For names, I tend to use Behind the Name's random name generator.
RebelMage
joined 2 years ago
I don't use ChatGPT and don't plan to. For me, part of the fun of running games is being creative and doing the work of coming up with stuff myself. I don't have as much of an issue with ChatGPT as with machine generated images, so that's not why I avoid it. I just think the creative work is part of the experience, and us humans can also do that far better than a computer program. ChatGPT can't easily draw on campaign-specific themes and symbolism, can't foreshadow the greater mysteries going on. I mean, it likely can if specifically prompted to, but then you're still doing most of the work myself.
And if I want to randomly generate something... Well, we're all into TTRPG's; that's what dice are for. (Or tarot decks. I have too many of those. They're just so pretty and I keep hoarding them.)
Are percentage-based skills hard to understand? I've played a bunch of BRP stuff (Call of Cthulhu/Delta Green), so it's basically second nature to me.
Though maybe it's because you're mixing d100 and d20 at that point...
In case you want to play D&D 5E but without supporting WotC while also having more customisation options: Check out Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition. It's also got its own thing for inspiration: during character creation, you pick – other than heritage, background, and culture – a destiny. It's what your character is meant to do, their story, their goals. This destiny gives you another means of gaining inspiration (things tied to your destiny) and a unique way to spend inspiration. (Also, you gain a special destiny feat when you accomplish a big thing related to your destiny!)
The Friendly with a touch of the Collector but the collection is just consumables I haven't used because... what if I need them more later?