Weekly Store Update: 21 April

We have a slew of great new releases! Leading off is Magic the Gathering's March of the Machine. Board games represent with Marvel Zombies - a Zombicide game, and Azul Mini, all the big fun of the original in a smaller package. We also have timely restocks (almost a complete refill of Lacerda designed strategy games from Eagle-Gryphon) and more! Ever wonder what our Pangea looks like? We have that for you too. Check it all out!

INTRO

Welcome to our weekly newsletter! For our new readers I'm Eric, and Wendy and I run Stone Valley Games. This newsletter is our way to share both local and world-wide gaming news of interest that popped up last week. It also provides our subscribers, both local and remote, some information on the going's on around here so everyone feels like part of the action. At the bottom of this newsletter we show you the restocks, new items, and preorders added to the store last week. It's not too difficult to navigate, so let's get to it!

PLAYING WITH THE BARD

There is a good chance you have heard of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence chatbot released in late 2022. It has a language-based model that is continually being fine-tuned with use to provide human interaction in a conversational manner. It can do all sorts of things, and if you haven't yet heard of it, or the science behind it, I encourage you to investigate. 

Many other platforms are also working on their version of an AI driven chatbot, including Google. Google's version is called Bard. Several weeks ago, we jumped at the chance to participate in Bard's trial run in what Google is calling its 'early experiment'. We weren't sure if we'd ultimately be allowed to participate, but we did sign up to try. Then, late in the week, we were invited in and had a few hours to play around with it. 

What can it do? Well, quite a bit actually. We still have quite a bit of experimentation to go, but here's an example. I told it a little about our fantasy setting - the Stone Valley Pangea, right at 100 words or so. Then I asked Bard to explain what happens to the people living there. This is Bard's response: 

Sure, here is a possible story of what happens to the people living in Stone Valley Pangea:

The humans who were planted on Stone Valley Pangea over 300,000 years ago quickly adapted to their new environment. The people who lived in the mountains became strong and hardy, while the people who lived in the plains became skilled farmers and herders. The people who lived in the water became expert sailors and fishermen, while the people who lived in the desert became masters of survival in the harsh environment. The people who lived in the swamp became skilled hunters and gatherers, while the people who lived in the forest became masters of the wild.

Over time, the people of Stone Valley Pangea began to develop their own unique cultures and traditions. The people of the mountains built great fortresses and temples, while the people of the plains built vast cities and empires. The people of the water built great ships and explored the seas, while the people of the desert built vast oases and trade routes. The people of the swamp built great cities of mud and wood, while the people of the forest built great halls of stone and wood.

In the center of Stone Valley Pangea, there is a mysterious and powerful obelisk. The obelisk is said to have been created by the gods, and it is said to possess great power. The people of Stone Valley Pangea have long been drawn to the obelisk, and they have built a great city around it. The city is known as Stone Valley, and it is the capital of the entire continent.

The people of Stone Valley Pangea are a diverse and fascinating people. They have come from all over the world, and they have brought their own unique cultures and traditions with them. They have built great cities and empires, and they have made great discoveries. They are a people of great strength and resilience, and they are a people of great hope.

Here are some possible adventures that could happen to the people living in Stone Valley Pangea:

• A group of adventurers set out to explore the mysterious obelisk in the center of the continent.
• A war breaks out between the different regions of Stone Valley Pangea, and the adventurers must find a way to stop the fighting.
• A group of bandits is terrorizing the countryside, and the adventurers must track them down and bring them to justice.
• A group of monsters is attacking the villages, and the adventurers must find a way to stop them.
• A plague is spreading across the continent, and the adventurers must find a cure.

These are just a few of the many possible adventures that could happen in Stone Valley Pangea. The possibilities are endless, and it is up to the players to decide what happens next.

That's...pretty neat. Many of those concepts and ideas I had already fleshed out, and a lot of it is standard stuff for any fantasy setting. However, I was kind of surprised it could pick up on the modification of people over time based on their environment. Now, my ultimate execution of that concept was in a much more significant mutation, but not bad Bard, not bad. 

We are going to continue working with Bard to see if we can better define its capabilities. I'm not sure if it can help in a lot of areas right away, but I do think continual experimentation will highlight areas where it may be useful. We're pretty excited about it. 

THE PANGEA TAKES SHAPE

Talking about the Stone Valley Pangea, I spoke about it a bit in last week's newsletter. In very short order, our artist took the very rough sketch on the left and turned it into the art on the right.