Using AI as a Player: Stay Immersed Between Sessions
Catch up, stay connected, and deepen your character—all with a little help from Artificial Intelligence.
4/30/25
8 min read
Introduction
AI isn't just for GMs—players can benefit just as much, especially when life gets busy or your campaign spans dozens of sessions. With the right tools, players can self-serve information they'd otherwise have to ask the DM for—saving time and keeping everyone more immersed in the story.
Whether you're the party's dedicated notetaker, a roleplay-forward bard, or someone who missed the last two sessions and just wants to get back in smoothly, AI can help.
Here are a few practical ways players can use AI between sessions or during downtime:
⚠️ Note: To use these techniques effectively, you'll need access to your session history—either as transcripts, detailed notes, or through a tool like Archivist AI, which serves as both an assistant and a searchable campaign archive.
Even if you're starting from scratch, just having the last session is often enough to begin.
1. Recaps From Your Character's POV
Missed a session? Or just want to relive the last one from your character's perspective? AI can generate a recap based on what they would reasonably know, giving you a strong narrative hook for re-entry.
Try prompts like:
"Give me a recap of the last session from the perspective of my character, [Name]. Keep it short and in their voice."
"What would [Name] reasonably know about the events of the last session if they were absent?"
This isn't just about catching up—it's about staying grounded in your character's knowledge, voice, and worldview so you can rejoin the story with confidence.
2. NPC & Plot Recall
Simply put, people forget, AI remembers. It can surface names, relationships, and past interactions from previous sessions—helping you stay consistent with your character's knowledge without breaking immersion.
Try prompts like:
"What type of dragon are we hunting?"
"List all the major events my character was directly involved in over the last 5 sessions."
"Summarize the party's interaction with the town of Two Flats, but only the parts my character witnessed."
This is especially useful when sessions are spaced out or full of side plots. AI can help connect the dots without making you feel lost or needing to break character to ask.
Pro tip:
Keep your AI assistant open during sessions—seeded with your last transcript or campaign context. When a detail slips your mind, ask the AI what your character would reasonably recall instead of halting the session to ask the GM. It keeps the story moving and the immersion intact.
3. Character-Filtered Highlights
Want to reflect on your arc so far? AI can summarize the campaign through your character's lens, pulling out key moments they were part of. Great for tracking development, revisiting motivations, or prepping for a pivotal decision.
Try prompts like:
"Summarize the campaign from [Name]'s point of view."
"What are the most important character-defining moments [Name] has had so far?"
"Give me a timeline of key events my character participated in."
Think of it as a personalized story summary—one that reinforces your motivations and reminds you what's felt meaningful to your character so far.
4. Personality Brainstorming
Need the perfect zinger for Vicious Mockery? A dramatic one-liner after slaying a villain? Or an on-brand song lyric when you cast Bladesong? AI can generate tone-appropriate quips and responses that fit your character's vibe.
Try prompts like:
"Suggest 5 clever insults for Vicious Mockery that match a sarcastic, arrogant bard."
"Write a one-liner my character might say after delivering the final blow in combat."
"Give me a few short quotes my rogue might mutter while sneaking through a dungeon."
Whether you're a bard with stage fright or a monk trying to find your inner snark, AI can offer material that helps you find—and refine—your character's unique voice. Think of it as a sparring partner, not a ghostwriter: it's there to break writer's block, explore tone, and iterate on ideas—but you're still the one telling the story.
5. In-Character Journaling or Letters
If your group enjoys downtime content or in-character writing, AI can help you draft journal entries, send a heartfelt letter to another PC, or record your perspective after a major event. It keeps the narrative alive between sessions.
Try prompts like:
"Write a journal entry from [Name] after today's session. They're feeling conflicted about trusting the new NPC."
"Draft a letter from my cleric to another party member apologizing for a past mistake."
"Write a short poem my bard might perform after our victory over the ogre chieftain."
Don't be afraid to experiment here. A few sentences in your character's voice—even if rough—can bring emotional depth to downtime scenes and group interactions.
Character Journal
Grog Bludvart
Dragonborn Sorcerer
"Journal Entry, Flame Date 17 — The fire inside me flared harder than the wyvern's breath today. Eldric nearly got us all killed—again—but I held the line. Barely. Next time someone suggests splitting up, I'll cast Silence and let the void teach them better. Still... the arcane sigil we recovered was worth it. I can feel it humming. Like it knows my name."
These creative extras are a great way to stay involved between sessions and can even become keepsakes or shared moments among the party.
Final Thoughts:
Great characters don't live only at the table—they evolve between sessions. Whether you're recapping, journaling, or just daydreaming about the next arc, AI gives you space to stay connected to your character and the world around them.
These tools aren't just for catching up—they're for deepening your voice, remembering who you are in the story, and finding creative momentum when you need it most.
You don't have to use every technique here. But pick one that fits your style, and try it out. You might be surprised how naturally it becomes part of your process—and how much more vivid your game feels as a result.
Archivist AI was built to make that easy: recaps, memories, prompts, and a record of your story—all at your fingertips, when you need them.