LLM warhammer40k Autobattler
I was really bored on a flight which had free messaging, but paid wifi. I had access to GPT-4 and figured I could invent some Warhammer 40k factions. For context, warhammer 40k is a awesome grim dark setting for stories which happens to have a table top game attached. It's grim dark with humanity suffering for 10000 years fighting aliens, daemons and often its own bureaucracy.
I prompted GPT-4 to invent some space marine chapters and their history. I got increasingly engaged and spent over 2 hours writing them. Let me show you some examples. Sorry, they are pretty lame.
Prompt
Imagine a space marine chapter that has only melta weapons and jet packs. It's warriors fly into the enemy. Describe history and make it a name.
GPT-4 output
Named the "Pyroclastic Hawks," this chapter bears a distinct and striking presence on the field. Founded on the volcanic world of Pyrovoria, they adapted to using Melta weapons to mirror the fiery environment of their homestead. Their symbol, a hawk poised for descent amidst a blaze, represents their preferred attack style - swooping in from above with unrelenting force.
The Pyroclastic Hawks optimized their battle strategy around fast, burning airborne assaults. Employing jet packs for enhanced mobility, they rain destruction upon their enemies before vanishing into the smoke. This style positions them as shock troops, capable of turning the tide of battle in a single strike.
Their ferocity was proven during the notorious Siege of Tartarion, where they annihilated the Ork stronghold single-handedly. Descending from the clouds, they performed their scorched-earth assault, leaving nothing but molten slag and charred remains.
Ever since, few can forget the imagery of these looming warriors falling out of the sky, trailed by volleys of searing energy. The Pyroclastic Hawks continue to employ their fiery resolve in protecting the Imperium, standing as a signal of swift and devouring justice. They fight till this very day, soaring through the skies, ready to bring the embers of war to those who dare threaten their realm.
I was honestly pleased at the accuracy of the description, despite it being a bit basic. The name was pretty cool and it scratched this what-if warhammer itch I used to scratch by reading lexicanum obsessively.
Prompt
describe a fight between pyroclastic hawks and world eaters, with hawks winning decisively
GPT-4 output
The skies above Khartago were ablaze as the Pyroclastic Hawks descended onto the war-torn battlefield, their jetpacks spitting fire like the fiery beasts of their namesake. The World Eaters roared and charged to meet them, led by a hulking Champion wielding a Chainaxe.
The Hawks, cloaked in the coruscating heat haze emitted by their Melta weapons, swooped into the World Eaters' ranks. Waves of searing energy lashed from their weapons, turning Armour and flesh alike into molten slag.
The World Eaters, undaunted, met the descending Hawks with a monstrous roar and a flurry of axes. A fierce combat ensued, but the precision of the Pyroclastic Hawks began to speak. Their precise, high-velocity strikes punctured World Eaters with lethal precision, leaving smoking holes in the forms of their foes.
*The World Eaters champion met a Pyroclastic Hawks' Captain in combat, chainaxe clashing against the Captain's power sword. After a furious exchange, the Captain managed to land a precise thrust, his Melta-enhanced weapon burning through the chainsword and into the champion's chest. *
The World Eaters began to falter, their bloodlust failing against the onslaught of the Hawks. Their numbers were being burnt away in swathes. Without their Champion, the World Eaters were scattered and driven back, their attack blunted.
It ended as quickly as it started. As the smoke from the scours of combat cleared, only the Pyroclastic Hawks stood victorious, their armors splattered with smoky remains of their vanquished enemies. The battlefield was won, but they knew their war in the name of the Emperor was far from over.
It felt like a basic lexicanum entry which made me first think of a LLM generator for space marine chapters in a website. I made a couple more to test this out.
Prompt what about a chapter where everyone had a plasma pistol with a combat shield
GPT-4 output They could be known as the "Aegis Arbiters." This Space Marine chapter prides itself on both offense and defense. All members wield plasma pistols, delivering robust energy projectiles, and they each carry a combat shield, which allows them to advance steadily under heavy fire. This combination makes them formidable in close-quarters combat.
This definitely went a bit ham. I made a couple more lame ones including:
- Space marine chapter that has a different combat doctrine to what is known to the imperium involving stealing enemy weapons
- Chapter that is descendant of iron fists where every warrior has a power fist and a bolter pistol and focuses on assault jet packs and teleportation to smash everything
- Space marine chapter that focuses on extreme range using lascannons as oversized sniper rifles
- a ork clan that specializes in unarmed combat and has an ork martial arts
- make a wiki page for a new tau faction that uses autonomous melee battlesuits that go rouge and describe the titanic fight against the original tau
And then I picked 2 factions at a time and had them fight each other. I first wanted to autopublish wiki pages with these factions and have a page come out once a week with a battle described between them. Then I thought if there was a system that kept track of health points and would throw a dice, decide an outcome and then tell LLM to generate a scene based on the outcome. It would be similar to Rimworld or dwarf fortress with regards to storytelling, albeit significantly simpler. It would be pretty fun for me, but Warhammer40k is pretty niche. Maybe a martial arts where each person defines their character at the beginning of the round and the model would decide what happens over multiple rounds until a character loses all health points?