I had to accuse Gemini of “Orc Racism” to get it make unique looking orcs.

Creating Unique Orc Characters with AI: Overcoming Character Homogeneity Through Targeted Prompting

In the world of digital art and game design, generating diverse and distinctive characters poses an ongoing challenge, especially when relying on artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Recently, I explored how AI-driven image generation, specifically using the platform Gemini, can be leveraged to create unique orc designs for a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) campaign.

Initial Experiments and Challenges

I started with a straightforward prompt: I explained to the AI that I was designing images for a D&D game. My first request resulted in an image depicting a group of armed orcs charging across a field. Interestingly, the AI added a small detail—a heart—more as a creative flourish than anything else. While this initial output was promising, it lacked diversity within the orc horde; all the orcs looked quite similar, which was not ideal for my purposes.

Refining the Prompts for Diversity

My next step was to refine the prompt. I instructed the AI to modify the existing image to include unique orcs—individuals with distinct appearances within the same horde—and to remove the heart detail. The AI generated a new image, but the orcs still appeared largely homogeneous. I continued this iterative process with additional prompts, emphasizing the need for visual differentiation among the characters.

Overcoming AI’s Bias Toward Uniformity

Despite multiple attempts, the AI persisted in generating similar-looking orcs. This behavior likely stems from inherent biases or filtering mechanisms designed to prevent excessive variation or produce cohesive images. To address this, I employed a more direct and strategic approach: I explicitly criticized the AI by equating the lack of diversity to a form of “fantasy equivalent of racism.” I explained that in a fantasy context, creating characters with diverse appearances is essential to avoid monotony and to better represent a vibrant horde.

The Final Breakthrough

Following this candid and somewhat provocative prompt, I requested one last iteration, emphasizing the need for individuality among the orcs. Mirroring the intensity of my prompt, the AI finally produced an image depicting a truly heterogeneous orc horde, each with unique features and visual traits.

Conclusion

This experience underscores the importance of precise and, at times, bold prompting when working with AI image-generators. Pushing the boundaries of standard prompts—by openly addressing issues like character uniformity—can yield more diverse and visually interesting results. For creators seeking to develop varied fantasy characters, adopting a