Prompt Engineering for TTRPGs: How to Get Better Results from AI

Introduction

If you've ever typed a question into ChatGPT or tried using AI to brainstorm a story beat, you've already started prompt engineering - even if you didn't know it. At its core, a prompt is just a message you give an AI to start a conversation or get something useful.
"Summarize last session" might be all you need - but prompts can also be long, layered, and deeply specific. GMs and players often use multi-paragraph prompts that define the AI's role, include campaign context, give format instructions, and outline "do not include" rules.
These longer prompts—sometimes 1,000 tokens or more—aren't overkill. They're how you get consistent, high-quality results tailored to your tone, setting, and goals. The more intentional your input, the more tailored and reliable your output.

This guide is for you if:

• You're new to using AI in your TTRPGs and don't know where to start
• You've tried it, but your results are hit or miss
• You're ready to move beyond beginner level prompts
• You want faster, more useful answers grounded in your campaign

You don't need to be technical to get good at prompting. You just need to be clear, curious, and willing to experiment. That's the core of effective prompting—whether you're a GM prepping plot twists, a player tracking your arc, or a content creator building recaps from actual plays.

In this post, we'll translate those ideas directly into the TTRPG space—showing you how to prompt for summaries, characters, session highlights, lore, and more. Each section will offer examples at both a beginner and intermediate level, so you can build your skills whether you're just getting started or ready to go deeper.
By the end, you'll have a toolbox of ready-to-use prompt strategies—and a clearer sense of how to make AI work with you as a collaborative partner in your campaign.

1. How to Write Better AI Prompts for Your TTRPG

Prompting well starts with clarity. Whether you're asking for a recap, creating NPCs, or outlining a plot twist, you're guiding the AI toward a specific outcome. The clearer your request—tone, format, scope - the better the result.

Beginner: Ask Clearly, Get Results

The simplest way to start is to state exactly what you need. You don't need formatting tricks or technical language - just direct, specific requests. At this stage, clarity beats cleverness.
Think of it like assigning a task. Clear instructions produce consistent, usable answers—often with little to no follow-up needed.

Intermediate: Add Role, Context, and Structure

Once you're comfortable with simple prompts, take the next step by shaping how the AI responds. You might:

• Assign it a role ("You are a campaign assistant…")
• Set constraints (word count, tone, formatting)
• Include relevant context (prior events, NPCs, session details)

These added layers help generate responses that are more purposeful, campaign-aware, and tailored to your table.
Some tools handle this more naturally than others - especially those that remember your campaign history.

Not All AIs Are Created Equal

Tried the same prompt in two tools and got wildly different results? That's not your imagination. Different models vary in how much context they can hold, how well they follow instructions, and how clearly they write.
Some are fast but forgetful. Others sound great but wander off-topic. Some excel at narrative - but only if they remember what happened three sessions ago.
That's why tool choice matters as much as prompt quality. Even the best-written prompt can fall flat if the AI can't keep track of your campaign. For deep, consistent results, use systems built with long-term memory in mind. For a detailed comparison of different AI tools for TTRPGs, see our AI tools guide.

2. Recaps and Highlights: Prompting to Remember and Spotlight

Recapping sessions is one of the most practical ways to use AI at the table. Whether you're prepping for the next game, helping a player catch up, or keeping the plot straight, a well-structured prompt can surface the key beats quickly. But great recaps do more than summarize - they spotlight. With the right prompt, you can highlight decisions, distill emotional moments, or frame events to support future planning.

Beginner: Ask for a Clear Recap or Highlight List

Ask the AI to summarize what happened—then specify the format: bullet points, paragraph, or a top - three list.

Intermediate: Filter, Reframe, and Style for Effect

Once you're comfortable, tailor the recap to emphasize narrative tone, character arcs, or thematic elements. You can request alternate perspectives (like a villain's POV), or structured formats that help track what the party did, learned, or missed. These prompts don't just summarize—they help shape how you remember and build on the session.

3. Chatbots: Prompting with Context

When your AI assistant remembers your campaign—whether through a tool like Archivist or by feeding it transcripts—you unlock a different kind of prompting. You're no longer issuing one-off requests. You're having a conversation with a partner that knows your world.

Beginner: Ask Like You're Talking to a Fellow Player

Start with quick recall. Treat the chatbot like someone who was at the table and remembers what happened. No formatting tricks needed - just ask directly. This works especially well mid-session, during prep, or when helping a player catch up. The assistant can quickly surface names, events, or dialogue to keep the game moving.

Intermediate: Refine, Chain, and Personalize Responses

Once you're comfortable, start shaping the output. You can chain prompts together, shift tone or voice, and adapt the result to fit your audience - recaps, rumors, journal entries, handouts, and more. Chaining doesn't just refine responses - it also deepens the AI's understanding. Each prompt builds context, helping memory-aware tools generate answers that are more specific, consistent, and campaign-aligned.

This kind of prompting lets you:

• Reformat raw session data into in-world storytelling
• Explore ideas without rewriting canon
• Match the response to a tone, character, or moment
• Clarify details and reinforce continuity

It's also where iteration becomes essential. Campaign transcripts can be messy. If an answer is vague, overconfident, or simply wrong, follow up.

Helpful habits:

• Treat it like a conversation—ask, revise, refocus
• Watch for overconfidence or agreement bias. Some models "fill in the blanks" rather than admit uncertainty
• Avoid leading prompts; neutral questions get clearer answers

With a bit of nudging and precision, your assistant becomes an active partner in your storytelling.

4. Prompting for Worldbuilding and Session Prep

AI helps GMs work faster without losing depth. Whether you're inventing taverns or following up on a player's decision, the key is knowing when to start fresh - and when to build on what's already happened.

AI can be leveraged to generate raw creative material - towns, NPCs, quests. But when grounded in your campaign's history, tone, or character arcs, they evolve from random ideas into tools for meaningful worldbuilding. For more on how AI can save you time during prep, check out our guide on speeding up TTRPG prep with AI.

Beginner: Generate Seeds and Standalone Ideas

Use fast prompts to fill in blanks or spark ideas. AI delivers low-pressure, ready-to-use material when you're improvising or stuck. Focus on variety. Let the AI generate a wide set of options you can riff on.

Intermediate: Tie New Ideas to Your Campaign's Past

Once you have a seed, grow it with campaign context. Use past events—player choices, item history, NPCs, loose ends - to shape output that fits your story. The more the prompt remembers, the better the result.

This approach helps you:

• Reinforce continuity across sessions
• Let past events shape future stories
• Create setting content that fits your world

You can also:

• Control tone and output style ("bard's song," "journal entry," "in-world rumor")
• Guide format ("one-paragraph summary," "bulleted list," "three complications")
• Prompt for progression ("How does this NPC evolve if ignored for two sessions?")

Final Thoughts