Legendary D&D designer tells Larian's AI critics to "maybe lighten up on the creatives who work their a*ses off day in and day out," says the RPG community he helped create "used to be a lot more appreciative"

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"The RPG gaming community, which I helped create and nurture 1972-1974+onward, used to be a lot more appreciative of and civil with the creators of their hobby"

Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3
(Image credit: Larian Studios)

Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian has been taking a lot of heat after revealing it's using AI for concept art and placeholder text in the new Divinity, even though it also assured fans there won't be any AI-generated content in the final game. Now, one of the most venerable names in the D&D community is stepping up in support of Larian.

Robert Kuntz, one of the original D&D authors and designers whose work was foundational to the franchise and RPGs in general in the '70s, shared a tweet in defense of Larian and CEO Swen Vincke.

In a separate and lengthier tweet, Kuntz sweepingly labeled criticisms of Larian "eye-popping rage bait" from people with "bad actor syndrome." He also suggested RPG and D&D fans should be more appreciative of the people that produce games they enjoy.

"The RPG gaming community, which I helped create and nurture 1972-1974+ onward, used to be a lot more appreciative of and civil with the creators of their hobby," he said.

AI is obviously an extremely hot button issue right now, and Vincke himself has acknowledged that it "invokes a lot of emotion," insisting that Larian is only using it to better understand "the cutting edge." Just today, he said "a lot has become lost in translation" regarding his previous AI comments, and "it would be irresponsible for us not to evaluate new technologies," and that an AMA is coming to help explain what the heck is going on. Because wouldn't we all like to know that?

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead says AI "may mean the demise of humanity" and the "end of most big publishers," but if "AI can help me make an epic game in a year with a smaller team like in the old days, I'm all for it"

Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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