The only way to get good at something is to suck at it first.
Don't be afraid to suck at something new!
this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2026
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Literally yes.
It doesn't say it has to be all you. A guide book is just fine, that's what its there for! But if you're just repeating what the chatbot generates, even if it's slightly modified, I might as well talk to one myself.
You don't have to be a great DM, if you're trying you're at least improving for next time. If you're using a bot you're not even doing that.
You say "literally yes" but then the rest of your response sounds like it's answering a different question. What I asked was:
So, an example of a DM not doing their own art would be a DM who doesn't have any art in their campaign at all. My interpretation of the OP is that this DM is ineffective. And I think they've only said that because they're so keen to criticise AI use that they don't really care whether they write their criticism in a way that might criticise something else.
I interpreted "art" as the DM's storytelling in this case. If the DM doesn't do that much, why even bother.
I have no qualms about the use of supplemental materials such as a guidebook, reference images, or otherwise. Ones preferably obtained from real artists.
I think storytelling would fall under "campaign", and so "art" is in contrast
Who knows, I care little about arguing such hypotheticals.
Either way, guide books contain pictures and there are plenty of websites people post their art to. You can just use such as reference material. A handdrawn map, even if crummy, is more charming than some AI hallucination.
But if you're happy for people to crib existing artwork then I don't think the objection (that you shouldn't be DMing if you lack the "imagination, time, knowledge or resources") is one you hold to. I think you just don't want to see AI art in a D&D campaign and would happy to just say that, rather than what OP said.
I respect a DM who's gone out to find useful references made by others.
I do not respect a DM who has asked a bot to generate some supplemental images.
I do not want to play with a DM who tasks a bot with coming up with a story or responses during play.
Simple as.