The hardest part of any tabletop RPG isn't slaying the dragon or navigating a treacherous dungeon. It's scheduling. Seriously. Trying to align the schedules of 4-5 adults is a dark art, a Sisyphean task that has claimed more campaigns than any TPK ever could. For years, I've been the “forever DM” for my group, and the administrative overhead—the prep, the rules-lawyering, the herding of cats—can be exhausting. So, when I hear about a platform that promises to take on that burden, my ears perk up. And when that platform is powered by AI? Well, my professional curiosity and my inner geek both start screaming.
Enter Friends & Fables. It's been making waves in the TTRPG community, promising an AI-powered RPG experience that's both deep and accessible. But as someone who's seen a lot of tech trends come and go, I'm naturally skeptical. Can a bot really capture the magic of a human-led game? I decided to jump in, create a character, and see if the AI Game Master, Franz, was up to the task. The results... were pretty interesting.
So What Is Friends & Fables, Anyway?
At its core, Friends & Fables is a text-based roleplaying game platform. Think of it like a souped-up group chat window where the story unfolds through your typed actions, but with a very, very smart moderator. That moderator is Franz, the AI Game Master. The whole thing is heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, and it operates using the System Reference Document (SRD 5.1), which is a fancy way of saying they can use the core rules legally without being officially affiliated with Wizards of the Coast. A smart move.
But it's not just a chat client. It's an entire ecosystem. You can build your own worlds from scratch, create detailed characters, and invite your friends to play in a persistent campaign that you can pick up anytime. It’s an ambitious attempt to solve some of the biggest pain points in the hobby.
Meet Franz, Your New AI Forever DM
The heart and soul of Friends & Fables is Franz. I went in expecting a slightly clunky chatbot, but Franz is more like a hyper-competent, slightly obsessive-compulsive intern who handles all the boring stuff so you can get to the fun. The platform boasts that Franz has a few key abilities that set it apart.
Key Features of Your AI Game Master
First off, the Automatic Tracking is a godsend. Franz keeps track of everything—hit points, inventory, character locations, spell slots. I can’t tell you how many times my own tabletop sessions have ground to a halt with the question, “Wait, did I use my Potion of Healing two sessions ago or three?” Franz remembers. It handles the math, the dice rolls (behind the scenes), and the consequences, which lets you focus purely on the roleplaying.
Then there's the Long-Term Memory. This is the holy grail for AI storytelling. Franz is designed to remember key plot points and character decisions from way back. If you betrayed a village elder in session two, don't be surprised if his vengeful son shows up in session ten. This creates a genuine sense of a living world, a far cry from early AI games where the AI had teh memory of a goldfish.
And for the control freaks among us (guilty), there's the Customization. You can feed Franz “Custom Instructions” to guide its behavior, define specific world rules, or nudge the tone of the campaign. This is a powerful tool for experienced DMs who want the convenience of an AI but still want to shape the narrative arc.
Visit Friends & Fables
A Playground for World Builders
While playing is the main event, I found myself getting lost in the world-building tools. For any DM, this is where the magic really begins. Instead of a scattered collection of notes in a Google Doc and a folder full of random maps, Friends & Fables lets you build your campaign setting right inside the platform. You can create continents, cities, and dungeons, populate them with NPCs, and write your own lore. The pre-made worlds, like the gritty “New Seneca” or the mysterious “Salaheim,” are great starting points, but crafting your own universe is where this platform truly shines for creatives.
It feels less like you're just writing a story and more like you're building a functional game world that the AI will then help you bring to life. This synergy between human creativity and AI execution is, I think, where the real future of this technology lies.
The Multiplayer Experience: Asynchronous Adventuring
This is the feature that really grabbed my attention. Friends & Fables supports multiplayer campaigns, but because it's text-based, it can be played asynchronously. That means you don't all have to be online at the same time for four hours on a Saturday night. Player 1 can take their turn during their lunch break. Player 2 can respond before they go to bed. The story progresses at the pace of the group. For adult gamers with jobs, families, and chaotic lives, this is a revolutionary concept. It transforms the TTRPG from a high-commitment event into a low-commitment hobby you can chip away at, like a good book.
Let's Be Honest: Can an AI Really Replace a Human?
Okay, time for the tough love. Is Friends & Fables perfect? No. Will it replace your human DM? Also no, and I don't think it's trying to. Let's talk about the trade-offs.
On one hand, the accessibility is phenomenal. New players can learn the ropes without feeling intimidated by a 300-page rulebook. Solo players can finally get their RPG fix whenever they want. And the platform is a fantastic “story sketchpad” for DMs to test out encounters or character ideas. It removes so much friction.
On the other hand, you lose the spontaneity and brilliant, off-the-cuff insanity of a human DM. An AI can't truly react to a completely bizarre player choice with the same panicked creativity as a person. The dialogue, while good, can sometimes lack that human spark or wit. And it's important to remember that the platform is still in Early Access Beta. You will encounter bugs. Things will be incomplete. That’s just the nature of supporting a developing project.
In my experience, it's a different kind of fun. It’s less about chaotic improv and more about collaborative, guided storytelling. And that's perfectly okay. It's a new way to play, not a replacement for the old one.
Breaking Down the Friends & Fables Pricing
So, what's this all going to cost you? They've got a tiered system that seems pretty fair, especially given the free entry point. Let's break it down.
| Tier | Price (Monthly) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Curious newcomers. You get 25 turns (AI messages) per day. Enough for a taste, but you'll hit the limit fast in a real session. |
| Starter | $14.95 | Solo players or small groups. The jump to unlimited turns is the main selling point here. |
| Pro | $19.95 | The sweet spot for most gaming groups. Supports more players (up to 5) and gives you more creative tools like extra Memories and Custom Instructions. |
| Legend | $34.95 | Hardcore world builders and large parties. You get unlimited world slots and the highest limits on everything. For the true power users. |
Personally, I think the Pro tier offers the best bang for your buck if you're planning to play regularly with a group. The free tier is generous enough to let you decide if the platform is right for you, which I always appreciate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Friends & Fables different from AI Dungeon?
This is a common question! While both are AI-driven text adventures, AI Dungeon is more of a pure, freeform storytelling AI. Friends & Fables is a more structured platform built specifically for a TTRPG experience. It has dedicated systems for character sheets, inventory, world-building, and multiplayer that are more aligned with playing a game like D&D, whereas AI Dungeon is a wilder, more unpredictable narrative generator.
Do my friends need a subscription to play with me?
Nope! This is a huge plus. According to their site, if you have a subscription, your friends can join your campaign and play for free. This dramatically lowers the cost of entry for a full group.
Is there a mobile app?
As of now, there isn't a dedicated mobile app. However, the website is mobile-friendly, so you can play through the browser on your phone. Their FAQ indicates an app is something they are considering for the future.
What exactly is a 'turn' on the free plan?
A 'turn' is defined as any time Franz, the AI game master, sends you a message. This could be a description of a room, a response to your action, or an NPC's dialogue. With a limit of 25 per day, a single conversation or combat encounter could easily use up your entire daily allowance.
What does 'Early Access Beta' actually mean for a player?
It means the game is still under active development. You are playing an unfinished product. You should expect some bugs, occasional weird AI behavior, and features that might change or be incomplete. The upside is that you get to be part of the development process, and your subscription directly supports the small team building it.
My Final Verdict: A New Chapter for RPGs?
After spending a good amount of time with Friends & Fables, I'm walking away genuinely impressed. It's not the TTRPG-killer some might fear it to be. Instead, it's a powerful new tool that carves out its own niche in the hobby. It's a solo RPG engine, a world-building assistant, a collaborative writing tool, and a brilliant solution for gaming groups crushed by the realities of adult scheduling.
It won't give you the same feeling as sitting around a table with your friends, laughing as the DM describes the goblin's ridiculous accent. But it offers something else: a consistent, accessible, and deeply creative way to engage with the stories you want to tell. For me, that's more than enough to be excited about where Franz and the Friends & Fables team take us next. It's a bold new frontier, and I'm here for the adventure.
Reference and Sources
- Friends & Fables Official Website
- Friends & Fables Pricing Page
- D&D System Reference Document (SRD 5.1)
