The Living Chronicle: Automating Adventure Logs and World State in Tabletop RPGs

 J. Rogers, SE Ohio

Abstract

This paper explores a novel methodology for enhancing tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) campaigns through the real-time transcription, extraction, and integration of session data into a multi-layered, hierarchical world state. By leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and structured data models, adventure logs are dynamically created for individual characters, framing each player as the protagonist of their unique narrative. Concurrently, the system automatically updates the status of dungeons, villages, and the overarching world map, reflecting the tangible consequences of player actions. This approach not only streamlines campaign management but also fosters a more immersive, reactive, and personalized storytelling experience, where problem-solving — for better or worse — generates quantifiable and visible ripple effects across the game world.

1. Introduction

Tabletop RPGs thrive on emergent narratives and player agency. However, the meticulous task of recording session details, tracking world changes, and maintaining consistent character arcs often falls solely on the Game Master (GM), leading to administrative burden and potential inconsistencies. Traditional adventure logs are typically summary-based and GM-centric. This paper proposes a system that automates the generation of detailed, character-specific adventure logs and dynamically updates the game world by processing real-life session audio. The goal is to create a "living chronicle" that reflects player actions as tangible changes within a structured, multi-scale game environment.

2. The Multi-Layered World State

Our proposed system operates on a pre-existing hierarchical data model comprising:

1. World Map: The broadest scale, detailing continents, kingdoms, major geographical features, and political entities.

2. Local Map (e.g., Village Hex Map): An intermediate scale, focusing on specific settlements, surrounding wilderness, regional NPCs, and local concerns.

3. Tactical Map (e.g., Dungeon Map): The most granular scale, detailing specific locations like dungeons, buildings, or combat arenas, including room layouts, object placements, and NPC positions.

Each layer is interconnected, allowing events at one scale to potentially influence others. For instance, clearing a dungeon (Tactical) might bring prosperity to a nearby village (Local), which in turn could enhance the standing of its ruling lord within the kingdom (World).

3. Session Transcription and Data Extraction

The core of this system relies on high-quality real-time audio transcription of the TTRPG session.

1. Audio Capture: Utilizing sensitive microphones, the entire session audio is recorded.

2. Speaker Diarization: Advanced speech-to-text algorithms with speaker diarization capabilities identify individual speakers (GM and players). This is crucial for attributing actions and dialogue to specific characters.

3. Transcription: The audio is converted into a text transcript, timestamped and attributed to speakers.

4. Natural Language Processing (NLP) & Named Entity Recognition (NER): The transcript is then processed to extract key information:

   • Named Entities: Player Characters (PCs), Non-Player Characters (NPCs), locations (dungeons, rooms, buildings, villages, kingdoms), items, and plot points.

   • Actions: Verbs and predicates describing character interactions, combat maneuvers, skill checks, discoveries, and decisions.

   • Outcomes: Successes, failures, consequences of actions (e.g., "goblin defeated," "door unlocked," "NPC convinced").

   • Emotional Tone: Analysis of dialogue to infer emotional states, which can impact NPC relationships or plot progression.

4. Character-Centric Adventure Logs: Each Hero's Journey

In addition to a monolithic GM log, the system generates individualized adventure logs for each player character, making them the hero of their own stories.

1. Filtering and Prioritization: For each PC, the system filters the full transcript, prioritizing dialogue and actions directly involving that character. Mentions of the character, their dialogue, their combat turns, and their skill checks form the backbone of their log.

2. Narrative Framing: Using extracted data, each PC's log is framed from their perspective, highlighting their contributions, challenges, and successes. For example: "As Elara scouted ahead, she deftly disarmed the tripwire, saving the party from a nasty trap."

3. Personalized Milestones: Key achievements, level-ups, significant loot acquired, new abilities gained, and important NPC interactions are automatically added, creating a dynamic chronicle of their personal journey.

4. Relationship Tracking: NPCs interacted with are noted, and inferred relationship shifts (e.g., "gained favor with," "antagonized") are recorded, contributing to the character's personal social network within the game.

5. Dynamic World State Updates

The extracted adventure log data is then used to update the multi-layered world state, reflecting the consequences of the adventure.

5.1. Dungeon Map Updates (Tactical Layer)

• Combat Outcomes: If specific monsters in a room are defeated, their tokens are removed or marked as "vanquished."

• Discoveries: Secret doors, hidden passages, or traps triggered are permanently marked on the map.

• Environmental Changes: If players set fire to a room, flood a corridor, or collapse a ceiling, these changes are visually and data-wise represented.

• Loot & Resources: Locations where treasure was found are marked "looted," preventing accidental re-placing of items.

5.2. Village Map Updates (Local Layer)

• NPC Status: If an NPC is rescued, recruited, or even killed, their status in the village data is updated. Relationships with the party are adjusted.

• Building Changes: If a quest leads to the repair of a building, the construction of a new structure, or the destruction of another, the local map reflects this.

• Economic Shifts: Successful trade ventures, clearing local bandit threats, or securing new resources can lead to visual and data-driven representations of village prosperity or decline (e.g., new market stalls, dilapidated buildings).

• Local Reputation: The village's overall perception of the party (good or bad) is updated, influencing future NPC interactions.

5.3. World Map Updates (Global Layer)

• Political Shifts: Interactions with high-level NPCs (e.g., royalty, powerful guild leaders, avatars of good or evil) can trigger diplomatic changes, territorial disputes, or alliances, visually represented on the world map.

• Major Quest Resolution: Successfully completing a world-threatening quest could mark a region as "secured" or "peaceful."

• Faction Influence: Player actions that bolster or undermine major factions could be reflected by changes in their territorial control or influence zones.

• Global Reputation: Similar to the local level, the party's reputation on a global scale would be tracked, affecting encounters with powerful entities or entire kingdoms.

6. Integration with Other AI Services.

Story writing that turns a parties gaming session into song, stories, or poems would be amazing.  Depicting the actions of the party as a graphic novel would be very cool. 

7. The Impact of "Getting Noticed"

A critical aspect of this system is its ability to quantify and visualize the impact of player actions, both positive and negative.

• Positive Recognition: Successfully solving problems, saving towns, or defeating major threats leads to:

  • Increased reputation scores at various scales.

  • Offers of patronage, land, or titles.

  • NPCs remembering and aiding the party.

  • Visual changes reflecting prosperity or safety.

• Negative Consequences: Unforeseen outcomes, acts of villainy, or unsolved problems can lead to:

  • Decreased reputation, making NPCs wary or hostile.

  • Bounties placed on characters.

  • Increased banditry, monster activity, or social unrest.

  • Visual deterioration of affected areas.
    

And remember, rising fortunes with one group will make other groups that oppose that faction react negatively towards the party.

This feedback loop reinforces player agency and the consequences of their choices, making the game world feel truly alive and reactive.

8. Conclusion

The integration of real-time transcription, NLP, and dynamic world state updates represents a significant leap forward in TTRPG campaign management. By automating adventure logging and making each character the hero of their own story, GMs are freed from tedious record-keeping, allowing them to focus on immersive storytelling. More importantly, the system's ability to visibly and quantifiably update dungeons, villages, and the world map based on player actions creates a living, reactive chronicle where every decision, every success, and every failure leaves a lasting mark. This fosters deeper immersion, greater player agency, and a campaign experience that feels truly epic and personalized.

8. Future Work

Future iterations could explore predictive analytics for potential plot hooks based on world state changes, AI-driven NPC reactions, and multi-modal output (e.g., generating brief narrative summaries or visual representations of world changes alongside map updates).

Recognition

This extends work of Alex Lockhart in his adventure transcription service.   All I am doing is extending his work to work as automated updates to my campaign manger.