Generative AI is without doubts a big deal for any wargame or RPG designer. Of course, the opinions regarding AI as an artwork are somewhat diverse, but whatever you think about it, you have to admit that it’s a powerful tool, especially for miniatures and tabletop game designers. It’s used by more and more RPG and wargaming companies nowadays.
Software like Stable Diffusion allows for the generation of diverse assets like character designs, landscapes, and objects in a matter of minutes. This means designers can create dynamic armies, terrain, and worlds quickly and easily. With less time spent on asset creation, designers can focus more on storytelling and game mechanics. This, in turn, results in more immersive and engaging gaming experiences for players.
However, Stable Diffusion can be pretty complex or even daunting for beginners. There are some YouTube tutorials or articles scattered throughout the Internet, but would you like to get all the knowledge in one place? This new book launched on Kickstarter might be the solution.
“Creating Anime and Manga Artwork with AI”: A Useful Tool for Wargamers and RPG Creators
It’s the first book ever on this topic, perfect for anyone interested in this tech and learning new skills. While it has anime and manga in the title, it goes much beyond these art styles and will be equally helpful for the creation of more traditional Western-style illustrations, such as those in Dungeons and Dragons books. The book even contains tips on creating photorealistic-style illustrations. Unlike commercial alternatives, Stable Diffusion provides users with the freedom to explore different artistic styles without constraints.
The book will guide a reader in installing, setting up, and expanding the software to quickly and efficiently make AI-assisted artwork. Additional stretch goals cover the ComfyUI user interface, using LLMs for storyboarding, or making book covers with AI. You’ll also learn how to build effective prompts and improve your techniques to achieve the exact results you desire and generate images that meet your vision. Stable Diffusion models based on 8-bit and 16-bit pixel art are perfect for generating retro artwork for RPGs based on this popular style, and it’s another useful thing you can learn, which is often recently featured in indie board games. There are also chapters on img2img, refining pictures or using your artwork in social media. While it sounds complex, the book breaks down these complicated tasks into simple steps. There is even a PDF sample of the book available on the Kickstarter page, allowing you to check how it works in practice.
A planned table of contents of the book
The Checkpoint Workbook: Exclusive Reward
One of the exclusive rewards available to backers is the Checkpoint Workbook, a curated collection of model checkpoints and Low-Rank Adaptations (LoRAs). This comprehensive resource serves as a roadmap for users, guiding them through the vast landscape of artistic possibilities offered by Stable Diffusion. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for your next project or looking to refine your creative style, the Checkpoint Workbook has you covered.
Kickstarter Campaign is On Now
The Kickstarter campaign is set to conclude on July 5th, so now is the time to get involved. If you’re curious about using AI artwork in your RPG or wargaming books or eager to explore new creative possibilities, consider backing this project. As the author claims, it’s probably the first book on this subject to be released. Check this Stable Diffusion book on Kickstarter now!
