Google NotebookLM for RPGs - Making my own Virtual Campaign and DM assistant

TaranTheWanderer said:

Can it use raw audio also by uploading session recordings?

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Yes, it can use raw audio or video/audio as sources

I'm hoping it also introduces some of the elements from Gemini Deep Research as well. This would mean possibly being able to create a homebrew website. I've experimented with Gemini and a homebrew site and I'd say we're months away from pretty solid homebrew HTML websites. Those that know HTML, CSS, javascript could probably utilize it now but only in Gemini.

I really do hope that feature in Gemini is coming to NotebookLM, even for research especially for groups or schools as it could be immensely helpful for research and education. I recently created a very basic solar system website for an incoming 5th graders for their summer education (akin to summer reading). For that age group and with some minor tweaks it worked very well and I could justify some free work for a good cause and also give myself a chance to experiment a bit.

when you say you created notebooks for each:
-I have a Core Rules and Current Adventure Notebook. (all my DM, Player, rules supplements, homebrew rules, and Monster pdfs and currently The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth)
-I have a weekly session to session notes Notebook. (I track various campaign elements then use it to create notes I feed into my Campaign world Notebook as well.
-I also have a campaign world Notebook. (46 sources of Forgotten Realms pdfs from all editions, as well as our homebrewing notes and campaign diaries. We've been playing in our version of the FR since 87 on and off. Just to give you an idea of scope of how specific/homebrewed my FR is to canon. That's a lot to try to remember.)
- Player/PC Notebook (loaded with pdf character sheets, notes, PC diaries, etc.)

aren't these all self-contained and cannot be referenced from other notebooks or is there a way you "link" them together to be able to be referenced?

TaranTheWanderer said:

Can it use raw audio also by uploading session recordings?

Click to expand...

You can put an original image into it and it can analyze it, which I find fascinating. I've also used it to create podcasts about study guides that I wrote for my classes. Most recently, I got it to give a 5 minute overview of our department goal setting strategies.

llothos said:

when you say you created notebooks for each:
-I have a Core Rules and Current Adventure Notebook. (all my DM, Player, rules supplements, homebrew rules, and Monster pdfs and currently The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth)
-I have a weekly session to session notes Notebook. (I track various campaign elements then use it to create notes I feed into my Campaign world Notebook as well.
-I also have a campaign world Notebook. (46 sources of Forgotten Realms pdfs from all editions, as well as our homebrewing notes and campaign diaries. We've been playing in our version of the FR since 87 on and off. Just to give you an idea of scope of how specific/homebrewed my FR is to canon. That's a lot to try to remember.)
- Player/PC Notebook (loaded with pdf character sheets, notes, PC diaries, etc.)

aren't these all self-contained and cannot be referenced from other notebooks or is there a way you "link" them together to be able to be referenced?

Click to expand...

Not that I know of but I'd have to double check, however, if you have the pay version you can add more than 50 sources into a single Notebook. My setup was just how I felt best for my campaigns is all. My 46 sources for the Forgotten Realms for example is more so for me to come up with backstory and lore for multiple concurrent campaigns but I could trim the number of sources and create one all encompassing notebook. While that's not direct integration if you have less than 50 sources you can just put everything in one Notebook.

Clint_L said:

You can put an original image into it and it can analyze it, which I find fascinating. I've also used it to create podcasts about study guides that I wrote for my classes. Most recently, I got it give a 5 minute overview of our department goal setting strategies.

Click to expand...

I use it with new branding clients and so far they love it. We fill out a branding questionnaire and have a few development meetings and feed those items and notes into Notebook and create podcasts to send clients.

"Listen to these podcast links about your brand, does it sound accurate?" It works great and I think clients love to hear 2 outsiders talk about their initial vision even if it is AI. The AI also says things sometimes that we didn't think of which can be very helpful for sure. Once the client says everything sounds good I just listen to the podcasts and really wrap my head around the project.

I also run a few LMS (online learning websites) and it's great for helping me organize courses and modules. We are working on a "Fascism/14 Features of Ur-Fascism" site right now and the Mind Map feature really helps me. I'm a bit of a scatterbrain and organization is half the battle I've learned. I use it for business and pleasure and also for my own education.

Like most folks, I realize the ethical issues and that AI is a complex mountain of issues but I think some of it can definitely increase our bandwidth and tighten up our workflows so we can do what we do best, in my case branding, marketing and design. Again, for me I've learned being organized is something I really need and it helps me a lot in that area.

I just did some for fun research on all the Warhammer 40K RPGs, very confusing between all the systems and it helped me figure out that niche pretty quickly.

I’ve been having fun with it. I’ve been using it for my D&D games, production meetings for a play I’m directing and for soccer stats.
The podcast feature is super cheesy and I sometimes try it out just for the novelty. It rarely gets things 100% accurate.

Overall, I like how it can make spreadsheets or meeting minutes or compile my D&D games nights, change them into notes (edit them) and then feed them back in as sources.

Black Dougal said:

Like most folks, I realize the ethical issues and that AI is a complex mountain of issues but I think some of it can definitely increase our bandwidth and tighten up our workflows so we can do what we do best, in my case branding, marketing and design. Again, for me I've learned being organized is something I really need and it helps me a lot in that area.

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To me, this is a good use for AI: a tool to help me be efficient and to make it easier for me to be creative rather than replacing me as the creative source.

TaranTheWanderer said:

To me, this is a good use for AI: a tool to help me be efficient and to make it easier for me to be creative rather than replacing me as the creative source.

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I agree. The question I ask students is: are you working for the AI, or is it working for you?

If it's writing the essay and you're delivering it, then you're working for it, and what's the point? If you're using it in a way that enhances your own learning or creativity, then that's usually appropriate use.

Of course, we also have to spell out on a per assignment basis what, if any, AI use is permitted because people.