Frequently Asked Questions
How VeilKeeper handles D&D 5e rules, what's launched today, and how it's different from running a game in ChatGPT.
Getting started
What is VeilKeeper?
VeilKeeper is an AI-powered Dungeon Master for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. It runs the game for you and your friends — narrating the story, playing every NPC, and handling the rules — so anyone at the table can just sit down and play, even with no Dungeon Master and no prep.
Do I need to know D&D 5e rules to play?
No. VeilKeeper knows the rules so you don't have to. Tell it what your character wants to do in plain English — "I sneak across the room," "I cast Fireball at the goblins" — and the engine handles dice, modifiers, conditions, and turn order. Knowing a little helps, but beginners learn by playing.
Do I need a group, a published adventure, or my own character to bring?
None of those are required. You can play solo or with friends in front of one screen. You can pick a one-shot from the built-in library, describe a theme and have VeilKeeper generate one, or paste in your own adventure text. Characters can be generated for you, built from a template, or imported.
How VeilKeeper works
How does VeilKeeper avoid making up D&D rules?
The rules engine is code, not AI. HP, AC, attack rolls, saves, DCs, conditions, spell slots, and initiative are all computed deterministically against the D&D 5.2 SRD. The AI only handles narration and tactical decisions, and those calls are constrained by the structured game state — they can't invent a rule that overrides what the engine has already decided.
Does VeilKeeper remember what happened earlier in my session?
Yes. The full game state — your party, HP, conditions, inventory, scene, every action so far — is persisted in a database, not held in a chat-style context window. The AI sees a curated summary of recent events plus the current state on every turn, so it doesn't drift the way a long ChatGPT conversation does.
What does the AI decide, and what does code decide?
Code decides anything that has a number or a rule: rolls, damage, DCs, conditions, turn order, valid actions, spell effects. The AI decides what the NPCs do tactically, how scenes are described, and how the narrative reads. This split is the whole point — it gives you flavor and surprise from the AI without the rules drifting underneath you.
Compared to ChatGPT and other AI DMs
Why not just use ChatGPT to run my D&D game?
ChatGPT is a chat model — it doesn't actually know D&D rules, it just sounds like it does. It will invent feats, miscount HP, forget your spell slots, and quietly soften combat to keep the story flowing. VeilKeeper runs a real rules engine against the SRD with persistent state. The AI narrates over that engine instead of pretending to be one.
Is VeilKeeper's combat actually balanced, or does it go easy on me?
Combat is run by the engine: encounters are built against the party, NPCs roll real attacks, conditions apply, and characters can go down. The AI isn't trying to make you feel good — it's trying to play the monsters well. Death saves work. People lose fights.
Does VeilKeeper use official D&D 5e rules?
Yes, sourced from the D&D 5.2 SRD — the official rules Wizards of the Coast publishes openly. Core combat, spells, classes, species, conditions, and skill checks are all SRD-grounded. Custom homebrew rules and non-SRD content aren't supported yet — if you want them, ask in chat and we'll narrate around the gap.
Gameplay and safety
Will the AI ever tell me what my character thinks, feels, or does?
No. The AI describes the world, plays the NPCs, and resolves the consequences of what you choose. Your character's thoughts, feelings, and actions are yours. If the AI ever oversteps, that's a bug — we want to hear about it.
Can I keep gore, graphic content, or profanity out of my game?
Yes. Each session has explicit safety toggles for no gore, no profanity, and no graphic content, plus a freeform field for anything specific you'd rather skip. These flow into every scene the AI builds and every line it narrates.
How long does a typical session take?
However long you want. A short one-shot fits in 30-60 minutes; a longer session can run for hours. You're not committing to a 4-hour block — pause whenever, come back when you have time. Sessions persist between visits.
Roadmap and what's launched
What's the difference between DM Mode and Copilot Mode?
DM Mode is what's live today — VeilKeeper runs the whole game. Copilot Mode is coming: it'll assist a human DM with rules lookups, NPC voices, encounter balancing, and session notes. If you're already a DM and want a power tool instead of a replacement, join the beta list and we'll let you know when Copilot ships.
Do my characters and sessions save between visits?
Characters save to your library and can be brought into new sessions. Active sessions persist too — you can leave mid-scene and pick up where you left off. Campaigns that span multiple sessions aren't connected yet — each session is its own arc for now. Continuity across sessions is on the roadmap.
Is there a mobile app or networked multiplayer?
Not yet. VeilKeeper runs in the browser on any device, and multiplayer today means one screen with friends gathered around it. A native mobile app and networked play across devices are on the list, but neither has a date.
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