D&D character names - generated by a neural network

There are algorithms called artificial neural networks that can learn to imitate examples of just about anything. They’re used in all sorts of everyday programs, translating languages, identifying photos, colorizing drawings, delivering ads, and tons more.

It turns out neural networks may also be a dungeon master’s best friend.

I’ve trained neural networks to invent new Dungeons & Dragons spells (part 1, part 2) and also trained them to name new D&D creatures. It worked very well (Shield of Farts, anyone?), thanks to the spellbooks and monster manuals I could use as datasets. But there weren’t any datasets for another big aspect of Dungeons & Dragons: all the characters who populate these worlds. So, over the past few months, readers have been helping me to build a dataset - which has now reached a staggering 20,908 entries.

For each character, people entered a name, a race (human, dwarf, elf, etc), and a class (wizard, rogue, bard, cleric, etc). Some of the races and classes got to be quite inventive - there’s a penguin, a fey corgi, a black pudding, and a sentient bucket. So I gave this huge weird list to a neural network to see how convincing it could sound.

With nearly 21,000 examples, the neural network could indeed sound convincing. Much of the time, the names matched the character type - at least as often as in the original dataset (which had 5 characters named Frank and 12 named Tim).

Rose - Human Assassin

Dwarg - Half-orc Paladin

Liandra - Elf Wizard

Oron “The Star” Cartere - Dragonborn Sorcerer

Silvar the Blackblade - Half-elf Barbarian

Hank - Half-orc Ranger

Jayne Arryn - Half-elf Wizard

Annata Shortscale - Dragonborn Witch

Fyrry - Half-Elf Ranger

Rinas Mistfern - Human Ranger

Other names made perhaps less sense.

The Cart - Kenku Rogue

Nine Case - Dark Elf Fighter

Rump - Kenku Cleric

Gubble Daggers - Tabaxi Monk

Bog - halfling wizard

Jameless - Dwarf Champion Barbarian

Rune Diggler - Halfling Rogue

Borsh the Bardlock - Human Paladin

Spullbeard - Dwarf Fighter

Tovendirgle - Human Ranger

Pinderhand The Bugs - Gnome Wizard

Rune Wash - Human Wizard

Stumbleduckle - Human Paladin

Dawne Shift the Monkz - Dwarf Barbarian

Magnus Tieforian the magnificent von Cloriam Cyital DuP Ever - Dwarf Barbarian

E Ch BISHL NEBe Garte II Cr D McLGHJ T U E AA t Rat lek TF Horn hand tree Whistle - half-orc barbarian

One thing I like is all the new character races and classes that the neural network discovered. I don’t know what most of them are, but you’ll be the only one in your party.

Kelph - Burryman Ranger

Arczi-Sian - Human Dogminer

Jho the Chrishpup - kuborg fighter

Archein Morgurowood - Human Weaponic Bloodlind

Bubblebottom Donder - Half-faerie Dewlze Cleric

Altis Helder - Mander Human Star-Caver Pottlebard

Bender - half-alf paladin

Devith “Kurgbore” Mustwost - Fetchlen Cleric

Varian Amerth - blackbear Bard

Merellios Rose - Rope Gnome Wizard

Mothrek McKingfoot - halfling inquisitive

The Cowben - Human Opera

Ayrell - Forest gnome Arcane Wood Hunter

One type of name the neural network did very well: silly compound names. This pretty much settles the question of whether a neural network would be totally on board with naming something Boaty McBoatface: it totally would.

Here is what it thinks dwarves should be named.

James Crucklebottom - Dwarf Wizard

Frank Firethorn - Dwarf Wizard

Willian Stonefrown - Dwarf Fighter

Actually, you know what? Pretty much everyone needs a name like this.

Kavar Blunderwood - Goliath Monk

Hadrie Trumbledutch - Halfling Rogue

Prinkina Timberspull - gnome sorcerer

Arrina Cuprest - Human Sorcerer

Tretcher Twestybeard - Dwarf Witch

Ponny Stonecharles - Human Monk

Ashrata Dangstrider - Ratfolk Rogue

Den Splatterwoof - Halfling Druid

Wolfrit Rockhole - Human Sorcerer

Beddar Jacklebottom - Halfling Cleric

Azrara Stoutfrogg - Half-orc Monk

Lord Filedawn - Halfling Warlock

Gripple Ravenhorn - Human Assassin

Balfeart Wolfspleam - Dwarf Fighter

Eldric the Bizzlebree - Human Warlock

Pig Haystalker - Human Assassin

Ladie Barewalker - Tiefling Warlock

Fay Blutterlocket - Dwarf Paladin

Millian Kricklebottom - Kobold Sorcerer

I’ve posted the entire original dataset here, and you can access a huge export of generated characters there as well. If you want the list plus a few extra that I deemed not quite appropriate for the main blog, enter your email here and I’ll send them to you.

Update: I’ve got an experiment now where a neural net tried to generate D&D character bios as well!