall.com/random ! I'll pull five random cards, mash them together, feed them to Chat GPT and ask for 10 units...

The random magic cards: 

The key words I see are: "Angels, Flying, Zombies, fire swords, punishment, red hair, plate armour, underground seas, caverns, salt, bulls, horns, wings, laughter magic, laughing, hideous, deafening".

So, I asked Chat GPT: 

"Make a list of ten fantasy tabletop wargaming units for the following army: Flying angel zombies who come from beneath the ground. They spawn beneath the salty oceans of underground seas. They often use fire swords and wear heavy plate armour. They often have red hair, or horns. Some of them are bull-like or half bull. They have many different types of wings. They are hideous. Their laughter is deafening and hideous. Their laughter is magical. They are obsessed with punishment.  List strengths, weaknesses, weapons used and a general description for each unit. Ensure each unit is different but is thematically part of the same army/faction." 

And got: 

Seraphic Heralds - These flying angels are the leaders of the army and wield flaming swords. They have powerful magic and can inspire nearby units to fight harder. Their wings are pure white and they wear shimmering plate armor. Strengths: Inspiring presence, magical abilities. Weaknesses: Vulnerable to anti-magic attacks.

Cost: 7 per unit

Abomination Bulls - These bull-like undead are terrifying to behold with their massive size and red, glowing eyes. They charge into battle with their horns and trample enemies beneath their hooves. Strengths: High damage output, durable. Weaknesses: Slow movement speed.

Cost: 4 per unit

Infernal Impalers - These flying undead are armed with long spears and can swoop down on unsuspecting enemies from above. They have red hair and fiery wings, and wear heavy plate armor. Strengths: Quick and agile, good at taking down heavily armored foes. Weaknesses: Vulnerable to ranged attacks.

Cost: 4 per unit

Laughing Maniacs - These undead are disturbing to look at with their twisted, hideous appearances and maniacal laughter. They use fire swords and can ignite enemies with their attacks. Strengths: Fear-inducing, good against lightly armored foes. Weaknesses: Vulnerable to psychological attacks.

Cost: 2 per unit

Punishment Enforcers - These flying angels are heavily armored and carry whips and flails to punish disobedient enemies. They can also heal nearby allies. Strengths: Good at crowd control, can heal allies. Weaknesses: Low damage output.

Cost: 4 per unit

Abyssal Chanters - These undead have bat-like wings and red hair, and use their magical laughter to disorient and confuse enemies. They can also summon additional undead units to the battlefield. Strengths: Powerful magical abilities, can summon reinforcements. Weaknesses: Low physical defense.

Cost: 5 per unit

Saltwater Revenants - These undead have spawned from the salty oceans of the underground seas and are resistant to water-based attacks. They use tridents and can move quickly through water. Strengths: Water resistance, good at amphibious assaults. Weaknesses: Vulnerable to fire attacks.

Cost: 1 per unit

Horned Fiends - These half-bull undead have powerful legs and can charge into battle with devastating force. They use axes and can cause enemies to bleed with their attacks. Strengths: High damage output, good at disrupting enemy formations. Weaknesses: Low defense against ranged attacks.

Cost: 5 per unit

Winged Harbingers - These flying undead have massive, bat-like wings and can unleash a screeching, deafening laughter that can stun enemies. They use scythes and can fly into battle with terrifying speed. Strengths: Quick and agile, good at disrupting enemy formations. Weaknesses: Low defense against ranged attacks.

Cost: 6 per unit

Plate-clad Phantoms - These undead wear heavy plate armor and use maces and shields to crush enemies. They have a ghostly appearance and can phase through walls and obstacles. Strengths: High defense, can move through terrain obstacles. Weaknesses: Low damage output.

Cost: 3 per unit

And then I asked, "Please write a backstory for that army": 

"Long ago, in a world ruled by powerful beings, the angelic order of the Celestial Realm waged a great war against the demons of the Abyss. The conflict lasted for centuries and consumed countless lives, until finally, the angels emerged victorious and banished the demon horde back to the Abyss.

However, the victory came at a great cost. Many of the angels had been corrupted by the Abyssal energies they had been exposed to during the war, and they began to exhibit demonic traits. The Celestial Realm, fearing the consequences of this corruption, banished these fallen angels to the underground seas that lay beneath the surface of their world.

Over time, the fallen angels began to change even further. The salty, Abyssal waters that surrounded them gave them a grotesque appearance and imbued them with new powers. They became hideous, flying creatures, with many different types of wings and the ability to spawn zombie minions from beneath the ground.

The fallen angels were filled with a sense of punishment and retribution, and they sought to make those who had banished them pay for their perceived sins. They were obsessed with using their newfound powers to wreak havoc on the world above, punishing those they saw as enemies and spreading fear and chaos wherever they went.

As time went on, the fallen angels continued to evolve, developing fire swords and heavy plate armor to augment their strength and defenses. Some even began to take on bull-like or half-bull forms, with red hair or horns sprouting from their grotesque bodies.

The laughter of these fallen angels had a deafening, hideous quality to it, and it was imbued with magical power. It could drive enemies mad or make them freeze in fear, leaving them vulnerable to attack.

Now, the army of the flying angel zombies from beneath the ground roams the world, seeking to punish those who would stand in their way and spreading chaos and destruction wherever they go. Their twisted bodies and unholy powers make them a terrifying foe, and their enemies tremble at the thought of facing them in battle." 

Not so bad!

Pretty quick method for putting together a fantasy army! Now I just need another army and two players! 

Using A.I tools for Fantasy Wargames

 Here's an easy way to come up with descriptive (as in no stats [though you may be able to ask the AI to give you stat for specific systems]) army/unit lists for your FKR/freeform wargaming pleasure : 

• Go to https://chat.openai.com (or AI text generator of choice). 
• Ask it to "make a list of [XAMOUNT] fantasy tabletop wargaming [XFLAVOUR] units, listing strengths, weaknesses, weapons used and a general description for each" 
• [XAMOUNT] : Insert how many units you want here! 
• [XFLAVOUR]: Insert the type of units you want here! 
• You can obviously change any aspects of this as you see fit (changing "fantasy" for "sci fi" for example. You could also change the format / ask for more or less specific detail. 
• You could also ask for specific types of units, for example "a list of five infantry units" or "a list of three ranged units". 

My assumption is you will generally get quite generic units (I assume its using warhammer wiki's and other public repositories) but you could probably get it to be more creative with some work. 

Here's what I got when I asked for, "make a list of four fantasy tabletop wargaming orc units, listing strengths, weaknesses, weapons used and a general description for each": 

I have coupled the descriptions with another AI tool, MidJourney, which you can use to make your own custom digital minis if you include the key word "tabletop miniature" and "white background". 

1. Orc Warriors

• Description: These are the basic infantry units of the orc army. They are armed with crude weapons and armor, and are often led by a particularly brutal orc warboss.
• Strengths: These units are numerous and relatively cheap, making them great for forming the core of an army. They are also very tough and resilient, able to soak up a lot of damage before going down.
• Weaknesses: Orc warriors are not particularly skilled fighters, and their weapons and armor are of low quality. They can also be slow-moving and susceptible to ranged attacks.
• Weapons Used: Orc warriors are typically armed with a variety of crude weapons, such as axes, spears, and swords.

2. Orc Boar Riders

• Description: These are orc warriors mounted on giant boars. They are particularly effective at charging into enemy lines and breaking them apart.
• Strengths: Boar riders are fast and mobile, and their boars are particularly tough and hardy. They can be devastating in a charge, breaking enemy formations and causing chaos.
• Weaknesses: Boar riders can be vulnerable to ranged attacks, particularly if they are caught in open terrain. They are also relatively expensive, and their mobility can make them difficult to control.
• Weapons Used: Orc boar riders are typically armed with spears, bows, or other ranged weapons, in addition to their boar's natural weapons (such as tusks or hooves).

3. Orc Shaman

• Description: These are orc spellcasters who draw their power from the dark forces of the universe. They use their magic to curse enemies, blast them with dark energy, and even summon demonic allies to fight on their behalf.
• Strengths: Orc shamans are extremely versatile, able to support other units with spells or fight on their own using melee or ranged attacks. They are also difficult to take down, as their magic can protect them from harm.
• Weaknesses: Orc shamans are relatively weak in hand-to-hand combat, and their magic can be unpredictable or difficult to control. They are also vulnerable to anti-magic attacks or magical interference.
• Weapons Used: Orc shamans typically use spells to attack enemies, but they may also be armed with crude weapons such as staffs or daggers.

4. Orc Warboss

• Description: This is the leader of the orc army, a massive and brutal warrior who inspires fear and loyalty in his followers. Warbosses are armed with powerful weapons and are often accompanied by a retinue of loyal bodyguards.
• Strengths: Warbosses are incredibly tough and powerful, able to take on entire units of enemy soldiers by themselves. They can inspire nearby units to fight harder and more fiercely, and their leadership can make the difference in a close battle.
• Weaknesses: Warbosses can be expensive and difficult to control, as they are often prone to bouts of anger or recklessness. They can also be vulnerable to ranged attacks or magical interference, which can take them down from a distance.
• Weapons Used: Orc warbosses are typically armed with massive weapons such as greataxes, warhammers, or giant cleavers, which they use to cleave through enemy formations.

And then, they need someone to fight against!

"Make a list of four fantasy tabletop wargaming undead units, listing strengths, weaknesses, weapons used and a general description for each":

1. Skeleton Warriors

• Description: These are basic infantry units of the undead army, made up of animated skeletons equipped with crude weapons and armor. They are typically led by necromancers or other powerful undead commanders.
• Strengths: Skeleton warriors are numerous and relatively cheap, making them great for forming the core of an army. They are also very tough and resilient, able to keep fighting even after taking significant damage.
• Weaknesses: Skeleton warriors are not particularly skilled fighters, and their weapons and armor are of low quality. They can also be vulnerable to anti-undead attacks or magical interference.
• Weapons: Swords, spears, axes, shields

2. Grave Guard

• Description: These are elite undead soldiers, dressed in ornate armor and wielding powerful weapons. They are often the personal guard of vampire lords or other powerful undead leaders.
• Strengths: Grave guard are highly skilled fighters, able to hold their own against even the most skilled opponents. They are also very resilient and can take a lot of damage before going down.
• Weaknesses: Grave guard can be expensive and difficult to acquire, making them harder to field in large numbers. They can also be vulnerable to anti-undead attacks or magical interference.
• Weapons: Swords, halberds, greatswords, shields

3. Banshees

• Description: These are ethereal undead spirits, haunting the battlefield with their mournful wails. They are typically found leading spectral units or providing magical support to undead armies.
• Strengths: Banshees are very fast and agile, able to move through solid objects and avoid attacks. They can also use their wails to demoralize or even kill enemy units.
• Weaknesses: Banshees are very weak physically, and can be easily dispatched by even a single well-placed attack. They are also vulnerable to anti-undead attacks or magical interference.
• Weapons: None (ethereal)

4. Crypt Ghouls

• Description: These are undead creatures resembling ghouls, with razor-sharp teeth and claws. They are often used as shock troops or to infiltrate enemy lines.
• Strengths: Crypt ghouls are very fast and agile, able to move quickly across the battlefield and strike from unexpected angles. They are also very deadly in close combat, with their sharp teeth and claws.
• Weaknesses: Crypt ghouls are not particularly resilient, and can be taken down relatively easily if they are caught in the open. They are also vulnerable to anti-undead attacks or magical interference.
• Weapons: Teeth, claws.

Finally, you can even use MidJourney to make a battlefield for you: