New Levels of Mini Piracy

[Coenus Scaldingus]

There are already people having AI design their scenarios, create their character's background -- everything but sit down at the table and roll the dice for them...!  Maybe I'm different, but for me gaming is a creative outlet. What's the point of letting AI do the creating for me?

Mike Demana

That reminds me of something I saw a university lecturer say: a student using generative AI to write an essay is like going to the gym and lifting the weights with a forklift truck. The point of the exercise isn't to move the weights, it's to be the one doing it!


Well, these are certainly "interesting" developments. Good news for recasters I suppose, who may be able to get ahead of the curve and sell fakes even earlier than the original manufacturer can release the previewed figures (these truly are strange times to live in), but in addition to the (maybe still minor?) damage for larger companies that will be the main target for such practices, also probably bad news for smaller miniatures businesses when anyone can create anything with so little effort.

Maybe it won't be long when these go from poor imitations to higher quality work, even if much generative AI work tends to be lacking in the character and specific detail that artists will add. (Because, you know, they are actual humans with thoughts and intentions.)
I suppose the ability to turn images into sculps will probably hit licensed things hardest. You want a figure based on that character from a movie, comic, video game, anything? They'll be generated faster than any copyright lawyer will be able to stop them.

The best advice is probably what was said earlier in the thread: it will be particularly important to only buy from trusted sources, and keep supporting the (real) artists.

[YPU]

I think there’s a tendency to underestimate how quickly these things are developing - this took literally about 40 seconds with 1 picture of the mini at the top of the thread. Not as good as the version generated up top, but certainly in the ‘close’ zone and the geometry is usable. It’s done a sensible go at generating the reverse too. You can certainly imagine it being fine for a downsized model - say 32mm to 10mm/epic scale.

I don’t doubt that someone can generate something similar to that shown originally with the right knowledge. There are also AI tools now for adding missing details to 3d models. A few months ago this wouldn’t have been possible (at least not without a lot of work) - a year or two from now I expect the quality will be better and the workflow easier (although it doesn’t get much easier than uploading an image and hitting go).

I think you hit the nail on the head there, the right knowledge. In the case of scaling down for example its something people have been doing for a good decade by now with 3d files, and you can absolutely tell when something is scaled down beyond its design intent, or designed for a different scale from the ground up. Thats where the skill and knowledge comes in. Mind there are plenty of people who are happy enough with the fast solution already, but then some do 6mm napoleonics with painted rice grains.

But aye this is going to worsen a problem that has been around for a while now. As mentioned MMF and Cults3d are chock full of not so great files. We really lack a standard of quality with 3d printing, and the level to which a file is optimized for printing varies wildly. In various 3d printing groups there is a regularly repeating thing where someone (usually new to 3d printing) will post a picture of multiple failed prints of a file asking what they are doing wrong. On closer inspection it turns out the file is just unprintable, open and intersecting meshes which the 3d printer tries to make sense of best it can but failing etc. But with multiple slicing softwares in use (a good thing mind!) different printer types and quality, and user skill and error, its difficult to judge the quality of things out there as it is. And as you say, with AI generation getting easier quickly the amount of that around will increase as well.

An optimistic note to end on though, and this is touching more on AI overall but goes doubly for 3d stuff. All AI providing services are currently operating at a loss. Its the new big thing any everyone is racing to become the household name for it, but no company is actually making money on it other than trough new investments. A number of AI code writing assisting tools have greatly increased their subscription prices recently, even going up a digit or two in cost! In reaction people have commented that they could literally hire a skilled programmer for less. Coding is definitely difficult, but its still relying on simple linear text at its foundation. 3d files add a dimension or 2 and require exponentially more computing power to create. If this AI boom is indeed (partially) a bubble economy, then the 3d side will experience the burst particularly hard. Currently you can generate files from images like the one above even for free, but like a drugs dealer handing out those first hits, all this may not stay free or affordable forever.

[Easy E]

There are already people having AI design their scenarios, create their character's background -- everything but sit down at the table and roll the dice for them...!  Maybe I'm different, but for me gaming is a creative outlet. What's the point of letting AI do the creating for me?

Mike Demana

I wanted AI to mow the lawn, dust the house, and do the dishes so I could paint minis, write books, and play games. 

Turns out, our Corporate masters want us to do the hard, boring, tedious labor and the machines to do the creative and fun stuff! 
 

[carlos marighela]

In a few years, I look forward to someone coming out with a game and miniature line that was 100% developed using AI, all in one "game" Universe.

Have you not read any of Phil Barker's rules sets?

[Dolnikan]

It's an absolutely fascinating technology that clearly has potential, especially if multiple images of the same figure are combined. But then again, that just makes it an updated version of 3D scanning.

It's  definitely a tool for piracy, but I don't think it will cause many new issues because the 3D printing space already has a massive piracy problem. The moment you sell STLs, they will be on the market as well. No matter what you do.

And the bottleneck that prevents this kind of printing from being a real issue isn't generating the STLs, it's printing them and people willing to buy them. The vast majority of people doesn't have a printer and doesn't want one. Especially not a resin printer with all the toxic crap that comes with it. And the vast majority also isn't in the market for buying 3D prints because they are relatively expensive, people don't know what quality they will be, and they're made of a far more annoying material to work with.

[Easy E]

I recently sold my Resin Printer on after deciding it was its own hobby and I all ready had a hobby with miniature wargaming.  No need for a second one.

[mikedemana]

There was one point when I was sure I would eventually own a 3-D printer. It wasn't "If?", it was "When?". However, I am not so sure, now. I am retired and have plenty of time to fool around and learn how to use one. Instead, I enjoy painting and getting terrain and other stuff ready for the tabletop more. I think your point is a good one: I already have a hobby.

Another thing that makes me feel I will never own one, now, is that I enjoy supporting the vendors in our hobby who attend conventions. I can afford to make purchases from them. If I were also printing off stuff to paint up at home, I would have no need to purchase from them. There's no way I could keep up with both what I was printing and what I was buying at shows. I would just be hoarding at that point.

I still own a considerable backlog of unpainted terrain, scatter, and miniatures 15 months or so after I retired. I am barely keeping up with my purchases, as it is. So, just like I never took up sculpting and casting my own miniatures, I will not take up 3-D printing my own figs or terrain.

Sorry to get off-topic, but Easy E's point struck home with me... 

Mike Demana

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Another thing that makes me feel I will never own one, now, is that I enjoy supporting the vendors in our hobby who attend conventions. I can afford to make purchases from them. If I were also printing off stuff to paint up at home, I would have no need to purchase from them. There's no way I could keep up with both what I was printing and what I was buying at shows. I would just be hoarding at that point.

I wish more people thought this way.

[Mr. White]

Regarding 3D printing as a hobby, for me it’s right there next to airbrushing. It might be nice but I don’t have the time to spend on the parts of the hobby I currently enjoy. I definitely don’t need complex mechanisms eating into that rare time. I mean…

[Dolnikan]

Regarding 3D printing as a hobby, for me it’s right there next to airbrushing. It might be nice but I don’t have the time to spend on the parts of the hobby I currently enjoy. I definitely don’t need complex mechanisms eating into that rare time. I mean…

That feels so real. A few years ago I got an airbrush, and honestly, it feels like it's mostly collecting dust. But I'm sure I'll properly use it one day.

[Easy E]

I used an air brush for professional cake decorating, and that convinced me not to do it for wargaming.  Too much of a PITA for my hobby.